(30-second read) Question:What’s a green thought for a kid who has a Cognitive Distortion and thinks everything needs to be fair?Thanks so much,Life is Unfair Answer: Dear Life is Unfair, In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we teach children and teens (and their parents) about Cognitive Distortions or Unhelpful Thinking Styles. For kids, I explain it […]
When a child complains that life is not fair Read More »
(1-minute read) Question: Do you have any ideas or suggestions for a child who is obsessive? For example, she says, “I need to check the doors 10x or else I won’t fall asleep.” She’s also overly anxious. She doesn’t feel like a real person, so I told her to look in the mirror and she
What about a child who is obsessive and overly anxious? Read More »
(1-minute read) Emotion Webs I’d like to go back to offering regular, common strategies that not only help us at a time of war but at any time our children have strong emotions. Since I wish to practice what I preach, namely, going back to routines and structure, here goes… (By the way, it’s not
How to get kids to talk about their feelings Read More »
(3-minute read) We have all been affected, either directly or indirectly, by the news of the atrocities in Israel. I thought it would never happen to me, but my youngest son is in the IDF reserves and was drafted on Yomtov along with his entire unit. If we tried to shelter our children from the
What to tell our children about the war in Israel Read More »
(1-minute read) One of my new high school students told me this week that she’s traveling with several of her high school cousins during the upcoming Chol Hamoed Holiday for an extended trip. In the past, she noticed that her cousins disregarded her and even mistreated her. Understandably, she was worried it would happen again.
(1-minute read) Age does matter when it comes to whining and tantrums. Here are two strategies for very young children. Solutions #3 and #4: For children under the age of 4, it is ok to use “substitution” and “distraction.” Substitution means that if the child is whining about a candy, you can offer a different
What If a Child – Under Age 4 – Whines and Tantrums? Read More »
(2-minute read) Last week, I posted two questions about children who whine, nag, and tantrum. To recap, the first strategy was to praise at the rate of ‘six sugars to one vinegar’ whenever the child was doing the opposite of the reds of whining, nagging, and tantrums. In other words, when the child was doing
What If a Child Whines and Tantrums? Another Quick Strategy Part 2 Read More »
Question #1: Dear Devora, What would you do if a 4-year old child constantly whines and tantrums? The parent I work with always talks her daughter through it in an attempt to calm her down. But perhaps this is reinforcing the behavior and making it happen even more often! Should I even teach the mom
What if a child whines and tantrums? Read More »
Disclaimer: Important Notice Regarding Therapeutic Advice The content provided in prior, current, and future blogs is intended to offer general therapeutic advice and guidance for parents and professionals. However, it is essential to understand that this information is not a substitute for personalized, professional therapy, counseling, or medical advice. The advice and suggestions presented here
Important Disclaimer Read More »
(4-minute read) Question: Dear Devora, As far as validating children, what happens when an older girl (6th or 7th grader) has been informed of a class change and she tells her parents, “I’m not going to school.” She is stubborn and manipulative and won’t budge. (She doesn’t want to hear what her parents say… She
