By: Melanie McCabe, PhD The holidays are coming. Instead of joy you feel sad, worried, angry, or a mix of those. You might not even feel anything at all. It makes sense! Here we are, months into a pandemic and we are still learning what the new normal is for us all. The new normal shifts every few weeks. I have spoken with families from all walks of life and three things are common to them all. They want this to end, they are suffering, and they want a taste of n

In many of my first meetings with parents, I am likely to hear the phrase, "Nothing motivates my child." Parents sometimes feel there is nothing that they can use to motivate their child to do the things that they want them to do. This is a source of frustration for the parents. This is the case for most families that I work with, with kiddos from age 5 through college age. Some of the things parents want me to help motivate their children to do include things such as brushin

By Melanie McCabe, PhD “Is my child’s behavior typical?” is a question that is often asked when families have concerns about behavior or emotions. A mental health professional can help determine if behaviors and emotions are typical or if the child may need extra support. Emotional and behavioral difficulties can be a typical part of growing up, but based on intensity, frequency, and duration, these difficulties may be outside of the expected range. Figuring out what is typic

By Sharon Leuenberger, PhD | Licensed Psychologist Summer has drawn to an end and the joy of relaxing is over. It is now time to get back into the trenches and return to school. With that comes homework. A simple word that can make some parents' skin crawl because of the negative emotions it provokes both in the child and parent. The following are some suggestions to make homework time a more positive experience. The earlier you can develop these habits, the easier it will be

Ability doesn’t equal confidence. Here’s why. Chances are good that if you are a successful female professional today, you were a pretty smart fifth grade girl. In the 1980s, sociologist Carol Dweck studied fifth grade girls and boys with demonstrably high IQs. Both genders were given a hard new skill or task to learn. The tasks were identical, but how each group reacted was not. Girls were easily dismayed and quicker to give up while the boys trucked through the challenge an

By Dr. Leigh Blalock | Child and Adult Psychiatrist Depression is a real illness that develops like many other diseases: through the interaction between genetics and the environment. Depression runs in families, which indicates a genetic influence on the disease process. Current research is working to identify specific genes that increase the risk of depression. Certain genes have been identified and it's likely more will be identified in the future. However, genetics alone d

Most parents try and protect their kids from all of the terrible stuff in life, but since we can’t cut off a child’s access to the Internet or put them into a plastic bubble until they are 18, we have to learn to help them cope with many of life’s challenges, disappointments, and fears. Death, illness, divorce, and bullying all hit close to home and can be very hard for children. Even events in the news that have no direct bearing on their lives can invade a child’s thoughts

Here is the story of Kevin. Kevin is an 11-year-old boy considered normal and healthy with a love for videogames and science fiction. He is extremely personable and chatty with family and strangers alike. Kevin also suffers from dramatic mood swings, lack of friendships within his peer group, and suicidal thoughts. Kevin has a recorded IQ in the 120s, which is considered above average or superior. His high IQ was not known until he was tested at age 11. Until this time, Kevin

By Leigh F. Blalock, MD | Child & Adult Psychiatrist Organizing is one of the hallmark symptoms of ADHD. Learning to organize is very important for success in school and work. Here are a few tips: Organizing Space Create a place for everything: Categorize and group things in a way that makes sense to you. Such as by subject, by project, or by deadline Use color-coded clear folders to separate papers. Making them clear reduces time opening the folder to see what is inside. Cre

By Kathryn "Kat" North, LPA | Licensed Psychological Associate Whatever you may think or believe, divorce changes families. How these changes affect children in the short term and over time is dependent upon several parent behaviors. Research For many years, the prevailing view was most, if not all children of divorce have long lasting negative life outcomes as a result of the experience. Research results indicate otherwise. In fact, 75 percent of children of divorce experien

In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, we wanted to speak with an expert on school violence and response to violence in schools on how to handle speaking with children about the tragic event. Below, Melissa E. DeRosier, PhD, President and Director of 3-C Institute for Social Development, answers a few questions most parents are currently asking themselves. 1. Should we ask our kids what they know about the recent shooting at the elementary school in Newtown, CT,