Children

Teens Under Pressure

Teens Under Pressure

Posted on by Annalise

“Just try it, everyone does it, it’s not even that bad.”
“Hurry up and just take it, no one is looking.”
“She’s such a prude, don’t even try getting to know her.”
“That new kid is a loser, no one likes him.”

The pressure to fit in, to be liked and respected, and to be accepted by peers is a very normal human experience.  While much of the pressure our children and teens face is explicit (like the examples above), they can also feel pressure by just watching or knowing that peers are engaging in behaviors that they are not. For example, knowing that all their friends have snapchat and they are not yet allowed to download that app can feel like pressure to a teen.

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Slinky, flexible mindset

Faults in Our Stars: Developing a Flexible Mindset for Ourselves and Our Children

Posted on by Annalise

One of our main objectives at CBT Westport is working together with kids and their parents to achieve a growth and flexible mindset.  As part of this objective, we practice taking risks and learning how to tolerate mistakes.

Professor Thomas Curran, an Assistant Professor of psychological and Behavioral Sciences at the London School of Economics, views perfectionism as a relational trait rather than an individual trait.  This makes sense when we are treating children and adolescents who oftentimes look to their environment (home, school, sports team, parent/coach/teacher) as a conduit to his/her/their perfectionism.

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Social Anxiety

A Guide to Social Anxiety for Gen Z

Posted on by Annalise

Members of Generation Z include people who were born between 1995 and 2010. Sandwiched between Millennials and Generation Alpha, Gen Z individuals are growing up in a time of uncertainty and stress. This generation is also significantly more likely than other generations to report negative mental health according to a recent survey by the APA. One of the major types of mental health struggles that Gen Z is having a hard time with is Social Anxiety.

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ADHD myths and misconceptions

ADHD Treatment Myths Debunked

Posted on by Annalise

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) are disorders that affect focus, self-control and executive functioning in both children and adults. ADHD impacts 11% of children and 5% of adults in the U.S. However, these numbers likely reflect a lower estimate given some of the unique challenges that come along with accurate diagnosis and misconceptions associated with treatment.

October is ADHD awareness month and despite the common occurrence of this disorder in children and adults, there continues to be stigma about diagnosis and treatment. We have previously written about some of the most common ADHD myths. In this article, we hope to build on our previous post by identifying and debunking more myths associated with diagnosis and treatment.

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On the field

Back to School and Back On the Field

Posted on by Annalise

As children and teens head back to the classroom, many are also heading back to the field, the gridiron, the court or the rink.

It is important for parents and coaches to familiarize themselves with the difference between helpful and unhelpful stress and anxiety as it relates to performance in sport.

Student athletes feel tremendous pressure both in and out of the classroom.  Awareness and open, positive engagement is key in helping kids manage their anxiety in a variety of competitive situations.

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