Is it a boy or a girl? That is often the first question of new parents or parents-to-be and leads to a host of assumptions about the nature of their child. Names are chosen, gifts start arriving in pink or blue, and even the earliest parent-infant interactions show differences based on the sex of the…
Having a specialty in clinical hypnosis, I am often asked about doing hypnosis with children. Research has shown that children make excellent hypnotic subjects. In fact, they are typically more easily hypnotizable than adults. Kids have very active and creative imaginations, and therefore, usually learn hypnosis more quickly than adults because they can rapidly enter…
Can you sustain your attention for more than two minutes in a boring business meeting before wondering how many people liked your new pic on Instagram? Can you study for an exam without simultaneously tweeting, texting, and listening to your favorite mix on Spotify? How about sitting at a red light without sneaking a peak…
Pediatric neuropsychologists are often asked by parents when a child would ever need this kind of evaluation. Other common questions center on not knowing why a physician has made the referral or not knowing why the evaluation is needed in addition to the traditional child study team assessments. The simplest definition of neuropsychological assessment describes…
Consider the phrase, “just in case.” For many individuals, these three short words may bring about the image of a person who is ultimately prepared in life. They cause parents of young children to carry snacks and band aids every time they leave the house and others to grab an umbrella on a cloudy day.…
Much as in the aftermath of many modern-day disasters and tragedies, the weeks and months following the Germanwings disaster in Europe have brought increased attention on mental health and mental health in aviation, in particular. In this case, there is heightened awareness and call for greater scrutiny of the psychological well-being of aircrew. Indeed this…
Since reading Real Boys by William Pollack in graduate school, I have been fascinated to learn about the lives of boys. In my graduate and doctoral program, many of my papers were focused on the expectations we have on boys about manhood and masculinity. Subsequently, I have run countless boy-focused groups and seen numerous male…
As a psychotherapist in private practice for over 30 years, I have had the pleasure and privilege of knowing people intimately. What I do gives me purpose and self-satisfaction. I often find myself wishing I could help someone more or wanting to understand something deeper. I take time during the week to jot down notes…
In this moment I can actually hear myself telling more than one patient I’ve seen in the past, that it’s important to try new things. I’m a self-professed creature of habit though so sometimes I need to give myself as much of a push to try those new things as I do to them. With…
Dismantling the Disdain Welcome and thank you for taking the time to read my first blog post. Moving forward, I plan to write a series related to alcohol and drug related problems (AOD) in the United States. It is one of the most prolific issues with which society has to contend. Most people have either…