How to know when your child needs counseling

Are you worried your child is suffering from anxiety, depression, or other emotional issues? Does your child have problems at school, either academic or social? Are they not the happy child you once knew? If this is the case, then your child may benefit from mental health services. According to a recent study, approximately 25% of children in America suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. However, 20% of these children suffer at a sub-clinical level and hence do not receive the therapeutic services they need.

Understanding how emotional issues affect your child’s wellbeing will help you determine how to best help your child. As it relates to mental health, for children there are four common areas where we see it show up. Let’s take a look at these four areas:

Schools:

School plays a crucial part in every child’s life. Developmental tasks involving attending school can affect children academically, emotionally, or socially. Various learning disabilities and attention disorders can affect a child’s ability to learn at school which in turn impacts children emotionally. Furthermore, many social factors such as social skills can affect a child’s peer relationships and ability to stay out of trouble at school. If your child has issues either academically, emotionally, or socially at school, mental health counseling or assessment may be of great benefit for your child. 

Bonding with adults:

Another important area of functioning for your child is the ability to get along with adults. It is important that your child can comply with adult demands and listen to parents, teachers, and other authority figures in your child’s life. Therapy is often very useful in managing defiant behavior from your child and teaching parents strategies to help their child succeed in this area.

Mood:

Very often parents miss the signs that suggest their child may be suffering from a mood disorder. A common sign of anxiety in children is if you notice that your child worries about many things. Furthermore children with anxiety typically are very critical of themselves, and have a strong desire to please others. Another common mood disorder for children is depression. Signs of depression in children include sadness most of the day, changes in appetite, more cranky or irritable than normal, problems sleeping, or refusal to go school. Psychologists are especially qualified in treating mood disorders, and can offer your child much relief.

Bonding with peers:

Children may also struggle to make substantial peer relationships. Some children struggle in this area due to aggressive behavior and lack of social skills related to boundaries. Other children find it difficult to make friends because of social anxiety and shyness. Either end of the spectrum can drastically affect the way a child perceives themselves and overall wellbeing

According to many clinical studies, efficient psychotherapy can help children struggling in these areas. Psychotherapy offers a way to cope with the academic and psychological issues., as well as offers parenting strategies as well. A capable psychologist can certainly aid in helping your child find relief in these areas.

How to know when your child needs counseling ?

Are you worried your child is suffering from anxiety, depression, or other emotional issues? Does your child have problems at school, either academic or social? Are they not the happy child you once knew? If this is the case, then your child may benefit from mental health services. According to a recent study, approximately 25% of children in America suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. However, 20% of these children suffer at a sub-clinical level and hence do not receive the therapeutic services they need.

Understanding how emotional issues affect your child’s wellbeing will help you determine how to best help your child. As it relates to mental health, for children there are four common areas where we see it show up. Let’s take a look at these four areas:

Schools:

School plays a crucial part in every child’s life. Developmental tasks involving attending school can affect children academically, emotionally, or socially. Various learning disabilities and attention disorders can affect a child’s ability to learn at school which in turn impacts children emotionally. Furthermore, many social factors such as social skills can affect a child’s peer relationships and ability to stay out of trouble at school. If your child has issues either academically, emotionally, or socially at school, mental health counseling or assessment may be of great benefit for your child.

Bonding with adults:

Another important area of functioning for your child is the ability to get along with adults. It is important that your child can comply with adult demands and listen to parents, teachers, and other authority figures in your child’s life. Therapy is often very useful in managing defiant behavior from your child and teaching parents strategies to help their child succeed in this area.

Mood:

Very often parents miss the signs that suggest their child may be suffering from a mood disorder. A common sign of anxiety in children is if you notice that your child worries about many things. Furthermore children with anxiety typically are very critical of themselves, and have a strong desire to please others. Another common mood disorder for children is depression. Signs of depression in children include sadness most of the day, changes in appetite, more cranky or irritable than normal, problems sleeping, or refusal to go school. Psychologists are especially qualified in treating mood disorders, and can offer your child much relief.

