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Happy New Year!  Or, “Happy Birthday, Calendar!” Because the practice becomes so busy that regular blog posts are impossible, I wanted to begin 2020 with an article reflective of this new beginning.  The calendar begins a new year, a birthday of sorts, and with this festive energy in mind, taking a casual approach to put […]

TeleHealth:  Telephone & Virtual Sessions During Coronavirus Pandemic None of us know what our society’s new normal might be post-pandemic.  Previous posts on this site highlight the myriad of anxieties and emotions experienced when constantly reminded about safety protocols while “sheltering in place.”  Risks are at the forefront of our decision-making and the actions that […]

Sex, love and COVID-19: Sex expert’s tips on staying close When speaking with clients during this pandemic, and when consulting with colleagues about what they are hearing from their clients, the well-established best practices for satisfying relationships remain intact.  In basic terms, these are the ways we remain connected, flexible, playful, loyal, honest with each […]

STRESS + GUILT Stress is at an all-time high, so take the proper time to mitigate its effects.  This can feel as troublesome (who has the time?) as they are necessary (make time for good self-care!).  Without slowing down to take the time for good self-care, how can a person take care of anyone or […]

Continuing the section of the DSM for neurocognitive disorders often diagnosed in childhood, a couple short paragraphs this entry: Within the chapter titled Neurodevelopmental Disorders, the next two diagnoses are shorter than most and take up where Intellectual Disability / Intellectual Development Disorder leaves off.  Again, the differential diagnoses include major and mild neurocognitive disorders, […]

A controversial theoretical discourse focuses on a “return to Freud” by way of linguistics and cultural anthropology, so this next section has me excited to share more about communication disorders!  Given the length is a little beyond what web designer prefer, this will be in two parts this month, with Part 1 immediately below. Part […]

Due to the length of this entry, January’s look at Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering) (Code 315.35; ICD F80.8), will – like December – be presented in two parts. As with the other disorders within this section, Speech Sound Disorder (Code 315.39; ICD F80.0) typically occurs within early childhood development, and as you may have guessed, […]

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Much like previous articles on this site up to this point, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is included within the neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive section of the DSM-5.  Impairments in personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning may occur due to ASD.  These include limitations in learning &/or executive functioning. I am not an […]

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Part 2: Diagnostic Features The DSM 5 indicates that criteria include challenges in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts over time.  These include two separate overarching criteria, with three additional categories by which to diagnose this disorder. There is even a table by which 3 levels of support are clarified.  […]

DSM 5: ADHD:  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder By now we’ve all heard of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sometimes shortened to simply ADD when the hyperactivity (H) isn’t present.  Individuals with this disorder are quite varied.  My professional experience includes a number of clients diagnosed prior to attending therapy with me in which depression, anxiety disorders, […]