What’s TeenShrink?

I have been searching for an innovative way to provide professional adolescent and parent counseling services to more people who want it at a fraction of the cost of traditional counseling and in a form that is ultra-convenient and flexible.  “Time” is in short supply these days as families shuffle from soccer practice to tutoring to dance, etc.  Not to mention frantically searching for time to get homework done, eat dinner, and prepare for the next day.  I finally found the answer and have been designing this service for over a year now.  It’s now officially launched!  http://www.teenshrink.net

I call this ‘portable counseling’ and families can purchase individual or family memberships for a nominal monthly fee. http://www.drkoyroberts.com/teenshrink_membership.html 
You can work with a professional counselor http://www.drkoyroberts.com/teenshrink_counselor.html over the phone at a time that is most convenient for you or your teen.  You also have the option of working with her through email, text messaging, and anytime access to the AdviceLine.  The AdviceLine is available 7 days-a-week and in the evenings when you or your teen need some quick advice, tips, or support.  This service is included free of charge when you purchase the ‘ecounseling’ or ‘comprehensive’ membership plans.  Feel free to call 972.998.3878 for brief consultation.  Some teens and parents even choose this service an adjunct to traditional counseling because they want support and solution-focused advice between office visits.  Please email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you or answer all your questions!

Bipolar Epidemic?

According to a recent study the number of children and adolescents treated for Bipolar Disorder has increased from 20,000 in 1994 to 800,000 in 2003.  This is a 40 fold increase that is certain to have grown substantially since 2003.  This represents about 1 percent of the general population under the age of 20.  Some argue that Bipolar is the new and latest mental health fad much like ADD/ADHD was in the 90’s.  The controversy surrounding pediatric bipolar is in part due to the difficulty and subjectivity of the diagnosis itself.  Bipolar is characterized by fluctuating and extreme mood swings but the clinical picture in children is difficult to sort out because there is often no consistent pattern.  If you’re interested in understanding pediatric biploar visit the site www.bpkids.org.  This is a fantastic educational resource.  I am sure there will be much more for us to learn about its diagnosis and treatment especially since the first research study regarding pediatric bipolar did not appear until 1995.  Until then clinicians were led to believe it was a disorder affecting adults only.  The dramatic rise in diagnoses can certainly be attributed to mental health professionals and doctors ability to understand and identify the symptoms more accurately and with more clarity.  While others suggest its the latest fad fueled by the deep pockets of drug companies.  Read Benedict Carey’s New York Times article at
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/health/04psych.html?_r=1&ex=1189569600&en=e84d4b6fb4380ff7&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

They’re not just selling iPhones

Recently, AT&T has launched a new service that gives parents wide-ranging control over their children’s cell phone use.  For only $5 a month parents can set limits on when, how much, and to whom their child talks to or text messages.  This is definitely a victory for all the parents I know who provide their children phones because they want anytime access and safety for their teen.  Although this represents a nightmare for teens everywhere; I habitually see and here about teens who are addicted to their phone.  “Cell phone abuse” by teens has become commonplace and before now parents were constantly on edge wondering who their kids were talking to, when, and how much.   As an added bonus – now we might see a surge in homework completion and less bags under the eyes of adolescent AT&T subscribers everywhere.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295651,00.html

Fearful at School?

Separation Anxiety is a common occurrence this time of year as kids get back in the groove of school once again after an especially long Texas summer.  For those going away for the first time it can be especially daunting.  It is critical that parents model confidence and expect the child to do well rather than getting bogged down in all the tears and fears.  You actually do more harm than good when you overly reassure a child and give them lots of attention due to their anxieties.  Instead focus on and praise your child’s confident, independent behaviors and watch your child soar!  Trust your gut.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/family/08/20/hm.separation.anxiety/index.html

Receive a Complementary Copy of the ADHD Monitoring System

David Rabiner, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist at Duke University has developed a simple but reliable tool to track how well your child’s symptoms are managed at school.  It provides a simple, user-friendly means of getting objective, behavioral feedback from your child’s teacher about how he or she is coping in the classroom.  Using this tool regularly will alert you to when changes in your child’s treatment may be necessary.  I think you will find it extremely beneficial!  It can be used regardless of what treatment or treatments your child is receiving.  You can request a free copy of this tool by visiting www.helpforadd.com/monitor.htm Wishing everyone a successful school year! Have a great first day!

