Raising Girls
In our last post, we discussed the differences that male identified children have as compared to female identified children. We reviewed some of the structural brain changes, as well as some of the societal and cultural norms and expectations that male children cope with, and the need for emotional support and understanding for male children. […]
Raising Boys
On the surface, raising a child with an identified gender of male should be much the same as raising a female identified child We are thankfully moving past strict gender guidelines, and no longer are toys considered “boy toys” or “girl toys” (for the most part). However, there are societal differences and expectations that do […]
Gender Differences Within Autism
Any conversation about autism and the prevalence rates is incomplete without also mentioning the gender differences that occur across the spectrum. An understanding of the gender differences helps capture the traits and symptoms present in ASD in a more nuanced manner, and makes sure that we don’t miss the particularly subtle presentation that many females […]
Is Autism An Epidemic?
Throughout the past 15-20 years, we have seen a steady rise and increase in autism prevalence rates. As these rates have increased, news articles, politicians, and talking heads have referred to the “autism epidemic.” This has caused panic and concern for parents, pediatricians, and schools – while failing to fully explain and understand why the […]
What Happens When A Child Hears ‘No’
Nothing changes a happy parenting scene as quickly as a child in the throes of a meltdown. Often the trigger for that public display of emotion? When the child hears “no” or is prevented access from something they want. Yet hearing “no” and learning about boundaries is a critical part of parenting and a necessity […]
Parenting In The Era of Screen Time
You may have heard some of the alarming news related to research that links screen time and media usage with anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. This analysis was done as a part of a larger, longitudinal study that will follow more than 11,000 children as they grow up around screens – an unparalleled […]
How To React When Someone Comes Out
Coming out – the process of revealing your sexual or gender identity to others around you – can be terrifying. Yet in an effort to live authentically, congruently, and freely, it is necessary to divulge certain very personal pieces of information with loved ones. We unfortunately live in a “heteronormative” society, which means that others […]
Talking To Teenagers
Parents often feel that they’ve entered a new planet, or at least a foreign country, when their sweet innocent children become teenagers. Adolescence is a developmental period where identity, responsibility, maturity, and hormones can bring about changes, heightened emotions, and a whole new set of tools for parents to master. Teenagers get a bad reputation, […]
Welcome Jessy Coleman, LPC-Intern!
It is with great pleasure that Upside Therapy and Evaluation Center welcomes our new therapist, Jessica “Jessy” Coleman, LPC-Intern. Jessy is supervised by Nichole Lecznar, MS, LPC-S. Jessy received her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Oklahoma State University, and she is currently in the process of obtaining her second Master’s degree in Applied […]
Treatment Guidelines for Transgender Individuals
Historically, the mental health and medical communities have not always had the best understanding of transgender and gender diverse health care and mental health needs – nor the best intentions in caring for those who are not cis-gender. Thankfully, research, understanding, and humanity have evolved into a growing de-stigmatization of gender diversity. Internationally, movement is […]