May is Mental Health Awareness month. There are so many great organizations out there that are championing this cause, and pressing for understanding, awareness, and treatment of mental health disorders, including www.breakthestigma.org and www.nami.org. Please consider visiting these sites, and sharing them widely. We at Hope Springs are passionate about bringing awareness and empathy to […]
Many parents, children, and adolescents have been spending time talking about the book and follow-up mental health series, 13 Reasons Why. This series graphically details teenage sexual assault, bullying, and suicide. The main character tragically dies by suicide.It is always good to offer discussion and awareness about mental health. However, all over the world, mental […]
Imagine this. You’ve just learned that you are getting a job promotion and you really want to tell someone. You see your best friend, and you walk up to tell her. All of a sudden, you can’t deliver the message. Your brain knows what you want to say, but your mouth simply won’t say it. […]
Threats to school safety are an increasingly common fear. Many parents have expressed concerns on how to respond to lock-downs, threats, and reports of violence at their child’s school. Given the high number of reports of school violence in the last number of years, as well as the 24-hour news coverage of these events, people are understandably […]
Sandy is a mother of three children. She frequently feels overwhelmed and like she cannot balance the responsibilities of her life, her work, and her family. Even though her spouse is involved and supportive, her house is very cluttered and disorganized. She cannot find her keys or her phone, often losing them several times a […]
Reading comprehension is an important skill, starting early in elementary school. In order to show good reading comprehension skills, a person is asked to read, understand, and answer questions about what they’ve read. Children with ADHD or other learning disabilities, such as Dyslexia, can struggle with reading comprehension. In these circumstances, instructional strategies can help. […]
Many times, children with ADHD have difficulty adjusting to the school environment. Their symptoms can make school more difficult for them than for other students. Oftentimes, when working with the school, there are things that teachers and parents can discuss as accommodations to help children with ADHD cope better in the classroom. Here are some […]
“Your dog is so mindful!” my neighbor yelled across the street. Although my kind neighbor was referring to my dog’s obedience, I smirked at the literal thought of my dog’s mindfulness. Mindfulness happens when we notice everything in the present moment. In doing so, we are often more grateful and more content. Sunshine, my 7-month-old Golden […]
What is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)? Trauma-Focused CBT is relationship-based. Your therapist will get to know you and your child, and work with you to feel better. Children and their parents attend sessions together. Also, it uses trauma-sensitive therapy along with with cognitive behavioral, family, and humanistic work. Importantly, the focus is to help […]
