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…

Treating Depression: New Research on What Works

About 1 in 5 adults in the United States suffers one or more depressive episodes over a lifetime, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Depression is a serious, disabling illness. It affects an individual’s ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy activities once found pleasurable. Depression can be treated with psychotherapy or…

ADHD & Bullying

ADHD & Bullying: Dr. Ashley Gorman Examines the Role of Bullying in Addressing ADHD and Offers Tips for Parents Bullying has serious consequences for both victim and bully.  And while there is no single factor that is responsible for making a child either a bully or the target of bullies, children with attention deficit hyperactivity…

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: New Research on Dogs Yields Benefits for People

Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects about 2 million Americans, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. OCD is a distressing and often disabling condition characterized by overwhelming anxiety that drives the need to check things repeatedly or to perform certain rituals over and over. OCD is generally treated with psychotherapy, medication or both.   “Unfortunately, many…

Parents: Act Now to Prevent Substance Abuse Later

The numbers of adolescents who experiment with alcohol and drugs increases and decreases from year to year as does the prevalence of various drugs. Older drugs fade in popularity, newer ones – most recently, bath salts and synthetic marijuana – gain prominence among teenagers and some long-standing constants —  alcohol, marijuana, non-medical use of prescription…