It is no secret that depression is an issue facing many teens, particularly teen girls. But a large new study published in May has provided some alarming data suggesting that depression among teen girls is much more common than we previously thought. The study found that by the age of 17, 13.6 percent of boys … 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 many of my colleagues and clients know, I love movies! I often reference them in session as a way to connect, provide a reference point, and illustrate a concept. After the release of Pixar’s touching, animated movie “Inside Out,” many conversations have unfolded about the impact of the film on both children and parents. … Read more
Research studies indicate that depression is one of the most frequently occurring mental health challenges for today’s children. As an example, a recent Fairfax County Youth Survey found that 22% of surveyed 6th graders and almost one-third of the teens surveyed in grades 8-12 reported experiencing significant symptoms of depression within the previous 12 month … Read more
Eye-blinking, throat-clearing, sniffing – your child’s odd tic is often just a passing phase. But many parents wonder how to distinguish whether their child’s habit is a sign of something more serious. The majority of tics involve the head and shoulder areas and in some way relate to the five senses: the eyes blink or … Read more
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
Childhood anxiety is all too common in today’s world. Parents often ask me for concrete, practical ideas to help school-age children deal with worries. One of the tools I sometimes use in therapy with children is to create a “Worry-Eater.” To try it at home, tell your child that you have a great idea that … Read more
Wishing something would happen but it never does. Wanting someone to do something different, but she never does. Worrying about what someone else thinks of us, getting angry when the rain spoils our cookout, and stressing about what the traffic will be like when we leave work tonight. These are all things we have no … Read more
When you have a child that has anxiety, it is important to identify what type of anxiety is present. Doing so will help guide his/her treatment. Because not all anxiety is the same, treatments may vary depending on the symptoms and presentation of the worry or worries. A brief description and symptoms of the various … Read more
Many people start feeling blue as the air turns chilly and the days get shorter. However, for some this seasonal change in mood is more serious and may require treatment. Seasonal Affective Disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year, usually beginning in the fall and … Read more
