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Archive for Executive Functioning

March Play Therapy Wrap-Up

Posted by Gary Yorke 
· April 2, 2018 
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It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglas

Blog

The internet can be a wonderful source of information and learning for young students, but it can also be a scary place for teens, and a difficult place for parents to monitor.  Fortunately, there are tools to help parents and adolescents.  In this blog about teen cyber-safety, we outline some on the problem areas on the internet, as well as the tools to educate young teens on the dangers of the internet and how to stay safe. Read more here!

Articles

A new study from the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at McGill University in Montreal, Canada suggests that autistic children benefit from being bilingual. “In the first study of its kind, scientists show that bilingual children with autism spectrum disorders can switch mental gears more easily than those who can only speak one language.” It’s common that autistic children have difficulty transitioning between tasks, and studies shows that being bilingual improves executive functioning. Researchers set out to find if being bilingual could help executive flexibility in children with ASD. Read full article here.

Video gaming among children and adolescents is a much debated topic. Can a person become addicted to gaming? Nancy Petry, a professor of medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and editor of the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors explains gaming disorder, how to identify it, and how to seek help. While gaming disorder effects a very small number of people, gaming as become a very popular pass-time for all ages of players, and it’s important to be aware of potential problems.  Read full article here.

Studies have shown that adolescents who perform non-fatal self-harm are 26.7 times more likely to commit suicide within the next year. Though self-harm is not always performed with suicidal intent, the risks of repeat self-harm and possibly eventually suicide are related and high.  In this article, Molly Walker of MedPage Today highlights studies and statistics on who is more commonly at risk, and what preventative measures can be taken. Self-harm is never simply a cry for attention and should be taken very seriously. Read full article here. 

 

 

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Categories : Autism, Behavior, Depression, Executive Functioning, Monthly Wrap-Up, Parenting, Wrap Up
Tags : child play therapy toys, child therapy toys, childhood stress, counseling games, family roles, feelings, mental health disorders, Play Therapy, play therapy intervention, teens, therapy toys

Don’t Forget!: Helpful Tools to Combat Executive Functioning Deficits

Posted by Gary Yorke 
· August 3, 2008 
· No Comments

There are a variety of tools available for managing executive functioning deficits. Last year I developed the “Please Remember” Memory Card, currently available at childtherapytoys.com.  Recently childtherapytoys.com began carrying TickTask, a time management system for younger children, as well as the WatchMinder.

The “Please Remember” Memory Card is an inexpensive tool for those with short-term memory problems or just too much on their mind. Suggestions for use include multi-step commands, homework assignments, instructions for desk work, to-do list, shopping list, after school reminder, love notes, and Morning/Evening routines. TickTask was recently introduced into the U.S.A. and is sold internationally. TickTask provides efficient time management solutions for children having difficulties organizing and grasping the concept of time. Suitable for children and parents alike, Tick Task is an original and fun method for effectively performing required tasks throughout the day. The WatchMinder is a terrific device that looks like a sports wristwatch and displays text messages like MEDS, RELAX or PAY ATTN up to 30 times a day. It is private reminder system with a vibration (or beep) alert. The WatchMinder has 60 preprogrammed messages or users can create their own personal reminders. All of this is done without a computer or paging service.

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Categories : ADHD, Executive Functioning, Play Therapy Toys

Executive Functioning and Play Therapy

Posted by Gary Yorke 
· August 2, 2008 
· No Comments

A large percentage of children referred for therapy (about 50% in my practice) have executive functioning deficits. Executive functioning deficits are common in Asperger’s Disorder, PDD NOS, ADHD, and childhood-onset Bipolar Disorder. Executive functioning is the ability to formulate, initiate, sustain, and complete a plan or course of action. Deficits in executive functioning are manifested in a variety of ways, including getting started and finishing work, remembering homework, memorizing facts, writing essays or reports, working on math problems, being on time, controlling emotions, completing long-term projects, and planning for the future. Deficits in executive functioning are believed to be neurologically-based but can certainly be exacerbated by emotional and environmental issues. We do a great disservice to our clients if we don’t offer a multi-modal approach to their difficulties. It is clear that there are many well adjusted children with executive functioning deficits who have supportive families and schools and don’t need psychotherapy. Psychotherapy would be a waste of time for these individuals, but we must be able to offer some support and assistance to them. Other clients will need psychotherapy, but that alone will be insufficient to address their problems. Further, an exclusive focus on psychotherapy may delay getting the help and support that would greatly ameliorate emotional distress and family conflict.

In order to communicate to parents and children the intervention they need I divide it into three categories: medication/medical, education, and appropriate support and accommodations. We are not physicians so we should never be recommending medication. However, it is important to be able to talk intelligently with parents and children about medication, and refer children for a medication evaluation. Often a fear of medication is the result of hearing or reading sensationalistic comments that are not based on fact. Clinicians often have outdated ideas and information about medication. The popular press turns out to be a terrible source for quality information and often a Google search that turns up a random collection of web sites isn’t much better.  It is not unusual for me to be the first person to sit and talk at length with parents and their child about medication, even when they are already taking a psychotropic medication. This discussion naturally leads into a discussion of education about the child’s disorder. It doesn’t hurt to make available a list of reading material and web sites that offer parents good quality information. Handouts about the disorder are almost always appreciated by parents.

The third category, support and accommodations, leads into the area that we are most comfortable with, psychotherapy/play therapy. However, children with executive functioning deficits also need support at school and parents often need training. As child clinicians we need to be familiar with behavior management techniques that we can teach parents or have resources that we can refer them to. We must also be familiar with Section 504 and Special Education modifications and support. Having resources to refer to and understanding how to obtain services in your local school district is very important.

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Categories : ADHD, Executive Functioning, Intervention Ideas
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