When Death Stuns Those Left Behind, How to Cope?
With more than 2.4 million deaths recorded in the United States every year, that translates into many millions of loved ones left in pain and sadness as they grieve – a process that, for some, can seem like a bottomless pit of despair. But Hayley Hirschmann, PhD., a clinical psychologist and bereavement specialist at Morris […]
School Anxiety: Tips for Parents
First-day jitters are as much a part of each new school year as are shiny lunchboxes and new shoes. Over the following days and weeks, most children adapt successfully to their new classrooms. But some will still be clinging, crying or complaining of physical ailments weeks later and some may develop anxiety about going to […]
New Research Shows Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Effective in Drug-Resistant OCD
For those coping with obsessive-compulsive disorder – better known as OCD – new research shows that a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy improves outcomes for patients for whom antidepressants alone aren’t effective, which is often the case. According to OCD specialist Francine Rosenberg, Psy.D., of Morris Psychological Group, the study offers hope for OCD sufferers who […]
Low Libido in Young Women: What Can Be Done?
Diminished libido is the most common sexual problem among women. And while it is often associated with menopausal women, increasing numbers of young women also complain of loss of desire. “Low sexual desire is more prevalent in older women but young women find it especially distressing,” says Dr. Larisa Wainer, psychologist with Morris Psychological Group. […]
The importance of executive skills in the classroom
As any parent can attest, getting kids ready for school means a lot more than packing a lunch: Schoolchildren need an array of intellectual, emotional, and social skills to get them through the day—and on to a healthy and productive life. At the top of the list is what experts call executive functioning—a set of […]
Is It a “Senior Moment” or Is It Alzheimer’s?
There are currently more than 5 million people in the United States suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. As the population aged 65 and older continues to increase, the number of people with Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, can be expected to increase as well. But millions more senior citizens who forget a name or […]
Teens and Self-Injury: What Parents Need to Know
There is no one reason that adolescents harm themselves. And while cutting is the most common, there is no one way in which they do so. Whatever the reason or method, the prospect of their children hurting themselves is frightening and puzzling for parents. “It’s hard to understand but self-harming behavior is often actually an […]
Talking to Children about Divorce: Tips for Parents
There are few more difficult moments in family life than telling children about a pending separation or divorce. Parents who are themselves suffering the pain of confronting the dissolution of their marriage must immediately face equally painful decisions about when and how to tell the children. “Some parents will be devastated by the prospect of […]
Coping with Chronic Illness: Becoming Stronger and Living a Fulfilling Life
More than 130 million Americans are living with chronic conditions and illnesses, a number that is expected to increase to 157 million by 2020. Advances in medical science have enabled more people to survive acute illness and live long lives with chronic conditions. Also contributing to the increase is the aging of the population. While […]
Is It Selective Mutism or Is My Child Just Shy? Dr. Carly Orenstein Explains a Little-known Disorder and Provides Tips for Parents
As another school year begins, it can be expected that some number of young children will approach the first day in the classroom with a fair amount of trepidation. For some, their shyness and anxiety will initially manifest itself in a failure to speak. But for a few – perhaps as many as 7 out […]