It is sometimes hard to remember when you are a parent that it is also important to take care of yourself and your own needs. Dr. Brooks recently discussed research that suggests that parents’ ability to manage their own stress is one of the top three predictors of positive outcomes for children. So when you …Read More
OCD Symptoms Can Be Caused By Strep
Nov 3, 2011
I was working from home the other day, writing reports, and had the TV on as background noise. The program that was on was “The Doctors.” There I learned that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms can sometimes be caused by a complication from a strep infection called Pediatric autoimmune psychiatric disorder (PANDAS). OCD manifests as …Read More
The Downside of Distraction
Sep 20, 2011
It seems safe to say that everybody wants to be happy. Almost all of my clients at some point request help with feeling happier in their lives. Usually we think that happiness is something we will achieve “some day” when we finally get everything together and things work out for us at last. TV ads …Read More
Abolish Allowance?
Sep 6, 2011
A week or so ago, I was watching the PBS fundraiser special by Suze Orman “The Money Class.” In this program, Suze Orman made a very interesting suggestion about allowance that I would like to share with you. She suggested that parents should “scrap the word ‘allowance’ from their vocabulary.” Instead, Orman suggested that children …Read More
Why Marriages Succeed or Fail – Book Recommendation
Aug 24, 2011
Lately I have been studying the work of Dr. John Gottman, a psychologist and researcher who has been studying relationships for over thirty years. He published his findings in the book “Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, And How You Can Make Yours Last.” Based on his research, Gottman is able to predict, with over 90 percent …Read More
Self-Esteem or Self-Compassion?
Aug 19, 2011
In our culture there is a lot of concern for self-esteem. As parents and teachers we are always trying to foster children’s self-esteem, and many of my clients come to me asking for help to improve their self-esteem. But is self-esteem really all it is cracked up to be? Psychologist and researcher Dr. Kristin Neff …Read More
Family Therapy
Jul 20, 2011
One of the forms of therapy I am specialized in is family therapy, and I thought it would be helpful to write a blog about what family therapy is and why it could be helpful. Often when children are experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties, these problems are related to stress or tension within the family. …Read More
“Peace Is Every Step” By Thich Nhat Hanh (Book Recommendation)
Jun 30, 2011
This book is a classic that I wanted to bring to people’s attention again today, because it contains a wealth of wisdom that is written specifically to increase peace and happiness in our daily lives. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist teacher and peace activist, who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by …Read More
“Count Your Blessings, Not Your Faults”
Jun 3, 2011
I was driving home a couple of days ago, listening to the Flatlanders on the radio, and one of their songs had the line: “I count my blessings, not my faults.” Wow! What great advice to live by! All too often we get bogged down by what we think is “wrong” with us and our …Read More
Helping Your Child Succeed In School VI: A Growth Mindset
Apr 17, 2011
So, what does it take for a child to be successful at something like math or learning a language? Does it take talent? Research shows that there are certainly individual differences in predisposition for learning certain skills, but that this talent doesn’t get us very far. What really matters is putting in hours of hard …Read More