Child and Family Development Psychologists

Just a few months ago, our nation faced a terrible tragedy in Newton, Connecticut, and yesterday another senseless act of terror occurred in Boston.

Dr. Joy Granetz, a psychologist at Child and Family Development's South Charlotte office, shares her thoughts again on how to help children cope with tragedy: 

How do you explain the unexplainable? While there are never simple answers to complex questions, here are a few suggestions that may guide your responses to your young children as they ask some very difficult questions.

Do Talk About What's Happening

Our priority at this time must be to make our children feel as safe and secure as possible and to help them to manage their distress. It is important to talk to your children about their feelings. The depth of the conversation will be dependent on your child's age or developmental level and their unique personalities.

Put Feelings Into Words

It is important that they feel comfortable talking about their feelings and fears.  Encourage them to express their ideas and thoughts and validate their feelings, even if there are no answers (e.g., You feel sad for the families affected; You feel scared; Senseless violence is hard for everyone to understand).  Encourage your children to put their feelings into words by talking about them or writing them down. If your child is inclined, encourage them to express their feelings through art. Try to keep your answers to their questions developmentally appropriate. As a general guideline, keep it brief and simple and be sure to include reassurances of their safety.

Limit News Consumption

In our 24-hour news culture, it is hard to keep kids shielded from the news, but try to limit exposure to media to the best of your ability. Turn off the TV, do not leave the scary headlines of the newspaper for all to see, monitor computer usage. These healthy limits may benefit not only the children in the household, but the adults, as well.

Take Care of The Caretaker

We have all heard flight attendants tell us that in the event of an emergency, put on our oxygen masks first.  In a similar vein, it will be important for parents to take care of their own emotional health and well being in light of the recent tragedy. Children are seeking a sense of safety and parents can serve as models for how to cope under times of stress and adversity and be resilient. Be sure to regulate your own emotions and behavior in front of your children. Try to maintain your regular schedules and family routines, as they will provide a sense of comfort and consistency for your child. Keep home a peaceful place and enjoy precious family time during the holiday season.

Resources for Helping Children Cope with Tragedy

If your child seems to be emotionally overwhelmed, consider consulting with a professional who may be able to help you and your child to develop coping resources and self soothing strategies to manage anxiety and emotional distress. The team at Child and Family Development is ready to help.

• The National Association of School Psychologists -- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers 
• The National Association of School Psychologists -- A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope
• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry – Children and Grief

DHHS and Stopbullying.gov are hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, December 5 as part of the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Webinar Series:

Moving from Awareness to Action in Bullying Prevention: Training Resources for the Field
When: December 5, 2012
Time: 3:00-4:00pm EST

Register at: http://www.learning.mchb.hrsa.gov/LiveWebcast.asp?id=317

Participants will learn:

• Community strategies that can be used to prevent and respond to bullying, including tips to mobilize
  all stakeholders
• How to use three new federal resources to educate community leaders about bullying prevention
  best practices, misdirections and action planning
• How to organize a community event to address bullying and develop local solutions

If your child is experiencing bullying, the Child and Family Development Psychology Team in Charlotte is available to help. 

Cogmed Working Memory Training has released a compilation of new clinical data that shows over 80% of those who complete the program experience measurable benefits, and on average show reduced symptoms of inattention by 30%.

Read more about a meta-analysis of published Cogmed research on their website, www.cogmed.com.  Free webinars are also available.

Here at Child and Family Development, Dr. Joy Granetz is a Cogmed Qualified Practitioner and can determine if the program is right for your child or adolescent.

August 31 is the deadline to register for Cogmed and receive $200 off the regular package price! 

Cogmed is a non-medical intervention that has passed rigorous clinical studies that showed significant improvement in working memory, concentration, sustained attention, impulse control and complex reasoning skills in children with attention deficits.

Joy Granetz, Ph.D., is one of a few Cogmed Qualified Practitioners in the Charlotte area.   Dr. Granetz is a North Carolina licensed psychologist and has over twelve years of extensive experience.   Dr. Granetz is based at our South Charlotte clinic where she provides neuropsychological assessment and psycho-educational evaluations of children and adolescents with special focus in working with children and adolescents with learning disabilities, attention disorders, head injury, tic disorders, and epilepsy. Dr. Granetz also provides therapy for children and adolescents with emotional and/or behavioral difficulties.

