Here is a New York Times article about disability education in the time of the pandemic. The author shares her own experiences on the topic — her 7-year-old has autism. But she also talks about what’s happening around the country with special education, and how some kids might not be well-served during the pandemic. As Individualized Education Programs are changing to an online format, some parents have to learn new ways to advocate for their children. Find out how we can help support your efforts to advocate with a comprehensive evaluation.
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With the coming school year, teachers are having to navigate uncharted waters like never before. As if managing the stresses of regular teaching weren’t enough, teachers must not only educate but enforce and oversee complicated protocols as their school administrations struggle to keep up with local and state guidance. Join us for an 8-week support group where teachers can share frustrations, worries, feelings and ideas in a warm and supportive, judgment free environment. Learn coping strategies, self-care tools, and get expert guidance under the leadership of group facilitator, Gerard Micera, who has the unique qualification of being both an educator and a psychologist.
When? Wednesdays at 4pm, September 9th – October 28th
Where? Google Meet
Cost? $240 for full 8-weeks. Space is limited to 12 participants.
Times are tough for parents right now. With school just weeks away, parents are having to make tough decisions. Working from home or is it living at work? How to make the commute work? Remote, hybrid, homeschool, masks, shields, pods, six feet, ventilation, rapid tests, A/B, AM/PM, staggered drop offs, socially distanced playdates, bubbles? One year ago, this vocabulary would have sounded alien to all of us. Now we’re living it and anxiety levels have increased for parents and children alike. The very concepts of home, work and school have turned upside down. Join us for an 8-week support group where parents can share frustrations, worries, feelings and ideas in a warm and supportive, judgment free environment. Learn coping strategies, self-care tools, and get parenting guidance and resources from group facilitators, Marisa Picheny and Emily Bly.
When? Tuesdays at 8pm, September 8th – October 27th
Where? Google Meet
Cost? $240 for full 8-weeks. Space is limited to 12 participants.
What is boredom and is it worth paying attention to? Isn’t boredom just wanting more stimulation and excitement? Well, yes and no. According to this New Yorker article, it may be worth noticing the next time you are bored. Often when we aren’t distracted, we can really examine what’s really going on in ourselves and our feelings (an anxious person’s “bored” may feel very different from a depressed person’s). But the article also examines how there is new brand of boredom popping up in society, one that is unique to this moment in our history.
This New York Times article has some useful tips for self-soothing in times of distress. With COVID, we are in the middle of an emotional marathon, but some of these strategies will work when everyday life is back to normal. Here are some key takeaways.
- Pacing your breath. Slowing down your breathing to six breaths a minute has shown to decrease anxiety.
- Practicing Anchoring. Notice if you are engaged in thinking that isn’t helping you, often our interpretations of events supercharge the intensity of what’s happening around us.
- Cool-off — literally. By lowering your body temperature with water, you activate your body’s dive response, a reflex that happens when you cool your nostrils while holding your breath, dampening your physiological and emotional intensity.
The “tweenage” years (ranging from 8 to 12) can be an awkward and challenging time for your tween as they navigate growing independence along with physical, emotional and social changes. And from the parental perspective, it can be rewarding but also challenging and more than a little frustrating. Is my child a little or big kid, a little bit of both or 12 going on 30?! What do they need from me? How do I best support my child while staying sane?!
This talk will lay out the developmental theories of what is going on in this period and will also address the biological and social factors driving some of these changes. The latter half of the talk will be Q&A as we hear from you the particular challenges that you might be facing with your “tweenager.” We will also touch on the impact of COVID and confinement on this age group and explore strategies for best supporting your child during the pandemic.
Join us for this live webinar sponsored by Northern Westchester Hospital Center for Healthy Living on June 24th, 2020. Information and Registration here.
Sometimes it’s hard to identify and communicate how we’re feeling. Lucky for us, the English language is brimming with emotion vocabulary. If you’re at a loss for the right word to describe your feels, we recommend the website Emotion Typology: one of our psychology geek favorites!
We recommend this New York Times article called “Making Awkward Small Talk With My Baby.” Sometimes we are at a loss for words when we interact with our new children, and that’s okay. But according to this article, narrating the outside world to your child has some clear benefits.
February 2020 —
This New York Times article deftly outlines the differences between worry, stress and anxiety and provides useful tips for managing all three. Whatever might be weighing on your mind, we here at PPG can help.
Thinking of New Year’s Resolutions? You might want to read this New Yorker article called “Can Brain Science Help Us Break Bad Habits?” A thought provoking read, the author lays out the argument that because so many habits are formed unconsciously, relying on will power is all but useless. The key is in developing strategies that side step the need for resolve. This is a central concept in our work with adults and children with ADHD. We must learn how to work with what we have rather than struggle through force of willpower alone. Contact us to find out how we can help you develop these strategies.