The information contained on this site, blog posts, videos and interviews are for general education purposes and do not constitute professional advice. If you are a provider, it’s important to seek training, continuing education or clinical supervision. If you are a parent, I encourage you to seek direct help from a qualified provider for your child and family. All identifying information, including names and other details, has been changed to protect the privacy of individuals. *The photos used are stock photography models and do not represent specific individuals in any way.
August 22nd, 2020
Whether classrooms are reopening virtually or in person, we’ve never seen a new school year like this one. And never has it been more important for teachers to relieve their students’ stress and bolster mental health. We know that students learn best when their bodies and brains are in a calm, alert state. That’s difficult […]
September 5th, 2017
Aly’s sleep problems were becoming so challenging that now her parents were losing sleep. For years, the five-year-old had woken up several times nightly. When a pediatrician’s advice failed to alleviate the problem, her parents sought help from an agency that offered their daughter sleep training using a behavioral approach. After just three weeks, Aly […]
June 23rd, 2017
When I was young, I couldn’t wait until my grandmother came to stay with us every summer. We sat in the garden for hours, laughing, talking and playing games. With her by my side, I felt that I could face anything. Her loving presence always helped to calm the storms of my childhood mind. Even […]
May 22nd, 2017
An essential ingredient has been slowly disappearing from children’s lives: free, spontaneous play. Many factors have converged to cause the decline of play. Technology absorbs more and more of children’s attention. Schools pile on academic pressures earlier and earlier. And parents are increasingly opting to place their children in structured extracurricular activities. That makes today’s […]
April 27th, 2017
By the time Stuart hit second grade, his teachers had pegged him as a “problem child.” They knew he came from a loving home and could discern right from wrong, but still, he frequently started fights and caused classroom outbursts. By tenth grade, he had been in and out of various therapies and special schools. His […]
April 3rd, 2017
It seemed like simple gesture. A college football player who was visiting a middle school spotted a red-haired sixth grader eating lunch alone, so he joined him. Then the boy’s mother posted a photo on Facebook capturing the moment: her autistic son sitting across a cafeteria table from Travis Rudolph, the Florida State University wide […]
March 9th, 2017
Recently a pediatrician phoned me with a concern about a three-year-old patient I see in my psychology practice. During a routine visit, the doctor said, “Karson” had bitten him. In fact, the young child had a history of behavior problems. “Do you think there’s a diagnosis?” the doctor asked me. I told her I wasn’t a fan […]
March 20th, 2015
I am very grateful to the Kids in the House Organization for the opportunity to support parents and caregivers through their extensive videotape library. Here I share four things parents can do to build resilience in yourself and your child. It’s often difficult to prioritize self-care when the world is spinning so quickly and your schedule […]
June 6th, 2014
How many more deaths must occur before we take action to prevent future acts of violence in this country? While discussion around limiting gun access is important, as a mental health specialist I can speak to the need for early identification of potential perpetrators. Our current methods of identifying and treating persons with mental health […]
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