Parenting Assessments By Therapists May Help Parents To Understand Their Children’s Behavior

Article by Ann Marier

Genesis II for Families is able to provide assessment of parenting competence as well as quality of the relationship between parent and child. The objective of parenting assessment is to make timely as well as appropriate recommendations concerning the permanency of child and family preservation. To evaluate parenting, Genesis II for Families makes use of many different information sources.

The different information sources used include family of origin interview, family of creation interview, parent-child observation sessions, if appropriate, interview of the child, standardized parenting vignettes, assessment checklists and inventories as well as other collateral information.

Factors Contributing to Current Parenting Practices

The parenting assessment tools help in understanding factors that contribute to current parenting practices, beliefs as well as skills. It includes parental empathy towards the child as well as child behavior perceptions and expectations of the child. Normally, this form of parental assessment can be finished in three to four sessions with each session being of one and a half hours duration. The assessment is performed by master level professionals who have clinical experience in working with troubled families.

There are other parenting assessments such as the St. Luke’s Parenting Assessment and Skills Development Service that believe that children have the right to long term well-being, and children will be unable to develop successfully unless they are given adequate standard of care. Parents always wish the best for their children and strive to give them appropriate care; however, there are also parents in need of assistance, which if not provided, will lead to unsafe behaviors that will require Child Protection involvement.

In any case, parental assessment is all about gathering information from many different sources concerning the needs of the children, the ability of parents to meet such needs, and the skills as well as strengths of the parent. Such information is subjected to analysis in order to present recommendations based on the best interests of the child.

The need for parenting assessment arises out of therapists or lawyers needing to understand the manner in which someone approaches parenting and also helps takes stock of the strengths and weaknesses of such person(s). There are many instances where problems relating to a parent’s behavior or problems between child and parent need to be addressed so that a decision on behalf of the child can be taken. Parenting assessment is of help to lawyers, Children’s Aid Societies as well as community agencies in deciding what is best for both child and parent. All information gathered will then be submitted to the courts or lawyers or other concerned persons in the form of a written report.

About the Author

Ann Merier writes articles about the family. Article topics include diabetes,detox diet,yoga,pilates exerciseParenting AssessmentsQuit Smoking

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder

Article by Julia Hanson

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder

Lots of controversy surrounds ADD and ADHD in children. Strong and differing opinions exist on how schools and doctors should handle ADD and ADHD. A little known fact is that several adults also struggle with these disorders.

Symptoms of ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) fall into three classes:.

* Problems with attention. ADD/ADHD sufferers have more trouble paying attention than others.* Hyperactivity. People with ADD/ADHD struggle with sitting still.* Impulsiveness. ADD/ADHD sufferers cannot control impulses to speak or move.

A diagnosis of ADD/ADHD does not require symptoms in all 3 categories. All 3 types of symptoms could be present, or the ADD/ADHD person may have only one kind of symptom.

ADD/ADHD is characterised by the following symptoms:

* Fidgeting and jumping out of one’s chair. * Being impatient.* Unable to follow instructions.* Interrupting a question to answer.* Tendency to speak too much and interrupt.* Does not listen.* Trouble finishing tasks. * Frequently forgetful.* Loses track of things.

Getting to a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD will take time. Diagnosis can take a while whether or not it is a kid or an adult having symptoms. Doctors use four separate criteria to diagnose ADD/ADHD. Four criteria that has to be present are:.

* Symptoms must have started before age seven.* Symptoms must be evident in a minimum of 2 separate settings, for example home, work, or school.* Symptoms must prevent normal functioning in these situations.* Symptoms are not an effect of any different illness or condition.

Self-diagnosis of ADD/ADHD is not recommended. People coping with ADD/ADHD should see a physician or mental health professional to rule out other causes.

ADD/ADHD often is wrongly diagnosed when the real problem is situational or behavioral. ADD/ADHD medications can not help behavioral or situational problems.

Behavioral methods are the best treatment for behavioral problems. Situational causes are common when adults and kids show ADD-like symptoms. A boring class or a bad employment situation can cause ADD-like symptoms. Jumping to an ADD/ADHD diagnosis too soon can cause unnecessary medication and ineffective treatment.

ADD/ADHD might well have a physical cause. Depressive disorders and anxiety disorders do typically overlap with ADD/ADHD. Accurate diagnosis is the key to effective treatment Effective treatment of underlying depression and anxiety must go hand in hand with ADD/ADHD treatment if both are present.

