admin The beliefs that we hold about how things should be or people should behave can actually create more stress and rob us from daily enjoyment. When we go through our days with preconceived notions, we might become frustrated and/or angry when things don’t go as expected. For example, if we hold the common belief that … Read more
Not everyone who experiences stress meets criteria for a psychological disorder. Stress is a relatively common occurrence, and some stress can even be positive – feeling a bit tense can provide the energy and motivation to tackle a challenge. However, as we all know by now, high levels of stress can impede performance, trigger anxiety, … Read more
What is Executive Function? “Executive Function” is a term used to describe a set of “mental processes” or brain-based skills that are required for humans to execute or perform tasks effectively. It is the executive functions that help us carry out independent, purposeful, and goal directed behaviors. Executive skills help kids get done what needs … Read more
Acknowledging your child’s positive behavior is the best way to keep that behavior going. Creating and keeping a behavior chart (a.k.a., “sticker chart” or “reward chart”) helps everyone in the family take the time to stop and recognize when the child is doing something right. Behavior charts also give the child clear goals, so that … Read more
Everybody knows the importance of having a good sense of self-esteem: it protects us from depression and anxiety, it helps us make choices that are good for us, it helps children and teens be less susceptible to peer pressure, and a host of other benefits we want for ourselves and for our children. But how … Read more
Our modern society stokes the fire for our fears. There is a 24-hour news cycle with bold headlines exclaiming “Alert!” and our concern for safety sometimes seems to trump living life to the fullest. Compared to years ago, our schools and offices close more easily and more frequently with the threat of bad weather and … Read more
As both a mom and a clinical psychologist, I am often approached by parents who are concerned about their child’s academic progress, emotional health, or pattern of behaviors. Parents often have some intuition that something isn’t right, but they don’t know how concerned to be, and whether or not to seek professional guidance. Here are … Read more
I read a recent Huffington Post article called “The Habits of Supremely Happy People” by Kate Bratskeir, which pulls together some of the most current and exciting news in the world of positive psychology research. Martin Seligman founded the field of positive psychology, which is the branch of psychology devoted to furthering the study of … Read more
So, here we are at the beginning of a new school year. We all have that fantasy – this year, we will happily wave goodbye each morning as our stress-free, on-time children leave for the bus stop (or on their bikes, or on foot, or in their carpool). Unfortunately, reality does not often match up. … Read more
As parents, we want our children to believe in themselves. A sense of appropriate confidence or self efficacy, the belief that one can handle what might come his or her way, makes navigating life’s inevitable challenges not only easier, but more fun and exciting. On the other hand, a lack of confidence or a poor … Read more
