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Written by Stephanie O’Leary, Psy.D.,
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Friday, 20 August 2010 11:39 |
September is typically a month of transition for families as the long sunny days of summer quickly give way to backpacks and school schedules. While most of us usually wait until the official “new year” in January to take stock and make resolutions, the back-to-school season is a great opportunity to set intentions for the months ahead. In fact, the process of developing goals can be just as valuable and rewarding as achieving them.
For children and teens the act of formulating personal expectations provides a rich opportunity for discussion. Such a conversation about the upcoming academic year will allow you to hear what your kids are looking forward to, and more likely, what they are less excited about. Whether they are focused on grades, friends, sports, or extracurricular activities, opening a dialogue by placing emphasis on their experiences will set the stage for ongoing discussions throughout the year.
Here, it is important to keep in mind that children’s goals may not always reflect the things that parents deem important. Something that your son or daughter views as extraordinarily important may seem far less vital than homework or study habits; however, allowing your children to voice their opinions and then receive your validation and support truly sends the message that you respect their individuality and appreciate their ambitions. This is where the act of outlining a few seemingly simple goals transforms into something much richer as your attention is focused on the things that hold the most weight in your children’s eyes.
So amidst the notebooks, assignment pads, and new class rosters, take a moment to set intentions as a family and share in what is truly important to your kids. At the same time, share your own goals and desires for the next few months. Once again, this allows you to model self-awareness and personal responsibility while sending the message that you are available and ready to listen even when the back- to-school hustle-bustle is as loud as ever.
Dr. O'Leary is a clinical psychologist who
specializes in conducting neurodevelopmental and neuropsychological assessments with children
(age 2-adolescence). She also provides cognitive-behavioral therapy for children with various
attentional, behavioral, emotional, and developmental struggles. She can be reached at (845)-313-9049.
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Releasing Anxiety – Powerful Techniques for Transforming Worry and Fear |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 11 August 2010 07:32 |
October 14:
Join Cathleen O'Connor at the Warner Library in Tarrytown, NY on Thursday, October 14 from 6:30-8:30pm in a special workshop for the women of Support Connection. Everyone knows what it is to feel anxious. It’s that gnawing feeling somewhere between the pit of your stomach and chest that has you feeling you can’t breathe or that keeps you locked in the grip of worrisome thoughts that never seem to end. Just the regular day-to-day stresses of modern life can be anxiety-producing but, add to that a major life crisis such as a cancer diagnosis, and anxiety becomes one more side effect in a long process of dealing with loss of control and fear of the unknown. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. The real side-effect is that you are left feeling powerless and fearful at a time when you most need your inner and outer strength to focus on your own healing.
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A Parent's Primer on Executive Functioning |
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Written by Stephanie O'Leary, Psy.D
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 12:51 |
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Whether or not the term "executive functions" rings a bell, most parents are probably very familiar with these skills which include planning, organization, focused attention, initiation, rule acquisition, and inhibiting inappropriate actions. Throughout a child's development, caregivers are granted a front row seat to watch as these abilities unfold as the brain areas responsible for these processes mature.
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Written by Stephanie O’Leary, Psy.D
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Wednesday, 14 October 2009 15:28 |
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How to Model Effective Problem Solving
Parents often feel as if their children have a hard time looking at them, listening to them, and paying attention to the multitude directives that are part of everyday life. Despite this sentiment, children are quite aware of the way their parents and caregivers react to various situations and tend to incorporate what they see into their own interactions. This is evident from early on when toddlers mimic figures of speech that they clearly do not understand, and persists through later childhood when we see our very own facial expressions of frustration or anger staring back at us during disagreements.
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Beating the Back to School Blues |
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Written by Stephanie O’Leary, Psy.D.
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Sunday, 20 September 2009 16:03 |
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Are you or your child anxious about going back to school? Local clinical psychologist Dr. Stephanie O’Leary shares some advice with our readers.
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For parents and children alike the summer months often pass by quickly. Just as the excitement and fanfare of graduations and moving-up ceremonies die down, it seems as if it is time to start back-to-school shopping again! For some youngsters this yearly transition occurs easily. However, other children may find it more challenging to adjust to the changes that September bring.
Here are some simple ways to help your kids as they pack their school bags and head to the bus stop this fall.
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Written by Lindsey Smith, MSW Social Worker in Mental Health
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Monday, 07 September 2009 16:09 |
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It's that time of the year again when kids are back to school or even going away to college. It is easy to get caught up in the busy routine of everyday life and miss important warning signs of depression which can lead to suicide. A person dies by their own hand every 17 minutes in this country. It is the third leading cause of death among youth.
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Written by Jennifer Minihan Local Mom and Body Builder, Dip.C.N. HC AADP
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Wednesday, 19 May 2010 13:00 |
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Are you an emotional eater? Food and feelings frequently go hand in hand. It is the degree to which we tie food and feelings that needs to be explored. I encourage you to keep a food journal for three days (and if three days seems overwhelming-just one day will help you).
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Breast & Ovarian Cancer Support |
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Help is Just a Phone Call Away! No matter where you live, From the comfort of your own home. Individual Peer Counseling & Support
- Talk to someone who understands what you're going through
- Learn about available resources
- Sort out your questions & concerns
- Information for you or a loved one
Toll-Free Telephone Support Groups:
-For women with breast cancer
- For women with ovarian cancer
Connect with-other survivors, share information & experiences, gain support from one another.To learn about other services offered by Support Connection including support groups, wellness and
educational programs in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, call 914-962-6402 or 800-532-4290 or visit www.supportconnection.org
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School, Schedules, and Sanity: |
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Written by Stephanie O’Leary, Psy.D.
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Sunday, 20 September 2009 18:10 |
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How to find the perfect balance
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Somewhere in between the bus stop, the soccer field, the scout meeting, and piano lessons parents may find themselves asking if their children are too “scheduled.” On the other hand, moms and dads are eager to provide their kids with ample opportunity to explore their talents and take advantage of the many activities that are offered.
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Never Too Late to Learn You’re a Survivor |
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Written by Wendy Abrams
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Tuesday, 15 September 2009 14:52 |
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My Father, Carl
I’ll never stop knowing I had the best father in the world. I knew it from the first moment I became aware of him and I know it now. Unfortunately, for reasons I still don’t fully understand my father took his own life at the age of 49. I was 25 years old.
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