Bonding with peers:

Children may also struggle to make substantial peer relationships. Some children struggle in this area due to aggressive behavior and lack of social skills related to boundaries. Other children find it difficult to make friends because of social anxiety and shyness. Either end of the spectrum can drastically affect the way a child perceives themselves and overall wellbeing

According to many clinical studies, efficient psychotherapy can help children struggling in these areas. Psychotherapy offers a way to cope with the academic and psychological issues., as well as offers parenting strategies as well. A capable psychologist can certainly aid in helping your child find relief in these areas.
About the Author Steven L. McLendon is an author who writes informative articles on Verdant Oak Behavioral Health and other topics related to mental health services.

What is a Psychologist?

Psychologists are mental health professionals that work within many spheres in the healthcare world. Psychologists can be found working in research, hospital, private practice, and many other settings. The main focus of all psychologist is to study the mental, emotional, and behavioral processes of humans. Psychologists are required to obtain doctorate level education either as Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Furthermore subsequent licensure is required for psychologists seeking to treat clients clinically.

In your search to find the right psychologist it is important to understand what types of psychologist are out there, and how they may be able to help you. People seek a psychologist for a variety of issues including stress, relationship problems, issues at school, career problems, depression, anxiety, and many more. The right psychologist may be able to help you with your specific need, utilizing their expertise and training. If you are looking for a psychologist in the Claremont area, this article will help clarify the different types of psychologists within the field of psychology.

Here is a description of a few different types of psychologists to help you with your search:

Counseling Psychologist:

Counseling psychologists have training and experience focused on the assisting individuals in their personal and interpersonal functioning across a lifespan, according to the Society of Counseling Psychology. Psychologists specializing in counseling psychology typically do not work with severe mental illness; however focus on helping individuals better their everyday functioning. Examples of areas that counseling psychologists’ focus on in therapy include occupational, relationship, emotional, and developmental concerns.  Therefore counseling psychologists primarily use psychotherapy as means to help those suffering from mental and emotional distress.

Clinical Psychologists:

Clinical psychologists like counseling psychologists, use psychotherapy and treatment planning to help people cope with mental, emotional, and relationship problems that disturb their everyday functioning. However clinical psychologists also incorporate other interventions into treatment to aid client’s treatment such as assessment and testing. According the American Psychological Association, clinical psychologist are adept to provide “consultation to agencies and communities; training, education and supervision; and research-based practice” in addition to counseling services.Furthermore, clinical psychologists can be found in a wide range of settings from hospitals to private practice, and are qualified to treat severe mental illness in addition to more common emotional issues.

Educational Psychologists:

Educational psychologists work within the educational system to address how individuals learn, learning disabilities, giftedness, and instructional strategies. Educational psychologists mostly serve children, adolescents, and young adults who have learning complexities, social problems or emotional issues. They are equipped to help students and teachers with issues surrounding learning aptitudes and other concerns related to school performance. Furthermore, they teach teachers or instructors how to offer a more learning conducive atmosphere, particularly for kidswith learning disabilities or giftedness.

In addition to these there are several other types of psychologists including neuropsychologists,research psychologists, and forensic psychologists to name a few. In order to find the right psychologist for you, it is important to know what each type of psychologist specializes in and how they will approach helping you. Hope this information helps you on your journey to find the right psychologist for you.

About the Author Steven L. McLendon is an author who writes informative articles on Verdant Oak Behavioral Health and other topics related to psychologist in the Claremont.

Anger Management With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Have you ever been in an argument and found yourself in a rage before you knew it? Or like many people, have you ever experienced road rage that is so sudden that it surprises you? We all experience anger, which is a normal and healthy experience. Anger is an emotion that can be extremely helpful when it is expressed in a healthy way. Experiencing anger brings about insight into out triggers and helps us navigate many relationships. However when we go from controlling our anger to allowing our anger to control us is when problems arise. There are many physical and mental ramifications for letting anger run rampant, like hypertension or depression. Therefore it is imperative to our well being that we are able to manage anger in a useful way.