Anxiety and depression can not be effectively treated unless any ADD/ADHD is treated too. Sustainable recovery is more likely when all conditions are diagnosed and treated at once.

About the Author

Simply a reminder – Learn more about Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder here: Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder

Julia Hanson website: Panic-anxiety-attack-help.com

Anger And Relationships

Article by Steven Griggs

Anger And Relationships In my capacity as an outpatient psychologist for twenty-five years, I deal with the same eight conditions over and over. One of the most common complaints I hear about is relationships. (The other seven are mood problems, children’s behaviors, ADHD or learning disorders, anxiety, low self-esteem, poor assertiveness and addictions). I deal with anger management problems mostly in as couples are referred through the courts in domestic violence cases, or come in for couples counseling, usually because of poor communication skills or outright fighting. If anger is not THE problem, it is almost always involved in some fashion. I also see it in kids, particularly teenagers. Kids often have impulse control problems, just because they are kids. Older kids have those pesky hormones coursing through their veins (starting a lot earlier than parents realize). Hormones produce physical changes characteristic of puberty, starting at twelve years or so for girls, thirteen years or so for boys. These ages can vary by as much as three years in either direction. But the behavior problems associated with hormone changes start almost immediately after the hormones “cut in.” On average, this is around age 8 ? years for girls and 9 ? years for boys. At these earlier ages, parents report their child’s behavior “changes.” Their formerly nice, sweet little angels, almost overnight, become more “oppositional.” Parents notice their previously easy-to-manage-children suddenly saying “no” and not cooperating with even simple requests, like going to bed on time or turning off the TV. Some parents refer to this as the second “terrible twos” period. During this phase, kids take on a more “challenging” attitude, that if unchecked, will continue to emerge, often nto full-blown anger outbursts. While the “resistance,” or perhaps downright defiance, is predictable and normal at this age, regular anger outbursts are not. Some teenagers show these (sometimes chronic) negative behavior tendencies early on. They arrive in my office with a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). That’s the terrible-twos syndrome on steroids. Almost everything is a challenge, trying parent’s patience and pushing parents to the limits of their endurance. Most of the time, ODD hassome biological basis colluding with a difficult environment. Frequently there is a family history of some form of learning or other disorder (ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger’s Syndrome, childhood bipolar, etc.). Frequently there are divorces in the family history and/or domestic violence. Whenever a child of any age exudes such problem behaviors, there is disruption in relationships, whether it is with siblings, peers or parents. There is usually a deficit in social skills, coupled with some impairment in impulse control. Especially when ADHD is involved, there is damage done to the child’s self-esteem, causing more, often chronic anger. Children compensate by acting out their feelings, particularly anger. Often this occurs to their own detriment. For example, bullying “compensates” loss of control, personal power or low academic or social status, but if indulged in too often lands the child in the vice principal’s office, or worse. These are the classic beginnings of anger management problems. -Dr. Griggs http://www.psychologyproductsandservices.com/page17.html

About the Author

For more information about this and other articles and ebooks by this author, start with:http://www.psychologyproductsandservices.comFor more information about the author, go to:http://www.drgriggs.org

How To Manage ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

Article by Dr. Emily Kensington

I make my living teaching others how to manage ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). While there are no magic “cures” for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, there are various methods that can help one manage the symptoms and challenges.

As a result, sufferers of ADD/ADHD are quite capable of leading happy, healthy, and productive lives.

1. Coaching. For adults, Coaching focuses on practical ways to manage Attention Deficit Disorder in an everyday context. It is a way to learn how to be more effective and focused at work and at home. While medication is very useful, the old saying goes “Pills do not teach skills.” Coaches work to help those manage ADD. Coaches work in person and are usually available via phone and Internet.

2. In my personal and clinical experience, the Total Focus Program is the single most effective resource for children and parents. For adults the Conquer ADD Program is a highly rated and recommended program to treat and manage ADD.

3. Medication. Perhaps the most common way to manage ADD, medications are not a “cure” or “quick fix” but they are a useful tool that can stabilize or help quiet the more problematic symptoms. This enables the user to focus and be productive. Medications have been proven effective for over 70% of Adult ADD sufferers. Often it is a question of finding the correct medication or combination of medications and the optimal dose at the right time of day. As a result, it is essential to work collaboratively with the prescribing physician or psychiatrist in order to find the correct balance.

Meds should be used in conjunction with a treatment plan that includes behavioral therapy and other supports. For an overview of Attention Deficit Disorder medications, click here.

