When Keeping Them Safe Goes Too Far: The Hidden Risks of Over-Isolating Your Child

Leave a Comment / Children, Children Development /

By: Michelle Hintz, PsyD When Emma became a mom, her world narrowed down to one thing: keeping baby Noah safe. She sanitized every surface, declined birthday parties, and pulled him out of preschool for the entire winter. “There’s too much going around,” she’d say. “He’ll just get sick.” Every decision came from a place of […]

When Keeping Them Safe Goes Too Far: The Hidden Risks of Over-Isolating Your Child Read More »

PDA or ODD? Why Knowing the Difference Changes Everything

Leave a Comment / Children Development /

By: Debra Cohen-Melamed, LCSW When a child consistently refuses to follow instructions, reacts strongly to everyday demands, and struggles with challenging behaviors, many parents and professionals immediately think of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). However, in some cases, what looks like defiance is actually something else entirely: Persistent Demand Avoidance (PDA). While ODD is formally recognized

PDA or ODD? Why Knowing the Difference Changes Everything Read More »

Loving the Unreachable: When Insight Isn’t Enough

Leave a Comment / Love and Understanding /

By: Michelle Hintz, PsyD, MT-BC May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to look more honestly at what emotional well-being really means. Beyond diagnoses or symptoms, mental health is about how we live, relate, and stay connected to ourselves and each other—especially in the unseen spaces where things don’t quite work, despite everyone’s best

Loving the Unreachable: When Insight Isn’t Enough Read More »

Accountability Scavenger Hunts: A New Approach to Strengthening Executive Functioning

Leave a Comment / Therapy /

By: Rebecca David-Cusani, LMHC candidate Executive functioning might sound like a clinical buzzword, but it plays a major role in the everyday lives of our clients — especially children and teens. As a mental health intern, I’ve found that blending creativity with therapeutic structure can be a game-changer. One of the most engaging tools I’ve

Accountability Scavenger Hunts: A New Approach to Strengthening Executive Functioning Read More »

Social Stories Reimagined: Preparing Kids with Autism for Real Life, One Personalized Story at a Time

Leave a Comment / Autism /

By: Veronika Pos, RBT, BCBA candidate & Michelle Hintz, PsyD, MT-BC In the early days of autism intervention, social stories were simple yet revolutionary. Therapists and parents realized that for many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), navigating everyday experiences—things like going to school, attending a birthday party, or visiting the doctor—could feel confusing and

Social Stories Reimagined: Preparing Kids with Autism for Real Life, One Personalized Story at a Time Read More »

Navigating an Autism Diagnosis in Orthodox Jewish Communities: A Journey of Faith, Understanding, and Support

Leave a Comment / Autism /

By: Debra Cohen-Melamed, LCSW, CCTP, TF-CBT, CPDTP For many parents in Orthodox Jewish communities, the decision to seek an autism evaluation outside their community is not made lightly. Often, concerns are first raised by their child’s Jewish day school teachers—concerns that parents may initially believe stem from a misunderstanding of their child rather than a

Navigating an Autism Diagnosis in Orthodox Jewish Communities: A Journey of Faith, Understanding, and Support Read More »

When Summer Isn’t So Sunny: Understanding Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder

Leave a Comment / Mental Health /

By: Michelle Hintz, PsyD As the weather warms up and daylight stretches longer, most people feel energized and ready for summer fun. But for some, the arrival of summer brings anxiety, irritability, and depression instead of relief. This lesser-known condition—Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder (Summer SAD)—affects a smaller percentage of people than its winter counterpart but

When Summer Isn’t So Sunny: Understanding Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder Read More »

Seasonal Affective Disorder: What to Do When the Winter Blues Linger

Leave a Comment / Mental Health /

By: Michelle Hintz, PsyD As the days grow longer and the temperatures begin to rise, many people feel a renewed sense of energy and motivation. For those who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), springtime is often a welcome relief from the fatigue, sadness, and sluggishness that accompany winter. But what happens if those symptoms don’t

Seasonal Affective Disorder: What to Do When the Winter Blues Linger Read More »