Human Neurodiversity Should Be Celebrated

Human Neurodiversity Should Be Celebrated

Human Neurodiversity Should Be Celebrated for Its Strengths, Not Treated as a Disorder There’s a movement for the stigmas to be removed from our culture around ‘conditions’ such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia. Instead, the movement argues that these neurotypes are a natural human variation rather than a pathology or disorder Wikipedia describes neurodiversity an approach to learning and disability that argues diverse neurological conditions are the...[ read more ]

Self esteem – a different kind of loss

Sometimes people only think of a loss in terms of death. However, there are so many different losses that people experience. One of the losses not commonly thought of is the loss of self esteem. This article written by the University of Texas Counseling and Mental Health division explains how self esteem impacts our lives and how the loss of...[ read more ]

Grieving the family you never had

For several years I worked for the Department of  Family Services. I worked closely with children who were removed from their homes in order to keep them safe from an abusive parent(s). Some of these children were later returned to their homes, and some went into the foster care system. Some of the children were never removed and some of...[ read more ]

Survivors of domestic violence and grief

Usually when society thinks of grief, it is thought of revolving around the death of a loved one, a physical being, a physical loss. As we have come to experience so many other types of loss in our lives, society has begun to understand grief differently through the recognition of losses that are not death related. Survivors of domestic violence...[ read more ]

How to Co-Parent Successfully after Divorce

Divorces involving children can be especially challenging- and draining, for all parties involved.  While you may have seen the writing on the walls for some time, a divorce often feels very sudden to the children involved. The sudden breakdown of the family structure after a divorce can be traumatic for children. Children often experience feelings of abandonment, confusion and loss....[ read more ]

New guidelines for depression screenings for children 12-17

It’s not easy to talk about depression, yet the problem is fairly common. Only about 50 percent of adolescents with depression are diagnosed before reaching adulthood. During the teenage years, there’s about a 20 percent chance of having depression or anxiety, research suggests. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for children aged 10 to 17. This week the American Academy...[ read more ]

Children coping with divorce

Almost half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. Divorce is one of the most stressful life events for both children and their parents. Major stressors and risk factors include the initial period after separation, parental conflict, the loss of vital relationships, financial problems, and re-partnering or remarriage.   While some children seem to adapt to all...[ read more ]

Play therapy can help children process divorce

Play therapy can help children cope with divorce. Even in the most amicable of separations, children feel the effects of divorce. They experience the stress of their parents, as well as their own anxiety and fears, whether conscious or unconscious, about a number of questions. For example: “Was it my fault? Will I get to see mommy or daddy when...[ read more ]