ONLINE PARENTING COACH

"How can I make sure my children understand the seriousness of certain situations (e.g., using drugs, talking to strangers on the internet, etc.) without yelling and coming on so strong and aggressive that I damage their self-esteem." When your youngster's safety is at risk — whether he's run into the street, reached for an open flame, or gotten dangerously close to a pool — yelling, screaming, or crying out is a perfectly normal – and appropriate – response. At that moment, you would do anything possible to get your youngster's attention and get him out of harm's way. After a parent’s “screaming-yelling” episode, it's natural for children to get upset — and for you to want to apologize. But the truth is this: your children are getting upset in response to the fear and urgency in your voice, not because you've been "too strict." At times like these, you should comfort them, but without apologizing. Give your youngster a hug and sa...

Disruptive Behavior Disorder is an expression used to describe a set of externalizing negativistic behaviors that co-occur during childhood and which are referred to collectively in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) as: "Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders". There are three subgroups of externalizing behaviors: • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) • Conduct Disorder (CD) • Oppositional Defiant disorder (ODD) Treatment for Oppositional Defiant disorder and CD at the clinic is based on the premise that these behaviors are the result of a combination of a metabolic dysfunction and environmental factors. We approach treatment in a similar way to our treatment of kids and teens with ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER. There is however an added emphasis on Counseling and Behavior Modification techniques. Please read our treatment model for ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER. O...

Teenagers are getting high on an emerging drug called ‘SPICE” – a concoction also known as "K2" and fake weed that is causing hallucinations, vomiting, agitation and other dangerous effects. SPICE is a synthetic form of marijuana. Some people compare the effects of SPICE to a marijuana high. It is sold in head shops as incense, although teens and some adults do -- more often than not -- smoke it. It can be smoked in a pipe or rolled like a cigarette. SPICE is incense composed of natural herbs such as canavalia rosea, clematis nuciferia, heima salicfolia, and ledum palustre. Various sources report that SPICE also contains the synthetic cannabanoid JWH-018, which when smoked can produce intoxicative effects similar to marijuana. As a synthetic, it does not register on current drug detection tests. The SPICE website expressly states that it is "not intended for human consumption" and is intended only to be used as incense. Clearly though, the hundreds of cases ...