Announcement:
Dr. Kaplan and staff will have a booth at the Barrack’s Row Fall Festival. Please come by and say hi and grab some information! We will be there to answer your questions!
"My Kid's Mental Health"- A blog by a clinical psychologist
Issues that are important to Parents and Kids
Announcement:
Dr. Kaplan and staff will have a booth at the Barrack’s Row Fall Festival. Please come by and say hi and grab some information! We will be there to answer your questions!
We are pleased that we have opened a new Twitter account @WACcapitolhill.
Please like and follow us as we post relevant articles and updates relevant to kids and parenting.
School refusal is defined as when a child or adult refuses to attend school or their workplace as a result of anxiety, poor distress tolerance, or pathological avoidance.
Since the explanation of school refusal is long and complicated, our colleagues at Rogers Memorial Hospital recently released a podcast in 4 parts describing it and the treatment for it. We highly recommend you take a listen.
One of the best researchers and clinicians in our field of CBT just published an updated version of their book on Exposure Therapy (the MOST evidence-based treatment for anxiety). We highly recommend it for professors and consumers alike!
Our very own Dr. Kaplan was asked to review the book by the publishers! Take a look at her review on the link to the book below!
With the exception of last summer (which I secretly hope is a result of the many talks and outreach activities our practice has given in the DC community), our child/teen appointments dwindle in the summer. Unfortunately this is not due to family vacations, but rather a strongly held “American belief” that kids needs a break from all things in the summer.
We HIGHLY recommend against the practice of only doing therapy during the school year. Our yearly, VERY predictable, schedule is that we become flooded with appointments in late September, early October. This is because the newness of school has worn off and clinical problems get their chance to emerge. In our kids who attend over the summer regularly, we see them frequently and effectively managing the stressors of transition back into the school year.
Remember it’s better to be proactive than retroactive!
Parents of young children often say that it can be difficult to decide if what their child is experiencing warrants treatment. They may be wondering if this is a “bump in the road” or something more.
Treatment may be appropriate if your child experiences:
Psychologists use methods that not only treat emotional and behavioral challenges but prevent them. Whether your child needs help navigating typical, age-appropriate challenges or is managing more serious mental health difficulties, psychologists can provide helpful services that can make life healthier and more meaningful for your child and family.
Further, waiting to treat concerns typically results in longer, more intensive treatment. When concerns are left untreated, children may face the compounding challenges that come with rehearsing the same difficulties. Because the problem can seem unsolvable or out of the child and family’s control, it can also lead to decreased confidence and low self-esteem.
By Dr. Rachel LaFleur, Staff Psychologist, Washington Anxiety Center of Capitol Hill
A frequent question we get asked at our center is, “What books can you recommend?” Well, I finally put together a list of recommended reading that will help supplement treatment (key word there is “supplement”) as it is recommended to have a professional guide you through these and help them to apply specifically to your child.
Check it out (it’s on our website!)
http://www.washingtonanxietycenter.com/book-supplements.html
As the new year approaches, also comes new years resolutions and psychological treatment may be a part of that! If so, our very own Dr. Rachel LaFleur has some tips and tricks about how to navigate your first mental health appointment.
If you’re like me, you may feel nervous when you attend your first visit with a new provider. When I feel caught off guard, I may leave the appointment with regrets about the questions I forgot to ask and the things I didn’t advocate for.
Here’s what to expect (or ask for) in your first visit with a mental health clinician who will be providing treatment.
Have a very happy holiday season and a great start to the new year!
Dr. Rachel La Fleur and all the staff at WACCH
We are pleased to announce and would like to congratulate our psychologists……
Washington Anxiety Center of Capitol Hill, LLC Receives 2018 Best of Washington Award
Washington Award Program Honors the Achievement
WASHINGTON November 29, 2018 — Washington Anxiety Center of Capitol Hill, LLC has been selected for the 2018 Best of Washington Award in the Child Psychologist category by the Washington Award Program.
Each year, the Washington Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Washington area a great place to live, work and play.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2018 Washington Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Washington Award Program and data provided by third parties.
About Washington Award Program
The Washington Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Washington area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The Washington Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.
SOURCE: Washington Award Program
CONTACT:
Washington Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@city-recognition.com
URL: http://www.city-recognition.com
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Only 12% of the mental health profession is well-versed in true evidence-based treatments for anxiety and depression, and this percentage gets even smaller when specializing in children and adolescents. Most providers who specialize in this type of treatment have received years and years of extra training and experience to provide top of the line services. However, because of this, there are few and far between that accept insurance; most are out-of-network providers.
Don’t let this deter you from getting the right services. Here are some points to consider:
Happy thanksgiving!!!