Advice & Support

Pediatric Psychopharmacology 101 Workshop Series

• Depression in the Classroom: Treatment and Diagnosis

  In this lecture, Roy Boorady, MD, provides an in-depth look at clinical depression and other mood disorders in school-aged children and teens. READ MORE

• Anxiety Disorders in the Classroom: Treatment and Diagnosis

  Roy Boorady, MD, discusses anxiety disorders in children, including social anxiety, phobias, separation anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. READ MORE

ADHD

• Animals, Nature Offer Children a Fresh Start

  Horses, dogs, sheep—even injured birds of prey—calm and teach kids struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges READ MORE

• Could long-term use of Adderall be contributing to depression in a college student?

  There are many things that can trigger depression in a college student, away from home and her familiar routines. She should have a careful evaluation before any new medication is considered. READ MORE

ADHD Parent and Educator Workshop Series

• Bipolar Disorder: What Do We Really Know?

  In this workshop, Ron Steingard, MD, explores the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children and helps to clarify how it is different from a diagnosis of ADHD. READ MORE

• You Make Me So Mad: Approaches to Understanding & Helping with Anger

  Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP, senior director of our ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Center, explains how to adapt your parenting and teaching strategies to help your child or student cope with his anger. READ MORE

Adolescents

• What Drives Self-Injury and How to Treat It

  Kids—usually teenage girls—hurt themselves intentionally to alleviate some other form of pain in their lives. The behavior is hard to comprehend, but understanding plays a big role in treatment. READ MORE

• How Pornography Can Harm Your Kids
  

  Dr. Al Ravitz discusses how pornography's depiction of sex can skew a young person's views. We should help our children avoid harmful stereotypes and unrealistic expectations. WATCH MORE

Anxiety

• The Most Common Misdiagnoses in Children

  From inattention to disruptive behavior, many symptoms have multiple causes, leading to mistakes when kids aren't carefully assessed READ MORE

• My son gets angry easily and is anxious about it. Will a safe, over-the-counter remedy or a gluten-free diet help?

  Excessive anger can be caused by many things. Understanding what's behind it is the first step to helping the child, and behavioral therapy has been shown to be more effective than diet or supplements. READ MORE

Autism

• Deaths of 3 Autistic Children Call for Better Anti-Wandering Protocols

  Recent drowning tragedies have galvanized the autism community, reopening the conversation on how to solve the problem of wandering. READ MORE

• Animals, Nature Offer Children a Fresh Start

  Horses, dogs, sheep—even injured birds of prey—calm and teach kids struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges READ MORE

Bullying

• A Cyber-Bullying Story With a Twist

  A young man with autism receives a hurtful text, a mom steps in, and the outcome surprises everyone. READ MORE

• My son is being bullied on the football team, and the coach ignores it. Should I talk to him?

  Teenagers need authority figures who make it clear that bullying is not acceptable on their team, or in their school. READ MORE

College

• Could long-term use of Adderall be contributing to depression in a college student?

  There are many things that can trigger depression in a college student, away from home and her familiar routines. She should have a careful evaluation before any new medication is considered. READ MORE

• Are there any colleges with good services for kids with ADHD?

  Yes. Programs include everything from a gap year to bolster skills and earn credits to a supportive traditional college experience READ MORE

Current Events

• 'Far From the Tree': A Parent's Response

  Without a more realistic discussion of the many difficulties and trade-offs and heartache involved in being parents of different children, this kind of book makes us feel bad. READ MORE

• 'Beasts of the Southern Wild': On Trauma and Surviving Adversity

  Despite profound adverse experiences, the child Hushpuppy thrives in 'Beasts of the Southern Wild.' Why are some people more vulnerable to trauma? READ MORE

Depression

• Could long-term use of Adderall be contributing to depression in a college student?

  There are many things that can trigger depression in a college student, away from home and her familiar routines. She should have a careful evaluation before any new medication is considered. READ MORE

• The Most Common Misdiagnoses in Children

  From inattention to disruptive behavior, many symptoms have multiple causes, leading to mistakes when kids aren't carefully assessed READ MORE

Disruptive Behavior

• Animals, Nature Offer Children a Fresh Start

  Horses, dogs, sheep—even injured birds of prey—calm and teach kids struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges READ MORE

• The Most Common Misdiagnoses in Children

  From inattention to disruptive behavior, many symptoms have multiple causes, leading to mistakes when kids aren't carefully assessed READ MORE

Divorce

• The Marriage Terminator: What to Tell (and Not Tell) the Kids About Adultery

  With two simultaneous sex scandals in the news, kids may be wondering what to think about infidelity: How bad is it, and could it happen to my family? READ MORE

• My daughter only acts out with my ex. Could it be oppositional defiant disorder?

