Enjoying the Season by Focusing on the Present

As the holiday season approaches, many of us begin to feel stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted. In the face of shopping lists to work through, travel itineraries to plan, and seemingly endless school functions to attend, we often lose sight of the potential for joy, celebration and re-connection with loved ones that this season is supposed … Read more

Should an Eye Exam Be on Your Child’s Back To School List?

Vision plays an important role in successful academic performance. Vision is the ability to understand what one sees, and is a learned process. A large portion of learning happens visually in traditional classroom settings. When I ask parents about their child’s vision I often get responses such as “His routine eye exam was 20/20.” It … Read more

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall…

Summer is a time when everyone takes a good look in the mirror to see how their bodies are going to fare in their bathing suit for their beach trip vacation. Whether it is fine-tuning for a more sculpted look or heading to the gym for a complete overhaul, our goal is the same – … Read more

Believe It or Not, Travel with Kids Can be Fun

Summer packs high expectations for fun through family vacations. With these plans come great hopes for relaxing times, strengthened family bonds, and memories of both adventure and discovery. Few intend to live out their favorite National Lampoon vacation. My recent debacles with travel have reminded me that even the best-laid plans can turn into infamous … Read more

Internet “Addiction”: When Should Parents be Concerned?

In recent years there has been increasing concern among parents who seek our services regarding their children and the amount of time that they spend on the computer. Parents often have particular worries about time spent on the internet, whether it be on social media websites, online gaming, or participating in virtual worlds (e.g. Second … Read more

Parents: Screen the Screens!

This blog addresses the frequent concerns that parents bring up pertaining to the content of the video games their children are playing. As mentioned in a previous blog (Posted November 2010) written by Dr. Kathleen McElhaney, parenting in the digital age is challenging. While controversial, several studies have linked exposure to violence in TV shows … Read more

Researching the Research: How to Understand and Evaluate Psychological Studies

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

Just Chill! Techniques for Effective Relaxation

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

Keys for Getting A Good Night’s Sleep

A good night’s sleep has far-reaching benefits for both children and adults. When we are well-rested, our bodies and minds can be healthy and strong. A good night’s sleep helps us have more energy, feel happier, and perform better in all areas of our life. In order to get a good night’s sleep, we need … Read more