Blog
Both parenting a child and being a child are tall orders in today’s climate, and we would like to offer this page as a resource for support and information to help you and your family. We will be sharing tips and strategies to manage COVID-19, along with posts that navigate the numerous challenges that come with raising caring and courageous youth. Our goal is to add new material that ranges from original content, to great reads and videos from other experts, as well as articles in the mainstream media that offer additional insight.
We welcome your suggestions and feedback, and want to cover a variety of topics to help you and the community learn more. We encourage you to reach out if there are topics you would like us to cover, and questions you would like answered. And, if you find what you see to be helpful, please like our page on Facebook (@CenterForCBT) and tell your friends and family to do the same! We are very excited to be starting this project, and look forward to sharing this information with you.
Staying the Course: Steering Clear of Holiday Anxiety
When it comes to managing your child’s anxiety around the holidays, it’s important to remember that communication is key. Maintain an open dialogue with your child about how they are feeling and check in with them regularly. Use these strategies to help prepare them for the change in routine and prime them for the back to school transition.
Understanding Validation and Communication
Practicing validation can help you learn to de-escalate intense emotions and decrease conflicts. This can improve and strengthen relationships with friends, family, and other important people in your life. Through validation, you can show yourself and others empathy and support by acknowledging and expressing your understanding of challenges.
Cultivating Happiness: Gratitude and Social Connection
Gratitude has been shown to improve happiness in multiple realms of life and offers both physical and mental health benefits. Practicing this skill can contribute to feelings of satisfaction and positivity within yourself, your family, and build connections with the greater community.
Improving the Moment: DBT Skills for Stress Management
When experiencing pain or distress, the DBT skill of IMPROVE the moment is a distress tolerance skill that can help by changing the way you think about the situation or yourself, changing physical sensations of stress (e.g. practicing tension and relaxation techniques), and engaging your mind in an effective way.
Mindfulness and the 3 States of Mind
In DBT, there is the concept of three states of mind: Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind and Wise Mind. As each of these states impacts our thoughts and behaviors, so it is important to practice mindfulness to help yourself find your Wise Mind, which in turn helps you to achieve a more well-balanced, happier life.
Setting Your Student Up for Success: A Guide to 504 Plans
If your student is not eligible for an IEP, it may be time to consider pursuing a 504 Plan to help them get the support they need. This article will help you navigate the difference between the 504s and IEPs, and offer suggestions for other interventions that could help your student.
Setting Your Student Up for Success: A Guide to IEPs
If your student is struggling in school and is not getting the level of support they need, it may be worthwhile to consider an IEP. To do so, it’s important to understand what that is, the evaluation process, and the available accommodations and modifications
Tips For a Successful Start to the School Year
The transition from summer to school is notoriously challenging for children and families. This year, in addition to getting up early and learning a new schedule, children must also get used to being around more people in the school building and practice a host of safety protocols. Check out these tips to prepare you and your student for the year ahead.
Understanding Autism: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by difficulties with social communication and restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. While each child with autism presents differently, there are hallmark symptoms and features, as well as a common process for treatment and proper diagnosis.