The article about engaging depressed African American teens with guidance from the Aakoma project: First of all, I liked how the researchers let the teens choose cars which expressed themselves, as their names. I thought it was interesting how these teens grappled with the idea of depression and saw it more in Whites in the media; thus it was important for teens to see famous people who struggled with depression. How can a problem be solved, if it isn’t identified, seen as a distinct problem, not just a desire to sleep.
That said, Why is it seen as a disease though? It’s not like a cold you can catch from a stranger, it comes from adverse experiences, there are precedents; so those have to be talked about too.
Also, I see how girls’ depression could go undiagnosed, if school’s are to catch it, as much if it is more internalized, whereas in boys the depression is externalized and comes out as anger.
It was refreshing reading Bromfield’s work on teens. Teens are often sent by parents. It was interesting to see how he negotiates with the teens to get them on board. I liked hearing how he establishes goals with teens. The goal for therapy has to come from teens although they may be informed by parents’ goals; nonetheless goals can only work by the ones sitting across from the therapist. His writings gave me hope.