When we bring a new-born neonate home from the hospital the thrilled but exhausted parents are primarily concerned with the basic care and feeding of the infant. While this concern is obviously important, some attention must be paid to the child’s emotional development. At this early stage in the child’s life psychological health comes primarily by way of attachment, [...]
By Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP Many parents struggle with conversing with their adolescent. Attempts at communication often result in yelling, slamming doors, feelings of resentment, and a sense of hopelessness that issues can be resolved. Below are nine strategies to enhance communication with your teen. 1. Praise Positive Behavior Usually when a parent approaches their teen it is to [...]
By Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP A parent tells their young child to brush their teeth. The child responds, “I don’t want to; I don’t feel like it.” It is perfectly normal for children to believe that they must be in a certain mood state (feel like it) to do something. Most parents, though, tell their child that they are sorry they don’t [...]
By Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP Parents regularly tell their children to “study hard” so they can get good grades, get into a good college, get a good job, and be successful. While children are encouraged to study, do they truly know what they should do? Research on effective studying generally recommends the following: 1) Organize the material conceptually rather [...]
By: Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP Prior to retiring in 2018 I worked in the family law arena for two decades. There I saw too many unfortunate children stuck in their parents’ ugly divorce. It was sad but common for these angry parents to use the child/ren as tools to hurt their ex. At times, a parent would even [...]
By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., Phoenix-based psychologist Depression and anxiety are, by far, the most common mental health problems. Nearly 20% of the U.S. population struggles with or will struggle with one or both of these problems. The most common treatment today for these issues is medication — typically prescribed by the primary care physician (not a psychiatrist). This [...]
As an experienced clinical child psychologist, I believe the ultimate goal of any parent is to rear an independent and responsible child. While at first glance this may appear obvious, if we observe most parents in action on a day-to-day basis, it becomes evident that many parents have no idea how to achieve this objective. Most parents never take [...]
This scandal hits many folk’s “hot button”: The rich keep getting richer; the discrepancy between the haves and the have-nots continues to deepen; the law is applied differently to the super rich; and, of course, the blatant unfairness that a deserving student will be supplanted by someone who bribed their way in. I get it. I submit, though, that [...]
A parent tells their young child to brush their teeth. The child responds, “I don’t want to; I don’t feel like it.” It is perfectly normal for children to believe that they must be in a certain mood state (feel like it) to do something. Most parents, though, tell their child that they are sorry that they don’t feel [...]
I have been working with children and their parents for 40 years. I began my career as a staff member for a boys’ home in the late 1960’s, taught “emotionally handicapped” teens in 1971 and 1972, served as a school psychologist for the Scottsdale (Arizona) School District from 1973 to 1979, and have since conducted a private clinical psychology [...]
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