By Leslie Baer Cohen, Ph.D. With summer upon us, many parents are actively exploring summer programs for their children. As a child psychologist, one of the more common questions that I hear from parents during this process is, “What, if anything, should I tell my child’s counselor/camp about his/her neurobehavioral problems?” For many parents, a tension exists between wanting to
RNBC employs two main pathways to helping children and families. The first resource is through assessing the nature of children’s neurobehavioral challenges. The second area is through providing recommendations for or directly administering services to children. Making judgments about the best way to approach assessment and the best kinds of interventions to provide or recommend is central for each of
Summer is officially in full swing. With school out, many children who are less social miss the opportunities for daily interactions that school provides. Children who face social challenges need assistance all year long, but particularly during this time of year. Encourage your child to engage others during the summer months. As parents, there are things you can do to help
Usually when I see a young patient, and have appropriate testing done, I am able to form an effective treatment plan that often leads to improvement in the child’s learning and behavior. But every summer I find children who improve because of something else: no school. Take Mrs. Pollack and her daughter Julie, for example. Julie, who’s twelve, has attention,
Involve your child in planning for summer ☼ Plan itineraries, budgets, transportation and packing for vacations ☼ Research camps, summer sports leagues, arts classes and recreational programs ☼ Organize parties, sleep-overs, and family gatherings (menus, venues, invitations, etc.) Set summer goals ☼ Read books and track progress (pages per day, week and month) ☼ Create a budget and savings plan around
My name is Nadine Wengroff and I am the intake coordinator at RNBC. I am an Advanced Practice Nurse as well as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nursing. I am, most likely, the first person you will speak with when exploring options for services for your child at RNBC. Regardless of what clinical service you are
Ellen Walker spoke dispassionately about her 8 ‑year ‑old son Teddy’s many problems. “He has learning disabilities and an inability to interact with classmates. He’s disorganized. He doesn’t listen. Every day is a string of arguments, tears, melt downs. I’m afraid he’s profoundly handicapped,” Mrs. Walker concluded. It was a somber picture that she painted. When I asked about her
As a clinical psychologist, I am often asked by parents, “How do I talk to my child about their learning/attentional/emotional difficulties?” This is a wonderful question. All too often, children with neurobehavioral difficulties may work regularly in a resource room, visit a psychologist, or receive help from a tutor without any explanation why. When children don’t have accurate information, they
By: Nicole Russo-Ponsaran, Ph.D. Assistant Professor 1. Why is it important to have a child participate in research studies? Research studies help us understand how the brain, body, and behavior function together. Through research, we find new ways to help children. For example, research studies can lead to (1) better diagnostic assessments (2) preventative medicine, and (3) effective ways to
By: Amanda L. Weigel, Psy.D. Mention the word adolescence to many parents and the response is more often than not rich with worry and concern. Despite the challenges for both teens and parents during this developmental period, it can be easily navigated with knowledge, appropriate boundaries, and empathy. During this stage, adolescents are taxed with many important developmental tasks including