This job is hard. Yes, we sit and we talk and we listen. The job rarely requires us to do the heavy lifting of construction, or the rigorous routine of running laps around a restaurant, or quick calculations of medications. But the responsibility of holding the sacred space, of guarding others' secrets, of bearing witness [...]
As we ring in the new year with resolutions to eat better, exercise more, and generally adopt habits to better serve us, I want to support you in your goal for greater growth. Beginning now through January 31, counseling packages are available for a discounted rate. Register for 8 sessions for the price of 4! [...]
Why did I become a therapist? I wanted to make a difference. I wanted others to know that they weren’t alone in their aloneness. That there was no shame in wanting a better life. That there was nothing wrong or broken about feeling broken sometimes. That's the difference I want to be in others’ lives. Not [...]
In my previous post, I introduced how stress and fear impacts the brain and body. Sometimes the body's recovery from trauma is truncated, and symptoms of post traumatic stress can result. When these symptoms persist beyond one month after the incident, an individual is considered to meet diagnostic criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). [...]
Have you ever wondered what goes on in the brain when safety is threatened? It’s important for people (kids and adults alike) to have a basic understanding of brain anatomy and function. I typically explain it to children using Dan Siegel’s hand model of the brain. It’s pretty simple, so long as you can make [...]
I have tried to convey this same message so many times to others in this field who work with adolescents affected by trauma. Athena said it so well. This is the essence of meeting a person where they are. Listen to their story. We cannot rewrite experience for others, but by joining with them, we [...]
Getting on the same page with your ex when it comes to parenting can be tricky. When your relationship has historically been contentious, it may seem impossible to even find the same page. Regardless of your feelings toward each other, I bet you can agree that what’s best for your child is what’s most important [...]
How often do you wonder what is going through your teen's mind? How many times have you thought If I could just know what she's thinking, I could fix this situation? Are you tired of saying the same thing over and again, only to be dismissed? Chances are, your teen may be thinking and feeling [...]
An insightful post from child and adolescent psychiatrist, highlighting the myriad reasons why promoting recovery from trauma requires a systemic approach.
“I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.”
― Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
In my day-to-day working life I see many young people. Many of them have been given various mental illness diagnoses. While many of these are correct according to our “diagnostic” manuals, they add little to helping a young person find workable solutions to their dilemma.
As a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, I feel that my remit should…
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H.e.a.r.t. Center for Families 