Has anybody ordered and used the "Total Transformation System" it is a video/or audio course on how to gain control of a child with behavior problems and "bring sanity back into your home". I've seen the commercials and seen people auctioning them on eBay (because it didn't work or because it worked and they don't need it anymore, I don't know). They are pretty expensive and I don't want to buy it if it doesn't work. If it does, then price is almost no object, I''m that desperate.
My son is ADHD and bi-polar and out of control. If anyone has used it and can give me a review that would be great. Maybe even someone has one to sell me, if reviews are good. Thank you and God bless.
By amy from Rochester
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Total waste of $$$$. Didn't work worth squat! Don't fall for it; they're out to prey on people who are at their wits end with difficult children.
I posted this very question here a while back. Well, time has marched on. We never did try "The Total Transformation". Although the good intentions were there, it is so hard to follow through with consistency 100% when things are in such a crisis. My son has ADHD and was out of control too. We ended up putting him on medication. We put it off for a long time. It has turned out very well however. He is on Concerta and it has made a tremendous difference. It has helped take the edge off so we can all work together much better on the issues and behavior. It has allowed us to make progress.
My son is 10 years old and he even realizes now when the medication is wearing off and will tell us that it is difficult for him to control himself or focus, so we know how to respond. We have those resbit hours of the day when we can work together better on new habits and such. He is extremely strong willed so we have the same issues basically but we can make and follow boundaries, discipline, discuss much better.
Generally we don't administer it to him now on weekends or holidays to give his body a break from the drug, (unless he is going to be away from home and needs that extra help to be more in control, not in others space, etc.). His school work has improved tremendously. His teachers are amazed at what he can do. I strongly recommend reading Dr. Thomas Phelan's books "All About Attention Deficit Disorder" and "1-2-3 Magic".
I was able to borrow them from the library. He does have these on video, which I was also able to borrow. They were excellent in helping us to understand and work with ADHD. I read alot but these helped the most. I hope you find success. God Bless.
Your little guy is special needs. I think these videos are for kids that have just been let run wild without good controls. You might make matters worse. He can't help it and needs professional help.
I am retired now, and my daughter is also a Counselor (elementary school), plus she is a Behavior Analyst. There are many books written that are not useful. Most importantly, what is the author's credentials. She should at least have an M.S. or Ph.D. Behavior counseling is very effective, but better to actually see a therapist or counselor. Most insurances cover this. In my daughter's school, she also can refer children to places that accept medicaid, etc. if the child is in need of services. Good luck.
I've used this program for two years now. It has a lot of common sense and I found it helpful. I have used it on all my children, but the one child I've gotten it for, it has not helped. She has gotten progressively worse as she doesn't care about punishment or reward. We have been seeing a therapist three times a week for about eight months now. It's not working either, so I guess I'll say it works as long as your child is willing to change. But if they are not then I'm starting to think nothing in the world will help.
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Does any one have experience with a behavioral therapy called "The Total Transformation" by James Lehman? Someone recommended it for me for working with my kids and I'm wondering about it's creditability. There is a free trial, but those things always seem to have a catch. The write up about the program sounds too good to be true.
Arlinn from NY
I looked into it a little online. I used to be a supervisor for a girls' grouphome and am always interested in new ideas (our grouphome girls were very defiant and emotionally disturbed).
Anyway, the program looks like they use a method called "cognitive behavioral therapy", which is what we used and it works well. It is more than a therapy and can be used by parents. We raised our two children with it and they are doing well and we have a great relationship with them. Best of luck to you.
I would recommend any books by William Glasser. He explains Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and how to use it. It would be much cheaper and you can see if you like it. His books are in most libraries.
(01/16/2009)
I have never heard of the above mentioned program, but I do recommend "Love and Logic". Their books give hands on practical ideas for how to deal with lots of different situations at all different ages. They also have programs for teachers. There are schools that teach their teachers how to use these easy, non confrontational methods for changing inappropriate behavior. Their web site is:loveandlogic.com
Good luck. (01/17/2009)
By Bette
My best friend bought it for my husband and me, as it was very expensive, and we are going through a lot with my 15 year old daughter. She has had depression, and has all but dropped out of school. We've done therapy and meds, but if you don't take the therapist's advice she's defiant, doesn't help out at home at all, and will just shut down and go to sleep all day. She can also be nasty and is verbally (and we think physically) abusive to her younger 11 year old sister.
I think that it's a good program. I checked into some independent reviews online (Google, TT, and see what you can find) and I asked our therapist. I think it's on the up and up, but it's done rather oddly. You watch a boring DVD, then you listen to audio CDs, and follow-up by working in a workbook. It's expensive, but the info is good. If anything, it's bringing my husband and I to work together as a team to give our daughter "tough love" and not stand for the manipulative behavior.
Mostly I think we've been doing whatever we feel (tired and exhausted mostly) and caving in. We have not finished it, but what I do really like are the emailed newsletters with articles and forums for parents to post what's driving them crazy about their kids. I guess the counselors do respond, but I've never asked a direct question yet. But the newsletter site lets you look up a bunch of topics like defiance, or violence, or what to do with a grown-up kid who's still not taking responsibility, and I find it helpful to read all of them.
Books just take a long time to sort out exactly what you are looking for. I do get tired of all the self-promotion on the website and especially the DVD that just keeps stating how it's changed their whole life.
I can't say it's done that yet, but I'm hoping. (02/05/2009)
By Deeda in Seattle
I do agree that one needs to be careful especially when things sound too good to be true.
However, I do know of many parents who had tried the Total Transformation Program and are pleased with the results. There were a handful who said it didn't work for them. For those who said that it didn't work, they were mostly with kids that are under 7 years old. My rationale is that younger kids go through more "delta" in their development and it may be that their "defiant phase" may go away as they grow older.
There is a special report on Action News, child-central.com which you may like to have a look before making a decision. (09/05/2009)
By judy
This program is excellent when used as Lehman suggests. We listened to the Cds over and over again in the car until the methods became second nature to us. Husband and I were always discussing at the end of the day what worked and what needed tweaked for each individual child. The program really does work.