  Divorce is never easy on kids, and a whole host of issues can arise that are expected, if not normal. But you should never rule out the possibility of a diagnosable disruptive behavior disorder. READ MORE

Dyslexia

• Richard Engel on Finding Success With Dyslexia

  The intrepid foreign correspondent discussed the emotional impact of growing up with a learning disorder: "Building confidence is everything." READ MORE

• Anxious About Learning: Helping Kids Find Success
  

  Dr. Matt Cruger discusses how learning difficulties can lead to impairing anxiety in children if they don't have the right supports. The key is to help them experience success so they can tackle problems with confidence. WATCH MORE

Eating Disorders

• Eating Disorder Treatment Today
  

  Dr. Douglas Bunnell of the Renfrew Center for eating disorder treatment discusses the latest thinking in intervention. WATCH MORE

• Raising Girls With Healthy Self-Esteem

  How to help our daughters overcome the challenges to developing confidence and a positive body image READ MORE

Learning and Development Workshop Series

• The Safety Equation: Concussions and Sports Injuries

  Michael Rosenthal, PhD, discusses the best approaches to managing risk factors for concussion in children and teens, and delves deeper into the evaluation and treatment of concussion. READ MORE

• From A to ZZZZs: Tips for Getting to Bed, Staying Asleep and Waking Up

  Join Ken Schuster, PsyD, for a lecture and discussion that will explore the importance of developing good sleep habits in children and as well as the ways that sleep routines can be disrupted. READ MORE

Learning Disorders

• Richard Engel on Finding Success With Dyslexia

  The intrepid foreign correspondent discussed the emotional impact of growing up with a learning disorder: "Building confidence is everything." READ MORE

• The Most Common Misdiagnoses in Children

  From inattention to disruptive behavior, many symptoms have multiple causes, leading to mistakes when kids aren't carefully assessed READ MORE

Mental Health Basics

• The Most Common Misdiagnoses in Children

  From inattention to disruptive behavior, many symptoms have multiple causes, leading to mistakes when kids aren't carefully assessed READ MORE

• What Is Goal-Directed Treatment Planning?
  

  Every intervention for psychiatric illness should have a desired outcome and a way to monitor progress and efficacy, says Dr. Barry Nurcombe. Otherwise you get "therapeutic drift." WATCH MORE

Military Resources

• Tips for Helping Military Children Cope Healthily With a Parent's Deployment
  

  Dr. Jamie Howard discusses how parents in the armed services and their spouses can help their children thrive even when one parent is away for extended periods. One tip: keep lines of communication open. WATCH MORE

• How Military Deployment Can Impact Families, Both Parents and Kids
  

  The stress of overseas military deployment can affect not only service members but entire families as well. Dr. Jamie Howard discusses why families can have a tough time adjusting even after they are reunited. WATCH MORE

Mindfulness

• An Ashram for Autism

  A yoga teacher envisions a community where kids on the spectrum learn yoga and the culture of calm. READ MORE

• Mindful Parenting

  Learning to step back and assess calmly can take a lot of the stress and anxiety out of raising children—and help kids calm down too. READ MORE

OCD

• My 15-year-old daughter has been treated for OCD but still has a lot of symptoms. Would in-home sessions help her?

  Sometimes kids can't transfer skills they learn in the office to the home setting because symptoms are stronger there, or only occur there. READ MORE

• PANDAS and PANS: About Acute-Onset OCD

  The latest thinking on PANDAS aims to broaden criteria beyond strep infections and quell controversy. It succeeds at the former, not the latter. READ MORE

Parenting

• 'Far From the Tree': A Parent's Response

  Without a more realistic discussion of the many difficulties and trade-offs and heartache involved in being parents of different children, this kind of book makes us feel bad. READ MORE

• When Should I Worry About Tantrums?
  

  Dr. Gabrielle Carlson tells us that, like any troubling behavior, parents should worry about extreme outbursts when they meet three criteria: they're persistent, pervasive, impairing. WATCH MORE

Practical Parenting Workshop Series

• Talking with Your Toddler

  In this lecture, Rachel Cortese, MS Ed, MS, CCC-SLP, discusses your toddler’s language development and provides simple techniques to facilitate communication and improve their conversational skills. READ MORE

• Please Don’t Leave Me

  Rachel Busman, PsyD, discusses the dramas that can occur when parents leave toddlers at home, at nursery school, or with other caretakers. READ MORE

Psychopharmacology

• Could long-term use of Adderall be contributing to depression in a college student?

  There are many things that can trigger depression in a college student, away from home and her familiar routines. She should have a careful evaluation before any new medication is considered. READ MORE

• What Is Goal-Directed Treatment Planning?
  

