How is Penikese Different?

Doing Treatment “With” Rather Than “To”

Because of its small program size of 9 students, Penikese can adapt its treatment approach to the individual rather than mold the individual to the program, and takes into account the underlying factors motivating the problematic behavior, rather than the behavior alone.

By doing so Penikese avoids most of the power struggles at which its students are already so adept and instead seeks to build connections and genuine authority based on shared experience, perceptions, and goals of daily living, in effect doing treatment “with” its students rather than “to” them.

Building genuine connections with those who generally avoid closeness and undermine their relationships and success involves patience and clinical understanding. Once these relationships grab hold, treatment becomes driven internally by the student’s own motivation and choices, and consequences and rewards now hold meaning for the student.

The document links below provide further insight into what makes Penikese different. You can also visit our blog to view stories illustrating Penikese’s treatment approach and experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions
Making Sense of Success