Communication Skills

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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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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solving social struggles picture

A Parents’ Guide to Kids & Teens Social Struggles

Posted on by Annalise

Watching your child or teenager be rejected or experience unkindness can be incredibly painful and anxiety-producing.  We want our children to fit in, to be liked and appreciated for who they are, and to feel a sense of belonging.  When social problems arise, we can react in different ways: feeling overwhelmed, feeling worried that our child will suffer or things will only get worse, or becoming critical of our teen or their friends. Our efforts to control the situation can backfire and lead our kids to feel unsupported.  When this happens, kids tend to stop sharing their bumps in life with us (for fear we can’t handle it).

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Talk to your school about your child's ADHD

Tips for Talking to Your Child’s School About ADHD

Posted on by Annalise

September is here and so is the return to school for many kids. In addition to organizing the school supplies, after school schedules, and car pools, parents may also be busy starting to communicate with their child’s school.

If your child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it is important to talk to their new teacher and the school support team early on.

ADHD (or ADD) is a neurological disorder that affects the parts of the brain that plan, focus, and follow through on tasks. For these reasons in addition to several others, communicating your child’s diagnosis to their school is important.

Here are some tips for talking to your child’s school about ADHD.

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