To learn more about Cogmed Working Memory Training:

• click the Psychology tab on the Child and Family Development website
• read about Cogmed on our blog 
• visit http://www.cogmed.com/ for a free webinar

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then there is some preparation you should do during the summer months.

1. Contact the college disability service center.  Find out the documentation you need to receive services, as well as the services they offer.
2. Have an updated evaluation that documents your disability.  Most, if not all, colleges/universities require an up-to-date evaluation or documentation of the disability. Some require the documentation be within 3 years, others within 1 year.
3. Meet with the staff at the disability service center and get a tour of the school.  Discuss in detail your needs as well as what you feel you need to succeed and see how they can support you to reach your goals.

Two books (one for parents, one for students) that may further assist in preparation for this transition are:

1. Ready for Take Off:  Preparing Your Teen With ADHD or LD for College, by Theresa E. Laurie Maitland, PhD and Patricia O. Quinn, MD
2. On Your Own: A College Readiness Guide For Teens With ADHD/LD, by Patricia O. Quinn, MD and Theresa E. Laurie Maitland, PhD

A psychologist at Child and Family Development can help kids and adolescents live life to the fullest.

Evaluations

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) We provide comprehensive assessments to determine if a child has an attention disorder.  The evaluation may include a cognitive assessment, standardized behavior rating scales and questionnaires completed by parents and teachers, a computerized test of attention and an assessment of executive functioning skills.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Two psychologists, Carol Capehart and Dr. Chris Vrabel, specialize in these assessments and can diagnose ASD. The evaluation may include a cognitive assessment, standardized behavior rating scales and questionnaires completed by parents and teachers as well as a battery of ASD-specific testing tools.

Social/Emotional/Behavioral Adjustment An evaluation to assess overall emotional/ behavioral adjustment may include standardized behavior rating scales, an in-depth interview with parents to collect relevant history, as well as a comprehensive interview with the child, when appropriate.

Neuropsychology Kids are typically referred for a neuropsychological evaluation if they are experiencing difficulty in learning, attention, behavior, socialization, or emotional control, a disease or developmental problem that affects the brain in some way, a brain injury from an accident, birth trauma or some other physical stress. Testing can help determine the effects of developmental, neurological and medical problems, such as ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, epilepsy or a genetic disorder. Dr. Joy Granetz and Dr. Gretchen Hunter have this expertise.

Early Kindergarten Entry/IQ Testing We offer cognitive and academic readiness assessments required by public schools to enter kindergarten as a 4-year-old. We also provide cognitive evaluations that are a required part of the application process to many private schools in the area.

Therapy

Individual Counseling We provide individual therapy for a wide range of difficulties, including ASD, attention and executive functioning difficulties, mood issues, emotional regulation, anger management, family problems and overall adjustment issues.

Family Therapy Many times, we recommend that the whole family to be involved in counseling in order to learn different ways of interacting and resolving problems. 

Groups We provide several group therapy options, including Social Skills training for children and adolescents with ASD, ADHD, or other social interaction difficulties. Also, we offer parent support groups.

CogMed Cogmed Working Memory Training is an innovative home-based computer program that helps people with attention problems by training and increasing their working memory capacity. This program is managed by a Certified Practitioner, Dr. Joy Granetz. Proven results demonstrate that after training, people improve their ability to concentrate, control impulsive behavior and better utilize complex reasoning skills.

With diverse expertise, interests and experiences, we are ready to provide a wide range of evaluation and treatment services to the Charlotte community.

Yoga Girls is designed to promote healthy adjustment and psychological wellness among 7-10 year-old girls. Topics addressed will include:

• Relaxation
• Changing negative thinking to positive thinking
• Building social interaction skills
• Beginner yoga movements

Carol Capehart, MA, LPA and Gretchen Hunter, Ph.D., co-lead the group.  Both psychologists have years of experience in individual and group therapy. Carol Capehart has worked with school-aged kids for more than 30 years.  She is actively pursuing yoga instructor certification.  Dr. Gretchen Hunter has a special interest in evidence-based treatment of anxiety disorders.

