I stumbled upon this site and was quickly drawn in as I have searched and searched for help on how to handle my daughters problem with stealing. I and my ex-husband are at our wits end and do not know what to do.
I first noticed my daughters problem when she was in high school and I discovered that she had taken my debit card and used it to withdraw cash. I confronted her and got a heartfelt apology but never an explanation why...Ten or more years have passed since that time. She has been arrested 3x for stealing and incarcerated twice. This last time she received a felony strike. Each and every time the apologies are issued and we attempt to start over. This time I told her that unless she went through extensive therapy she could never live with me again. When she was released, her dad took her in. Since she has been there she has stolen numerous times from him. He will not call the police because she never seems to learn her lesson in jail. We finally called her bluff this last week and told her it was either enroll herself in rehab (although she has been tested numerous times for drug use and is always clean) or she would have no place to live and no car to drive. She went but unwillingly...she hates it there because " she has nothing in common" with the drug addicts. We tell of course you do, stealing is her drug. She now claims she steals to get back at her father for not giving her the attention she needs and me because when her brother died I did not allow her to grieve.
I could go on and on but I guess what I'm looking for is some direction on a type if counseling or a program that might deal with this kind of issue. She is covered under insurance for 10 more months. I am so afraid she will become homeless. She has burned bridges with family and friends and really has no one to turn to, yet the thought of living with her again fills me with such dread. Help
I first noticed my daughters problem when she was in high school and I discovered that she had taken my debit card and used it to withdraw cash. I confronted her and got a heartfelt apology but never an explanation why...Ten or more years have passed since that time. She has been arrested 3x for stealing and incarcerated twice. This last time she received a felony strike. Each and every time the apologies are issued and we attempt to start over. This time I told her that unless she went through extensive therapy she could never live with me again. When she was released, her dad took her in. Since she has been there she has stolen numerous times from him. He will not call the police because she never seems to learn her lesson in jail. We finally called her bluff this last week and told her it was either enroll herself in rehab (although she has been tested numerous times for drug use and is always clean) or she would have no place to live and no car to drive. She went but unwillingly...she hates it there because " she has nothing in common" with the drug addicts. We tell of course you do, stealing is her drug. She now claims she steals to get back at her father for not giving her the attention she needs and me because when her brother died I did not allow her to grieve.
I could go on and on but I guess what I'm looking for is some direction on a type if counseling or a program that might deal with this kind of issue. She is covered under insurance for 10 more months. I am so afraid she will become homeless. She has burned bridges with family and friends and really has no one to turn to, yet the thought of living with her again fills me with such dread. Help