Ask Dr. Mike Archives - Page 6 of 6 - Ashburn Psychological and. Psychiatric Services

Ask Dr. Mike: On Autistic Children and Teens Dealing with President Trump’s Style
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Ask Dr. Mike: On Autistic Children and Teens Dealing with President Trump’s Style

Staff, APPS2018-11-20T03:54:47+00:00

Several of my child and teen clients with High Functioning Autism or Asperger’s Disorder have struggled to understand and embrace President Trump. The disconnect has had less to do with political beliefs than it has with Trump’s communication style. Generally, individuals on the autistic spectrum have executive functioning weaknesses where they tend to see and understand things in rigid, black and white or all-or-nothing terms. Interpreting social cues or nuanced communication – verbal or non-verbal – can also be difficult for those on the spectrum. They are also inclined to take things literally, and ambiguous and figurative ideas or speech is harder for them to make [...]

Ask Dr. Mike: On Autistic Children and Teens Dealing with President Trump’s StyleStaff, APPS2018-11-20T03:54:47+00:00

Ask Dr. Mike: Where to Turn for a Teenage Son Acting Out
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Ask Dr. Mike: Where to Turn for a Teenage Son Acting Out

Staff, APPS2018-11-20T03:57:27+00:00

Dear Dr. Mike: Our 15 year old son is out of control and we don’t know what to do anymore. He smokes pot and drinks, disobeys us left and right, is truant from school often, comes home whenever he wants to and screams at us when we try to correct him. He used to be an amazing kid and athlete, but he quit all sports and he’s no longer himself. We’ve tried therapy, but he refused to go. The crazy thing with all of this is that we have no idea why he changed. His problems started in freshman year of high school and have [...]

Ask Dr. Mike: Where to Turn for a Teenage Son Acting OutStaff, APPS2018-11-20T03:57:27+00:00

Ask Dr. Mike: A “Maybe So, Maybe Not” New Year
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Ask Dr. Mike: A “Maybe So, Maybe Not” New Year

Staff, APPS2018-11-20T04:06:48+00:00

A Parable and Some Thoughts for a Happy New Year. One day in late summer, an old farmer was working in his field with his old sick horse. The farmer felt compassion for the horse and desired to lift its burden. So he left his horse loose to go the mountains and live out the rest of its life. Soon after, neighbors from the nearby village visited, offering their condolences and said, “What a shame. Now your only horse is gone. How unfortunate you are!” You must be very sad. How will you live, work the land, and prosper?” The farmer [...]

Ask Dr. Mike: A “Maybe So, Maybe Not” New YearStaff, APPS2018-11-20T04:06:48+00:00

Ask Dr. Mike: The Creepy Clowns of 2016
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Ask Dr. Mike: The Creepy Clowns of 2016

Staff, APPS2018-11-20T04:09:30+00:00

“Did you hear about the three kids that were killed last week by clowns?” and “Clowns are capturing children and dragging them into the woods” and “The police are looking for two clowns that were in the woods by my school’s playground” are just a few of the many comments my young clients have reported to me these past few weeks. And with Halloween just around the corner, it seems that the anxieties and concerns for many children (and parents) about creepy clowns is only increasing. As a child psychologist in private practice, I’ve witnessed the negative impact of creepy clowns on [...]

Ask Dr. Mike: The Creepy Clowns of 2016Staff, APPS2018-11-20T04:09:30+00:00

Ask Dr. Mike: Kids and Organized Activities
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Ask Dr. Mike: Kids and Organized Activities

Staff, APPS2018-11-20T04:23:20+00:00

Dear Dr. Mike, We recently signed our 4-year-old daughter up for gymnastics. It wasn’t cheap, but her friends from the neighborhood do it, and she has been begging us to go. It turned out to be a horrible disaster. From the first lesson, she was frustrated, she couldn’t pick up the instructions, and it was a battle to get her to go every time. My husband took the hard line that our daughter had to continue because she made a commitment and because we couldn’t get our money back. I initially shared his position, but he never went to a single [...]

Ask Dr. Mike: Kids and Organized ActivitiesStaff, APPS2018-11-20T04:23:20+00:00

Ask Dr. Mike: Owning up to Infidelity
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Ask Dr. Mike: Owning up to Infidelity

Staff, APPS2018-11-20T04:01:39+00:00

Dear Dr. Mike, I cheated on my husband about two years ago and I’ve gone back and forth with feeling very guilty about what I did and being okay with my plan to keep it a secret. It was a one time very very stupid moment that I regret and it happened with a coworker on a business trip. I still see my coworker but I put a stop to things right after that night. He’s also married and his wife doesn’t know either. My close friends have all told me to not saying anything (and most articles on the Internet [...]

Ask Dr. Mike: Owning up to InfidelityStaff, APPS2018-11-20T04:01:39+00:00