The group is a fun and interactive way for girls to build skills in a safe and supportive setting. As part of a group, each participant will have the opportunity to make new friends while learning strategies to minimize worry and be present in the moment (child-friendly mindfulness), as well as learning how yoga can help our bodies feel better.    

A free 10-15 minute phone consultation with the parent is recommended to determine fit for the group.  If parents want to talk longer, a 1-hour Intake can be scheduled. At the end of each session, parents are updated about the general topics and discussions of the group. 

 A family may pay privately or use insurance . Regular deductibles and co-pays apply.  Prior Authorization and medical necessity approval are required, as applicable by funding source.  All payments are due at the time of service.  

Each child should wear clothing that allows for easy movement.  Yoga mats are provided.

Groups occur on Thursdays from 4:00 to 4:45 on an every other week basis at the Midtown office of Child and Family Development.  Each group will meet for about 6-8 sessions.

Contact the therapists to learn more:  

Carol Capehart, MA, LPA

704-332-4834 ext. 126

ccapehart@childandfamilydevelopment.com

Gretchen Hunter, Ph.D.

704-332-4834 ext. 125

ghunter@childandfamilydevelopment.com

It is important to note that the group is not based on or related to any religion or religious belief. 

Visit the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s website, www.samhsa.gov/children, to learn more about National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 9 and the Caring For Every Child’s Mental Health initiative.  

2012 marks the seventh year of this special day and the effort to reinforce the belief that positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy development

SAMHSA's "Caring for Every Child's Mental Health" public awareness effort was created in 1994 with the mission to increase awareness around children's mental health. The "Caring for Every Child's Mental Health" team works to support SAMHSA-funded sites through the strategic use of social marketing and communications strategies. The overarching purpose of the team is to stimulate support for a comprehensive system of care approach to children's mental health services.

Summer is a great time to complete the Cogmed Working Memory Program. 

Cogmed Working Memory Training is an innovative computer-based program designed for children contending with attention deficit challenges. Easy to implement at home, it is clinically proven to increase a child’s working memory capacity and concentration while building impulse control and complex reasoning skills. Among other advantages, Cogmed Working Memory Training can be the means to better academic and professional performance.

Visit their website, http://www.cogmed.com/, for more information about this state-of-the-art intervention.  A free parent webinar is available.

Last year, Dr.  Joy Granetz became one of a few trained Cogmed Practitioners in our area.   She is currently accepting Cogmed clients for the late spring and summer.   

To find out if this program is right for your child, call Child and Family Development South Charlotte office at 704-541-9080 to schedule an initial appointment.    

After her son completed the Cogmed Working Memory Training program here, a mother shared their story with Child and Family Development:
 

A few years ago, my son was diagnosed with ADD/ ADHD.  His grades were non-existent, as he forgot or refused to do his work.  His behavior was spotty at best, and when frustrated would have frequent tantrums and loud outbursts.  He was on several stimulant and non stimulant medications to try to help him control his attention, outburst, and impulsive behavior.  None worked.  Even with medication, he was a short tempered, short focused mess.  The last straw was when the medicine he was taking caused him to faint on a waterslide.  Imagine my horror!  Was there nothing that would help my child that won’t make him a zombie or cause other risky side effects?

In a final effort, we reached out to Dr. Joy Granetz.  She recommended a program that did not involve medication that would improve his attention, behavior, and memory.  This was too good to be true!  We knew we had to try this Cogmed program.

The Cogmed program was easy to install, and my son loved the exercises and rewards at the end of the day.  While not every day was “fun”, weekly phone conferences between him and Dr Granetz made him feel in control and a part of the process, while the reward system motivated him to continue.  Even when we had to go out of state unexpectedly, we were able to take the Cogmed program with us and use it on the road, wherever an internet was available.  This made it easy to stay on task, and complete the sessions on schedule.  Five week flew by quickly, and for the first time my son enjoyed the since of accomplishment from following through a program from beginning to end.

Now, 2 months later, the difference is staggering!  He no longer has outbursts in groups.  He is able to carry a conversation and finish a task without forgetting one or the other.  He no longer gets frustrated easily, but stays focused works through problems.  His grades improved from straight Fs to close to honor roll!  The best is teachers and leaders comments on how well behaved he is and how he is a joy to be around.

