The support groups and trainings that G.E.A.R. offers are wonderful, but they don’t compare to the personal relationship that can occur from one-on-one interactions. I know for me, often times I don’t feel comfortable airing my “bad laundry” to a group, especially where I am from a small community and will see these people in other venues. The staff at G.E.A.R. are REAL. They are parents who have experienced trouble with schools, the heartache of having a child hospitalized and/or jailed, medication changes and other issues that arise when dealing with a child with SED (serious emotional disturbance). Having someone with lived experience to talk about my child is so important.