Parenting Skills Archives

What Every High School and College Kid Needs to Know About Their ADHD Medication

August 2, 2020August 2, 2020

As High School and College students embark on their journey into a new school year, whether in-person/on-campus, virtually, or a combination of both, I’d like to offer this very important reminder regarding ADHD stimulant medication, and its use, misuse, overuse, and safekeeping. We know that a significant number of kids take stimulants, either not prescribed to them or prescribed inappropriately, in an effort to deal with academic pressures. Some also use stimulants as part of a weight-loss strategy or to … Read more

ADHD Diagnosis, Therapy, & Treatment Guide

July 27, 2020July 26, 2020

Science has come a long way in the last decade. Mainstream medical, psychological, and educational organizations have concluded that ADHD is a real, brain-based medical disorder. Getting a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment can significantly improve the lives of those who struggle. This guide will help clarify what is involved in getting a proper diagnosis and the various treatment options that have been recognized as effective. What is involved in a proper diagnosis? A proper diagnosis is dependent on a … Read more

Maybe it IS ADHD – Does it Really Matter?

July 21, 2020July 20, 2020

I am often asked if I think ADHD is over-diagnosed. My answer – yes. I also believe it is underdiagnosed. The problem is that there is still not one agreed-upon cohesive and comprehensive protocol for diagnosing ADHD; a real, life-impacting disorder that affects a significant percentage of people. And yet there are still many practitioners who do not include an ADHD screening in their assessments. I believe, and evidence supports, there are enormous lifelong risks to mental health, physical health, employment, … Read more

How Do We Bridge This Divide That is Gripping Our Nation?

September 25, 2020June 5, 2020

My Dear People, Words sometimes feel inadequate. So many emotions and trials of the soul colliding at once. I want to share an article with you that I wrote the week before the tragedy of George Floyd’s murder. Please – as those of you who have ever worked with me know, we must find a way to reach one another, to have an open dialogue. It is the only way parents and educators can teach kids skills, and adults can … Read more

Professional ADHD & Executive Function Parent Coach Training

September 25, 2020May 12, 2020

For more than a decade, I have been supporting parents through the most perplexing and stressful challenges they have ever faced – helping the children, whom they love so dearly, learn to become their best selves. Along the way, I have seen parents go through tremendous personal growth, and I have seen marriages go from contentious to supportive. They share with me their stories of success, large and small. Reports of less arguing and ignoring rules, deeper, more meaningful communication, … Read more

Don’t Look at Me in That Tone of Voice: Triggers and Opportunities

April 28, 2020April 28, 2020

Have you ever walked into the room, and your child’s whole demeanor changed? You watch her face go from relaxed to stressed. Or his body tenses up in anger or frustration. You have not uttered a word, yet your child has heard an entire lecture and is already reacting. Ok, perhaps there was something you planned on reminding your child of, or maybe you weren’t happy that he left his clothes in the bathroom, again. But at this moment you … Read more