• Not Accepting New Clients

  • Contact Now

    5150 Stilesboro Rd, Bld 100, Ste 100, Kennesaw, GA 30152
    eberhard.rhonda@gmail.com | (770) 250-5477

  • Lifeway Counseling, LLC

    My WordPress Blog

    • Home
    • About
    • Getting Started
      • FAQ About Counseling
      • Rates and Insurance
      • Client Forms
    • Services Provided
      • Individual Counseling
      • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
      • Counseling for Anxiety
      • Counseling for Depression
      • Couples Counseling
      • Pre-Marital Counseling
      • Family Counseling
      • Adolescents
    • Telehealth
      • Telehealth
      • What to Expect
    • Blog
    • Contact
    • Resources
      • Mental Health Links
      • Physical Health Links

    How Learning Disabilities Affect a Child’s Mental Health

    November 5, 2020

    For many children and teens, learning disabilities are a frustrating part of life. Learning disabilities not only bring a sense of shame and isolation, but they can also lead to mental health issues in some children. What Are Learning Disabilities? According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a learning disability is any disorder […]

    Read More

    How Learning Disabilities Affect a Child’s Mental Health

    November 5, 2020

    For many children and teens, learning disabilities are a frustrating part of life. Learning disabilities not only bring a sense of shame and isolation, but they can also lead to mental health issues in some children.

    What Are Learning Disabilities?

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a learning disability is any disorder of the fundamental psychological processes involved in understanding or using language. These can ultimately result in difficulties thinking, listening, reading, writing, math, and spelling.

    Learning disabilities are quite common among young children and teens. According to the NCES, of the 7 million students who receive special education services in the country’s public school system, 33% have at least one learning disability. Common learning disabilities children deal with are ADHD, dyscalculia (trouble with counting and numbers), dyslexia, and others.

    Learning Disabilities and Mental Health Issues in Children and Teens

    While a learning disability isn’t a mental health issue in and of itself, both are closely related. When children and teens have a delay in learning, they can feel as if their academic efforts aren’t paying off. They can feel like a failure and, if their classmates aren’t sensitive, they can also feel like the butt of many jokes. This puts children and teens with learning disabilities at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression.

    It’s important that parents and teachers of students with learning disabilities look for any signs of anxiety or depression. These may include:

    • Sudden fear
    • Worrying
    • Trouble sleeping
    • Irritability
    • Anger issues
    • Feelings of sadness and/or hopelessness
    • Changes in social behaviors (not spending time with friends)
    • Changes in appetite
    • Thoughts of harming themselves

    Once any signs are noticed, parents should bring their child to a qualified mental health therapist. This professional will help the child manage their symptoms so they can better function at home and at school. Some sessions may include the parents while in other sessions, the therapist may want to work one-on-one with the child.

    Many child psychologists use cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) to help children become aware of their own thoughts and feelings and then change their thoughts, emotions, and reactions to challenges at home and at school. CBT helps a child become independent and evaluate whether their thoughts and feelings or logical or distorted.

    Does your child or teen have a learning disability? Do you believe this disability has caused them to develop depression or anxiety? If so, and you’d like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with me. I would be happy to speak with you to see if I might be able to help.

     

    SOURCES:

    • https://blog.genomind.com/learning-disabilities-and-mental-health
    • https://www.mhanational.org/conditions/learning-disabilities
    • https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/parent-behavior-therapy.html

    Filed Under: Adolescents/Teens, Children, School & Academics

    Teaching Kids Mindfulness: The Benefits and Easiest Ways to Do It!

    August 31, 2020

    “Pay attention!” It’s a phrase that is uttered dozens of times a week (if not more) in households where children between the ages of two and 18 reside. How is it that when they WANT to, oh say when they are playing video games or watching cartoons, kids can have a tremendous attention span. But […]

    Read More

    Teaching Kids Mindfulness: The Benefits and Easiest Ways to Do It!

    August 31, 2020

    “Pay attention!”

    It’s a phrase that is uttered dozens of times a week (if not more) in households where children between the ages of two and 18 reside. How is it that when they WANT to, oh say when they are playing video games or watching cartoons, kids can have a tremendous attention span. But at any other time, getting them to be present is harder than getting them to close the refrigerator door!

    While getting kids to pay attention can seem frustrating, there is an answer to the madness: mindfulness.

    Mindful Kids are Happier Kids

    Several studies have shown that kids who participate in mindfulness programs are happier. And the sooner you get kids started with mindfulness, the easier it becomes for them to develop a capacity to become calm and centered when life throws them stressful situations.

    What does this look like in real life?

    Well, picture how a normal 7-year old responds to a situation that is scary, overwhelming, and generally unpleasant. Say they are getting ready to take a hard test or going to the dentist. Most will become so fearful and anxious that they have a hard time being calmed by a parent or other guardian.

    The 7-year old who practices mindfulness meditation knows to stop, close their eyes, and breathe deeply to get themselves calm and focused.

    The two outcomes are vastly different. That’s because meditation and deep breathing exercises actually change the physiology of the brain, according to scientists. Instead of kids reacting emotionally to a charged situation (being controlled by their emotions), children can control their impulses and reactions to that situation.

    OK, but how do you get kids to practice mindfulness when it’s difficult to get them to do pretty much anything, let alone meditate!  Here are some ways you can help your kids become more mindful:

    1. Help them discover their inner experience.

    Spend time helping kids understand what is happening to their bodies during stressful and calm situations. Ask them to explore their emotions. The more insight they have into their inner experience, the better able they will be to control their responses to external experiences.

    2. Breathe with Them

    Practice deep breathing with your child. You can do it while driving or before putting them to bed at night. Share with them how to relax, slowly breathe in deeply and exhale. Invite them to feel any tension melt away.

    3. Be a Good Example

    Your child will not even want to try and be mindful and in control when they see you out of control. Are you one to yell at other drivers? Do you get far too angry when your dog tracks mud in the house? Does a telemarketer at dinner send you through the roof? If so, it’s time to try deep breathing and meditation yourself. Be an example. If your child sees mommy or daddy handling stress in healthier ways, they will be far more likely to give it a go.

    While it will take some effort to get your kid to commit to practicing mindfulness, the results that it will bring to their life are completely worth it.

     

    SOURCES:

    • https://psychcentral.com/blog/mindfulness-for-children/
    • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/creative-development/202001/mindfulness-in-children
    • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/breathe-mama-breathe/201605/12-simple-ways-teach-mindfulness-kids

    Filed Under: Children



    Brookstone Office
    5150 Stilesboro Rd,
    Bld 100, Ste 100,
    Kennesaw, GA 30152

    (770) 250-5477 eberhard.rhonda@gmail.com

    Lifeway Counseling, LLC
    eberhard.rhonda@gmail.com | (770) 250-5477

    Gottman Approved Member

    A Website by Brighter Vision | Privacy Policy

    • Facebook