Resources

Dr. Brown's Recent Publications

The Pollyanna Effect: What Parents of Color Need to Know to Successfully Navigate Independent Schools In this day of political correctness, general pleasantness and not wanting to offend, schools sometimes wrap their messages so nicely that you don’t hear their concerns. The miscommunication created from trying to be un-biased with regards to class, ethnicity and culture can actually have unintended effects and confuse parent-teacher communication.

How to maintain and improve your relationship Relationships for Long: How to Stay in the RFL Relationships for players in the NFL fail at a rate of 70%, substantially higher than the 50% rate of the general population. The stress that both the player and his partner are under, of not always knowing where they will live or if they will have a job, can exhaust even a great relationship.  Each partner brings a different set of experiences and expectations, as we are all sensitive in slightly different ways. Here are some tips to improve the quality of your relationship.

How to have healthy arguments/disagreements with your partner Tips for Having Difficult Conversations with Your Partner We all come to the table with different life experiences and personalities/temperaments, and are not usually looking at a problem through the same lens. As such, we see different problems and solutions. The conflicting perspectives we have sometimes lead us to feel misunderstood, slighted and worse. Here are some suggestions on how to handle these situations and have a constructive conversation.

Athletes and their partners, what they need to think about before the season begins Women Are From Venus, Players Are From Mars At least three factors figure into any professional athlete’s longevity and success: physical talent, mental toughness, and a little bit of luck.  But what makes an athlete mentally tough on the playing field may not be so good for his relationship or appreciated by his wife or partner.  The strategies that an athlete uses to deal with challenging situations and disappointments on the field might actually frustrate or anger his partner, leaving her with the feeling that he is insensitive and uncaring. The last thing a player wants/needs is for his relationship drama off the field to sabotage his play and his dream of an NFL career.  Here are some suggestions of what you and your partner can do before the regular season begins.

Creating Cultures of Inclusion for Families of Color Two trends at least have affected independent schools and make attending to issues of diversity and inclusion critical. First, the percentage of school age children has declined significantly over the past 20 years. At the same time the percentage of people of color has increased in the population. With these trends in mind schools cannot afford to take for granted the experiences of their students and parents of color. This article highlights the wishes and expectations many parents of color have and how schools can respond to them.

 

Other Helpful Publications

Stress

Talking to your child about stress:
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-talk.aspx

Stress in Children:
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-children.aspx

Stress in Adolescents:
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-teens.aspx

Resilience:
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resilience.aspx

Eating Disorders

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/eating.aspx
http://renfrew.contextdevel.com/sites/default/files/LearningTheBasics_AnIntrotoED.pdf
http://renfrew.contextdevel.com/sites/default/files/LearningTheBasics_An

Step-Families

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stepfamily.aspx

Reading and Dyslexia

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pub/Documents/PRFbrochure.pdf
http://www.interdys.org/FAQ.htm



Dr. Brown's Top App Picks! FREE apps that can help.

Smartphones have become so central in our daily lives. There are apps for just about any need you may have. Below are some examples of apps I recommend to clients. It's like having a personal and portable coach helping you face daily challenges in your life.

Happify offers cutting-edge science and innovative technology to empower individuals to lead happier, more fulfilling lives. Happiness is a skill that can be strengthened. In a world that's increasingly stressful and complex, Happify provides fun, individualized, and science-based pathways to greater happiness.

Breathe2Relax. Mental health experts maintain that diaphragmatic breathing is a cornerstone of stress relief. Breathe2Relax is a portable stress management tool. It guides you through the process with clear videos that help you practice and master the technique. Plug in your headphones and inhale/exhale your way through a dental appointment or turbulent flight. (The app can be used in airplane mode.) Breathing exercises have been documented to decrease the body's 'fight-or-flight' (stress) response, and help with mood stabilization, anger control, and anxiety management.

MindShift. Struggling with anxiety? There are things you can do to stop anxiety and fear from controlling your life. MindShift is an app designed to help you change how you think about anxiety. Rather than trying to avoid anxiety, you can make an important shift and face it. While MindShift was designed for young adults, the techniques and concepts it offers can be useful at any age.

Here are some more free self-help apps and reviews: