GIRLWISE FALL WORKSHOP!

Stop nagging kids about homework!

Parent blog: Stop nagging kids about homework

Julie Poppen is a journalist, an editor and writer for Education News Colorado and the mother of a fifth-grader, who grumbled about homework before going to bed last night.
In case you haven’t already figured out that nagging doesn’t work on kids, consider new findings from researchers at the University of Northern Colorado.

The study, by assistant professor of school psychology John Mark Froiland and doctoral student Aubrey Peterson, found that it’s far more effective to set positive expectations than to enter into a battle of wills. Not only that, parents who set the expectation that their kindergartener will ultimately succeed in college also set the stage for higher scores for that same child in math, reading and science in eighth grade.
The results were published in an article in School Psychology International, one of the leading educational psychology journals.
So, how do you set high expectations?
Reading to young children, expressing hopes that they do well in school and encouraging them to learn to help others are effective ways to set expectations and support academic success, researchers say.
Froiland and Peterson, along with a University of Minnesota colleague, analyzed data involving more than 7,600 parents and children nationwide in concluding that parent expectations had a stronger effect on achievement than various forms of home-based parental involvement, including checking on grades and homework.
Froiland offers these tips for parents to set expectations and support their children’s academic success.

Tips for homework success

Read to children ages 2 to 5 every day. Explain the meaning of vocabulary words and frequently visit the library together.

Express your hopes, from preschool to young adulthood, that your children will do well in school and pursue the highest degree they’re capable of.

Point them to the deeper purposes in learning – one of the greatest is to help others – throughout life.

Don’t continually harp on them about grades and homework. In middle school and high school, children often struggle with their independence and may perceive questions such as, “Don’t you think you should go study right now?” as controlling.

Don’t emphasize grades and other rewards so much that children lose sight of the real value of learning.

Don’t allow your children to associate you solely with pressure and demands. It’s important to keep the relationship strong by spending time with your children doing something pleasant. Show unconditional love so that they know that they are accepted by you regardless of how well they perform in school.

So there you go, folks. This should mark the end of your homework battles. (One can dream…) Let us know how you manage homework in your household and whether the strategy is working.

Insomnia and Mental Health.....is counting sheep the answer?

Insomnia & Mental Health

“We see an epidemic of wakefulness intruding into our sleep and dreams as insomnia. We mistake the jittery buzz of counterfeit energies for natural vitality. Half-awake in our sleep and half-asleep in our waking, we are never completely at rest and seldom fully conscious.”

Healing Night, Rubin Naiman, PhD

Sleep loss problems are thought to have adverse effects on the body’s inflammatory processes, digestive hormones, stress chemicals, immune system function, insulin regulation and blood pressure (Stein, 2005). Short sleep duration is also associated with coronary artery calcification, obesity, diabetes, colon and breast cancer, heart disease and stroke (King, 2008). But it is the corrosive effect of sleep loss on mental health and well being that is the major concern of Sleep Counseling. Even in healthy subjects, sleep deprivation has been shown to cause emotional instability and pathological psychiatric patterns (Anderson, 2007).
Henry Ford Hospital research director asserts the prevalence of chronic insomnia in children and adolescents is similar to adults, and emerging data show morbidity associated with insomnia in childhood and adolescence to include school, social and substance abuse problems (NSF, 4/12/2010). Allison Harvey, PhD, at UC Berkeley cites empirical evidence indicating that sleep disturbance may be one causal pathway that leads to relapse in bipolar disorder (Harvey, 2008). A recent Harvard study measuring reduced levels of GABA in insomnia subjects speculated that anxiety, depression and insomnia may all share a similar underlying physiology (“Brain GABA Reduced,” 2008).

Patients with persistent and untreated insomnia are at up to six times the risk for new onset or recurrent episodes of major depression.

Dr. Michael Perlis, Director of the UPenn Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program asserts that the evidence with respect to psychiatric illness is clear and compelling. Patients with persistent and untreated insomnia are at up to six times the risk for new onset or recurrent episodes of major depression. There is also good evidence that insomnia is a risk factor for the development and/or recurrence of anxiety disorders and substance abuse (Perlis, 2004, 2009).
A 2001 University of Michigan study compared relapse rates following alcoholism treatment of subjects with and without insomnia. Sleep maintenance insomnia had the highest correlation with relapse and, overall, post treatment relapse was greater among those with insomnia. Brower, et al, concluded that sleep and insomnia assessments during treatment could potentially prevent relapse and improve recovery (Patrick, 2009).

Less than one-third of patients have initiated discussion with their physician about their sleep problems, and less than two-thirds have ever been asked about their sleep by a physician.

The 2009 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) poll found that less than one-third of patients have initiated discussion with their physician about their sleep problems, and less than two-thirds have ever been asked about their sleep by a physician. When sleep problems are discussed with physicians, the result is often a prescription for sleep medication. In 2005, 43 million prescriptions for sleep meds were written contributing to the alarming three-fold increase in the use of prescription sleep aids by 18 to 24-year-olds between 1998 and 2006. During this same period, prescribed sleeping pill use among adults under the age of 45 increased by 50 percent.
Also during this same period, several studies showed the superior efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) versus AmbienCR and Lunesta–together accounting for nearly two-thirds of all the sleep medication taken! Dr. Daniel Kripke’s “dark side of sleeping pills” and information about specialized training in CBT-I from Dr. Michael Perlis can be accessed under “Links & Resources” on the main menu.

Managing Middle School Stress

Check out this great little video on Middle Schoolers and Stress Management!

Is your child struggling with any of these? Nipping mild stress in the bud early on reduces stress and anxiety from growing bigger throughout the school year. If you want to give your back-to-schoolers some great stress/anger management skills, and help develop healthy coping skills for later in life call Joan Chapman to set up your free 360Family intake assessment.

Back to School!

Back to School Tips !

Mental Health America recognizes that the beginning of a new school year can be an exciting yet stressful time for children, with new teachers and classmates, bigger classrooms, new routines and more schoolwork. This time can be particularly unnerving and overwhelming for children who are facing major transitions such as starting elementary school or entering middle school. As a parent there are important steps you can take to support your child as he or she heads back to school.

Know that your child's mental health is just as important as their physical health.
Plans for a good school year start in the summer. Begin establishing a "back to school" routine at least two weeks prior to school starting to minimize stress and help with the transition.
Healthy food and beverages and good quality sleep are necessary for academic success.
Express interest and enthusiasm about the start of the school year. If you are confident and excited, your child will be too.
Start the conversation! Talk to your child about your expectations as well as his/her expectations for the upcoming school year. Take time to listen to your child and discuss aspects of the new school year that he or she is worried about.
If you have visited your child's school already, you are one step ahead of the game. If not, take a walk around the school with your child and locate his or her classrooms, lunchroom, playground and restrooms. This will help keep your child from feeling lost on the first day. When visiting prior to the first day is not an option, if the school has a website, allow your child to visit the site as there may be photos of the classroom, playground, school staff, required school supplies, schedules, other children, etc.
Remember to let your child know that it's normal to feel nervous about the start of school. For parents of younger children, suggest that your child take a family photo or special object (with permission from school) to school to make his or her surroundings more comfortable.
Spend time each day talking to your child about what happened in school. Be open to hearing the good and the not so good. Give your child positive feedback about his or her new experiences.
Praise and encourage your child to become involved with school activities and to try new things.
Encourage your child to try to make friends and to be a friend. School is a "social hub" that can be a very lonely place without a friend or two.
Attend school functions and stay involved in your child's education and engaged with school staff. Children whose parents are more involved with their education have higher achievement, are better adjusted and are less likely to drop out of school.
Be proactive in learning about how your child is developing not just physically, but socially and emotionally, as well. If you are aware of what's typical behavior and thoughts for your child's stage of life, you will be able to tell more readily when things may not be right.
Know the signs of bullying. Bullying can take the form of direct bullying such as pushing, kicking, teasing, name-calling, destroying belongings as well as indirect action such as leaving someone out of a group, spreading rumors and cyber bullying. If your child is the bully or being bullied, swift action involving school staff is necessary.

Anxiety and stress about starting school is normal for a child and usually passes within the first few days or weeks. If your child continues to seem anxious or stressed, it may be time to seek help. Talk to your child's teacher, other classroom-based staff as well as your pediatrician about what you can do as a parent. If problems persist, consider getting a referral to a trained and qualified mental health professional.

Joan Marie Chapman works with children and families to address stress and anxiety BEFORE it effects your son or daughters academics! By focusing on stress management and helping patients to develop healthy coping skills, we can work together to be sure your child has the best school year yet!

Contact Joan directly at 310-465-6138

YES! Your Teen Is Crazy!

For any parents looking for some great back to school reading about your soon to be or current teen, this fun, fresh perspective is a great read!

From Library Journal

For parents who have tried everything but still have teens who are out of control, Bradley's Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy! is a funny, blunt, and reassuring book. Philadelphia psychologist Bradley approaches the subject from the viewpoint that teens are, well, a little nuts; using current brain research, he points out that the most sophisticated parts of the mind are not developed until the end of adolescence ergo, the acting out, mood swings, ADHD, depression, suicide, anorexia, etc. The basic premise is that parents are still the most influential force in their kids' lives and that the old rules of parenting are not only unhelpful but destructive. Adults must take the blame for ignoring rampant alcohol addictions among teens, allowing sex to saturate culture so much that kids don't even know what intimacy and commitment are. Rejecting peer pressure as an excuse for unacceptable behaviors, Bradley distinguishes between "normal" and "insane." Overall, the message is that kids can become fine people even if they screw up a lot, and you need to play the parent, not the cool confidante. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

New Early Detection For Pediatrics

Your Teen and Drugs! Parents Class Next Week!

“The Autism Spectrum: Recent Scientific Advances”

UC Irvine medical geneticist Dr. John Jay Gargus discusses “The Autism Spectrum: Recent Scientific Advances” as part of the Dick & Mary Allen Lecture Series at UCI’s Newkirk Center for Science & Society. Gargus, professor of pediatrics and physiology & biophysics, lectures about autism research, the disorder’s metaboli...c and environmental roots, and the potential for new diagnostics and therapies.

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES! and E-Brochure!

After spending the last few months meeting with local South Bay providers I am happy to say operation "Local Resource" is well underway. My goal for this project stems from the request of the families I work with. One of the greatest challenges as a parent is narrowing down the never ending list of Google searched resources for thier child. Whats more, is that if parent have found "an amazing camp", "behaviorist", "nutritionist", or "babysitting service trained in ASD" they tend to be miles out of reach!

The GOOD news; I have been finding wonderful resources for the South Bay area and meeting with them to discuss how we can all come together and provide the best possible resources for our families. I will be planing a local resource fair in the coming months and looking to hold it sometime before the start of the new school year! More details to come!

Also I have posted my new e-brochure as to make sending and viewing more user friendly to all my tech-driven clients and colleges....and it saves trees! :)

All the Best,
-Joan Marie Pagan, MA

Autism in the South Bay- Daily Breeze Article

Study: Localized clusters of autism occurrence include the South Bay

By Melissa Evans Staff Writer

Posted: 01/07/2010 01:53:18 PM PST

(Paul Penzella/Staff Artist)

Children born to well-educated parents appear to have a greater chance of being diagnosed with autism, according to a study that surprised researchers at the University of California, Davis.
In a statewide study of geographic factors that might contribute to the disorder, researchers found 10 localized clusters - including the Torrance area - where the incidence of autism was more than double that of surrounding areas.
The researchers and others, however, say that it is likely that more children of well-educated parents are being diagnosed - not that their incidence of autism is any higher.
"In general, these areas tend to have more resources," said Irva Hertz-Picciotto, lead author of the study published this week in the journal Autism Research. "We were still very surprised at how consistent this educational finding was."
Another factor associated with higher education is that these parents tend to wait longer to conceive; older mothers are more prone to having kids with autism, the researcher said.
All of these areas, most in small, confined pockets of Southern California, had fewer Latino residents than the general population, researchers found.
The study compared birth records of children from 1996 to 2000, and the rate of autism diagnosed in these children six years later. They looked at specific areas served by the state's Regional Centers, which provide state-funded educational and medical support to families of autistic children.

The researchers looked at smaller clusters within these regions, as well. They found the Torrance and beach cities areas to have high rates of autism, along with pockets served by the South-Central Los Angeles Regional Center, including Gardena and Carson.

