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WHAT MY CLIENTS ARE SAYING:
Dear Readers: I believe trust and respect are at the core of a successful coach and
client relationship.
I cannot think of a better way to let you know about my work than to
share what my clients are saying (below).
Sincerely, Isabelle Zehnder
Certified Family Coach www.positivefamilysolutions.com
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
“My experience with Isabelle was great! She gave me suggestions and let me decide. She helped me see different perspectives of a situation and that helped me to make the right decision.” 13-year old Elizabeth
Reno, NV -- “Isabelle’s insight is empowering. She has helped put things into perspective for me. Reminding me to take a deep breath & not make rash decisions was just what I needed to hear and I am following her advice. I had no idea this industry (behavioral boarding schools etc.) even existed until I recently started looking for help for my daughter. It's unbelievable how many programs are out there & how many kids are in them. The thought of it not being regulated is very scary. I have decided at this point to seek as much help as possible for my daughter while she remains at home. I have also come to realize that the constant conflict between us isn't getting us any where so I am trying to let go & let her learn some life lessons on her own. I remember telling myself that the process of going from teen to adult was just as painful as going from the womb into the outside world. It's uncomfortable, painful, scary, and there can be screaming & crying, etc. ... but eventually it passes. The biggest problem that I had with her was the abusive/controlling boyfriend. I couldn't get her away from him. He would call 10-20 times a day & text her non-stop. He wanted to know what she was doing every minute of the day, who she was with, what she was wearing....he had her completely turned against me & the rest of her family & friends. Isabelle was very instrumental in getting me through probably the most difficult time I have had as a parent and I will always be grateful that our paths crossed. I’m so glad she discouraged the idea of a boarding school because my daughter would still be sitting there today … angry. It would have been so bad to lose this time with her.” Follow-up one year later: “I’m happy to report that things have turned around and we are back on track! She turns 18 next week and I thank God that she is in a good space before she is out of the house and able to do what she wants. She is now away from the abusive boyfriend. I can't tell you how much of a nuisance he was all day every day. She is back to being a happy person again. Before she finally got away from him she realized how needy she was to even want someone like him in her life. A lot of people suggested during that time that I should let go of her & let her learn her own lesson but I didn't agree. I wasn't giving up & I wasn't going to let her ruin her life to learn a lesson. I kept focused on where I wanted to see her in the future (like in college) and kept moving forward. Nutrition played a big role in this for her. There’s been less anxiety and better concentration. So between maturity, nutrition, getting into a great college, and getting away from an abusive relationship...........she is doing great! I think it's wonderful that Isabelle is planning to help parents with difficult teens. It is such a hard time. I know she was a big help to me which I will always be grateful for.” Suzanne, Mother of Teen
Pennsylvania -- “Isabelle's listening skills, warm and caring personality helped to put us on the right path. Our son was 17, exerting his own independence, taking risks and making mistakes along the way. The same mistakes we made in our youth but how quickly the mind forgets. Our old ways of discipline weren't working any more and we were suddenly in transition and didn't know how to handle ourselves. Isabelle made it click. Through coaching we learned how to respect our son, listen to what he had to say. Coaching taught us to be more patient and understanding … it also helped to clear any misconceptions until we had the facts straight, not blowing them out of proportion. We also learned to dwell on the positive points instead of the negative ones.” Sue F., Mother of Teen
San Mateo, CA -- “Isabelle Zehnder started coaching me a couple of months ago and the results have been different than what I expected. I remember at our first session she asked me on a scale from one to ten where my stress level was. I came in at a 9-10. I had a lot going on and have been really stressed out for some time. Now my stress level hardly ever goes over a 4 so it’s been a great improvement for both my kids and me. My kids have had a tough time coping with their dad’s and my divorce and with the death of their grandfather who they were really close to. So it’s been a very tough few years. I felt my kids were lacking in respect for me which bothered me. What I learned is that I needed to have respect for them too, it’s two-way street. Some of the issues were my son’s grades and my daughter’s attitude. I’ve learned a lot about my kids since we’ve been coaching. Isabelle gives me things to do during the week that help tie everything together. What I like is she always asks me if I agree with the assignment. So it’s always something I feel I can do. One of the things I’ve learned from my coaching experience with Isabelle is that it’s not only helping my kids but it’s really helping me. I feel calmer and more assured of myself and my parenting abilities. I have a