The Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

Ashley Karls/ December 7, 2009/ Special Features

Andrea Victor, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of children with anxiety disorders.        All children, and all adults for that matter, have anxious or fearful moments. But the child with an anxiety disorder is prey to catastrophic struggles and sense of dread. “What if Mom drops me at soccer practice and never comes

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The Mad Science of Play

Ashley Karls/ December 7, 2009/ About Kids

About a year ago,it was looking like my friend Lucy’s business might fail. But she worked 80-hour weeks, got some new clients, and turned things around. She also realized that for the past few months nobody had invited her 6-year-old daughter Emma for a play date. At Lucy’s urging, Emma asked a girl from her class to come home with

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That’s a Good Sign

Ashley Karls/ December 7, 2009/ Sharing Stories

In their early forties, the couple sitting in my office had adopted twin baby girls from Romania. Now, at two and half, the two little girls were both sturdily built, dark-haired, dimpled—but it was all too easy to tell them apart. Megan was focused, coordinated, and a precocious talker. She was affectionate, and even in the middle of  the Terrible

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How just “getting organized” changed a child’s life

Ashley Karls/ December 7, 2009/ About Kids

Josh’s mom was beginning to worry. Her 11-year-old son was complaining of stomach aches. His pediatrician could find nothing wrong, but they were more and more frequent, nearly every morning, and often so severe that Josh missed school. They seemed to be affecting his schoolwork too: the child whom teachers described as “extremely bright” wasn’t turning in assignments, wasn’t preparing

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RNBC Research Identifies Three Key Factors in Avoiding Social Rejection

Ashley Karls/ November 23, 2009/ News Releases

Three Key Factors to Help Children Avoid Social Rejection Identified New Study May Help Develop Assessment Tests in Social-Emotional Learning (CHICAGO) – Neurobehavioral researchers at Rush University Medical Center have found three key factors in a child’s behavior that can lead to social rejection. The studies are a crucial step in developing scientifically sound screening tests and treatment planning for

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RNBC’S Annual Awards Dinner celebrates the 13th year of helping children build on their strengths, with an expert talk about the value of friendship and three annual award presentations

Ashley Karls/ October 10, 2009/ News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 12, 2009 Contact: Michael Mesic  (847-644-9151) Dr. Stephen Nowicki, Jr., renowned psychologist and behavioral researcher, will present a talk on the dynamics and value of friendships from childhood through adulthood. Annual Awards will honor Michael W. Ferro, Jr., a well-known entrepreneur and civic leader; Susan Noyes, a generous North Shore philanthropist and web site founder; and

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Social-Emotional Learning Assessment: a New RNBC Service

Ashley Karls/ October 10, 2009/ Special Features

One of the most important jobs of childhood involves making friends, keeping friends, earning the good opinion of others and avoiding the social landmines of rejection, isolation, and loneliness. Children who succeed at these tasks enter adolescence and adulthood ready for success in relationships that are critical for a life well-lived—with spouse, children, friends, and colleagues. Yet a startling number

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Words of Advice From An Older Brother

Ashley Karls/ October 10, 2009/ Masterpieces

Liam, Hey, it’s Alex. Hope you are having a good year in school. I know making the transition to middle school was tough—to be honest with you, making that transition for me was harder than making the transition from middle to high school. You really have to stay organized, and I know you can, it’s much easier than you think

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Understanding the IEP Process: A Six-Step Guide

Ashley Karls/ October 10, 2009/ Special Features

By Barbara Resnick, MS, Educational Specialist/School Liaison This article is the second in a three-part series designed to educate and assist parents as they work with their child’s school. Part I focused on a typical scenario involving a student’s parents and school communicating about learning concerns. In this series, the process described resulted in a decision to conduct a psychological

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