Child Psychologist Charlotte

Autism is one of the most commonly diagnosed developmental disabilities in children.  Receiving a diagnosis of Autism from your child's pediatrician, a psychologist, or other specialist can be tough to take as a parent.  However, there is help!  Early intervention through occupational therapy can help your child develop social, play, and learning skills to achieve daily tasks such as dressing and playing with other children.  An occupational therapist does not diagnose Autism, but we do provide families with support in treating the symptoms of Autism.

Check out this article on the American Occupational Therapy Association's webpage for some more information about what you can do as a parent to be an advocate for your child.

Another helpful website that provides you with a wealth of information is www.autismspeaks.org.

For more information or to schedule an occupational therapy evaluation for your child, please visit our website at www.childandfamilydevelopment.com or call or office at (704)541-9080.

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Bipolar disorder is a condition in which people go back and forth between unusual mood changes. Mood swings are a normal part of life. However, the mood swings in Bipolar Disorder are intense. Moods vacillate between mania (very elevated mood) and depression (very sad mood). The feelings are strong and happen along with extreme changes in behavior and energy levels. The "mood swings" can last days to weeks or change within a day.

Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. It usually starts between ages 15 - 25. The exact cause is unknown, but there is a genetic link. Right now, there is no cure for Bipolar Disorder. However, symptoms can be effectively managed, usually through a combination of medication and therapy. Effective treatment begins with accurate diagnosis. If you think you or a loved one has Bipolar Disorder, talk to your physician or speak with a psychologist.

To find out more about Bipolar Disorder in teens and young adults, visit this link: http://www.halfofus.com/disorder/Bipolar.aspx

This month marks 31 years of service in Charlotte for Child and Family Development.

We are proud of the multi-disciplinary approach that includes Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychology and Education services and are pleased to work with so many kids, families and professionals in the community. 

As has been our mission since 1980, our pediatric therapy team will continue to provide comprehensive, integrated and quality services.

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The term ‘IQ’ actually stands for Intelligence Quotient, which was coined by William Stern in the 1920’s. There are many different theories on intelligence and how and if it can truly be measured.

IQ tests, currently often referred to as cognitive tests, have their limitations.

One may seek out cognitive testing, or IQ testing, for certain purposes. One reason may be to gain access into a private school or to receive enrichment services. Another reason it to gather information on a child’s  thinking and reasoning skills in conjunction with academic functioning to investigate if a learning disability is present.

If you have questions about testing, you can contact a child psychologist at Child and Family Development to see if testing your child is appropriate.

Does your child resist completing assignments that require handwriting?  Does he find ways to avoid writing activities?  

Handwriting is a complex skill that requires postural stability, fine motor strength and coordination, good visual perceptual skills, motor planning, higher level cognitive skills.  There could be several explanations for this avoidance as there are many skills needed to write.

What skills does my child need to be able to write?
1. Your child must have a strong base of support or core muscles to sit upright at a table to complete writing activities.
2. Your child needs adequate fine motor strength, coordination and grasping skills to write for any length of time
3. Your child must have strong visual perceptual skills to allow for visual memory of formation of letters, visual spatial awareness for spacing and alignment, etc.
4. Your child must demonstrate good motor planning or praxis skills and executive function in order to form an idea, organize his/her thoughts, and put his/her thoughts into writing

How do I know what area my child is struggling with?
One of the first steps you can take is to schedule an occupational therapy evaluation for your child.  An occupational therapist will assess your child, focusing on the skills identified above, to determine what area(s) might be impacting your child's success with writing.

An occupational therapist can then provide you with a list of recommendations to address the areas of difficulty that were identified during the evaluation. If your child does not qualify for occupational therapy services, he may be referred for a psychological/educational evaluation to determine if the he may have difficulty with executive function, dyslexia, dysgraphia, or another learning disability.

What can I do to help my child?

• Don't assume that your child is being disobedient or defiant in not completing his writing assignments
• Encourage and support your child, praising him for the work they have completed
• Help your child break down writing assignments into smaller portions so that they can handle them without becoming overwhelmed
• Provide your child with a way to help him organize their thoughts such as a "word web"
• Allow your child to type out his assignments to eliminate the handwriting portion while trying to put his thoughts into words
• Implement other strategies recommended by an occupational therapist, child psychologist or educational specialist

For more information and support, please contact Child and Family Development.

Cogmed Working Memory Trainingis 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.

The program is built around three easy-to-use and age-specific software applications.

Cogmed JM Pre-school

Younger children use their working memory for a number of things, such as focusing on and following instructions, and remaining seated to complete independent activities.

Cogmed RM School-Age

Working memory is crucial for children and adolescents in school and social situations. Reading, solving math problems, planning and following a conversation all rely on working memory.

Cogmed QM Adult

Working memory in adult and professional life is critical for challenges such as planning, focusing, resisting distraction and meeting deadlines.

Visit their website, 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 you, call our South Charlotte office (704.541.9080) to schedule an initial appointment with clinical psychologist, Dr. Joy Granetz.

Child and Family Development is pleased to offer Cogmed Working Memory Training. 
 