deeper level of respect for my kids and I think they have a deeper level of respect for me. I just approach things differently and it’s working. Teresa C., Mother of Two Teenagers Vancouver, WA ADVOCACY TESTIMONIALS: Dear Isabelle, Throughout the last year and a half, I have come to know and trust you. You were the only advocate who took the time to talk, listen and gain my trust. I have dealt with many professionals in the 9 years I have been managing my child's problems. You are the only one who has gone the distance to hold accountable those who assault, molest, torture and murder innocent children. The professionals that are entrusted with our "problem" children are lacking compassion, vision, and patience. They are under paid by those who are flush with the high dollar payments the parents make hoping for REAL help for their children. I brought my child home from a program after learning that a staff was having sex with one of the students there. The school covered up the crime. Other parents shut their eyes and claimed that "we" (the parents who knew for a fact it was true) were lying, as an excuse to bring our child home. My child was not totally ready to return to regular public school. I kept my child home for another nine months. During this time, I became acquainted with you and the services CAICA provides. Your support and coaching provided validation, clarity and insight in what to do next. Please know that I support you 100%. I am available when you need me, as you have been there for me & my child. In all sincerity and support, (Name withheld until pending lawsuit is settled) -- Dear Isabelle, The work you have done and continue to do to get changes made in the justice system across the United States for the safety of all our children touches my heart. The fact that you have resources available to parents to help them get information before they have to send their children to one of these facilities is very thoughtful. Parents need to be aware that not all of these facilities are good for our children and there are many questions to ask, but because by the time our children are in need of institutional help most parents are so worn and tired that when someone says "We have a place that may be able to help your baby, a GOOD place" that we want to believe and trust that there is help and hope for the future that we forget or don't think to always ask questions like: How often and under what circumstances do you restrain children? What is the staff ratio to children?
Have you ever been cited or investigated for child abuse?
Has any child ever died at your facility?
What if any type of restraints do you use?
How much say so will I have in his/her treatment plan? Meds?
Are your staff licensed? Certified? Etc. Thank you Isabelle Cynthia A.,
Allentown, PA
Joey’s Mom NOTE: Joey lost his life February 2006 at SummitQuest Academy, a ViaQuest facility in Ephrata, PA, when he was restrained by two unlicensed, unqualified staff. She is seeking Justice for Joey, and CAICA will support her until she gets it. Thank you for your comments, Cynthia. We all love you! -- The behavior modification industry is a growing epidemic in this country. All too often, young people, having been convicted of no crime, are sent by their parents to abusive institutions in the hope of modifying their behavior. The World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools is perhaps the greatest purveyor of this disturbing oppression. While campaign contributions have protected WWASPS thus far, there is a movement to shut down their affiliates, and it has gained considerable momentum in the past month. Isabelle Zehnder of http://www.kidsincaptivity.com/ (now www.caica.org) has dedicated herself to taking action against these gulag schools. With the help of The Emancipation Project's Tom Coleman, and four former WWASPS employees, Isabelle wrote a comprehensive report detailing the abuse and neglect prevalent at Majestic Ranch, a WWASPS affiliate in Utah. The report is based on her travels to Utah, correspondence with county officials, and testimony from former Majestic Ranch employees, including Karleen Farnsworth, a member of the NYRA Forums. Isabelle Zehnder's report is some of the most damming evidence amassed regarding the human rights violations at Majestic Ranch. A recent investigation by local authorities failed to do what Zehnder and her associates were able to do on their own time without government funding. This is a testament to the well funded lobbying efforts of the behavior modification industry. Zehnder and Coleman held a press conference at the Capitol building in Salt Lake City. The press conference was an overwhelming success, attracting many major media outlets. Articles about Majestic Ranch and Isabelle's report are linked in the "news from the web" section. National Youth Rights
Alex and Scott, '05 -- I am greatly heartened by reading of your work, and support what you are doing. I've been working against child abuse for over 40 years myself, and currently write an e-letter encouraging people to intervene when witnessing child abuse. (Thus far, 250 people have signed my Resolution.) This anti-abuse issue is one whose time has come. With persistence, even Utah will capitulate and stop the ugliness and horror the children are suffering. Thank you for all you do. Norm, CA -- I took a quick look at your web site and read the abstract for your speech this morning. You're doing great! Your research, thoughts, and ideas about the boarding school industry are very accurate. John, Therapist
CA
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