More Than Words is for parents and people working with children who notice that their child is struggling to keep up with their peers, be it academically, socially, or emotionally. In each episode, we share resources, guidance, and a sense of assurance on the path to helping your child.
Episodes
Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Dr. Jaclyn Halpern about A Neurodiversity Affirming Approach to Autism/ADHD Support . Dr. Jaclyn Halpern is a licensed psychologist in Maryland, DC, Delaware, and Virginia with Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) under the PSYPACT. She is the Director, Co-Founder, and Clinical Supervisor of Washington Behavioral Medicine Associates, LLC's SOAR Program for Psychotherapy and Testing. Within WBMA, Dr. Halpern provides therapy to individuals of all ages, supervises testing and therapy for the staff, and provides parent coaching.
Dr. Halpern has spoken on NPR and DC's Fox 5 and on panels for WISER and Diamonds in the Rough. She has presented for local schools and groups including Fusion Academy, Auburn School, xMinds, and the MCPS Special Education Committee. Dr. Halpern presents regularly at conferences and trainings for mental health providers, educators, and parents. Dr. Halpern’s presentations and workshops have focused on topics including Neurodiversity Affirming Care, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, social media, child and teen mental health, bullying prevention, parenting skills, the therapeutic relationship, cultural considerations, and sibling rivalry.
Along with writing blogs for WBMA, Dr. Halpern has recently published articles on accessing neurodiversity affirming care, parenting and discipline, understanding ADHD in both children and adults, social media’s impact on mental health, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has contributed to articles about suicide, parenting, and dissociation. Dr. Halpern's writing and contributions have been featured in media including Psychiatry Today, Bustle, Autism Advocate, Verywell Family, Healthline, Everyday Health, and WUSA 9.
Today we will answer these questions:
- What is autism and what is adhd? Are they often comorbid?
- What is neurodiversity and why is it so important?
- What should parents look for in a therapist?
- What can parents do to foster a neurodiverse atmosphere for their family? Any directions they should give to siblings?
- What kind of self advocacy tips can parents give their children?
- What can teachers do to foster this environment in their classrooms?
- What can parents tell their children’s teachers to better help their child in the classroom?
Links and Resources:
- Dr. Halpern’s practice: https://www.wbma.cc/
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Dr. Carey Heller about ADHD & Anxiety. Dr. Carey Heller is a licensed psychologist and founding partner of Heller Psychology Group. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), executive function issues, learning disabilities, and related items including anxiety. Today we will answer these questions:
- What is ADHD?
- What is Anxiety?
- Do they often exist together and why?
- Is anxiety different for children with ADHD as opposed to children without ADHD?
- How can anxiety and ADHD affect a child’s academics?
- How can parents identify this in their child?
- Should parents get their child tested for both?
- After getting a diagnosis or noticing symptoms what can parents do to help? Are there practical tools the children can use to help?
- What can parents/students tell their teachers to help them at school?
Links and Resources:
- Their practice:https://hellerpsychologygroup.com/
- CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)): https://chadd.org/
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Debbie Rosen and Lindsey Thoms of The StudyPro about Ways to Supercharge Executive Functions. Debbie and Lindsey are executive function specialists in the Northern Virginia area. They opened The StudyPro to build stronger students by cultivating study and Executive Function skills. Today we will answer these questions:
- What is Executive Function?
- How can you tell if your child is struggling with their executive functioning?
- What are the 3 ways we can help improve executive function for the school year?
- 1: Find the friction-in a time to reflect that works for you and your child
- 2: Keep it simple- focus on planning and initiation
- 3: Water the seeds of success
- What’s the best way to implement these tips before the school year or at the beginning of the school year?
Links and Resources:
- Their practice: https://thestudypro.com/
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Karese Laguerre about Myofunctional Therapy & Sleep. Karese is a registered dental hygienist in South Florida. She specializes in orofacial myology. She owns her own practice based in South Florida and Central New Jersey, and can also see people virtually. Today we will answer these questions:
- How do you determine who is appropriate for myofunctional therapy?
- How early can you start therapy?
- What are some sleep issues that lead people to see a myofunctional therapist?
- How does myofunctional therapy improve sleep?
- What does myofunctional therapy consist of?
