I have been working with more and more teens at my practice, which is interesting for several reasons. First, there has been a major shift in what parents report as concerns regarding their teens. What was prominent several years ago (moodiness, anger, rebellion) has become self-harming, withdrawal, and suicidal thoughts and attempts. Second, teens are […]

For many students like my son, Christmas break is already over and school is back in session. For others, within the next week school buses will once again be crowding highways and car circles will be full. And with the start of school come the challenges – the temporary pains of a new routine and […]

As kids are in front of screens more and more, researchers, parents, teachers, and therapists are beginning to acknowledge the consequences of that screen time. Data has emerged indicating that children’s brains are actually altered when they are exposed to screens. Not only is this impacting development and functioning, there are implications for behavior, emotions, […]

I have been working with a three year old who has struggled to control his behaviors and emotions for much of his young life. He has had problems at preschool, at home, and in public. Mom and Dad were at their wit’s end with the scathing looks from strangers, embarrassment of not being able to […]

Over the course of my career, and more specifically in interactions with other moms, I have observed a very unique phenomenon about kids and their verbalization. When kids are not spoken to on a consistent, regular, and purposeful basis, they tend not to speak themselves. So much so in fact, that I have had quite […]

Summer is in full swing and I always look forward to my son being home for three months. I love having all day with him so that we can enjoy a more relaxed schedule. However, we haven’t had the luxury of lounging by the pool and going to the beach with friends. Instead, we have […]

For several years, my best friend lived in Snead’s Ferry, NC. This happens to be really close to Camp LeJeune, and is predominantly a military town. When I visited, I realized how different military life, culture, and practice really is from civilian family life. I was struck by how brave, strong, and resourceful both the […]

As I have mentioned before, I listen to a radio program on the way to and from dropping my son off at school in the mornings. The DJs have children and they often talk about studies relating to parenting, or their experiences with raising their kids. This morning, they mentioned an article that discussed the […]

I have this amazing activity that I do with college students in the course that I teach at USF that typically creates a very poignant reaction. It goes something like this, with 20 and 21 year olds: ME: “How many of you can dance?” STUDENTS: One or two raise their hands, timidly. ME: “How many […]

We were at a restaurant the other night, and a family with young children came in. We watched as they waited for their table, and the kids were getting more and more restless and difficult to handle. The mom was trying her best but they kids just weren’t happy. I was reminded of my belief […]