Academic Doping
I’m occasionally asked if I think ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is over-diagnosed. In a word, no. I don’t think ADHD is over-diagnosed. Over-diagnosis seems to imply a clinician chooses ADHD as a diagnosis when a different, less stigmatizing diagnostic category is available. I have a mental image of a clinician weighing different diagnosis: “If I [...]
Family Management Makeover
Kathy Peel, writing for Marriage Partnership, suggests some business strategies may be helpful in running a household. Simply put, the Family Management System applies the strategies of good business to the work of running a home. But don’t think it’s about creating a corporate atmosphere! It’s just that things such as implementing a team game [...]
How to Make Love to Your Wife
Bailey Molineux is a psychologist in Helena, Montana. Writing in the Independent Record, Dr. Molineux addresses a difficulty in marital therapy: My favorite question to ask in marital therapy is: “What have you done to contribute to the behavior of your spouse about which you are complaining?” It usually throws people for a loop because [...]
Authentic Friendship
I had an experience this morning that was a first for me: a comment I left on another blog was deleted. I wasn’t offended, just puzzled. I don’t comment on other’s blogs often and when I do, I try to make sure I don’t say anything in a comment string that I wouldn’t say face [...]
The Biggest Error in Marriage Counseling
There are times when a great deal of pressure is put on a marriage counselor. “You’re our last hope” is a phrase I’ve heard often enough. Some minister refer a couple with the expectation I will “save the marriage”. I’ve even had one couple see me for the first time in the morning, telling me [...]
Grandparents and Divorce
Rachel Pollack, writing in the St. Petersburg Times, writes about the struggle of grandparents to see their grandchildren after a divorce. In Grandparents struggle to hold on after divorce: It is well known that children are at risk when their parents divorce. At risk too, is my once harmonious relationship with my grandchildren. Unconditional time [...]
Marital Conversation
“I’m just not good at conversation. Not really much of a talker.” The young man who made this statement was sitting in my office next his wife. His wife was nodding her head vigorously in agreement. “He really doesn’t talk much.” Oh, really? Didn’t you just tell me the reason for seeking counseling was his [...]
Teens, Driving, and ADHD
It is fairly well understood that teenagers with ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) are at a high risk for driving accidents. The question is what to do about it. A new study at the University of Virginia Health System looked at the impact of different types of ADHD medications on teenagers driving abilities. Of the psychostimulant [...]
Dads Don’t Babysit
Dads don’t babysit. And we don’t visit. We parent. One of my pet peeves (I know; I have many) is divorced or divorcing couples who are trying to work out a “visitation” schedule. You can visit Disney World or your ailing grandmother, but you parent your children. It doesn’t matter if your children live with [...]
