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
The Keys to Being a Good Parent
Nov 6, 2011
As parents, we all try to do our best to do a good job. But with thousands of books on the topic of parenting as well as countless articles in popular magazines and periodicals, sometimes it is difficult to know how to be a good parent. Should we be more strict? More lenient? Use time-outs? …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 Road to Expertise – Nature or Nurture?
Oct 16, 2011
“America’s Got Talent!” proclaims the title of the popular TV show. A more provocative question is, “Does anyone have talent?” A dichotomy regarding expertise exists, especially in America. For one, we hear things like “Practice makes perfect” that extol the virtues of working hard as the road to greatness. On the other hand, we hear how some …Read More
A Response to the “Tiger Mother” and a Thanks to Disney
Oct 2, 2011
First, before I jump into this topic, I want to apologize for the long delay since my last blog. I recently had a third child, so it’s difficult to keep up! My aim is to post weekly, so I promise to get back on track. I listened the audiobook version of Amy Chua’s Battle Hymn of …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
Elite Preschool = Success in Life? Hmm…
Aug 29, 2011
So I was driving home the other day when I heard this NPR story about how fierce the competition is for Manhattanites to get their children into elite preschools. These preschools can cost parents between $20,000-$30,000 per year! Apparently, it is so competitive to get into some of these preschools that parents can become quite …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
Tips for Improving Family Communication
Apr 21, 2011
Families are busier than ever and one of the things I find they often struggle with is effective communication. When a family describes a situation where they feel “stuck” or as though they tend to face the same problems on a frequent basis, improving the family’s communication skills can be very helpful. Having effective communication …Read More