I like to think that out of adversity, we can create positives—whether more family time, quiet time, going outdoors, being creative.Practicing good hygiene and social distancing are ways we can feel proactive in response to health concerns as severe as COVID-19 or simply the common cold. [...]
Successful Aging You may wonder what the good part of aging could possibly be. After all, there are some potential declines—body, health, memory, energy, losses. Why are some people still positive despite these declines? What do they do differently? I recall meeting a senior gentleman [...]
The most important messages we can convey as parents are promoting a sense of security and the feeling of unconditional love. Positive parenting provides a buffer against adversity. It teaches us how to respectfully give and receive care and compassion. It models trust, fairness, consistency and [...]
What does handling emotions really mean? Some people think it is important to have a stiff upper lip—be stoic—be brave. Some people think coping with emotions means to never cry or be angry or be worried or be scared—that we should never have negative [...]
June 20, 2016 : I attended a presentation on Marijuana: Myths and Management at the Betty Ford Center, Rancho Mirage, CA. The presenter, Jan Copeland, Ph.D. from South Wales, Australia, related a variety of statistics, including that in the United States marijuana, is used more [...]
Published in the Desert Health News: May-June Do you struggle to be understood, yet often feel misunderstood? Communication is a basic skill, yet there are some subtle nuances that can raise your odds for success. There are three basic concepts to regard for effective communication: What [...]
On Friday May 20, I attended the 2016 Southern California Regional Play Therapy Conference held in Rancho Cucamonga and sponsored by the California Association for Play Therapy. Holly Willard, LCSW, RPT-S, presented a workshop entitled: Not Just Child’s Play: Using Play therapy with Teens. The concept [...]
As a member of the Desert Sands Student Advisory Program (SAP), I attended a meeting Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the Betty Ford Children’s Center in Rancho Mirage. One of the topics discussed concerned proprioception, which refers to our personal physical space. It is readily [...]
Now that the holidays are over, some parents have begun noticing an unanticipated change in their children. Consider how endowed these children were during the holidays, not only in terms of presents but also yummy treats, late bedtimes, entertainment, no homework, a lax of chores, and [...]
What Makes Boys Afraid to Tell About Sexual Abuse? 1. Boys are under the assumption that they should be able to protect themselves. If someone takes advantage of them they feel it is their own fault, they should have been stronger. 2. Boys feel they won’t be believed. [...]