Joy Granetz, Ph.D. is one of a few trained Practitioners in our 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 psychoeducational 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. She is proud to lead our Cogmed Working Memory Training program, an innovative computer-based training program to help children with attention deficits.

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.

Visit their website, 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 you, call our South Charlotte office (704.541.9080) to schedule an initial appointment.   

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I have the pleasure of helping children succeed in one of their main occupations - school. 


These days Kindergarten seems to be the new 1st grade!  Children are expected to be at school for a full 7 hours, learn sight words, have spelling tests, start reading and understand what they read.  There is less time for naps, creativity, pretend play, and story time.  Therefore, in my opinion, pre-school is a very important stepping stone to getting your child ready for Kindergarten. 

Pre-school provides your child with structure and routine, helps foster your child's social-emotional development, and teaches them the foundational skills (i.e. pre-writing skills; letter, shape, color, and number recognition; etc.) they need to succeed in Kindergarten. 

Children learn and develop at different rates.  Some children require some extra time to develop adequate fine motor, visual motor, gross motor, and social-emotional readiness for Kindergarten.  Participation in pre-school and, for some, participation in Transitional Kindergarten (T-K) is beneficial and allows them to flourish in Kindergarten.  Other children may need therapeutic intervention to help devlop these skills.

If you and/or your child's teacher notices that he/she is struggling in any area of participation in school, please contact Child and Family Development to request an Occupational Therapy Evaluation.  Our company also provides Psychological Counseling and Educational Services as well as Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy services to children who demonstrate more difficulties in these areas.  Our team of specialists works closely to determine what treatment will best support your child's development.
 

Therapy for adults and children alike often involves forms of cognitive therapy. This therapy focuses on how thoughts (cognitions) affect mood. Some are described below:

1. Dysfunctional automatic thoughts. These thought seem to “pop into” your mind and appear true. However, they are distortions of reality. Examples include:
   1. Labeling: “I’m a failure”
   2. Catastrophizing: “I’ll never survive if I fail this exam”
   3. All-or-nothing thinking: “I don’t do anything right” “Nothing works out for me”
2. Maladaptive assumptions. These include ideas about what you assume things should be like or how you should be. Examples include:
   1. “I should always be happy”
   2. “If I’ve had this problem for a long time, then I can’t change”
   3. “I shouldn’t ask for help”
3. Negative core beliefs. People who are depressed often have core beliefs about themselves that are negative that underlie much of their distress. They may see themselves as weak, unlovable, stupid, or helpless.

 A psychologist at Child & Family Development often uses cognitive approaches in therapy. To schedule an intake call 704-541-9080. More to come on behavioral treatments for depression…

What is it?
I’m pleased to offer a teen summer camp! Each camp is a week-long program designed to promote healthy adjustment and psychological wellness among adolescents. Groups will be a fun, interactive way for teens to build strengths in a safe setting. As part of a group, each participant will build social skills, learn about themselves, and discuss concerns honestly and openly. Immediacy and feedback from peers are primary motivators for many teens. I have experience leading groups in clinical and after-school programs. I am always amazed by the benefit of a group experience for participants.

Topics addressed will include: 

• Emotion regulation
• Healthy relationships
  
• Communication
  
• Social skills
  
• Self-esteem

When is it?
Groups are organized by age and grade level.

Tweens ages 10-12

Teens ages 13-15

Teens aged 16-18

The week-long groups cost $300. Groups run Monday-Thursday, from 1-3 p.m. on the following dates:

June 27-30th

July 11-15th

July 18-22nd

Interested?

Please e-mail me ahypes@childandfamilydevelopment.com or call the front office (704-541-9080) to schedule a free phone consultation with me to find out more.

Childhood depression can be difficult to identify. Most people experience occasional sadness and moodiness. Clinical depression is different than typical experiences of sadness. Presenting symptoms of depression can vary across the lifespan, although the essential symptoms of depression are the same for children, adolescents, and adults. Somatic complaints, irritability, and social withdrawal are particularly common in children. Depression in adolescence and young adulthood often co-occurs with disruptive behavior disorders, AD/HD, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and eating disorders. The DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for depression are as follows:

• Depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure during the past two weeks
• Symptoms cause significant distress or interferes with major functioning
• Symptoms are not due to a direct effect of a substance or medical condition
• Five (or more) of the following symptoms are present during the past two weeks:
  • Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day. In children and teens, this can be irritable mood.
  • Reduced interest in most or all activities that used to be enjoyed.
  • Changes in appetite -- either increased or decreased.
  • Changes in sleep -- either increased or decreased.
  • Vocal outbursts or crying.
  • Fatigue or low energy.
  • Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
  • Thoughts of death or suicide.

A child psychologist at Child and Family Development can treat depression with a variety of approaches, including individual and family therapy. Call 704-541-9080 to arrange a free phone consultation or to set up an intake appointment.

Source: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR; 2000).

• Where, when, and how often does this inattention occur?
• What is the stimulus?
• What does the child do as self therapy?
• What is happening (or not happening) when the child concentrates well?
• What does the child need, and what helps?

Resource: Sensory Processing Disorder vs. Attention Deficit Disorder