Child Psych Central
Child Psych Central: Discover the KidBrain explains and demystifies child mental health issues in young children. From diagnoses to discipline, from family relationships to challenges of millennial life, Child Psych Central arms parents with preventive, accessible information for the critical early years. Dr. Onufrak and her expert guests discuss child psych matters of the day. We break down confusing concepts and explain how child development drives kids’ behavior and thinking. We peek inside the brain to reveal how brain function affects children’s choices. Finally, we describe diverse child treatments and offer parenting solutions and resources. Dr. Onufrak believes the greatest improvements in child behavior arise when parents change their view of a child. Child Psych Central may help you see your child in a different light, the first step toward greater compassionate competence in parenting. Tune in to Child Psych Central to change your view and what you think, say and do!
Episodes
April 9, 2015 • 57 min
Parents of gifted children often say their child’s extraordinary intellect is “not a gift.” That may sound strange because high IQ is generally presumed to confer only advantages. In reality, giftedness brings significant challenges - for the children themselves and for adults trying to understand them. Gifted children experience the world in a very intense way. Their strong emotions and unusual behaviors can perplex adults and le...
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April 2, 2015 • 56 min
Young children do not use words as readily as adults to express their feelings. Play therapy is a prime treatment modality for this reason. Children use play in the context of play therapy for very weighty purposes: for making meaning out of their experiences, even tragic events; for expressing & releasing intense emotion; and for coping with big challenges early in life. My guest Teri Krull is the former president of the Assoc...
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March 26, 2015 • 56 min
Divorce is a painful topic for kids, who often avoid talking about it at all costs. A parenting expert has created new tool to help kids and families communicate together about intense feelings and life and family changes. Sue Atkins is the author of 48 conversation cards called Talking To Children About Divorce. This product was created in conjunction with the FINK company in the United Kingdom. The cards can be used at home and...
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March 19, 2015 • 57 min
What’s going right is often less evident than what’s going wrong ~ especially in kids with emotional & behavioral challenges. But exclusive focus on child problems and potential diagnoses can cloud the vision of both parents and child professionals. Encouraging inner gifts and hidden skills is the key to building children’s resilience - of mind, heart, body and spirit. Resilience buffers and helps children heal from adverse ev...
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March 12, 2015 • 57 min
Is it time for medication? Many parents face a crossroads in their child’s mental health care - when psychotherapy and behavioral guidance have helped, but not enough. When medication is suggested, many parents are leery about strong drugs in their young children's bodies. They may have heard of Naturopathic medicine but not understand what it is, how it works, and what evidence exists. In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Jamie...
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March 5, 2015 • 56 min
Young children's meltdowns, freak-outs and volcanic tantrums can challenge the resources of any parent. Age-old parenting logic has always dictated “Behavior First, Consequence Second,” advising parents to reside in a primarily reactive mode. But the newest brain science teaches that proactive parenting can create a whole new dance. When parents understand developmental origins of challenging behavior, their responses diffuse c...
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February 26, 2015 • 57 min
Each child has his or her own learning style. Many children struggle in traditional schools, particularly if they are hampered by problems paying attention, learning certain subject matter, organizing their work and time, and managing intense feelings in the learning day. At Lexis Preparatory School in Scottsdale, Arizona, staff tailor their approaches to different learning styles, creating an environment in which each child can ac...
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February 19, 2015 • 56 min
Many parents think speech therapy is just for stuttering, late talkers, or poor pronunciation. But those elements are just the most obvious communication troubles. Speech and language are complex processes in the child's developing brain that govern not only the child’s production of words, but the understanding of words spoken to them. Not to mention the constant significant judgments about when and how to say things. When sp...
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February 12, 2015 • 56 min
Many families are lost in clutter and chaos that inflames family tensions. Home clutter can even curtail progress in child mental health services. Breakthroughs often cannot occur until home organization improves. Danielle Wurth knows that home organization can bring rich rewards including enriched family relationships and a relaxed, calm lifestyle. Wurth Organizing, LLC is a hands-on Professional Organizing Company that services f...
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February 5, 2015 • 56 min
For the young learning brain, the fit between child and school is of paramount importance. But the thought of having to choose a school – the right school – can feel overwhelming. Parents have a million questions, but only one really matters: Where will my child thrive? My guest Elie Gaines, a former principal and award-winning educator, joins me to talk about the unique business she created to help parents through this process....
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January 29, 2015 • 56 min
The public is inundated daily with information about nutrition and general health. Less often do we hear about nutrition and brain health ... and seldom about this link in kids. The average parent does not necessarily know what food a brain needs. And most families overlook nutrition as a factor in their child's problems when considering mental health services or medication. For the growing child, Brain Health equals Mental Hea...
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January 22, 2015 • 56 min
The CDC prevalence rates for Autism are now 1 in 68 children, up from 1 in 88 in 2012. Despite such rising numbers, there is ever increasing hope for Autism treatment. Autism may be missed by child professionals who are untrained in specialized diagnostic procedures. Paradoxically, casual observers may informally “diagnose” Autism by mistaking one symptom for the larger condition. Accurate early detection is the key to changing th...
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January 15, 2015 • 56 min
In the early years of a child's life, every domain of development is growing at the same time, all mediated by the incredible brain. From a child's birth through 5, we adults can nurture and promote brain growth in far easier ways than we may imagine. What do young children's developing brains need from us? As Deborah McNelis explains, Brain development is a lot less complicated than we think. In this episode, educator ...
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January 8, 2015 • 57 min
Is your daughter getting tossed about on stormy social seas ... the target of mean girl antics, clinging to unhealthy friendships, retaliating in destructive ways or just trying to keep her BFF? Parents are lost and looking for ways to support their girls, especially in the digital age. Reflexive avoidance advice like just ignore it or stay away from her doesn't cut it. To navigate today's social world, a girl needs strong ...
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December 18, 2014 • 56 min
Children's movement and activity levels are a concern of educators, physicians and mental health clinicians in different ways. Health experts want children to be more active in an age of skyrocketing child obesity and transfixing on-screen life. Yet the average teacher wants kids to sit still to learn. Mental health offices are filled with children with suspected ADHD and hyperactivity, who fidget and wiggle, roam the classroom...
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December 11, 2014 • 56 min
In this debut episode, Dr. Onufrak introduces herself and this new show. She discusses her academic background and journey into private practice. Dr. Onufrak explains her specialization in the preschool and primary years and why this age group captivates her heart and clinical interest like no other.
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She describes her current clinical private practice, the range of presenting problems, and her radio show play therapy techniq...
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