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Family Matters

Human ServicesFamily Matters columns are presented to the Lexington community through a collaboration with the Lexington Human Services Department/Youth Services and the Lexington Times Magazine. Information provided in these columns is general in nature and not intended to substitute for individualized professional advice. See a professional for any concerns you may have about this topic or any others in a Family Matters column.

FAMILY

Family Meals Are Good For Everyone

Written by Anne Fishel, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, Harvard University

More than two decades of studies reveal that kids who eat with their families do better in school and have bigger vocabularies. They also have lower rates of depression, anxiety,…
Mother, Daughter

Parents Role In Treatment of Teen Mental Health

Toria Herd, Postdoctoral Researcher in Psychology, and Sarah A. Font, Associate Professor of Sociology and Public Policy

The COVID-19 pandemic is a likely contributor, but rates of teen mental illness have been rising over the past decade.

Better Sleep for Kids

Erika Bocknek

Originally published in the The Conversation. Reprinted with permission. Erika Bocknek Associate Professor of Educational Psychology. (2022, December 26). Better Sleep for kids starts with better sleep for parents –…

Family Meals

Anne Fishel

Initially published in The Conversation. Reprinted with permission. The Conversation. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://theconversation.com/family-meals-are-good-for-the-grown-ups-too-not-just-the-kids-158739 Anne Fishel,  is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, Harvard University…

Anxiety Detection and Treatment in Early Childhood

ELANA BERNSTEIN

SHUTTERSTOCK Published: October 17, 2022 8.30am EDT Author Elana Bernstein Assistant Professor of School Psychology, University of Dayton The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts in…

Sibling Aggression and Abuse

CORINNA JENKINS TUCKER & TANYA ROULEAU WHITWORTH

SIBLING AGGRESSION AND ABUSE Beyond rivalry – bullying within a family can have lifelong repercussions Written by Corrina Jenkins Tucker & Tanya Rouleau Whitworth This article is republished from https://theconversation.com.…
Shutterstock Red Bull

Energy Drinks

By Henry David Abraham, M.D

The story goes that coffee was discovered when a shepherd noticed his sheep dancing after they ate beans growing on a hillside. Humans have been using that bean ever since…

Family Matters Archives

Columns from the Lexington Times addressing parenting issues and health issues affecting children and teens.
TEENS PARTYING

Party Schools

Henry David Abraham, M.D.

    CREATIVE MARKET Henry David Abraham, M.D. | If your son or daughter is among the lucky 43% of high school seniors choosing a college this spring, your teen…
Marijuana

Marijuana: What Parents Need to Know

Julie Fenn

The website Drugfree.org recently reported that 90% of addictions start during teenage years. 9 out of 10 people, who meet the medical criteria for drug or alcohol abuse or dependence,…

The Libra Solution – Families in the Balance

LAURIE ATWATER

L ast week I eagerly phoned Lexingtonian Lisa D’Annolfo Levey to discuss her new book The Libra Solution: Shedding Excess and Redefining Success at Work and at Home. Lisa Levey…
Sky

What Brings Happiness?

Shawn M. McGivern, LMHC

FAMILY MATTERS A s Father’s Day approaches, I invariably wrestle with the same question: what to get my daughter’s dad who, regardless of the occasion, insists there’s truly nothing he…
Siblings

Complex Sibling Relationships

Patti Grant, LICSW

If sibling rivalry is an issue that affects your household, you may understand how stressful it can be for everyone in the house to bear.
Couple Having CVoffee

Getting Your Partner to (Really) Listen

Laurie Atwater

Do you wish you could tell your partner what you are feeling more easily? Are you looking for a way to have a productive conversation without playing the blame and…

A Good Night’s Sleep

By Lisa Foo, Ph.D

By Lisa Foo, Ph.D The top of many Mother’s Day wish lists is a good night’s sleep for the whole family.

Learning To Persevere

Dr. Anastasia Galanopoulos

By, Anastasia Galanopoulos, PhD We are living in dangerous, sad, but also hopeful times. When the global pandemic began months ago, we didn’t know how long we would have to…

Parenting Is Not Art

By Kimberly Hackett, LMHC

By Kimberly Hackett, LMHC Parenting is not art. It’s not a roster of must learn skills. It’s not something to conquer or something you can completely ignore. It’s not a…

Complex Sibling Relationships

PATTI GRANT, LICSW

If sibling rivalry is an issue that affects your household, you may understand how stressful it can be for everyone in the house to bear.

Winning the Worry Wars

By Stephanie M. Kriesberg, Psy.D. , Licensed Psychologist

Sometimes, the worry voices we hear in our heads can really help us out. Worry can help us make good decisions, stay safe, and encourage us to work hard and…
Worried Teen

The Importance of Feelings…Really

By Danielle DeTora, Psy.D.

“How does that make you feel?” This is the quintessential therapist’s line that is often mocked in movies, television, books, and everyday life.

Launching Creative Kids

Shawn M. McGivern, LMHC

By Shawn M. McGivern, LMHC With more than 100 theories of creativity in disciplines ranging from neuroscience to psychology, economics, and philosophy, it can be dizzying to land on the best…
Teen Moody

Identifying Depression in Children and Youth

Alicke Grobler

There are many stereotypes and misconceptions about clinical depression perpetuated by media and pop culture. Although there are some common signs and symptoms of depression that occur in most cases,…

Navigating College Admissions

By Kim Siebert MacPhail

COVID-19 has upended college admissions.  Here’s some advice for the Class of 2021. College Consultant Jill Smilow, of Smilow & Associates LLC in Lexington, sees reassurance for students and families…
Sky

Mindfulness, Meditation and Self-Compassion

RACHEL GOLDSMITH TUROW

A clinical psychologist explains how these science-backed practices can improve mental health   Published: May 5, 2023 8.14am EDT Reprinted with permission by The Conversation. Author Rachel Goldsmith Turow  is…
Robyn

Getting Your Partner to (Really) Listen

Do you wish you could tell your partner what you are feeling more easily? Are you looking for a way to have a productive conversation without playing the blame and shame…
Henry David Abraham, M.D.

Pop Quiz: Which Mouse has ADHD?

If you harbored any doubt that ADHD is real, take a look at the time-lapsed photo below. It comes from Duke University where they are trying to define ADHD on…

COVID-19 Virus Preventive Measures

Laurie Atwater

The COVID-19 Virus & Testing According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 “is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been…
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