Reading device propped on knee

How to Talk to Your Children about School Safety Threats

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 […]

Loading

Parent Stress Increases Child Stress

Many children experience anxiety from time to time In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the number of children with anxiety disorders continues to increase over time, as well as the intensity of anxiety symptoms. Many things contribute to the stress children experience today.  Our culture demands more time and energy from both children […]

Loading

ADHD in Women

ADHD In Women

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 […]

Loading

ADHD accommodations

Helpful Classroom Management Strategies for ADHD Students

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 […]

Loading

Smiling and laughing

Trauma Focused CBT For Children and Adolescents

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 […]

Loading

Man with watch

Adult ADHD

You may live in a mess —chips in your desk, papers in the pantry, and the remotes are nowhere to be found.  It’s hard to know where to look when you lose your wallet or your keys.  Unfortunately, you may lose your phone routinely and have become very familiar with the “where’s my phone” app.   […]

Loading

Woman helping boy read

ADHD Accommodations in the Classroom

Many times, parents and teachers ask us for suggestions on how to help develop ADHD accommodations for the classroom. The list below is a compilation of suggestions that may be helpful under these circumstances.  However, it is important to remember that every child is an individual.  Every child with ADHD may benefit from different accommodations […]

Loading

ADHD and Anxiety

Can people have both ADHD and Anxiety?

Many people struggle with ADHD.  Studies estimate that as many as 5-10% of children and up to 5% of adults are diagnosed with this condition.  Likewise, anxiety is also a common condition, impacting upwards of 30% of people at some point in their life.  So, yes, it makes sense that people with ADHD would also […]

Loading

Depressed girl on chair

Gaining School Support for Depression in Children

It can be very overwhelming to know what to do when your child seems depressed at school. “Frankie, what I am going to do with you?”  Frankie’s mother sighs, as she wonders these thoughts aloud.   Frankie is a 9-year-old boy attending a new school.  His family moved from out of state recently, and he has […]

Loading

sanity if you have a child with mental health needs

Allergies and Stress: There Is a Connection

Achoo… cough….snort…! The sounds of allergies are everywhere, it seems. Many of us cannot escape allergies this time of year. According to the American College of Allergy and Immunology, ragweed pollen usually reaches peak levels in mid-September, impacting up to 23 million Americans with allergy symptoms, roughly translating to 20-30 percent of people. But what […]

Loading

distressed by distraction

Distressed by Distraction

Distraction sneaks up on us. For example, Nina sits down to the computer. She has just a few things to get done, and she’s got maybe half an hour before she’ll have to get up, get dinner going, and get that load of laundry in the wash. As she starts to get working, she suddenly […]

Loading

Parents are included in mental health treatment of young children

How to Help Children Process Tragedies

Dr. Anderson and Hope Springs Behavioral Consultants were recently feature on Fox News Channel 2 KGAN Cedar Rapids, providing an expert opinion on how to help children process tragedies on the news. The psychologists at Hope Springs have provided expert interviews to the Iowa City Press Citizen, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Loading