- What is child therapy, and is it the same as child counseling? Child therapy is a strengthening/skill teaching process that may be brief or ongoing, that targets defined behaviors and re-shapes them with notable results. In my practice the terms therapy and counseling are interchangeable.
- What is clinical social work, and is it the same as therapy? Therapists have various degrees and credentials such as; LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker), LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), and LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) to name a few. The National Association of Social Workers provides a link defining the practice standards that define clinical social work, which is synonymous with therapy in my practice ; http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/standards/NASWClinicalSWStandards.pdf
- What are the specialty areas for Elizabeth Evans LISW? Most mental health issues that impact children age 2 to 12 years of age, especially; suspected or diagnosed autism, pediatric bipolar disorder, ADHD, blended families and changing family issues, trauma among children, children of alcoholism, school challenges, medically complicated children, womens issues, family therapy.
- Does Elizabeth Evans LISW work with adults? Yes, about one-third of my practice consists of women or men over the age of 21and through age 79.
- What are presenting therapy issues that are outside the expertise of Elizabeth Evans LISW? Active severe substance abuse/dependence, schizophrenia, moderate to profound mental retardation, and eating disorders that have not responded to CBT therapy by history.
- What insurance is accepted by Elizabeth Evans LISW? We are a Self-Pay Clinic.
- Can I read a biograph of Elizabeth Evans LISW? Yes, click and review
- Can Elizabeth Evans LISW coordinate my/my child’s needs for psychotropic medication if it is needed? Yes, new referrals can be initiated upon parent/client request, and can be coordinated through pediatricians, psychiatrists, family medicine or other providers.
- What is CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)?CBT is an evidenced based approach that I modified based on the learning style, level of functioning, and preferences of the individual or family engaged in therapy. CBT covers a broad range of approaches (verbal, written, experiential, skills based and much more). This will be explained and personalized during initial visits.
- What are your fees, and are discounts available? Click here for fee schedule. We are a Self-Pay Clinic. Payment plans are available and work best when discussed prior to sessions.
April 2024 M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 You are Your Child’s Emotional Coach: Tips for Next Practice
by Maria Chesley Fisk, Ph.D.
Emotional intelligence involves understanding your feelings, managing your feelings, motivating yourself, and productively persisting in the face of setbacks. Emotional intelligence, as Daniel Goleman stated in his book of that title, may be more important than IQ. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children become aware emotional beings who believe they can develop their emotional intelligence by working at it. Again and again, our children need to hear these basic messages: wisely see and accept challenges, be proactive, and learn from the mistakes you make.
We are our children's emotional coaches; we can teach thinking skills involved in emotional intelligence. Gone are the days when we thought, for example, a very angry person was just born that way and might as well accept it. Yes, we are born predisposed to a certain temperament, but our brains are constantly rewiring and changing as we learn and grow. A person's genetic makeup may lean toward shy or outgoing, optimistic or pessimistic, moody or even-tempered. But we change and we can intentionally stretch and grow; we are not defined solely by our genetic makeup.
Emotional coaching relies on a warm and nurtured relationship between you and your child. A close, open parent -child relationship makes it easier and more natural to teach emotional skills, and it's the foundation upon which your child learns. Everyday interactions can build and strengthen your relationship with your child:
* Hugging and touching frequently
* Enjoying fun, relaxed time together
* Sharing about your daily experiences
* Listening carefully and empathetically
* Respecting and validating your child's feelings
* Explaining your own feelings in an age- and situation-appropriate way
* Providing positive examples of managing emotions and motivationTeaching specific skills is important, too. You can, for example, name your child's feelings while she is learning to understand them. As she matures, you can ask her to talk about her feelings while you listen empathetically. Also, kids deserve to know that at first onset, our strong emotions flood powerfully over us. If we can wait about 90 seconds for the flood to subside, we have the ability to choose whether to let the emotion remain very strong, to do something productive to change the situation, or to just let the emotion pass by. That's how our brains work.