Parenting a teen with ADHD who gives mostly one-word answers or shuts down when asked how school was can feel deeply frustrating. Over my years working with families through The Sibley Group, and drawing on insights from ADDitude’s “Momversations / Conversation Starters for Teens with ADHD,” here are a few strategies to help nudge your son into real connection. Oh ...READ MORE »
Parenting a neurodiverse child can be both deeply rewarding and profoundly challenging. Whether your child is autistic, has ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, learning differences, or some combination, the right resources can make a huge difference. I’ve selected a handful of book recommendations that offer deeper understanding of your uniquely wired child as well as guidance, ...READ MORE »
One of the biggest things I’ve learned about having and treating ADHD is that it has really far-reaching ripple effects in someone’s life if it isn’t recognized early or supported by family and school. Having any neurodiversity or learning difference, especially if it went undiagnosed during part or all of childhood, has profound effects on development – academically, personally, and ...READ MORE »
Neurodivergence and brain diversity have been my professional passions, guiding my work for the past 10-plus years. However, my passions in these areas took a personal turn this year when I was diagnosed with ADHD. This late diagnosis was eye-opening, finally allowing me to understand the unique workings of my brain. Embracing ADHD has allowed me to understand my brain ...READ MORE »
Finding motivation, planning steps to complete an assignment, organizing your work, initiating work, sustaining focus, metacognition (awareness of your thoughts), managing your time, shifting between activities, controlling impulses – these are all examples of “Executive Functioning Skills.” These skills are essential skills for anyone to get through school, work, and activities of daily life – personal hygiene, maintaining relationships, regulating ...READ MORE »
I’m writing to share some thoughts and information that I’ve gathered on managing technology within your family. I’m a mom of three children (7, 9, and 11), and like many of you, I spent the past summer battling screen usage with my three kids. It’s my most hated fight. I’m also a family therapist in the Washington, DC and ...READ MORE »
In my work with college students, I have witnessed wide-eyed 18-year-olds show up at school ready to jump in feeling excited and confident–only to fall flat emotionally in two weeks. In contrast, I’ve seen many anxious, shy, homesick kids work through lots of rough emotions during the hardest weeks of their lives and come out pretty strong in the end. ...READ MORE »
Spring is here and the school year is finally winding down. Summer is just around the corner, and for many kids this is a fun time of year – a time to enjoy the nicer weather, look forward to summer vacations, and wrap up a successful academic year. However, for many families, this time of year can be a real ...READ MORE »
