Coping Skills: Hard Times Make Them Strong

Life Tree Counseling Kathleen Mills

“Don’t you know the seed would never grow if there were never showers? And though the rain might bring a little pain, just look at all the flowers. Don’t you fret now, child, don’t you worry The rain’s to help you grow, so don’t try to hurry the storm along The hard times make you…

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Understanding ADD and ADHD: A Case for Counseling

Life Tree Counseling Pat Murray

Although the use of medication can improve the identifying symptoms of ADD and ADHD—distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, it does not automatically correct patterns of behavior.  The impulsive tendency to interrupt or talk over other’s who are speaking can be a well-established behavioral pattern that will require  therapy in order to replace the disruptive behavior with…

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Play Therapy: A Parent’s View Part 2

LaShondra Manning play therapy counselor

Play Therapy: The Approach So what are these toys for and what do they mean? That is the very question that play therapy can answer for you. In general, all toys in the play room are purposeful, meaning that they are in there for a reason. Play therapists have been trained to respond to children…

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Play Therapy: A Parent’s View Part 1

LaShondra Manning play therapy counselor

Play Therapy: The Approach So what are these toys for and what do they mean? That is the very question that play therapy can answer for you. In general, all toys in the play room are purposeful, meaning that they are in there for a reason! Play therapists have been trained to respond to children…

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ADD and ADHD: Positive Outcomes and Benefits

Life Tree Counseling Pat Murray

Strong Work Ethic and Perseverance Although dealing with ADD and ADHD can be challenging, there a number of positive outcomes that result from managing the symptoms. A strong work ethic is often developed through the acceptance that things do not always come easy. Reading, for example, often requires frequent re-reading and looking back in an…

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ADHD: Living With and Loving ADHD

Life Tree Counseling Pat Murray

Living with and Loving ADHD Understanding ADHD and the behaviors associated with the neurocognitive disorder provides those with it and those who are in a relationship with them to work cooperatively. With a joint problem solving approach, systems can be put in place to alleviate stressors in the relationship. ADHD: Diagnosing the Situation For example,…

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ADD and ADHD: Dealing with the Symptoms

Life Tree Counseling Pat Murray

ADD and ADHD: Behavior and Understanding A typical ADD and ADHD miscommunication conversation: “What’s wrong with you?  Why are you so grumpy?” “It’s Saturday, and I have things I want to do and now you’re telling me I can’t because you have made all these plans.” “Oh, no, don’t blame me! We made these plans…

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The Challenges of Living with Someone Who Has ADHD

Life Tree Counseling Pat Murray

ADD and ADHD: Life with ADHD Living with and loving someone with ADHD certainly presents some intriguing challenges.  If we are perplexed, frustrated, and often feeling hopeless in trying to co-exist with ADHD, imagine how intensified these emotions are for those with the neurocognitive disorder whose every personal contact is impacted by his/her ADHD. The…

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ADD and ADHD: Is Medication Needed?

Life Tree Counseling Pat Murray

Is Adderall the Answer for ADD and ADHD Patients? Frustration over their inability to exercise self-control and failures to meet their own and others expectations leave many children and adults feeling anxious and hopeless.  Those who have been dealing with these symptoms generally experience great relief when the diagnosis of ADD and ADHD provides an…

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ADD and ADHD: Myths and False Assumptions

Life Tree Counseling Pat Murray

“Growing Out” of ADD and ADHD In the past, many believed that those diagnosed with ADD or ADHD as a child could “grow out” of it.  With academic, professional, and social successes as the children matured, the myth about ADD and ADHD was born that the disorder was curable.  Parents and children held on to…

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