“You Complete Me” Many people are familiar with this line from the movie, Jerry McGuire, starring Tom Cruise. A deaf couple signs this message to each other in an elevator and Tom Cruise’s character assumes they must really be in love. However, this may not be the reality. In reality it may be an unhealthy…
As a psychotherapist who works with teenagers and their parents and couples, on of the most difficult issues that people encounter is clear communication. Based on how we are raised in our society, most of us do not receive education on communicating with each other. As a result of this, miscommunication is very common between…
Online counseling is a thing. A Google search pulls up tens of millions of entries. And that is sure to grow given this technological phenomenon of computer based communication. As many people have pointed out, tele-health including psychotherapy has many valid uses. In remote and underserved areas, it can be the best or only option. …
In light of the terrorist attack on London yesterday and the threats against Jewish Community Centers, it makes sense to remind parents how children and teenagers are being impacted. I have been seeing more and more teenagers who are complaining of anxiety and depression. Many of these teenagers are also afraid to go to school…
A common argument I hear daily in my office is how much time should an adolescent be spending on their laptop or their smart phone. Parents typically believe that their adolescents are spending too much time on their cell phones and laptops. Of course adolescents feel that their parents are being unfair and not allowing…
When we share our stories, what it does is, it opens up our hearts for other people to share their stories. And it gives us the sense that we are not alone on this journey. – Janine Shepherd Everyone has a story and everyone’s story is important. Our story is about how we ended up…
Many parents of high school athletes are aware of the dangers of concussions. Even one concussion can cause permanent damage according to recent research studies. However, there is another condition that parents need to be aware of when their child plays sports. This disorder is CTE. CTE is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) it is a…
In the past decade, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been receiving great attention among professionals and in the media. While most children with ADHD receive therapy services such as behavioral therapy and art therapy, the majority receives medication. Parents and teachers have become more aware of the positive impacts of behavioral and art therapy for…
Many of the teenagers that I see for psychotherapy come to therapy believing that no one loves them. They tell me their parents don’t love them, their siblings don’t care about them and no one at school cares about them. They feel they are unloveable and no one cares if they live or die. Because…
According to Statistics Canada, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 3-5% of school-aged children. This means one out of 25-30 student meets the criteria for this diagnosis. According to researchers and child mental health professionals, ADHD leads to poor school performance, conduct disorders, and interpersonal difficulties in family and friendships. While researchers continue studying what…