The Cogmed program has changed my son from a troubled child to a terrific kid.  Even after the program is finished, I still continue to see improvements on how he sees, interacts and handles the world around him.  This program not only helped a little boy, but a whole family.  Thank you, Cogmed and Dr Granetz, for finding a non-medicinal way to help us and give us our happy, healthy son back to us.

For more information about Cogmed Working Memory Training, visit their website, www.cogmed.com, To learn if this program is right for your child, contact our South Charlotte office at 704-541-9080 to schedule an Intake appointment.

Kids are typically referred for a neuropsychological evaluation if they are experiencing difficulty in learning, attention, behavior, socialization, or emotional control, a disease or developmental problem that affects the brain in some way, a brain injury from an accident, birth trauma or some other physical stress.

Testing can determine the effects of developmental, neurological and medical problems, such as epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia or a genetic disorder.

Often, a neuropsychological evaluation is part of a collaboration with many professionals, including but not limited to pediatricians, neurologists, psychiatrists, educators and other pediatric therapists. 

At Child and Family Development, there are two neuropsychologists on our team.

• Joy Granetz, Ph.D. @ South Charlotte office
• Gretchen H. Hunter, Ph.D. @ Midtown office

Contact our office to schedule an Intake appointment. 

Could it be autism?
This is a question that arises more and more often for parents, teachers and physicians. At Child and Family Development, we not only answer the question but also provide direction.

Carol Capehart, MA, LPA (Midtown office) and Chris Vrabel, Psy.D. (South Charlotte office) are highly trained and experienced to work with people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Our comprehensive evaluation begins with a thorough clinical interview with the parents and caregivers. A review of medical history and detailed information about early development, family dynamics, family history, daily life, and current concerns are also gathered. A thorough inventory of standardized tests is also available.

We help families negotiate through the IEP process, communicate with school administration and teachers, attend IEP meetings and offer advocacy support when needed. In addition, they help families find the community resources. Here, we offer individual therapy, family therapy, social skills groups and parent support groups.

Contact us for more information about the Autism Spectrum Disorder services, We currently have openings for ASD evaluations with no waiting lists. We work with families to maximize any available insurance benefits and offer payment plans.
 

Recently, a Cogmed representative shared these research updates with Child and Family Development:

• Cogmed was highlighted in Science in the article "Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old" (Diamond & Lee, 2011) describing computerized training as the most researched approach for improving executive functions in the early school years.
• In addition, results have continued to emerge from a large study of younger and older adults providing evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of improving working memory and attention in both age groups (Brehmer et al., 2009, 2011; Bellander et al., 2011)

You can find summaries of the published and ongoing research at www.cogmed.com/research.

To learn about the research and to determine how your child may benefit from the Cogmed Working Memory Training, contact our South Charlotte office to schedule an initial appointment with Dr. Joy Granetz.  She is a licensed clinical psychologist and Cogmed Qualified Practitioner. 

At Child and Family Development, our psychologists can accommodate most requests for testing, including Early Admissions and IQ testing for Charlotte students. 

School readiness assessments of children ages 4 to 6 years provide valuable information to teachers and parents on school readiness, learning styles, appropriate learning environments, and developmental strengths and weaknesses. We recommend this service for children prior to beginning a formal kindergarten experience. If you are pursuing testing for either early admission to kindergarten or an application to a private school requiring standardized testing, we can provide you with the information you need. We are able to administer the following standardized tests:

• Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) which assesses children’s learning ability and how they process information. It is an aptitude test.

• Test of Early Reading Ability (TERA) which assesses basic reading skills. It is an achievement test. Young Children's Achievement Test (YCAT) which assesses early academic and pre-academic skills in general knowledge, reading, math, written expression, and spoken language.

• Woodcock-Johnson which assesses academic and pre-academic skills in reading, math, and written expression. It is an achievement test. Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) is an achievement test which also assesses skills in reading, math, and written expression.

The testing is typically completed in one visit to our clinic in a 2 1/2 hour appointment.  During that time, the psychologist will spend some time getting to know the child and making sure he is comfortable with the setting and tasks. The psychologist will administer a cognitive test or intelligence test (IQ) and a brief assessment of academic achievement. Once testing is finished with the child, the psychologist will provide a brief verbal interpretation of results to the parents.

