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EMERGE NEWS
READING
TRAINING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADHD REDEFINED:
Have We Been Thinking About ADHD All Wrong?
A recent article in The NY Times describes how many ADHD experts have begun viewing it differently. The article discusses the idea that since there are no definitive biomarkers for ADHD, it is unclear whether it is a biological disorder or a variation of brain processing along that exists along a continuum. It discusses the pros and cons of medication and the environmental factors that are often at play in how people experience attentional issues. See link below for the full article:
ADOLESCENT GROUP THERPY:
Increasing Connection and Reducing Loneliness
The Sacramento Valley Psychological Association's annual professional conference is on Friday, May 16th 2025 at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel. This full day of training includes presentations by many noted faculty including EMERGE Director Lawrence Shweky, LCSW who will present on Adolescent Group Therapy. For more information and conference registration, see link below:
SVPA Professional
Conference May 2024
PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS:
Davis High School
Cesar Chavez Elementary
starts Mid-April
EMERGE is pleased to announce partnerships with Davis High School and Cesar Chavez Elementary School to offer free six-week parent support groups at each school. The groups will offer members a confidential space to discuss a wide range of parenting issues and better understand the dynamics of parenting children and teens.
Topics discussed will be based on members’ interests including communication, negotiation, parenting styles, limit setting, problem solving and family stress.
For more information, email info@emergecenter4sel.org.
THE ADOLESCENT LONELINESS EPIDEMIC:
Group Therapy is Part of the Solution
Adolescent loneliness is at an all time high and yet group therapy for adolescents is at an all time low. We expected to see a large uptick of interest in group therapy post-pandemic, but the interest was more from parents than from teens. The way in which teens have become isolated and screen addicted has only made it harder for them to consider entering a group. Yet, it is one of the most powerful interventions for loneliness, as well as many other issues. Teens in groups learn to relate to peers in a more honest and less anxious way, an experience they will take with them into future relationships for a lifetime. Parents, schools and policy-makers should promote group therapy as one of many solutions to this crisis.
SCREEN ADDICTIONS
DJUSD Parent Empowerment Program
December 2024
For many children and teens, screen use can mimic patterns of drug addiction and create difficulties associated with addictions, such as lying, stealing, pleading, threatening and erupting in anger. When parents attempt to limit screen use, they may face enormous challenges with no easy answers. This PEP Talk discussed the growing prevalence of screen addictions and strategies parents can use to address these issues and live more harmoniously.
PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS:
Davis High School
Cesar Chavez Elementary
starts Mid-April
EMERGE is pleased to announce partnerships with Davis High School and Cesar Chavez Elementary School to offer free six-week parent support groups at each school. The groups will offer members a confidential space to discuss a wide range of parenting issues and better understand the dynamics of parenting children and teens.
Topics discussed will be based on members’ interests including communication, negotiation, parenting styles, limit setting, problem solving and family stress.
For more information, email info@emergecenter4sel.org.
MOTIVATIONAL CHALLENGES:
Low Motivation is Not Always a Sign of Depression
Motivational issues are a frequent issue of concern for both adult clients, adolescents and parents. Often, motivational issues are thought of as individual issues, but they are more properly understood within the context of the individual's environment. An adult working a job that is poorly suited to their personality or skills, or is embedded in a poor working environment, may struggle with finding the motivation to do their job. Likewise, for many teens, the school environment may be a poor fit for them and they may be better suited to an another type of environment, such as an alternative school or job. Yet, these options are seldom explored and they may languish and appear unmotivated or depressed. Therefore, until we look at the interplay between the person and their environment, we cannot properly understand motivation.
PERFECTIONISM IN CHILDREN
AND ADOLESCENTS
DJUSD Parent Empowerment Program
October 2024
Perfectionism can be a force for success and achievement, but it can also lead to high stress levels, strained relationships and burnout. Characterized by unrealistic standards and harsh inner criticism, perfectionism contributes to many psychological conditions, including depression, anxiety, self-harm and eating disorders. Often starting in childhood, perfectionism appears to be on the rise in the United States. This workshop covers what perfectionism is, how it can sabatoge success and what parents can do to help their perfectionistic children.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:
Process Groups for
Neurodivergent Adolescents
Lawrence Shweky presented at the Annual Conference of the American Group Psychotherapy Association on Saturday, March 8th 2025 in San Francisco on this important and neglected topic.
Over 900 therapists and professionals from all over the world attend this prestigious conference, which is now in its 82nd year.
For more information, visit www.agpa.org
TREATING OCD:
The Importance of
Family Involvement
Family involvement in the treatment of OCD in adolescents is often an important and necessary part of the therapy. Because it is natural for adolescents to downplay and avoid dealing directly with their OCD, the family can be an important source of support in helping teens do the challenging work of therapy. When treated early with Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP), the outcomes are excellent. However, left untreated--or when treated with less effective forms of therapy--OCD can develop into a beast that is hard to control. Families also have an important role to play in reducing accommodations at home for OCD behaviors. For more resources on family involvement, visit the International OCD Foundation at https://iocdf.org and the SPACE Treatment Center at Yale University https://www.spacetreatment.net.
BLENDING MODERN AND TRADITIONAL PARENTING
DJUSD Parent Empowerment Program
May 2024
Modern parenting is a relatively recent development that is marked by a child-centered, emotion-focused and process-oriented approach. Traditional parenting has a long legacy and is family-centered, behavior-focused and responsibility-oriented. This workshop explores the benefits and challenges of both approaches and discusses strategies for blending these two styles of parenting.
GRADUATING SENIORS
GROUP STARTS
January 28th
The final semester of senior year is filled with excitement and celebration, but can also be full of anxiety and emotionally challenging experiences in saying goodbye to friends, separating from family and entering the larger world of college and career. This short-term group will offer 12th graders an opportunity to connect with each other and discuss these experiences in a supportive environment where they can be genuine and real with their peers. The group cost is $50 per session and we accept Medi-Cal and offer reduced fees. For more information, contact us at info@emergecenter4sel.org
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