About Me

family therapy after a divorce

Have you recently been through a divorce? Are you feeling the impact of the divorce in ways that you didn't plan for? After my divorce, my kids and I went through several months where they were angry and I felt like a complete failure. It was almost a year before I decided to begin seeing a family therapist to help us get through such a difficult transitional time for the entire family. She was so understanding, compassionate and helpful. She helped us talk through our feelings and provided us with the tools that we needed to get through the most difficult time in our lives.

Latest Posts

Tags

family therapy after a divorce

Does Your Child Have ADHD?

by Fernando Barnett

Have you been considering the fact that your child has ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? Maybe at first you thought that he or she was just a very busy little kid who drove you a bit crazy some of the time. Then maybe you noticed that he or she couldn't stay on a task for a long time. Or, it might be that you have been called in by your child's school teacher and have been told by him or her that ADHD might be a factor in your child's success at school. From doing things at home that might help to getting professional assistance for your child with ADHD, here are some things that might help you.

Help at Home

Think of communicating your concerns to your child in a way that he or she will understand that you are not mad or disappointed in him or her. For example, you might use phrases like, Your wonderful mind is so busy that I need for you to pay extra attention while I teach you to tie your shoes. Do the same when you are asking your child to complete tasks. For instance, if you want your child to clear the kitchen table off after a meal, use words like, I know your busy hands can help me by bringing forks first and then the plates, okay? In other words, be specific and uplift at the same time.

Consider, too, having a schedule that your child can follow easily. You might even want to use a timer. For example, if you have a set homework or reading time, remind your child that a bell will sound when that time is up. By doing that, he or she won't keep coming to you to ask if that time is over. And consider breaking the time into shorter sessions, maybe with a snack, to keep him or her going.

ADHD Help

If you have realized that your child also needs help from a professional., the school counselor or your family practice doctor will more than likely have names of counselors that he or she can recommend to provide ADHD help. Of course, you'll choose a counselor that is comfortable working with kids, somebody who has the training and the experience to know how to communicate well on a child's level of understanding.

It might be that the counselor feels that medication will help. If that's the case, you will more than likely be referred to a psychiatrist who can prescribe the right medicine for your child. Be sure to tell the doctor which other medications and health supplements your child is already taking. Ask, too, if there is a diet that might help your child who has ADHD.

Share