Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Emily Pitt (epittearthlink.net) | |
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 08:24:31 -0800 (PST) |
What part of the country is your community in? It is interesting to me that there seem to be regional differences in how people think about therapy. I lived in the southeast for many years, and people there did not tend to openly discuss the fact that they saw a therapist. When I moved to New England, I found that perfect strangers were entirely comfortable starting sentences with "Well, my therapist says..." As a therapist myself, it is troubling to me that people who need therapy can be stigmatized. Most everyone has times in their lives when they can use the support of a professional therapist--be it transitions in one's life, ongoing mood disorders like depression/anxiety, improving relationships, dealing with grief, dealing with trauma past or present, etc. Dealing with these issues and getting support around them does not make a person more dangerous to be around children. In JP Cohousing in Boston MA, where I'll be living this April (!) , we designed our office space, as Jeanne mentioned, so that the many therapists who live in our community can see clients there, as well as others who have home-based businesses. Without these businesses, it is likely that our community would be mostly empty during the 9-5 workday hours. Having people living/working there will make our community more lived-in, and therefore safer. In cohousing, security comes from having people around. I hope to begin an outpatient therapy practice in our office space. It would be irresponsible for me to see people with severe mental health issues in an outpatient setting--many of these individuals need the care of a facility that has 24-hour emergency coverage. Also, given the constraints of managed care, it tends to be the case that people who can self-pay (and in this area, therapy fees average 100-125 per hour) will see outpatient therapists outside of a mental health facility. Those who wish to use their insurance, or who are medicaid patients, or are looking for ongoing therapy for longer-term issues, are more likely to use mental health clinics, community health centers, and hospitals for their care. This tends to very much change the clientele that utilizes outpatient care. Emily Pitt JP Cohousing -----Original Message----- From: Shelly DeMeo <shelldemeo [at] comcast.net> Sent: Nov 15, 2004 1:38 PM To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org Subject: [C-L]_ home-based offices as safety risk to children Hello-- Our group is grappling with the decision of whether or not to allow home-based businesses. There are two very distinct points of view on this issue. One side (actually only one or two households) wants the cohousing community to be a safe, residential community where one doesn't have to worry about strangers walking near our children. The other viewpoint is one of a thriving village, where people flow in and out of the community all day. This side argues that it is actually safer this way, because it provides more eyes watching during the day, as opposed to an empty community during work hours. We have many businesses that want to open including yoga studio, art classes, home-schoolers, landscape architects, violinists, etc. The hot button item tends to be the therapy offices Surprise! We have a lot of therapists in this community and a few of them would like the option to provide therapy in their home. The opposing households feel this is a distinct threat to the children of the community. I am sure others have struggled with this issue. Our group would appreciate any advice on how to reach consensus on this issue. Comments on real life cohousing offices, safety, and kids would be helpful. Thanks. Shelly DeMeo Rocky Hill Cohousing _________________________________________________________________ Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at: http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/
- Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children, (continued)
- Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children Christy Collins, November 16 2004
- Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children Sharon Villines, November 16 2004
- Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children Jeanne Goodman, JP Cohousing, November 16 2004
- Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children Laura Fitch, November 17 2004
- Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children Emily Pitt, November 17 2004
- Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children Sharon Villines, November 17 2004
- Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children JoycePlath, November 17 2004
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