Clarity and Direction is the Mission!

As a neuropsychologist, I employ a collective set of supported conceptual frameworks to understand and address patient and family needs.  We all have symptoms of many things but it is when those symptoms add up in a unique way to create distressing effects. These distressing effects can be the difference between a thriving developmental trajectory and continuing to perform below potential. We are here to help hear your story and begin crafting natural and long-lasting solutions. Life can get overwhelming for us all, when looking to get help finding your balance, then we may be able to help. We emphasize the physical basis of overall well being as well as the emotional, cognitive, and social aspects that paint our psychological lives.

Many children have fears and worries, and may feel sad and hopeless from time to time. Strong fears may appear at different times during development. For example, toddlers are often very distressed about being away from their parents, even if they are safe and cared for. Although fears and worries are typical in children, persistent or extreme forms of fear and sadness/ aggression could be due to anxiety or depression. Below are some common ways children may experience anxiety:

• Being very afraid when away from parents (e.g., separation anxiety more than 6 month after 1st birthday)
• Having extreme fear about a specific thing or situation, such as dogs, insects, or going to the doctor (seems to have phobias)
• Being very afraid of school and other places where there are people (social anxiety that continues)
• Being very worried about the future and about bad things happening (general anxiety)
• Having repeated episodes of sudden, unexpected, intense fear that come with symptoms like heart pounding, having trouble breathing, or feeling dizzy, shaky, or sweaty (panic disorder)

Anxiety may present as fear or worry, but can also make children irritable and angry. Anxiety symptoms can also include trouble sleeping, as well as physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or stomachaches. Some anxious children keep their worries to themselves and, thus, the symptoms can be missed.

We all strive to do our best with planning, organization, managing, and being productive. Some young children and adolescent may have "delays" in these self regulation skills and would benefit from increased awareness of strengths and weaknesses and development of appropriate plans and strategies to make up for difficulties with any of the following:

• Planning and Organizing
• Goal Setting and Implementation
• Strategic Thinking
• Study Skills and Test-taking Strategies
• Memory and Time Management Strategies
• Self-Awareness (Motivation, Emotional and Relational Awareness)

Children may struggle socially for a variety of combined reasons. Treatment addressing such different factors is critical for helping children thrive socially or at least not feel completely distressed. There are key strategies and skills that can be developed to help each child overcome their unique challenges.