Back-to-school season has a particular kind of energy: fresh notebooks, new schedules, new teachers, and new possibilities. And, for many parents, a creeping sense of dread. If you are parenting a child with ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, learning differences, or other mental health challenges, the beginning of school may not feel like a clean slate. It may feel like the ...READ MORE »
Parents today are navigating an increasingly complex world with their children. Between academic pressure, social stress, technology overload, anxiety, ADHD, emotional regulation struggles, and the lingering effects of the pandemic, many families are wondering how to best support their child’s mental and emotional health. Working with a child therapist in Washington DC can help children develop the emotional resilience they ...READ MORE »
If your home has felt more intense, emotional, or chaotic lately, you’re not imagining it. We see it every single year. We call it May Mayhem—that end-of-school-year stretch when everything seems to ramp up all at once. At TSG, we understand that for families—especially neurodiverse kids and their parents—this season can feel like a perfect storm. Why ...READ MORE »
As parents, one of the hardest parts of raising children is managing our own what ifs, as we try to figure out what’s “normal” and what might mean something more. Is it typical for your child to melt down over small things? Refuses to go to school? Has intense fears, big emotions, or struggles to listen? If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, ...READ MORE »
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 »
The transition back to school can feel like a tidal shift for families. One moment you’re coasting through summer routines (or lack thereof), and the next you’re juggling earlier wake-ups, lunch packing, carpools, homework, after-school activities, and bedtime battles. As a therapist—and a parent—I see how this season stirs up stress for both adults and kids. The truth is: transitions are ...READ MORE »
(by Dr. Allison Sibley with contributions from Jozi Zwerdling & Michelle Pittman) Many of our clients, both children/teens and parents, are coming to their sessions this week worried about the state of our city, their children’s safety, and their family’s level of anxiety in response to the ICE raids and upheaval related to arrests and policing by the National Guard ...READ MORE »
(Written by Dr. Allison Sibley with contributions from Jozi Zwerdling & Michelle Pittman) Many DC families are feeling scared and overwhelmed as our city faces an increase in ICE raids, National Guard presence, and federal policing ordered by President Trump. Families are asking urgent questions: How do I keep my children safe? How do I respond if I encounter officials? ...READ MORE »
(Written by Dr. Allison Sibley with contributions from Jozi Zwerdling & Michelle Pittman) When the world outside feels unstable, our children—especially those with mental health challenges—look to us for safety, reassurance, and direction. In Washington, DC, the recent news that President Trump has ordered the National Guard to take control of the DC police department has left many families feeling shaken, ...READ MORE »
