As an educator, you've developed an intuition about the students in your classroom. When something feels significant, it usually is. But knowing how to talk to parents about autism concerns is a different skillset altogether. You might worry about how they’ll receive your observations, or feel uncertain about your role in this process. This guide will help you prepare to have a productive conversation with parents and support your student’s development and learning.

When your child is struggling with their mental health, finding the right therapist feels overwhelming. Credentials alone don't tell you whether a therapist will actually help. A provider with an impressive background can still rush through a 30-minute intake, miss co-occurring conditions, and leave your child in sessions for months without measurable progress.

As educators, you pour your heart and soul into nurturing the next generation. You strive to create an inclusive environment where every student can thrive. But what happens when learning differences create roadblocks that start to create mental health challenges? Understanding the intricate connection between these two is crucial for unlocking each student's full potential. I’ve spent decades delving into how learning differences impact the co-conditions of children’s mental health and I’d like to offer some insights for how it plays out in your classroom.

After working in educational and clinical psychology for over 30 years, the topic of behavioral challenges in the classroom is near and dear to my heart. Experience has taught me that no simple formula—when a child does X, the teacher should do Y—will address the underlying causes of a child’s behavior in this setting. Instead, I recommend more substantive, thoughtful solutions that can only come from equanimity, regulation, resources, and direct communication. Here are some insights and strategies that I've gathered over the years, specifically for educators.

In today's world, technology and social media are deeply woven into the fabric of our children's lives. From smartphones and tablets to gaming consoles and even their classrooms, screens are ubiquitous and, realistically, here to stay. While these technologies offer incredible opportunities for learning, connection, and creativity, they also present a range of challenges and potential downsides that mental health professionals, educators, and parents must be aware of. By understanding these risks, we can develop effective strategies to help young people navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

As pediatric professionals, we are all driven by a love for children and a desire to make a positive impact. When a child is struggling, our instinct is to facilitate conversations that lead families to the support they need as soon as possible before the situation escalates. However, navigating these discussions, particularly around sensitive issues like mental health and therapy, can be challenging for pediatricians, educators, and other pediatric service providers. That's where motivational interviewing (MI) becomes invaluable. Even if therapy isn't part of your practice, your regular interactions with children and families place you in a unique position to initiate crucial conversations with parents and guide them toward appropriate support. Motivational interviewing can empower you to do this effectively.

Anxiety is a natural response to stress or danger, a way for the body to prepare for challenges. However, when it becomes persistent, intense, and overwhelming, disrupting daily life, it becomes a concern. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric condition among children and adolescents, affecting approximately one in 12 children and one in four adolescents, manifesting in various ways, ranging from mild discomfort to panic attacks

This busy mom describes how her family navigated ADHD, anxiety, sensory issues, and parenting challenges with individualized therapy and support, leading to a more structured and harmonious home life.

The school bell rings for the last time, and suddenly you’re faced with 10 weeks of … what exactly? If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, this moment probably brings excitement mixed with that familiar flutter of mild panic. No more structured days. No more predictable routines. Just you, your child, and a whole lot of unscheduled time—whether they're home, attending camps, or navigating a combination of both.

Some helpful guidance on the hot topic of tech for neurodivergent kids, plus a handy resource for families looking for additional support on one of summer's most common challenges. Download "Screen Time Rules for Kids During Summer Break."

As the holiday season approaches, many families look forward to gathering around the table, sharing meals, and celebrating togetherness. But for a growing number of children and teens, these moments are fraught with anxiety, secrecy, and emotional pain. Eating disorders, once thought to be rare in young people, are now a rising crisis, often beginning long before anyone notices a change in weight or appearance. 

When your child is struggling emotionally, behaviorally, or academically, figuring out where to turn for help can feel overwhelming. You might hear terms like "child psychologist," "child therapist," and "child psychiatrist" used interchangeably, but these professionals have different training, approaches, and areas of expertise.

When you refer a patient for mental health care, you want to know they’ll receive an evaluation that is thorough, clinically sound, and sensitive to the realities families face. At Blackbird Health, our 90-minute virtual New Patient Evaluation (NPE) is designed to do exactly that.

Here is a quick primer on the hot topic of tech for neurodivergent kids during unstructured periods of time at home, plus a handy resource for families looking for additional support on one of vacation's most common challenges. Download "Screen Time Rules for Kids."

Unstructured time during school breaks — whether winter break, spring break, or summer break — can be a joyful transition from the predictability of the school year into open days with fewer obligations. But for many families — especially those parenting children with ADHD and neurodivergent profiles — this freedom can quickly feel overwhelming.

Parents often feel overwhelmed by the idea of medication for their child—unsure when it’s necessary, whether it will change their child, or if it means things have become ‘that bad.’ This article explains how medication can be one part of a larger, integrated care plan and why pairing it with therapy and skill development can actually reduce long-term reliance on medication. We will break down when medication helps, what questions to ask, and how parents can make decisions based on facts, not on fear. 

As pediatricians managing an increasing volume of ADHD cases, staying current with the updates in ADHD testing and treatment is essential. 

When your child is struggling, finding the right therapist feels urgent and overwhelming. You're searching for more than credentials on a wall, you need someone who truly understands your child and can guide your family toward healing. The therapeutic relationship, known as the therapeutic alliance, determines success more than any other factor¹. This guide provides research-backed strategies to help Pennsylvania families identify therapists who create lasting, positive change.

Finding the right mental health support for your child or teenager can feel overwhelming. With countless programs claiming to offer the best care, how do you identify which ones truly deliver comprehensive, effective treatment? This guide cuts through the confusion by providing a comparison of the top youth mental health programs in the United States.

When your 3-year-old starts having nightmares and meltdowns after witnessing a car accident, you feel helpless. You want to help them process what happened, but they don't have the words yet. Maybe your 5-year-old is struggling after your divorce, acting out in ways that break your heart—angry outbursts, refusing to eat, clinging to you constantly.