There is a wide spectrum of interventions that address how to process unhealthy anger, with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) yielding the some of the best outcomes for learning how to cope with out of control anger and related behaviors.

The core of CBT is cognitive restructuring, which is working to change the way we think about situations and anger triggers to in turn change the way we feel and act. For example, this type of therapy would work on changing thoughts like “You don’t care about me” to “Do you understand what I need from you?” which in turn changes the way one would feel and act in that situation. Working to restructure the way we experience anger is one of the main aspects of this type of treatment.

However CBT also adopts a multiplicity of approaches & systems to aid in anger management. Some of the frequently used methods are:

• Working on Acceptance &Nonjudgmental Stance
• Applied Behavioral Analysis
• Exposure & response prevention
• Problem-Solving Techniques
• Mindfulness Techniques
• Communication Skills

Also, during your cognitive behavioral therapy session your counselor will facilitate learning with a variety of strategies including:

• Recognizing the behavioral issues
• Recognizing the triggers to unconstructive feelings resulting in behavioral issues
• Finding ways to reduce unconstructive feelings
• Designing alternate reactions & behavioral patterns
• Practicing and treating the source of unconstructive sentiments by changing the sentimental pattern of a person.

Anger is a healthy and normal emotion that can teach us a lot about ourselves. If you struggle with managing your anger, cognitive behavioral therapy could be of great benefit to you. Working with a qualified therapist can help you along your journey to better control your anger.

For effective cognitive behavioral therapy in Claremont, contact Verdant Oak Behavioral Health (VOBH) - a group of collaborating psychologists located in South Pasadena.

Chronic Illness – Mental Support Is Equally Important As Medication

A chronic ailment is medical condition that takes place or carries on over a long period of time. Many factors can contribute to having a chronic illness, such as heredity/genetics or lifestyle choices. For instance alcohol consumption and smoking are lifestyle factors that increases the risk of obtaining a chronic disease. Another important factor that may contribute to having a chronic ailment is aging, as human beings tend to be more susceptible to these sorts of illnesses as our bodies mature. For instance, some elderly people may obtain chronic illnesses like cancer, due to aging regardless of sound lifestyle choices.

There are various types of chronic disease, affecting different areas and functions of the body. Examples of chronic diseases include cancer, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, hypertension, arthritis and asthma. While most of these ailments can’t be cured completely, they can be controlled with the help of medicine.

A valuable asset when coping with a chronic illness is social support. Having the support of friends and family helps to offer individuals hope in their journey and a moral booster along the way. Furthermore this support can practically help someone with chronic illness in many ways, from medication adherence to accessing treatment.

Understanding how a chronic illness works can also aid in coping with a particular disease. For instance with ailments like diabetes, understanding the how the disease works can aid in making healthy diet choices that are crucial in managing diabetes. Furthermore, understanding the symptoms of an illness can help you provide better information and feedback to your doctor and other healthcare professionals.

As such, and given that chronic disease a last over a long duration of time, management by a medical doctor is usually necessary. In addition to management of physical symptoms by a medical doctor, many people need additional care to help with the mental and emotional toll that comes with chronic illness. Chronic disease does not affect your body physically, but it can also impact your emotional and mental wellbeing. As a result many individuals with a chronic illness find therapy and counseling very helpful in order to cope with the negative emotional and mental effects of living with chronic illness. Psychologists are especially qualified to help individuals process the emotional ramifications of living with a chronic illness. Psychologists can aid in processing many mental issues related to having a chronic disease including depression, anxiety, existential dilemmas, and feelings of loneliness.

If you are looking for a Psychologist for chronic illness in Claremont, contact Verdant Oak Behavioral Health (VOBH) - a group of collaborating psychologists located in South Pasadena.

