Is Your Cell Phone Coming Between You and Your Children?
Is Your Cell Phone Coming Between You and Your Children? by Adam Benton, Ph.D. and Mary Ekdahl, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologists at Arkansas Families First, LLC. Children, smartphones, and social media have made the news again, but not in the way you might think! This time it is not about the risk of online predators, too much screen time, or child [...]
Autism Spectrum Disorder 101
Autism Spectrum Disorder 101 What it Autism Spectrum Disorder? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors (www.autismspeaks.org). Did you know ... Autism now affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in [...]
Child-Parent Psychotherapy Introduction
What is Child-Parent Psychotherapy? "Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is an intervention for children from birth through age 5 who have experienced at least one traumatic event (e.g., maltreatment, the sudden or traumatic death of someone close, a serious accident, sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence) and, as a result, are experiencing behavior, attachment, and/or mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress [...]
Helping Your Child Overcome Teasing and Bullying
Helping Your Child Overcome Teasing and Bullying If your child is unfortunate enough to face chronic teasing or bullying there are some strategies taught by various programs to help them cope. The strategies below were taken from a program that we offer at Arkansas Families First, LLC called the PEERS Program. Dealing with Verbal Teasing Act unbothered. The point of teasing [...]
Few Americans Aware of Their Rights for Mental Health Coverage
Few Americans Aware of Their Rights for Mental Health Coverage APA survey reveals only 4 percent of Americans know about mental health parity law WASHINGTON — Even though more than 1 in 4 Americans (27 percent) have received treatment or therapy from a mental health professional, few people know that health insurers are required to provide coverage for mental health, [...]
Social Skills Programs
Social and Interpersonal Skills ProgramsArkansas Families First offers two social skills programs for youth ranging from 7 to 18 years-of-age. The programs frequently includes youth with social anxiety, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.The PEERS Social Skills Program, or the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, is a 14-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated teens in middle or [...]