In the Torrance-based Harbor Regional Center area, there were 108,292 births from 1996 to2000, and 675 children diagnosed with autism, according to the study. The autism rate was about 62 children per 10,000 births, nearly twice that of neighboring South Los Angeles.
The statewide average was about 40 autistic children per 10,000 births.
"This does seem consistent with our sense that families that are more aware and informed seem to have more regular visits with pediatricians, they ask questions if they have concerns, and they obtain a diagnosis and treatment plan," said Nancy Spiegel, a spokeswoman for the Harbor Regional Center.
The local center oversees treatment for about 2,500 autistic children who need varying levels of care and support.
Other clusters of autistic children were located in the Culver City region, the Golden State region near San Francisco, the North Los Angeles area including the San Fernando and Antelope valleys and the Orange County region in Santa Ana.
A separate study at UC Davis is now under way to determine if environmental factors such as pollution or pesticides have any effect on rates of autism, and researchers will look closely at the clusters identified this week, Hertz-Picciotto said.
She also noted that autism doesn't appear to be an over-diagnosed phenomenon in these clusters. It is more likely that the developmental disorder is not being recognized in other areas, and that parents in these regions aren't seeking outside help.
"We also have to consider that some people may be afraid of going to a state agency to seek help," she said, referring to undocumented residents.
Because the study used birth certificates as a basis for data-gathering, the clusters are not a result of families migrating into certain areas to seek better care, the authors said.
Rose Hein, a Manhattan Beach parent whose teenage son was diagnosed with autism at age 2, said she wasn't surprised by the findings.
"We come into contact with people all the time who have autistic children," said Hein, who has been active in organizing sports leagues and services for autistic children.
The local area has resources to help these children, she said - but that wasn't always the case. She and other parents had to fight for educational and recreational services, said Hein, who is now raising money to open a ranch where kids with autism and other disabilities can live and work.
"No matter who it is, it is extremely tragic," she said.
melissa.evans@dailybreeze.com

Sharing the Autism diagnosis- Written by YOU!

Sharing the Autism diagnosis with others is not an easy task!

From: http://www.squidoo.com/Autism--1

Autism Spectrum Disorder is the name of the condition affecting my children. It is not obvious, it is not fatal, it is not infectious, it has no cure and besides its name, it is mostly unknown to others. My children have been officially diagnosed with this condition as early as 2 years old.

When my husband and I shared the news with our families, it did not matter which side it was, the reactions were very difficult to deal with. While his side of the family was blaming my genetic pool in a less explosive manner than mine, the comments and the reactions were not less hurtful. In fact, it was emotionally draining. My side of the family being French Canadian, I had to listen to their verbal criticism and accusations while my husband, who doesn't speak French was luckily protected from their cruel comments as I kept most of it to myself...until now.

Telling our families about our son's Autism

Pure emotional torture!

The first time that we had to tell our families about Autism it was when my son was diagnosed at 3 years old. We had some growing concerns for approximately two years as he lost his speech, he was lining up toys, he was beginning to have mood swings, etc. Since I am also a teacher, one of the first comments my father came up with was: "You are a teacher! You teach the children of strangers how to read and write, but you can't teach your own child how to speak! Spend time with him! Do your job as a mother!" You can only imagine my despair with such a response.

Then, there was my mother who did not do much better: "There is no Autism on our side of our family! It must come from his side of the family! It is their fault, not ours!"

Of course, after I told both of my parents that Autism Spectrum Disorder was not present on either side, other comments followed, making it even worse!

Explaining Autism to strangers

Autism is often misunderstood!

Another challenge my husband soon discovered following the Autism diagnosis for our children was explaining ASD to strangers. You see, Autism is not obvious as a child does not have physical traits, is not trembling or is not displaying tics like it is the case in some medical conditions. The problem occurs when hypersensitive issues or unusual behaviors are displayed in public. At first, the parents are judged on their parenting skills. Once you say that your children have Autism, some parents will rush away from you with their children in tow as if I would have told them it was the Plague or something infectious. Others will offer pity, which is not needed nor appreciated as I love my children as they are, no matter what challenges are ahead of us.

I have noticed that the best way to explain Autism to others is to use the following example: "Imagine that you are in a foreign country. You do not know the language and you need to ask directions. Not an easy task! Frustration and distress soon overcome you!" Another example that I use to explain the hypersensitive issues is: "Imagine that you are told that you must wear an itchy wool sweater all day. Wouldn't you feel overwhelmed by various emotions?" While these comparisons often help in explaining Autism to others, some will continue to avoid your children and isolate them from their own children.

Autism: Facing the bullying

Dealing with bullying is often part of the equation!

A few weeks prior to my son's third birthday and five months before being officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I spent an afternoon at the pool with my son. He loved swimming in the big pool. That afternoon, he unfortunately was bullied in my presence on two occasions.

The first one occurred when two boys approximately 10 or 11 years of age were hitting each other with a towel, by the side of the pool. My son started to get excited by the situation and was flapping his hands, giggling with joy. As the boy moved close to my son, the mother of the older boy told him to move away as he was about to hit my son with his towel. His reply crushed my heart while it wiped my son's smile off his little face: "Why should I bother over a retarded kid?" While I cuddled my son in my arms, I was praying for his mother to do or say something. Unfortunately, my prayers were unanswered. I couldn't believe that she would let her 10 years old son bully a 3 years old little boy without even pausing in her conversation with a friend.