Encouraging New Results from the Largest ADHD Treatment Study Ever Conducted

579 children ages 7-10 diagnosed with ADHD were studied over a 3 year time period.  The children were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment conditions.  The results of this complex study suggest that children who received intense medication management either alone or combined with behavioral counseling had more positive outcomes than those who received behavioral treatment or community care alone.  Furthermore,  there was also evidence that those children who received medication and behavioral counseling together did better than those who received medication alone.  The most important results from the study is the improvement in all 4 treatment groups between baseline and the 36-month follow-up.  Significant reductions were found in ADHD symptoms, oppositional defiance, and general impairment, while ratings of social skills increased. Rates of other mental health problems associated with ADHD also declined.  This was the case regardless of which treatment group the ADHD children were assigned to.  These results provide an important source of hope and encouragement for children and families dealing with ADHD!  Long term treatment for ADHD works as these children had fewer symptoms, coped significantly better, had fewer behavioral issues, better social skills and continued to make strides!

School Days

Well, its that time of year again.  The kids and teens (parents too!) I know have enjoyed this extra long summer vacation.  But now that we are basking regularly in triple digits more and more kiddos are ready to go back to school.  There are just so many video games one can play before the mind turns to mush and apathy sets in.  The popular refrain “I’m bored….” becomes the favorite family catchphrase.  Its time to get cranked up for a successful school year! For those who have a child with ADD/ADHD or Learning Disabilities I encourage you to utilize the “Back to School” resources at www.additudemag.com. There is a whole tool chest of strategies and guides from meds, working with your child’s school, accommodations, modifications, behavior, social life, and homework/study skill tips. Check it out. ADDitude magazine is an excellent online resource for families. http://www.additudemag.com/channel/School_and_Learning_Disabilities/index.html

I don’t feel very “purple” today

My wife frankly pointed out to me recently that all these expectations to be a remarkable parent can be overwhelming and downright irritating at times.  Hmmm…with a high maintenance preschooler and infant son to care for all day I cannot imagine why she might feel that way?  There are those days when you don’t feel like a “purple” parent; but should you feel guilty?  Intentional parenting is tough and often it’s just a grind.  Weeks or months can go by when you don’t see the fruits of your labor or reward for all your hard work in the lives of your kids.  We need to forgive ourselves, relax, and accept our imperfections as humans when we have one of those days or one of those weeks.  There are those times when we are on edge with our kids, tired, depressed, stressed, not so patient, and not the loving, supportive parent we want to be.  I make such a big deal about parenting with purpose and can even get a little aggravated when I see people who routinely parent “by the seat of their pants”. However, none of us are going to give our kids that perfect childhood. They will turn out okay.  Living in this imperfect or unjust world with less than perfect parents will give us all bumps and bruises, but your kids will survive and most likely develop greater resilience because of it.

A recent not so “purple” moment of mine occurred this weekend as we traveled for the first time with our preschool daughter and infant son.  (In fact – most of the weekend was anything but “purple” to be honest.) I did not feel like being a remarkable Dad or intentional parent as my son woke up twice in the night crying inconsolable as I fought a terrible bout of allergies myself.  So as not to get ourselves kicked out I ended up taking him out of the hotel (downtown Austin) twice in the middle of night while under the influence of Sudafed.  I understood exactly what my wife was trying to get across in a whole new way.  We also met a lot of interesting people coming in after a night of drinking on 6th Street.

Normal Day

Let me be aware of the treasure you are
Let me not pass you by in quest of
some rare and perfect tomorrow.
Let me hold you while I may,
for it will not always be so.
One day I shall dig my fingers into the earth,
or bury my face in the pillow,
or stretch myself taut,
or raise my hands to the sky,
and want more than all the world, your return.
-Anonymous

(Poem given to me by a friend who today attended the Funeral Mass for Hunter Berry at St Ann Parish in Coppell.  Hunter, a Flower Mound 9 year old, died tragically July 16 while on vacation with his family.)