admin Quite often, thoughts may go through our heads that are disturbing. These thoughts sometimes make us angry, sometimes sad, and sometimes worried or scared. While these feelings are perfectly okay, there are times when we all would prefer to “change the channel” on our thoughts, and to shift our focus to something more pleasant and … Read more
With spring now upon us, what better way to greet the new season than with a twist on a yearly ritual: psychological spring cleaning. Just as we need to remove the dust from our tabletops, clear out the stale food from the refrigerator, and clean the cobwebs out of the attic, our brains – our … Read more
Anxiety is the most common, chronic and costly emotional disorder in the U.S. Increasing numbers of young children are experiencing clinical anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders affect one in eight children. Research shows that untreated children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and as they get … Read more
As we approach the new year it is customary to take stock of ourselves and make New Year’s Resolutions. Some of us may resolve to lose weight, to stop smoking, to be on time more, or to display less of an inappropriate temper. But, I wonder how many of us will resolve to be more … Read more
Have you ever had one of those moments in life when everything seems to be going smoothly and, then, bam life happens and tosses everything you thought you knew into a whirlwind? My assumption is the answer is, yes. As the old saying goes, “The only thing that is constant is life is change.” Depending … Read more
There is a reason that we have the saying that it is important to “count your blessings.” Research has long shown that gratitude plays a major role in an adult’s well-being and success, and more recent research has supported this same finding with regard to children. For example, gratitude in children as been linked to … Read more
Reflecting upon recent events in this country and across the world, it may be easy to become discouraged or disillusioned with the state of humanity. The news is inundated with stories of violence and crime, creating the impression that the world is bad and scary, that people are evil and unpredictable. What the news presents, … Read more
There is an ever-growing body of research suggesting that mindfulness can help children improve their ability to pay attention, calm down when they are experiencing strong emotions, and think more clearly to make better decisions. In essence, mindfulness helps with emotional regulation and cognitive focus. Who doesn’t want that for their kids? Children often react … Read more
A mother I was talking with the other day described her 8-year-old daughter as “bossy.” I asked her about it, and she talked about how her daughter had, from the time she was very young, organized games and activities for the other children in the neighborhood. I then asked if she had ever heard the … Read more
As the end of summer nears and the school year fast approaches it would be helpful to review ways to maximize our brain power. Learning requires optimal focus, concentration, planning, memory, and problem-solving, or what is called executive functioning. Executive functions also include control of our impulses, flexible thinking, judgment, and organization. The front part … Read more