Later, I was holding my son in my arms while walking around in the big pool when a boy and his friends starting to imitate my son's flapping and make fun of him. That time, I had to intervene and stop the madness by commenting on his actions toward my son. The boys were shocked but stopped, which I was thankful for. My son's special day out was overshadowed by bullying, and I could not do anything to change that. His pleasure was tainted with sadness.

To this day, I am not sure how much of these bullying events my son understood but all I know is that his reactions told me he did understand some of it and to me, this was intolerable. It broke my heart but what scares me the most is that because he is non-verbal, he will not only become the victim of bullying as time passes, and he is unable to defend himself with others or even ask for help. I know that my husband and I will not always be able to protect him 100% against those bullies, but it doesn't make any easier to accept or live with.

Autism: Dealing with the medical staff

The lack of knowledge about Autism is unbelievable!

One of the challenges that presented itself with my son was an intestinal problem. Of course, my husband and I decided to address these concerns by visiting the emergency room at the Children's Hospital in our city. After all, the issue was quite serious and the Health Line suggested to us to do just that. While I was in the waiting room with my son, I explained to the registration clerk that if my son suddenly became distressed it was because patience was a challenge in itself for autistic children. Fortunately, there was a large aquarium in the room which my son focused on, avoiding a difficult waiting period.

When the doctor saw us, the first thing that she said was: "By the way, I think it is unacceptable that you expect your son to be first in line because he has Autism. Stop using that as an excuse to get some privileges!" I was almost in tears and shocked! After all, we were the only ones in the waiting room the whole time! As I was trying to explain to her that it was not the reason behind my statement, she cut me off by telling me: "I don't know much about THESE children! Few people do!"

As years went by, I realized that underneath those harsh comments, was unfortunately an ugly truth. Few physicians consider themselves well informed about Autism, which means they are also limited in the help they can offer your child and the assistance they can offer you as parents.

How would you share the news with family and friends...

...regarding the Autism diagnosis of your child?

One thing I discovered when facing the Autism diagnosis of my children, it was almost harder to share the news with family and friends? Why? Simply, because they tend to play what I call: "The Blame Game"! It is particularly true with relatives. You see, nobody wants to say that it was genetic...on their side of the family. How would you deal with that if you were the one sharing the diagnosis?

How would you deal with that if you were the one sharing the diagnosis?

Please leave your comments :)

Fighting the myths linked to Autism

From "Rain Man" to reality!

While Hollywood created a masterpiece for the silver screen called: "Rain Man", they forgot to mention that it was based on the story of an autistic savant, not the average person living with Autism. In fact, it represents no more than 5% of the people diagnosed with this disorder. Unfortunately, most people make the link between the movie and reality.

This link was mentioned in one of the comments my brother made to me when I informed him that my son has ASD: "So he's like a little Rain Man! Cool!" Little did he know that my son's reality had no resemblance to Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie. In fact, he realized it first hand last summer when he had to travel our way due to a health crisis with my father during his trip in my part of the world. He then made the comment: "I'm sorry that I made that comment about "Rain Man" and your son. Now that I see both your children living with Autism in their own special way, I realize how wrong I was. Now that I have seen them and witnessed a few of their challenges, I have a better understanding of what Autism means for all of you."

Little did he know that his last comment became the fuel to a new beginning as I knew that instead of judging a situation he was now offering an open mind and is developing his awareness about Autism by reading about it and doing some research on his own.

Autism: Advice based on a lack of knowledge hurts!

The best intentions can cause harm more than you think!

Most people have the best intentions in the world, especially when it concerns their loved ones. Well, my advice to these people would be: "Until you walk a mile in someone's shoes, you can't possibly know what they are going through." The best way to help someone who lives with Autism is to be there for them at all times. Sometimes, simply listening is the best way to help. Other times, offering a hand or some assistance is the best support you can offer.

Both my children are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. Both face different challenges and issues. Both, live Autism in a different way. Either way, judging them and offering advice thinking the parents have not already tried a million things to meet the special needs of their children is simply WRONG.

In our case, my parents were the ones providing an increasing amount of advice, regardless of my answers stating that these things were tried in the past and that while some succeeded, others failed. Instead of hearing comments such as: " Did you try this? Try that! You are not tough enough to see it through. You are the parent, act like one! Maybe you should put your son in an institution, since they are trained to deal with people like him! He shouldn't be in a normal school. Train him better!" I could go on for pages! I cried many tears over the years. At one time I even had to tell my mother: "If you can't love my son as he is, this will be our last conversation. Make a choice!"

