First Step Consultation – Brian Farr M.S. in Ed., C.A.S.A.C.

  The first time I saw him perform it was clear that there was something wrong with him. And that was why I could not stop watching. Because there was something wrong with me as well, and this guy immediately struck me as a familiar, frantic soul. It was like his words could barely keep […]

I really enjoy some of the writing and ironic humor in The Simpsons. One of my favorite episodes is from Season 11 and is titled “Days of Wine and D’oh’ses”. It focuses on Barney Gumble, who is well-known for his blatant abuse of alcohol on the show, and how he has decided to quit drinking […]

Here’s an activity I do with young people who are in treatment for abusing substances: Write down all of the words you can think of that have to do with being under the influence of a substance : “being messed up, tipsy, drunk, high, etc..” Take your time and write down any you can think […]

  One of my favorite teachers in 7th grade used to jokingly gauge the difficulty of our tests by the number of Martinis we would need to drink after taking the test to recover from the mental effort required. He would refer to the hardest challenges as “3 Martini Tests” and most of the students […]

My father and I stood before the door of the small, run down trailer and I could feel my heart beating faster in my chest as my fists slowly clenched and unclenched. He walked up and knocked on the door, and I moved up, standing behind him, looking over his shoulder, and noticing for the […]

I have worked with many young people in the Saratoga region over the last 17 years who were in treatment for problems associated with addiction. Although these kids were very different in many ways, there were some common risk factors among them that are rarely discussed in our community. And that needs to change if […]

  I think I had Alaska all wrong.  But I refuse to take full responsibility for my ignorance, instead choosing to blame Jack London and George Lucas.  London’s short story “To Build a Fire,” was one of the first pieces of literature I read describing that unknown and mysterious area, and it made me feel […]

Fear is a funny thing.  Recently my wife rallied up the courage to enter a school board meeting held  inside the same school building in which she was sexually assaulted one year ago.  She was there to overcome her fear of the student who assaulted her, her fear of the building in which it happened, and of […]

    Earlier this year, a middle school student in a special education classroom in the Corinth School District violently attacked a substitute teacher.  The large, strong young man waited until dismissal time when all of the other students had left the room before sexually assaulting the teacher.  Only her quick thinking and actions allowed […]

This will be my last blog until August or September – it depends on when our upcoming road trip ends and how much I have accumulated to write upon along the way.  I have a feeling that I will have plenty to say and that most of it will be expressions of extreme gratitude for […]