Why it May be Good If Your Kid has ADHD or Bipolar Genes
posted by Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. on Dec 4th 2009
"In a recent issue of the Atlantic Monthly, David Dobbs outlines a new genetic theory that says having the high-risk gene doesn't mean they are destined to potentiate the qualities of that gene. How you parent and the environment that the child grows up in may be more significant than we think, it may actually be the factor that turns tragedy into triumph. " More...

Bipolar Disorder in Children? Yes!
posted by Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. on Dec 3rd 2009
"The full realization and understanding that children can have Bipolar Disorder has come risen to full awareness during the last ten to fifteen years. With that knowledge, health professional now aware that even infants can experience Bipolar Symptoms. Evidence points to the fact that Bipolar Disorder is an inherited illness. There are times when a person reports that there is no family history of the illness but it is not clear that this is completely true because many people are unaware of family history. In addition, it was not uncommon for the illness to go undiagnosed many years ago. " More...

Misdiagnosing Bipolar Disorder: What's at Stake
posted by Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. on Dec 1st 2009
"It wasn't too long ago that Bipolar Disorder was the flavor of the day among physicians, therapists, and educators. However, the danger of this is that it can be overdiagnosed. It seems to me that often times there is a rubber band effect with diagnoses, meaning that they are often over-diagnosed and then eventually swing back to the center. You might be diagnosed with bipolar disorder if you came in presenting with difficulty sleeping, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, and maybe some depression. Misdiagnosis could have detrimental effects. " More...

Parenting, Children, and Observational Learning
posted by Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. on Dec 1st 2009
"Parents drink wine on a daily basis and then indulge in smoking marijuana. They make no attempt to hide any of this from their children. They rationalize that weed is harmless and relaxing and wine is good for preventing cardio-vascular disease, at least, that is what they have read. They are benignly unware that their adolescent children are purchasing marijuana at school and are smoking in between classes and during times when teachers are absent or they are absenting themselves from classes they do not like. " More...

An Interview with Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. on Mindfulness at Work
posted by David Van Nuys, Ph.D. on Nov 30th 2009
"Dr. Goldstein, a clinical psychologist and regular contributor to Mental Help Net, is on his second career, his first having been sales. He talks about how he came to a realization that his efforts to secure financial success were ultimately seen to be unfulfilling filling as he considered them from an end-of-life perspective. This realization pushed him to change careers go back to school and become a psychologist, and to focus on mindfulness. Time management is less important than attention management, Dr. Goldstein contends. It is all too easy to react to seemingly urgent needs or to engage in escapist distraction. " More...