Marilyn Wedge Livres

A family therapist offers a surprising new look at the rise of ADHD in America, arguing for a better paradigm for diagnosing and treating our children. Since 1987, the number of American children diagnosed with ADHD has jumped from 3 to 11 percent. Meanwhile, ADHD rates remain relatively low in other countries such as France, Finland, the UK, and Japan, where the number of children diagnosed with and medicated for ADHD is 1 percent or less. Alarmed by this trend, family therapist Marilyn Wedge set out to understand how ADHD became an American epidemic—and to find out whether there are alternative treatments to powerful prescription drugs. In A Disease Called Childhood , Wedge examines the factors that have created a generation addicted to stimulant drugs. Instead of focusing only on treating symptoms, she looks at the various potential causes of hyperactivity and inattention in children, and behavioral and environmental—as opposed to strictly biological—treatments that have been proven to help. In the process, Wedge offers a new paradigm for child mental health—and a better, happier, and less medicated future for American children.

Focusing on the alarming rise of ADHD and psychiatric diagnoses among children, the book offers an alternative to medication by advocating for child-focused family therapy. Marilyn Wedge, a seasoned family therapist, shares patient stories and emphasizes that children's troubling behaviors are often responses to their relationships rather than biological disorders. She provides creative strategies for parents seeking to address their child's issues without resorting to labels or drugs, highlighting the potential for positive change through therapeutic intervention.

Focusing on a child-centered approach, this guide offers parents an alternative to psychiatric medications by presenting a family therapy plan. It emphasizes that children's issues, such as ADHD, depression, and anxiety, stem from relational dynamics rather than biological disorders. The book provides practical recommendations for addressing these symptoms through therapeutic interventions, empowering families to create healthier relationships and environments for their children.

Integrating strategic family therapy with narrative therapy, this book emphasizes the role of symbolic forms in shaping experiences and meanings. Marilyn Wedge presents engaging case studies to support her argument that personal experiences are constructed through signs. Introducing semiotic constructivism, she reinterprets the significance of symbols like myth and ritual in therapy within a postmodern context. The first half of the book explores how symbols serve as structuring metaphors, facilitating meaningful connections between therapist and client while transforming their realities.