Accessibility Summit written by Neil McNerney, M.Ed., LPC

I had the honor of representing The Wellness Connection at the annual Accessibility Summit in McLean, VA this April. When I received the request to talk about my book: Homework - A Parent’s Guide to Helping Out Without Freaking Out, I initially wondered how my techniques would translate to an audience of parents with children who have significant disabilities.

 

How did it go? Fantastic! I was relieved to see that the challenges we all face as parents are universal. We all struggle with keeping our cool, dealing with unmotivated kids, and being the best leader possible. If you are interested in a free chapter of Homework, send me an email at neil.mcnerney@wellnessconnectionllc.com. I would be happy to send it your way.

 

I was very happy to be joined by my coauthor of The Don’t Freak Out Guide to Parenting Kids with Asperger’s. Sharon Fuentes, a local South Riding mom blogger, was a huge hit, bringing tried and tested techniques on increasing school cooperation and student motivation. Sharon has also agreed to begin a parent support group for kids with special needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum. If you are interested in getting your name on the list for this group, give us a call at 703-327-0335.

 

What am I going to do with them ALL summer long???

Selecting a summer camp for your kids:

Written By Sarah Freeman, M.ED.

Have you ever had the experience of dropping your kids off at a camp, looking around and getting back in your car with not much more than hope that the kids will survive and confusion about what you paid for?

Many summer camps are run by teens and young adults who are there for their summer jobs. Don’t discount their enthusiasm, passion for kids or developing leadership skills. Many are there for all the right reasons. Unfortunately they are frequently not set up with the design or resources to be much more than childcare providers successfully.

Wouldn’t it be such a nice relief to know your children are getting the same level of structure and education that they get at school? Not to mention the added bonus of summer fun every day in a summer camp.

If you are looking for some summer fun as well as your child having the opportunity to continue to grow, learn new skills and be engaged throughout the camp, check out the Wellness Connection Summer Camps.

As a Mental Health Therapist at Wellness Connection and a former teacher in Fairfax and Prince William Counties, I have helped design four Wellness Summer Camps. Our camps include a foundation in nutrition, social skills, mental and physical health, and we did not forget to jam pack each week with essential summer fun!

We Make Wellness Fun

Below are only the highlights of what we have planned for your child: 

-   Social Skills – Engage with other peers in age appropriate ways. Learn how to navigate everyday experiences successfully. Understand verbal and nonverbal communication. See social cues, interpret them and interact with ease.

-   Nutrition – Learn that what we put in our bodies is our fuel. Items we consume cause different moods and affect our health. There will be opportunities to try new fruits and veggies, make tasty smoothies, learn healthy snack options and create artwork with fruits and veggies.

-   Mental Health – Improve self-esteem, self-confidence and self-care.  Handle emotions as they come up in healthy ways, including the tricky emotions of stress and anger.

-   Physical Health & Activity – Participate in obstacle courses, trail walks, introductions to Yoga and Zumba and sharing sport skills each child brings to the camp. Learn about listening to our bodies and including play or physical activity every day.

-   Summer Fun – In addition to daily fun and laughter, we have an amazing field trip planned to Great Country Farms every Friday. Kids will experience a working farm and explore fun outdoor activities.

Each of our summer camps is run by Professional Teachers, Mental Health Therapists and Occupational Therapists.  As a Therapist I specialize in working with children, teens and young adults through client centered, cognitive behavioral and art/play therapy counseling approaches. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to incorporate my experience and skills into these educational camps. I look forward to a fantastic, fun packed summer at Wellness Connection. The amazing skills of our passionate professionals have combined to offer endless opportunities for your child this summer!

Visit the camps tab on our website to learn more and sign up.

Hope to see your kids this summer!

 http://wellnessconnectionllc.com/resources/camps-4/

Is it a Phase, or Should We Get Counseling? by Neil McNerney, M.Ed., LPC

One of the hard things about being a parent is trying to figure out whether our child is “just going through a phase,” or whether the issues might benefit from counseling. On one hand, we want to do what is best for our child, but on the other hand, we also don’t want to blow things out of proportion.

Two things to look for, when it comes to whether you should consider counseling for your child, are these: length of time, and severity of the issue.

Length of Time

When something is a phase, it tends to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. For instance, most kindergartners and first graders have some difficulty adjusting to school, especially in the beginning. Usually, this will fade after a few weeks. If it doesn’t fade, it might be a good idea to consult with a counselor to see if counseling might be helpful.

When it seems like the issue should have resolved itself on its own, and it hasn’t, then it might be time to consult with a counselor.

Severity

If the issue is more extreme or severe than you would expect, then counseling might be in order. For instance, all teens are moody. It’s a part of their species. But if the moodiness is extreme, and you worry about the severity, then it might be more than just a phase.

Here is a list of things to look for that might help in deciding whether to give The Wellness Connection a call. We are always interested in helping you determine how to be most helpful for your children.

Sleep Changes

·        Trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep

·        Feeling un-rested even after a normal sleep cycle

·        Recurrent nightmares or fear of going to sleep

Behavior Issues

·        Significant disrespect toward parents

·        Defiance of rules at home or school

·        Increased irritability and a desire to bother others

School Issues

·        Low motivation

·        Difficulty starting or completing homework; losing assignments

·        Giving up

·        Decreased concentration and/or easily distracted

Anxiety Issues

·        Significant worry and focus on future issues

·        Difficulty concentrating

·        Perfectionism and/or irritability

·        Repeated behaviors; needs things ‘just so’

Depression Issues

·        Sense of sadness and/or irritability

·        Negative comments about life

·        Loss of interest in sports, hobbies, etc.; isolation

·        Difficulty concentrating

Friendship Issues

·        Difficulty making or keeping friends

·        Difficulty in coping with teasing

·        Hanging out with a different peer group

For More information or to discuss any specific situations, please call The Wellness Connection, LLC at (703)327-0335,