HEAL Services
Resources

Adoptive Family Services
Brenda Benning, MSW, LICSW
Brenda Benning, MSW, LICSW through her company, HEAL Family Services works with parents and children in adoptive families throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, helping them deal with and overcome trauma and attachment issues of their adopted children.

In Home Family Therapy
Helping Families in their own Environment
In home family therapy is the primary focus of HEAL. Working on healing the family, especially parents, after sometimes years of struggles is the most rewarding. Many times, families are suffering from what is called secondary trauma due to children’s difficult behaviors and they have developed strong emotions related to their children. These emotions create a disconnect and prevent further healing from happening. By providing services in the home, parents and children are in their comfort zones and are more receptive to new ideas.

Consultations
Exploring Options for Struggling Families
Heal Family Services offers consultations for families who are struggling significantly and are exploring options for more significant services. These are intended to be short term, typically one visit of approximately two hours in length. A consult is to help a family and/or county worker assess the family and the services in place already for the family. Referrals are then made for additional services or changing providers. Additional suggestions may be made regarding safety in the home and ongoing services through the county or other agency.

Crisis Assistance
Creating a Realistic and Usable Crisis Plan
HEAL Family Services works with families and other service providers to create a realistic and usable crisis plan for families. Techniques and strategies will be discussed and worked on along with a plan for difficult or challenging behavior. Special teaching will also happen to help parents understand where the behavior may be stemming from and how to reach their child from a different perspective.

Training
Focusing on the Unique Needs of the Children
Trainings focus on parenting children with traumatic histories and attachment issues. The primary concerns are for parents who have been parenting their children for a while and have continued to struggle despite multiple service interventions. Special considerations are made for families who are in the adoption process, but have not had placement of children yet.

Referrals
Connecting Families to Resources for Healing
Referrals are made on an individual basis and if the needs exceed what we are comfortable working through with families. There may be multiple service providers working with a family at any given time and would provide a cohesive plan for helping the family move forward and heal.