Overcoming Pain Through Therapeutic Behavioral Services: Arthur’s Story

Seven-year-old Arthur holds big feelings in his small frame.

Arthur was removed from his mother’s home and placed with a resource (foster) family when he was just five years old. Adjusting to his new environment and new people was overwhelming for him. Arthur looked forward to visits from his mother, which provided him with comfort and a sense of connection. However, these visits eventually became inconsistent and then stopped altogether. Feeling abandoned and alone, Arthur was struggling with his emotions, throwing loud tantrums and sometimes causing himself physical harm.

Annie, Arthur’s resource parent, was at a loss as to how to help Arthur cope with his intense emotions. “We were concerned that Arthur would need to be removed from our care because of his severe outbursts,” she explains. “Thankfully, we were connected to Casa Pacifica and its Therapeutic Behavioral Services program.”

Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) is an intensive, short-term program for parents or guardians with children at risk for hospitalization or high-level placement due to severe behavioral problems. TBS also serves youth who are transitioning from a higher to a lower level of placement when prior behavior problems are likely to prevent a successful transition.

TBS collaborates with the youth, family, and primary mental health provider, offering a comprehensive range of services that include behavioral analysis, plan development, and direct interventions tailored to each child’s unique needs.

Casa Pacifica’s TBS team is comprised of highly trained behavioral health specialists who provide services in various environments, including the home, school, and other settings where a youth’s challenging behaviors occur. In Arthur’s case, TBS specialists utilized several evidence-based interventions to reduce his emotional outbursts and help him develop healthier coping mechanisms. One intervention involved coaching him in relaxation techniques, such as slow, deep breathing exercises. Another strategy included role-playing activities to help Arthur respond to triggering events more constructively. This involved teaching him to use “I feel” statements to communicate his emotions effectively with family members.

“TBS has been so helpful for Arthur,” says John Pineda, TBS Program Manager at Casa Pacifica. “This program provides crucial support for children like Arthur who have had the experience of being removed from their biological parents. By offering targeted interventions and coping strategies, we help these children build resilience and manage their emotions. For Arthur, this has meant developing ways to cope with his feelings and finding stability amidst the upheaval of his young life.”

Annie has also benefited from TBS, acquiring new techniques to help Arthur regulate his emotions while keeping her own emotions in check. “Casa Pacifica has helped Arthur learn to cope with his emotions, and they have provided me with invaluable support as well,” she shares. “I feel much more equipped to help Arthur handle challenges and grow to become a happy and confident boy.”

Having received TBS treatment for six months, Arthur is on the road to healing. He has transformed from a stormy disposition to a boy with a bright and easy smile. He has rediscovered the activities he loves like playing sports, dancing, reading books out loud, and watching Spiderman movies. Arthur is looking forward to starting second grade in the fall, a milestone he approaches with excitement and confidence. With his resource parents and the unwavering support of TBS by his side, he feels equipped to conquer any challenge that comes his way.

If you’re interested in supporting Casa Pacifica’s life-changing mission, donate now!