4. Behavioral Therapy. Different from coaching, a behavioral therapist can help unearth and treat any past emotional roadblocks that may be hindering your present functioning. Also, a therapist is required when one has other diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse which are common in those who suffer from ADD/ADHD.

5. Support Groups. It is empowering to meet others who are experiencing similar challenges. Those in in same support group not only “get” it, but they can offer advice and solutions. In turn, you can offer the same. Over time, you will enjoy being with others who consider the condition a gift.

6. Diet. For a list of foods that help treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, visit the ADHD diet.

7. Exercise. Physical activity boosts the neurotransmitters associated with Adult ADHD (Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine). Exercise also relieves depression and anxiety.

8. Slow Down. Take regularly scheduled breaks from whatever you are doing.

9. Meditation and Yoga. Sit and relax in silence and let all passing thoughts drift by like floating clouds. Try focusing on your breath as it passes through your nostrils for a few minutes. Over time, you will learn how to quiet your mind from racing thoughts. Try it a few minutes at a time, then build up gradually. Similarly, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong, can help one relax and help one to “be” in the present moment.

10. Tutors. Tutors can help one overcome educational or training challenges.

11. Professional Organizers. Many of the world’s most successful people suffer from ADD/ADHD. (See list of Famous People With ADHD). You do not have to be a high-powered business executive to enjoy the benefit of bookkeepers, virtual assistants, etc.

More and more people are utilizing services such as Elance.com’s time management experts to help them with everyday tasks. Virtual assistants can do anything from schedule reservations or help compose memos. Hiring someone to do tedious paperwork pays for itself, and can make the difference between success and constant frustration.

Learn the ultimate ways to manage ADD here.

About the Author

Dr. Kensington specializes in treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). Her Free ADHD Treatment And Resource Guide can be found at http://www.add-treatment.com.

Causes of Hyperacticity

Article by Simon Wilkes

Many different theories of hyperactivity have been suggested, but so far there has not yet been one that can fully account for all aspects (and all occurrences) of the condition. Most of them fall within the following three broad categories.

Minimal brain damage, the popular term for the condition about twenty to thirty years ago, reflected current thinking that the condition was a result of minimal damage to the central nervous system thought to occur before or at the time of birth. Although this can account for a small percent of hyperactive childrenthere are many brain-damaged children who are not hyperactive.

It is being increasingly accepted that hyperactivity is a generic condition that is passed on from generation to generation.

The environment has an important part to play and it has been suggested that unfavorable environmental condition (both physical and emotional) can cause symptoms of hyperactivity .It is also possible that an unfavorable environment could aggravate and accentuate problems to such an extent that a child who is mildly hyperactive manifests very server symptoms.

Physical environmental conditions include smoke, excess lead, exposure to chemicals and pollutants. A child coming from a relatively calm and stable home environment is far less likely to display the extremes of behavior as another who has a volatile, unpredictable and unstable family life.

Two areas responsible for hyperactivity.

Messages from the perceptual organs (eyes, ears, skin) travel to the brain along specific neuronal pathways. When moving from one neuron (nerve cell) to the next, the message must cross a minute gap between the two cells. Neurotransmitters are biochemical substances which determine how efficiently this will happen. Some neurotransmitters have an excitatory effect while others have a calming effect. The nerve endings produce the required neurotransmitter for each message and reabsorb it immediately after the message has been relayed. If the body produces to little of a specific neurotransmitter or reabsorbs it to soon, then that neurotransmitter is in short supply. A neurotransmitter imbalance will therefore affect the functioning of that person. Drug therapy usually targets this neurotransmitter imbalance and attempts to correct it.

The frontal lobes are apart of the brain involved in the regulation of behavior and intellectual activities. Photon Emission Tomography (PET) Scans of ADHD children have shown underactive of the frontal lobes. As a result, there is a lack of control of the higher centers of the brain associated with impulse control, memory, the ability to pay attention and reasoning with respect to the consequences of actions.Drug therapy or stimulant medication is also used to stimulate this area into functioning more effectively.

Many parents have turned away from medication and resorted to a natural way of helping their child find positive result in their own strengths for a sense of accomplishment. Encouraging the child is the best thing the child needs. Products such as these help bring out the strengths in ADD and ADHD children unlike drugs that leave the child drowsy and unhappy.

About the Author

Simon Wilkes invites you to see how the world memory champs have been helping people to remember for a life time of success at http://simonwilkes.blogspot.com/ student resource. I work with students all over the world with the common problem ‘brain memory’. I encourage you to download the valuable blue print strategy of the world memory participantes to study for success at http://simonwilkes.blogspot.com/