Things Involved With ADHD Testing Claremont

Does your child find it hard to focus? Do you worry about your child’s inability to pay attention? Or does your child find it hard to sit still? Determining if your child suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperacticity Disorder (ADHD) can be difficult considering the many other possibilities to explain such questions. For example many symptoms of ADHD overlap with generalized anxiety disorder and even learning disabilities. The American Psychiatric Association has detailed the symptoms of ADHD breaking them down into three categories:

• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type
• Predominantly inattentive type
• Combined (Hyperactive-Impulsive and Inattentive) type

In each of these categories, separate symptoms define three different ways ADHD manifests in children and adults. Psychological testing is an effective way to diagnose these symptoms and determine if you or your child suffers from ADHD. Here is a quick overview of ADHD testing and diagnosis.

ADHD Testing and Diagnosis 

Psychologists at Verdant Oak Behavioral Health offer ADHD testing in Claremont that comprises of psychological assessments adept in discerning ADHD. Psychological assessment will require certain steps in order to accurately diagnose ADHD including:

• An interview with you and your child
• An ADHD behavior rating scale, (usually completed with the input of parents and teachers)
• Educational and behavioral history of your child
• Review of your child’s medical records

Furthermore, psychologists may recommend that your child’s physicians administer additional medical testing along with their psychological tests to rule out other possible medical diagnoses that may be a cause of behavior. Examples of such conditions include:

• Thyroid disease
• Seizures
• Hearing & vision problems
• Contact to lead
• Anemia

Again psychologists at Verdant Oak Behavioral Health offerADHD testing in Claremont comprising of comprehensive testing and diagnosis. They can help you answer many questions like:

• Does my child have a learning disability or ADHD?
• What is causing my child to have behavioral issues?
• Are my child’s attention problems due to medical issues?
• Can I do anything to help my child focus better in school?

Contact Verdant Oak Behavioral Health for more information and for answers to questions like these.

Therapy for Drug Addiction– Some Important Facts To Know

Drug addiction is something that affects many people’s lives and wellbeing in devastating ways. Also because of the combination of biological and psychological factors involved in drug addiction, recovering from addiction can be very difficult. Recovery from drug addiction is possible, but usually requires the help of medical and psychological professionals. If you are looking for therapists who treat drug addiction in Claremont, read this brief article to give you valuable information to have on your search.

First, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, drug addiction is “a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long lasting.” Examples of common drug addictions in America include alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, pain killers, prescription sedatives and stimulants, cocaine, ecstasy, heroine, and methamphetamines. Also important to know about drug addiction is that relapses (occurs when after a period sobriety, an individual starts using the drug again) are common to this disease. As stated above, it is possible to successfully treat drug addiction and the goals of most treatments are to help the individual cease the use of the drug of choice and maintain sobriety while also increasing their ability to function in the world.

Therapists work in a variety of settings helping people reach such goals. Furthermore, many mental health professionals work alongside medical professionals to treat the addiction both biologically and psychologically. Many times a client will go through a detox phase at the beginning of treatment, which may involve medication treatment to help stabilize the person as well as treat other disorders the person may have. The help of a qualified therapist is important in this stage, as the withdrawal symptoms may include psychological symptoms like anxiety or depression. Once the person is stabilized, therapists begin treatment to help the client gain more insight and develop skills to cope with their addiction.

A common treatment used to treat drug addiction is behavioral therapy. Even if behavioral therapy is not the only intervention used, it is likely to be among the treatment strategies if not the only one. The National Institute of Drug Addiction also cites the following as common forms of behavioral therapy used to treat drug addiction:

• cognitive behavioral therapy
• multi-dimensional family therapy
• motivational interviewing
• motivational incentives

When seeking a therapist to treat drug addiction, it is helpful to understand their approach to treatment. Furthermore, it is important to have the help of healthcare professionals when starting the detox process. For effective therapy for drug addiction in Claremont or for more information, contact (VOBH) - a group of collaborating psychologists located in South Pasadena.