COLUMBUS — The Wellness Council of Colorado County met on April 9 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Colorado County Courthouse to hear Dr. Vernon Johnson of Amen Clinics in Dallas present on child-toteen behavioral conditions, situations, and possible outcomes.
The Amen Clinics method is a multi-model approach to treatment that helps uncover and address the root causes of issues that traditional psychiatry may not detect. It takes a look at the physical brain, the organ that traditional psychiatry rarely looks at, by using brain SPECT imaging, which measures the blood flow and Johnson focused his discussion on development and associated problems in childhood and adolescence, covering changes in physical, intellectual, psychological changes, social challenges and spiritual maturation.
Hidden adolescent distress symptoms were presented and discussed. Physical changes addressed early versus late development; intellectual changes addressed concrete and abstract thinking; psychological changes reflected self-esteem conflicts; social challenges involved separation issues and fear of rejection; and the spiritual maturation involved the questioning of their struggles to find the "why". Each symptom presented its own challenges into finding the root cause of a brain issue.
The presentation was well received by the many social and health care workers, along with community members who wanted to know more about how to deal with problems at home and to find the "why".
Dr. Vernon Johnson of Amen Clinics addresses the Wellness Council of Colorado County at the Colorado County Courthouse in Columbus on April 9, discussing adolescent behavioral issues. Photo by John Jones, Banner Press
