Chapter 21 - Perry learns doors stay open
His therapist, Dr. Leah Monroe, worked slowly.
No forced closet exposure.
No dramatic reenactment.
At first Perry refused to enter any small room alone.
Bathrooms with locking doors bothered him.
School supply closet:
No.
Elevator:
Sometimes.
We made one rule at home:
If Perry needed a calm space, he could choose it.
Bedroom.
Reading nook.
Couch tent.
Door stays unlockable from inside.
No adult uses confinement as punishment.
One evening he became overwhelmed after losing a game.
He shouted.
Threw a cushion.
Reid was visiting.
I watched him.
Old Reid might have said:
Go calm down.
New Reid asked:
“Do you want space or help?”
Perry yelled:
“SPACE!”
Reid answered:
“Okay.”
Perry went to his room.
Slammed door.
Five minutes later opened it himself.
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That was the difference.
Control remained with the child’s ability to leave.