  Every intervention for psychiatric illness should have a desired outcome and a way to monitor progress and efficacy, says Dr. Barry Nurcombe. Otherwise you get "therapeutic drift." WATCH MORE

School

• Animals, Nature Offer Children a Fresh Start

  Horses, dogs, sheep—even injured birds of prey—calm and teach kids struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges READ MORE

• What Is Pragmatic Language?
  

  'The functions of language are many,' Dr. Lydia Soifer says, and being able to differentiate how others are using it is a skill as important as vocabulary or conjugation. And it doesn't come easily to some. WATCH MORE

Science

• PANDAS and PANS: About Acute-Onset OCD

  The latest thinking on PANDAS aims to broaden criteria beyond strep infections and quell controversy. It succeeds at the former, not the latter. READ MORE

• Real Science. Real Hope.
  

  This video debuted at the Child Advocacy Award Dinner and shows how transformative the Child Mind Institute's approach to science can be—and how it is already changing lives. WATCH MORE

Selective Mutism

• The Most Common Misdiagnoses in Children

  From inattention to disruptive behavior, many symptoms have multiple causes, leading to mistakes when kids aren't carefully assessed READ MORE

• Our 7-year-old, who is tapering off Prozac, is upset and irritable. Is that a symptom of withdrawal?

  Coming off medications like Prozac, which has a long half-life, is usually pretty smooth. I'd have someone check out what else might be happening to your son. READ MORE

Selective Mutism Workshop Series

• Summertime Plans & Prepping for the Next School Year

  This workshop gives an overview of beneficial activities for maintaining and enhancing “brave talking” skills over the summer. READ MORE

• Research Update: What Do We Actually Know At This Point?

  This workshop provides an overview of the cutting-edge research that guides treatment for selective mutism. READ MORE

Sex

• Love on the Spectrum

  Amy Harmon's new book chronicles the challenges, and surprises, of Aspie romance READ MORE

• How Pornography Can Harm Your Kids
  

  Dr. Al Ravitz discusses how pornography's depiction of sex can skew a young person's views. We should help our children avoid harmful stereotypes and unrealistic expectations. WATCH MORE

Substance Abuse

• Kids in Crisis: The View From the ER

  A psychiatric emergency services director talks about the children they see, and the help they need. READ MORE

• Does Teenage Pot Use Affect IQ?

  A new study of heavy, long-term use draws attention to the fact that the adolescent brain is still changing, for better or worse READ MORE

Suicide

• Kids in Crisis: The View From the ER

  A psychiatric emergency services director talks about the children they see, and the help they need. READ MORE

• ADHD Puts Girls at Higher Risk for Self-Harm, Suicide Attempts

  A new study finds that even those who seem to have 'outgrown' ADHD symptoms in late adolescence are struggling with depression and impulsivity. READ MORE

Summer

• How can I help my daughter with the social issues that come with ADHD?

  Kids with ADHD struggle with social interactions a lot more than people realize. One of the best things parents can do to help is set up what we call structured play dates. READ MORE

• Beating the 'Summer Slide'

  Summer means a break from school, but it can also mean a loss in reading skills. Here are some tips to help your child keep practicing his skills and get the most out of reading this summer. READ MORE

Teachers' Resources

• When Should I Worry About Tantrums?
  

  Dr. Gabrielle Carlson tells us that, like any troubling behavior, parents should worry about extreme outbursts when they meet three criteria: they're persistent, pervasive, impairing. WATCH MORE

• What Is Pragmatic Language?
  

  'The functions of language are many,' Dr. Lydia Soifer says, and being able to differentiate how others are using it is a skill as important as vocabulary or conjugation. And it doesn't come easily to some. WATCH MORE

Tourette's Disorder

• My daughter has facial and hand tics, but not Tourette's. What causes this?

  A child can have a motor tic disorder without the verbal tics associated with Tourette's. They're usually intermittent, and we don't treat them unless they're impairing. READ MORE

• American Idol: Can James Durbin Defeat Stigma?

  The increased awareness of Tourette's syndrome the young rocker has inspired won't change everyone's attitude, but he is a fantastic role model for kids and families living with this disorder. READ MORE

Trauma

• My daughter was abused 6 years ago and now she's having negative sexual thoughts. How can I help her?

  Try to find a doctor who knows trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, the gold standard treatment for sexual abuse. READ MORE

• Helping Kids Cope After a Traumatic Event

  A guide offering simple tips on what to expect, what to do, and what to look out for after a crisis. READ MORE

Videos

• What Is Goal-Directed Treatment Planning?
  

  Every intervention for psychiatric illness should have a desired outcome and a way to monitor progress and efficacy, says Dr. Barry Nurcombe. Otherwise you get "therapeutic drift." WATCH MORE

• When Should I Worry About Tantrums?
  

  Dr. Gabrielle Carlson tells us that, like any troubling behavior, parents should worry about extreme outbursts when they meet three criteria: they're persistent, pervasive, impairing. WATCH MORE