As the years passed, both of our families have come to terms with the fact that Autism is part of our lives, and it will be like that forever. Although our conversations are much tamer than before, comments are still sneaking into some of our conversations. I dream of the day when Autism will be well known and respected rather than judged and degraded.

Autism: What did I learn from all this?

Sharing with others about Autism is not easy, but it is worth it!

When I look back, I see more than the pain, the rejection, the accusations and the hurtful comments. I see that sharing with others about the Autism diagnosis of my children was not an easy task but a necessary one. What did I learn from this?

I learned that it is important to talk about it to people in order to provide information and develop their awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder. I also realized that behind the well intentioned advice, the hurtful comments, the rejection and the accusations the real message from our family was: "I am sorry! I feel unable to face this diagnosis right now. I wish I could help you! If I could take the blame to make it all better, I would, but I feel like I am not at fault on this one!"

The most important lessons that I was taught through this ordeal were:

- Nobody is to blame, Autism simply occurs in some cases and the causes are mostly unknown and unproven. The only certainty that my husband and I were offered in this case was that one child having Autism is random but having two is genetic.

- People react differently and in some cases harshly when they feel at loss or when facing a difficult situation. They don't mean any harm!

- The lack of knowledge about Autism may be the source of bullying, ostracizing and other cruel actions and reactions.

- Good or bad advice is always given with the best intentions.

The most important lesson of all is that love, patience are the best tools someone can offer your children and your family. Judgments and pity are nothing less then thorns in your side. If you know someone living with Autism, offer them tools...not thorns.

Book of the Month

As part of my practice, I think providing my clients with counseling service is only one part of the process. Useful resources from community providers, local chapters of national organizations and now BOOKS! This month I found Autism and Me: Sibling Stories by Ouisie Shapiro. This collection stories is written by children who share the things they love most about their brother or sister with Autism. I found this book to bean inspiring and uplifting point-of-view. See the "Book List" for links to order this great family read.

Autism Speaks

Welcome to Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Los Angeles

Saturday, April 24, 2010 • The Rose Bowl, Pasadena

Registration opens at 8:00am • Walk kicks off at 10:00am

Join Autism Speaks as we walk to change the future for all who struggle with autism!

Walk Now for Autism Speaks is a fun-filled, family friendly event and is our single most powerful force to fund vital research that will lead us to the answers we need. Experience the power of thousands united by a single cause by joining Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder – we need more volunteers to join our fight. Whether this is your first walk or the 10th, take the first step and register today.

Every 20 minutes, another family receives the devastating news that their child has autism. Help us change that! Start fundraising today. Whether you strive to join our new "Grand Club" (walkers that raise $1,000 or more) or sell lemonade to boost your total, you become a piece of the puzzle! Don’t wait another minute - start a corporate, school or family team today!

We look forward to seeing you at the event!

WELCOME!

Joan Marie Pagan, MA provides counseling services for families with children with developmental disabilities, particularly parents of children with an autistic spectrum disorder. The counseling provided to parents of a child with a disability can be either individual or couples therapy, as each parent responds differently to the diagnosis based on their own individual personality. Most parents often face feelings of frustration, anger, worry, anxiety, sadness, hope and joy. Parents often seek counseling when facing a child's new diagnosis, to address changing family dynamics, issues between siblings/parents, behavioral challenges or to navigating through resources.

Counseling sessions are also available for siblings of children with a developmental disability. Depending upon the age of the sibling, issues around acceptance, embarrassment, and frustration are some of the areas often raised in therapy. Often, feelings of anger or guilt may arise as a sibling may struggle to understand their brother or sister.

Through individual, couples or family therapy:

1. Parents and children have a source of support and a place to talk about the fears and anxieties parents with children with special needs may experience.
2. Work through feelings of anxiety, frustration, or worry around the diagnosis.
3. Talk about your child's strengths and challenges and set goals.
4. Gain an advocate with school districts and make difficult decisions regarding programs and therapies.
5. Manage behavioral challenges at home and in the community.
6. Trying different therapeutic techniques to find the most effective strategies for facilitating communication and play skills within the family unit.
7. Working to facilitate positive communicative interactions between parents and children.
8. Increase ability to incorporate the child’s special needs into the family in a supportive and empathetic environment.

Pages