“I got a text from Sophie’s best friend telling me that Sophie is throwing away her lunch at school. Should I confront her?”
“The toilet smelled like vomit after Andy took his shower last night. He ate so much food at dinnertime. I think he might be purging. Should I confront him?”
“I thought I saw some cuts on Bianca’s wrist this morning, but she pulled her sleeves down before I could get a better look. Should I confront her?”
Parents of my adolescent patients….
“Everybody lies.” This was the credo of the titular character in one of my all-time favorite shows: House, MD. And of course, it is true. From the saints to the malignant narcissist politicians and everyone in between, no one is completely honest all the time.
Read More : Dishonesty in Eating…
Earlier today, I was honored to present a webinar on Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) for Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders (FEAST).
AFRID is a relatively new diagnostic category which was first added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Volume 5 (DSM-5) in 2013. ARFID is characterized by a pattern of avoidant or restrictive eating….
The human body has evolved to protect itself from danger. The acute stress response, also known as the “fight or flight” response, describes the body’s physiological reaction to a perceived threat. In response to acute stress or danger, the body’s sympathetic nervous system is activated by the sudden release of hormones. In turn, the adrenal glands secrete hormones, including adrenaline and norepinephrine, which prepare the….
Read More : FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE: The Acute Stress…
Monday, September 28, is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith and is typically observed by a day of fasting and religious services.
Read More : Fasting and Eating Disorders: A…
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the opportunity to engage with patients in long-term therapy. In my practice today, I have a number of patients who began treatment with me years ago, in adolescence, and are now in their 20’s. These patients first presented in my office with their parents during middle school or high school, suffering from severe eating disorders or depression or debilitating anxiety or, in some cases, all of the above. Some entered treatment kicking and screaming; others reluctant but resigned;….
Read More : Metamorphosis: Long-Term Therapy with…
I like to conceptualize the etiology and treatment of mental illness using the framework of the 4 P’s: predisposing factors, precipitating factors, perpetuating factors, and prognostic factors.
Predisposing Factors are risk factors which create vulnerability to developing a particular illness.
Examples of predisposing factors:
We have known for years that excessive smartphone use is correlated with depression. However, until recently, the direction of causality was not known. Does excessive smartphone use cause people to become depressed? Or do people who are already depressed use their smartphones more often, leading to unhealthy dependence? A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health lends….
Read More : For Teens, Smartphone Dependence…
WW International, the company formerly known as Weight Watchers, recently launched an app called Kurbo which is designed to help children ages 8-18 to diet and lose weight. The app is marketed as a “health….
Read More : Kids who Diet: There’s an App for…
I am honored to be spotlighted by LEAD, inc as a mental health advocate. LEAD is a nonprofit mental health advocacy organization founded in 2012 by a group of high school students. LEAD offers innovative, engaging, evidence-based programs which improve early intervention for mental illness.
As a clinical psychologist treating children, adolescents, and young adults, I am a strong proponent of early, aggressive, evidence-based interventions for young people who are struggling with mental illnesses. ….
Read More : Empowering Parents to Support…