As parents we often spend much time planning for multiple things including activities, vacations, dinner for the week, meetings, appointments, college, and the list goes on and on. Does your list include helping your teen with AD/HD achieve a good outcome? For many parents, this is not a typical item on the list, yet its … Read more
This time of year, thousands of parents are hitting their local big box stores and checking off their college-bound offsprings’ shopping lists: extra-loud alarm clock (check), shower caddy (check), comfy new sheets and pillows (check), bulletin board (check). In the frenzy of logistics – and strong emotions – that often accompanies leaving home for college, … 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
Smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives. While there is no doubt that smartphones have many benefits, they also have the potential to disrupt our relationships and even our mental health! Recent research indicates that smartphone use is a rising cause of relationship problems. It has become very common to use smartphones … Read more
Working with parents, I frequently hear myself saying, “You have to love the child you have – not the child you imagined you would have.” And as a parent, I frequently tell myself the same thing. Everyone who has children, is expecting a child, or is even contemplating having a child fantasizes about what his … Read more
Adolescence is a time of change, changes in one’s body, in one’s mood, and in one’s relationships. Helping teenagers form and maintain healthy relationships, especially with peers, is critically important because research has shown that teens who do not have good peer relationships tend to do worse in school and are at risk for behavior … Read more
For many living in the fast paced and sometimes even competitive Northern Virginia area, can often feel like no matter how hard you work that it is never enough. This ranges from the teenager who studies hours for their final quarter exam with the hope of earning an “A,” to the mother who balances her … Read more
1. What are psychological assessments? Psychological assessments are specialized evaluations, conducted with your child by a licensed clinical psychologist. They include interviews with parents, with the child in question, as well as with other adults involved in the child’s life (e.g. teachers, other professionals). Such interviews often also incorporate questionnaires that ask specific questions about … Read more
Even when two adults have the best of intentions, communication can be strained and emotions can run high when they are ending their relationship as spouses. A normal and natural part of divorce is the experiencing of distressing feelings, such as unhappiness, anger, guilt, frustration, and anxiety. If the marriage includes children, these youngsters are … Read more
