Come Monday, April 5th, many schools will be welcoming students back to in person learning. For many students this is the first time they have been back to their school since last year. For others, it is the first time back for 5 days a week of in person learning. Many kids are excited about this. They cannot wait to reconnect with friends and teachers. Their biggest complaint is having to actually wear clothes to school instead of their pajamas! For other kids, their feelings run the gamut from ambivalence to terror. In my practice with kids, some have told me they feel like they will be re-experiencing the first day of school all over again. Some are used to the smaller class sizes if they were participating in Hybrid …
Unfinished Stories
Given the tragic suicides of two celebrities this week, Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, I felt it necessary to address the topic of suicide. In my practice, I see many children who are depressed as well as many depressed parents. The statistics are sobering. Suicide is on the rise in all racial and ethnic groups, in both men and women, in rural and city areas. The increase is in all age groups except those over 75. Since 1999, the suicide rate is up 30 % according to the Center for disease Control and Prevention. Suicide is the second largest cause of death in college age youth and kids 12-18. The suicide rate among young children 10-14 years old doubled from 2007 to 2014, according to the CDC. What’s Going On? …
Parental Expectations, Childhood Anxiety and Self Esteem: What is the Connection?
It seems to be that no matter what age children are, parental expectations come into play. When children are infants we expect them to sleep through the night at some point! When they are around 1 years old, we expect them to begin to walk , later on toilet train and God forbid they are not reading by Kindergarten! The list goes on and on. Parental Expectations. There is nothing wrong with them. We expect our children to be polite, share, do homework, help around the house etc… What if these expectations are not developmentally appropriate? What is the expectations are unrealistic? What if they cause undue stress? Sometimes as parents, we may not even know we are creating this stress. Think back to your own childhood. What expectations were …
Helping Children Cope with Death
Recently, in the midst of this beautiful summer, there have been several families that have been coping with the loss of young family members. None of us live forever, but most of us expect to live a long life. When or if we have the opportunity to discuss death with our children, we usually say something like, “When people get old and their bodies don’t work well anymore, they die”. But what if this is not what happens? We are all thrown off kilter when life throws us a curve ball and doesn’t follow the normal sequence. It is difficult enough for adults to deal with the loss of a young person, but is more difficult for children. How do we deal with our own grief and help them as …
Consistency: What’s the Big Deal?
I’ll admit it. It’s the end of the school year. We are all running out of steam, kids, parents, and I’m sure we can add teachers to the mix as well. Do we really have to finish strong? Let me be clear. There is a difference in being flexible and being consistent. Sometimes we just can’t get to school on time, or miss a homework assignment. Life happens. That is different from being inconsistent and all over the place. Why is consistency so important to kids? Kids thrive on predictability. They like to know what comes next. They need to know what is expected of them. Kids also need to know we as parents and caregivers will do what we say. Kids don’t act like they want or need limits …
What Can Parents Expect When They Bring Their Child to Therapy?
One topic I have been eager to educate parents about is what parents can expect when they bring their child to therapy. Every therapist has their own style and practices differently and has their own unique style. I can only speak for how I have chosen to practice. First, I made the choice to only see children 13 and under. (Occasionally I will see kids up to 16). In my practice, I meet with the child’s parents without the child for the first session. I want to hear from them what brought them here, why now, and what are they hoping to accomplish by bringing their child for therapy. I make them aware that they will be a big part of their child succeeding in therapy. I see their child …
Making the Decision to Bring Your Child to Therapy
How do I even know my child needs therapy? Let me talk about making the decision to bring your child to therapy. For some parents, it’s an easy decision. They may have been receiving phone calls from school “strongly recommending” they seek counseling for their child. Other parents may be given the suggestion from their pediatrician. Some reasons you may consider bringing your child to therapy can be that your child’s behavior is interfering with his or her quality of life. The following list will give you some examples. I’m sure I have missed a few, but generally if you have concerns, don’t delay! Get Help!!