- Does a child have to be diagnosed with a sleep disorder in order to receive therapy?
Links and Resources:
- Karese’s blog: https://airwaymatters.blog/
- Karese’s practice: www.themyospot.com
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Stephanie Frumkin about School Options for Twice Exceptional Students. Stephanie is an educational consultant in the DC Metropolitan Area. She specializes in helping families with students who are very bright or gifted and have learning differences such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or anxiety find the best school fit for their child’s needs - these students are known as twice exceptional or 2e. She is the creator and owner of Exceptional Educational Solutions. Today you will learn:
- What it means to be a twice-exceptional (2e) student.
- What school options are available for students
- The pros and cons of each school option for 2e students
- How to start looking for different school options for your student
- Tips to transition a student to a new form of education
Links and Resources:
- Stephanie's practice: https://www.exceptionaleducationalsolutions.com/
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Wesley Diener about Teaching Language Through Music. Wesley is a singer and vocal music educator in the Chicago area. He is the founder and owner of WD Studio where students learn to use their voices to their full potential through virtual voice training. Today you will learn:
- What WD Studio is
- The age range they teach
- What a typical vocal coaching session looks like
- What it’s like working with younger students
- If they see boosts in articulation after working with students
- What it’s like to work with young non-native speakers
- If students grasp language more quickly after working with a voice coach
- If clients gain more confidence after working a voice coach
Links and Resources:
- WD Studio: https://wdstudio.org/
- Youtube
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Carmen Zahra about the soft skills needed for post-secondary success. Carmen is the National Director of Outreach at The College Living Experience (CLE). At CLE they specialize in aiding students to live independently. Today you will learn:
- What CLE is
- Who CLE is for
- How long students stay in the program
- The soft skills students learn while they’re at CLE
- Success stories
Links and Resources:
- The College Living Experience: https://experiencecle.com/
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Lori Melnitsky about Stuttering & Acceptance. Lori is an SLP in New York. She specializes in stuttering. Lori owns her own practice called All Island Speech, where they provide stuttering help to children and adults. Today you will learn:
- Why Lori, as a person who stutters, decided to pursue a degree to become a speech-language pathologist
- Lori’s personal experience with stuttering
- Some reasons why people stutter
- What acceptance can mean in therapy
- What fluency therapy can look like for children and adults
- How parents can support stuttering acceptance at home
- What teachers should know and do when a student stutters
Links and Resources:
- Lori’s practice: https://www.allislandspeech.com/
- Lori’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allislandspeechandstuttering
- Lori’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allislandspeech_/
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Dr. Lindsey Dogali about the Signs & Symptoms of Dyslexia. Dr. Dogali is a licensed clinical psychologist in Maryland. She specializes in psychological testing for children. She owns a practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland where they provide ADHD testing, learning disability testing, and social/emotional testing. Today you will learn:
- What dyslexia is & if it’s hereditary
- If there’s a cure for dyslexia
- The signs or red flags of dyslexia in early childhood
- How dyslexia impacts a person at each stage of life
- If dyslexia gets worse with age
- The psychosocial impact of dyslexia if left untreated
- How dyslexics learn best
- How important early intervention is
- The first step if you think your child has dyslexia
Links and Resources:
- Dr. Doglai’s Practice: https://psychtesting4kids.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psychtesting4kids
- Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseydogaliphd/
- Email: drdogali@psychtesting4kids.com
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Jacobo Diaz about living with dyslexia. Jacobo is a student in London. We appreciate Jacobo coming to share his story with us today! Jacobo is working on an app for dyslexia called Activate which is a gamified version of dyslexia intervention. He hopes to help others like him along their journey with dyslexia! Today you will learn:
- When Jacobo found out he had dyslexia
- What he was struggling with the most that lead to the belief that he had dyslexia
- How he felt to learn there was a reason he was struggling
- How therapy went for him
- How dyslexia has impacted his work
- What he does to help himself succeed
- The things he excels at
- What he would tell his younger self and anyone just being diagnosed with dyslexia
- What he wishes his teachers knew about dyslexia
- What dyslexia means to Jacobo
- About the Activate app
Links and Resources:
- Activate: https://activate-learning.com/
- Speechify: https://speechify.com/
Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!