admin As children get older, they often become more reluctant to talk to and listen to their parents, especially as entities outside the home, such as peers and the media, start to exert a stronger influence over them. Whether we like it or not, children learn a lot about life from the media, especially movies and … Read more
Parents who have children diagnosed with ADHD often feel apprehensive about following through with a physician recommendation for medication in order to manage symptoms. Reasons for apprehension range from concerns about the specific side effects (e.g., disturbance in appetite) to a blanket fear that not all side effects of the medication are discoverable. Research has … Read more
Given my work as a clinical psychologist, I try my best to stay up on the latest research across several areas, so that I can help parents make well-informed decisions regarding their children’s treatment. Recently, I was tuned in to NPR and was intrigued to hear a Dutch researcher being interviewed with regard to a … Read more
We receive constant feedback from the world around us. For children and teenagers, the messages they receive about themselves from peers, teachers, coaches, siblings, and parents play a very powerful role in shaping their sense of self. Children and teens who have behavioral, emotional, or social difficulties, such as those associated with ADHD, anxiety, depression, … Read more
One question I am regularly asked is, “how long should I expect therapy to last?” Unfortunately, the answer to this question can vary greatly from person to person, as well as from presenting problem to presenting problem. For example, though two people may seek therapy services from a clinical psychologist aimed at decreasing symptoms of … Read more
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects not only the child who experiences the symptoms but also the child’s family system and social networks. Each family system must make accommodations to the diagnosed child in order to maintain the family’s stability. Typically, the necessary accommodations by the family are often extensive and affect all family members and roles. … Read more
It seems like everyone everywhere is stressed out nowadays! We constantly hear about hectic schedules, see people trying to do 10 things at once, and watch as people become irritable and short-tempered on high stress days. In order to combat the weight of daily stressors, we are often urged to “just chill out” and relax. … Read more
While wanting to be liked and needing to fit in tend to be important no matter what your age, these issues are often especially important to adolescents. Teenagers often spend a good deal of time and energy worrying about how they are perceived by their peers. And parents often spend a good deal of time … Read more
The question of making or finding meaning in one’s life is often the basis for intense episodes of psychological conflict. There’s the twenty-something post-graduate having a quarter-life crisis, the thirty-something professional hearing her biological clock ticking, the middle-aged man wondering why he’s slaving away at a job he doesn’t like, and the older woman looking … Read more
For many young adults, the transition from student to “grown-up” can be particularly challenging and stressful. After a lifetime spent in school learning how to make the grade and make a name for themselves on campus, many young adults are left feeling lonely and lost upon entering the real world. Other young adults, though their … Read more