A brief written report will be mailed to the parents within 10 business days of the appointment.  The fee for this service is $450.00 and it is due at the time of service.

Read the Psychology tab on our website, www.childandfamilydevelopment.com, to learn more about the C&FD psychology team and our services.

Along with many rating scales and other standardized tests, the team of child psychologists at Child and Family Development in Charlotte, NC often uses a continuous performance test as one part of our psycho-educational assessments.

The Brain Train website, www.braintrain.com, provides a detailed description of the IVA+Plus and other tests and protocols. 

The IVA+Plus is a unique combined auditory and visual continuous performance test which provides data in order to to help psychologists and other clinicians better assess the ADHD symptoms of individuals ages 6 through adult. Following the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-IV, IVA+Plus provides data that allows for differentiation between the four sub-types of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder – ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type (formerly called ADD), ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, ADHD Combined Type, and ADHD Not Otherwise Specified.

The IVA+Plus is a useful tool. It provides a wealth of objective data, follows the DSM-IV guidelines for a unique integrated format, identifies both auditory and visual inattention and impulsivity, mixes visual and auditory stimuli, creating a "real-life" task, increasing test sensitivity and power and improves diagnostic accuracy. In a validity study, IVA+Plus correctly identified clinician diagnosed ADHD children 92.3% of the time and accurately assessed treatment and medication effects. Research studies demonstrate excellent test-retest reliability and stability.

Cogmed Working Memory Training is a home-based program that helps people with attention problems by training and increasing their working memory capacity.

Clinically proven results demonstrate that after training, people improve their ability to concentrate, control impulsive behavior, and better utilize complex reasoning skills. Better academic and professional performance can be achieved.

Working memory is critical for focusing, appropriately shutting out distractions and for complex thinking. Improved working memory capacity generalizes to improved attention and impulse control. 8 out of 10 users who complete training show measurable results. In children, research and clinical data show improved grades following Cogmed training. Parents and teachers report improved social skills, talking initiative, remembering instructions and completing assignments more independently.

Visit www.cogmed.com, for more information about this state-of-the-art intervention. A free parent webinar is available.

To find out if Cogmed Working Memory Training is right for your child, call us at 704-541-9080 to schedule an initial appointment at our South Charlotte office with child psychologist, Dr. Joy Granetz.

With diverse clinical expertise, interests and experiences, the Child and Family Development team of psychologists is ready to provide a wide range of evaluation and treatment services. 

MIDTOWN OFFICE

Carol Capehart, MA, LPA, is a licensed psychological associate with about 20 years of clinical experience. Carol has extensive training and experience in the assessment and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and founded our ASD evaluative services in 2006. Prior to that, she spent many years working in public schools with children of all ages and learning abilities.

Gretchen Hunter, Ph.D., CRC, is a licensed psychologist and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with a specialty in neuropsychology. She has experience providing neuropsychological evaluations to children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders, learning disabilities and attention related disorders. She provides individual, family and group psychotherapy and behavior intervention to children and adolescents.

Kristina Murphy, Psy.D, HSP-P, is a licensed psychologist who provides psychotherapy and evaluations to children, adolescents and young adults. Her specialized focus is adolescents and transitions to High School and College. Areas of clinical expertise include anxiety,

depression, attention disorders, learning disabilities, life transitions and adjustment issues.

SOUTH CHARLOTTE OFFICE

Annada Hypes, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment of adolescents and young adults. Dr. Hypes specializes in treating mood and impulse-control disorders, including depression, self harm, substance abuse, disordered eating and attention disorders. She regularly offers social skills groups for girls. 

Joy Granetz, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist with over thirteen years of experience. She provides neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations with special focus in working with children and adolescents with learning disabilities, attention disorders, head injury, tic disorders and epilepsy. Dr. Granetz is one of a few practitioners in North Carolina offering Cogmed Working Memory Training, an innovative computer based training program to help children with attention difficulties.

Chris Vrabel, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist specializing in child evaluation and child and family therapy. He has expertise in the assessment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention disorders, learning disabilities and other developmental, behavioral and emotional problems. Dr. Vrabel also provides therapy to children and families with concerns regarding ADHD, behavior problems, depression, anxiety, social difficulties and other issues.

Read the blog, visit the website, or contact the offices to learn more about our child psychology services.