So, I'm a part of The Neurodiversity Circle now. This means that I have joined a group of humans who are trying to shift the way our society cares for kids and teens who are neurodivergent. These are kids and teens whose brains work in an atypical fashion... kids who have Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, etc. I remember having a very powerful conversation with Founder Tara McDonnell as she was shaping up the concept of this neuro-affirming virtual space for

A rural road is lined with a comical and confusing array of traffic signs, ranging from standard warnings to humorous and nonsensical ones, set against a backdrop of autumn foliage and overcast skies. Parents typically spend a lot of time thinking about The Curve that could (or is) coming up in the road of their child's life. Parents think about: the upcoming change in schools the best friend who is moving away the demands of being on the travel team the divorce or the impend

The Office Treehouse It's late and the last family has left my office for the year. As I close up shop, I cannot help but be grateful for what this year has given to me. This year, I moved across town to a new office and I made the decision to expand. I discovered, and tried to nurture, relationships with new-to-me colleagues who are transforming care for kids in our neighborhood. I celebrated colleagues who are accomplishing astonishing goals. I got more training, to stay on

The span of weeks between school's Thanksgiving break and Winter/Christmas break could be the most unpredictable time of the school year. Kids are either celebrating or loathing the three week return. Teachers either have kids on a grueling project/test schedule and are cramming in all of the didn't-get-to-it material or they are showing "educational videos" and not assigning homework. Administrators are usually administering standardized testing while navigating the dozens o

I love Twice Exceptional, or 2E, kids. They are My People. If you are reading this on purpose, chances are high that you love a 2E kid, too. 2E kids are kids that have both an exceptional ability and an exceptional disability; they are both Gifted (high IQ) while also having a learning, developmental, or emotional disability. 2E kids are almost never boring; their lives are typically rollercoasters with peaks of educational/academic superstardom, followed by lows of crippling

My office has relocated to the second floor of 50 SW 2 Ave. I'm now in downtown Boca Raton, where I can walk to the local coffee shop or the Ramen place. The playroom is nestled in the tree canopy (with a woodpecker, blue jay and cardinal!), so it feels like a grown-up treehouse. My new landlord is a great guy who runs his surveying business on the first floor of the building and my next door neighbor is building a digital platform that will help more people get therapy. Th

Does my child need different parenting or does she need therapy? There is a difference between parenting a child and providing therapy to...

I often see kids in my office who need a lot of control. I see those kids' parents, too. Power and control is a topic that weaves it's...

Mental health care in schools is often weaponized against the vulnerable student who experiences distress in the school setting. In my...

Many kids have parents who live in two houses. These are Separated Parents. Divorced Parents. Single Parents. Children have Big Feelings...

I just finished six months of training to learn a new-to-me therapeutic approach called Internal Family Systems. I plan to continue...

I saw this hoodie on a teen boy at a middle-school basketball game. The teen looked really cool... he had on stylish jeans, he had a...

Kids in schools who are having mental health crises are often subject to being involuntarily committed to psychiatric hospitals without...

Trauma happens when a human has an experience that doesn't make sense to them... an experience that, because it doesn't make sense,...

Therapist Insider Tip: Summertime is one of the best times to start therapy. Really, anytime is a good time to start therapy. But most...

Parents need to keep their kids safe from harm. This starts from the moment the child is born and continues until the child is an adult....

Money and Therapy don't match in my head. These things don't match in the heads of most therapists. I have a strong ethical belief...

A kid's primary Job is to go to school and perform well. When a kid begins to get sideways, teachers and school personnel are often the...

People do embarrassing things in my office. They ugly-cry with snot coming down their faces or they say "stupid" things or they sit-...

The pace of a tween's life is fast. Reputations can be destroyed within an hour. Scandals can spread within a half hour. The flammability...