Notes from a Child Psychologist

Welcome to Episode #1 of the Back to School and Your Child's Mental Health Series   Back-to-school can be an exciting time for many parents, caregivers, and their children and for some parents/caregivers and their children it can be an anxiety-producing time. With the start of the new school year, it is SO important that we talk about what  your child needs to successfull. We know that succes...

Back- to- school can be an exciting time for many parents, caregivers, and their children. During this time, many start stocking up on school supplies, buying new clothes, and eagerly anticipating what the new year will bring! As important as it is to prepare your child materially for the new school year, It is equally important to think critically about how you will support their  emotional and m...

Helping children to create and maintain boundaries is such an important part of their development.  Boundaries allow children to feel safe, teach them they are in control of their bodies and help them feel assertive.  Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in helping children to understand the importance of creating and maintaining their own boundaries.  In this episode of the podcast, we talk...

Play is such an important part of your child's development! Intentional play can be a powerful part of the caregiver-child relationship. Play is the way children communicate and we can learn so much about the children in our lives when we get on their levels and engage in play.    There are so many benefits of play and they include improved social skills, language development, and improved pa...

The summertime is an exciting time of year for so many reasons!  The warm air, summer nights, outdoor playtime, vacations, and much more. For some of you listening, your children have already finished the school year and for others, the school year will be wrapping up soon!  Therefore,  summer planning is in full effect! We know that the summer months can be difficult for some children for a wide...

Depression is a very serious mental health concern and it is crucial that we have conversations about how it presents in children. This episode continues my Mental Health awareness series. This series has focused on bringing it back to basics by discussing common mental health conditions that children are very often diagnosed with. With mental health entering mainstream conversations, it is critic...

This may be one of my favorite episodes! This episode continues my Mental Health awareness series. This series has focused on bringing it back to basics by discussing common mental health conditions that children are very often diagnosed with. With mental health entering mainstream conversations, it is critical that we all have a solid understanding of how mental health impacts the everyday lives...

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month?  This year Mental Health America is bringing it back to basics . With mental health entering mainstream conversations, it is critical that we all have a solid understanding of how mental health impacts the everyday lives of children and adolescents. Each week I will be discussing common mental health diagnoses that are given to children and a...

This is a very sad week in our country. This week on May 24, 2022, 19 children and 2 adults were murdered in a Mass School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Many parents, caregivers, and teachers are struggling with how to talk to their children about the Tragic school shooting at Robb Elementary School.  ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀  On this episode of the podcast, I talk about ways in which you can navigate difficult con...

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month?  This year Mental Health America is bringing it back to basics . With mental health entering mainstream conversations, it is critical that we all have a solid understanding of how mental health impacts the everyday lives of children and adolescents. Each week I will be discussing common mental health diagnoses that are given to children and a...

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month?  This year Mental Health America is bringing it back to basics . With mental health entering mainstream conversations, it is critical that we all have a solid understanding of how mental health impacts the everyday lives of children and adolescents. Each week I will be discussing common mental health diagnoses that are given to children and a...

Helping your child to develop a growth mindset encourages them to be confident and to become great problem solvers as they mature. It is never too early to encourage your child to develop a growth mindset and, in this episode, we will dive into some simple actionable tips that you can start implementing today to help your child develop a growth mindset.  Grab your notebooks and get ready to take n...

Don’t be afraid to broach the topic of therapy/mental health treatment with your child.  Parents are often surprised by how willing their children are to speak with someone about what is going on in their lives. Many parents make the assumption that mental health may mean that their child will be stigmatized or that they may automatically require medication or even a hospital stay. What we know is...

Likes, comments, subscribers - Oh my!  Social media plays a significant role in peer-to-peer interaction for today's children- if you're 35 years old or older, you grew up differently. You built friendships through face-to-face interactions at prescribed times (school, recreational activities, and playing outside until the street lights came on;)   We often talk about the harmful impacts...

Technology, namely portable devices , has impacted every industry imaginable while giving us unprecedented access to information. Through these advancements, our children have learned online during a pandemic, connected to relatives in different parts of the world, and gained knowledge at a speed that we could have only imagined 20 years ago.  Despite the positive impact that portable computers, t...

When children feel their needs aren't met physically or emotionally, they get angry, frustrated, and annoyed. But, unlike us, our children don't have the emotional language to express themselves —leading to temper tantrums/big emotions. Often when parents and caregivers find themselves frustrated when managing their child’s big emotions.  In this two-part episode, we explore age-appropri...

When children feel their needs aren't met physically or emotionally, they get angry, frustrated, and annoyed. But, unlike us, our children don't have the emotional language to express themselves —leading to temper tantrums/big emotions. Often when parents and caregivers find themselves frustrated when managing their child’s big emotions.  In this two-part episode, we explore age-appropri...

The complexities of foreign policy and long-standing feuds between nations are too intricate for adults to understand let alone children. Therefore, I understand why many adults shy away from having conversations about war and conflict. This podcast exists to assist parents and educators in navigating these critical conversations so that we can protect the mental health of our children. In this ep...

REGISTER HERE How do I navigate tough parenting situations in a way that looks and feels good to me? How do I become the parent I've always dreamed of being? How do I create healthy rules and guidelines for my children? I'll be answering these questions and more in the Parent Goals: 5 Keys to Value-Based Parenting Masterclass! Value Based Parenting is an effective tool in helping parents...

Many adults deal with mental health concerns, leading to challenging relationships with their children. Challenges occur due to the day-to-day issues parents encounter caring for their children's physical and emotional needs while also handling their mental health. Couple these challenges with stress from work and societal unrest, and it's easy to see why many parents report feelings of...

Welcome to the final episode of our Black History 2022 wellness series. When I heard the news concerning the suicide of Cheslie Kryst, attorney, television correspondent, and former Miss USA, I was left speechless like many of you. Suicide rates amongst people of color look are skyrocketing. And for every story that makes national headlines, ten more don't.  I understand that many of my liste...

Welcome back to part 3 of this 4-part Black History Month Series! Five years ago, 3-year old Sophia from South Carolina went viral when she visited a Target with her mother and chose a doll made in the image of her favorite cartoon character -Doc McStuffins.  T he cashier questioned why Sophia, a 3-year old white child, would choose a black doll. Sophia's response was heard worldwide as she e...

Welcome to the second installment of this 4-Part series:  In last week's episode, we discussed: How Knowing Their History Can Improve Your Child's Mental Health. In this week's installment, I am sharing a framework that parents and caregivers can use to begin discussing race, racism, and social justice with children and adolescents.  In this intimate conversation, we cover the follo...

Having conversations around race and mental health is hard for parents and caregivers. Yet, parents and caregivers are the most equipped to create spaces for healthy dialogue—today, children have access to news, commentary, and social media but lack the context that history provides. In addition to understanding the world we live in, exposing children to Black History is also an opportunity to cel...

Structure is a huge part of our everyday lives; as humans, we crave systems in the form of routines. Routines ease anxiety, reduce confusion, and make us feel confident and safe. Routines are equally important for children and families. In previous episodes, we discussed the importance of creating safe spaces for discussions and establishing parenting values to guide decisions. Today, we're t...