The Family Psychology Place

As the end of summer break approaches, many parents are gearing up for their children to return to school. For some kids, especially those prone to anxiety, this transition can be particularly challenging. It is important for parents to understand how anxiety affects their children upon returning to school, and to be armed with some helpful strategies to provide effective help. Understanding Back to School Anxiety: Causes of Anxiety: Anxiety about returning to school can stem from various factors. These may include a fear of the unknown (new teachers or classmates), academic expectations, social situations, or recalling past negative memories. Physical and Emotional Symptoms: Watch for signs like upset stomach, headaches, irritability, sleep struggles, clinginess, or sudden avoidance behaviours. These could indicate your child is experiencing anxiety and would benefit from additional support. What Parents Can Do: 1. Open Communication: Encourage your child to express their feelings about going back to school. Listen attentively and validate their emotions without judgment (emotions are real, not right/wrong). 2. Visit the School: If feasible, arrange a visit to the school before the term starts. Familiarity can help reduce anxiety about the new environment and paint a clearer picture of what to expect. 3. Establish Routines: Start gradually reintroducing school routines (e.g., bedtime, meal schedules) a couple weeks before school begins. This helps ease the eventual transition. 4. Positive Reinforcement: Highlight the enjoyable aspects of school and talk about any positive experiences from previous years. This guards against any “what if” thoughts your child might otherwise focus on. 5. Build Resilience: Encourage your child to face their fears gradually. Avoidance can reinforce anxiety, so a nudge towards participating in school-related activities goes a long way. 6. Stay Calm and Supportive: Children often pick up on their parents’ emotions. A sense of calm and reassurance along the way shows them that it’s okay to feel anxious and that you’re confident they can handle returning to school. Returning to school after summer break can be an anxious time for many children, but with understanding and proactive support from parents, it can be a welcomed transition. Remember, every child is different. Tailor your approach as needed to suit your child’s individual needs and preferences. With patience and persistence, your child can regain the confidence to push through the anxiety of back-to-school time. #yyc #yyctherapy #backtoschool #anxiety #parenting #CalgaryTherapist #familypsychology #mentalhealth #adhd #communication #socialskills #therapy #counselling

‼️New Team Member Alert‼️ Meet Samuel, a Registered Provisional School/Child Psychologist. With extensive expertise in psychological assessments, he is now taking new clients at our North office! 🔆Throughout his career and educational journey, Samuel has actively participated in programs aimed at supporting children’s behavioral development. Samuel brings great pride in ensuring that the assessment process is comfortable and enjoyable, while providing answers to possible long-standing questions. 📞Call 403.477.0902 today to see if Samuel is the right fit for your kiddos! #neurodiversity #calgarytherapist #albertatherapist #familytherapist #familypsychology #adhdbrain #albertapsychologist #albertatherapy #mentalhealthmatters #autism #ADHD #communication #socialskills #selfcare #mentalhealth #familytherapy #cognitivebehaviortherapy #depressionhelp #youareenough #ocd #counseling #anxiety #calgarytherapy #mentalhealthawareness

‼️New Team Member!‼️ Meet Haley, a Registered Provisional Psychologist who will be joining our team this month. She will be conducting psychoeducational assessment for those preschool aged through to adulthood! 📝Haley has a background as a behavioral therapist and educational assistant for young children on the autism spectrum, giving her valuable experience that she can bring into every assessment process. 🗻When she is not in the office, Haley can be found playing tennis, hiking, knitting or traveling! 📞Call 403.250.7792  today to see if Haley is the right fit for you or your kiddos! #neurodiversity #calgarytherapist #albertatherapist #familytherapist #familypsychology #adhdbrain #albertapsychologist #albertatherapy #mentalhealthmatters #autism #ADHD #communication #socialskills #selfcare #mentalhealth #familytherapy #cognitivebehaviortherapy #depressionhelp #youareenough #ocd #counseling #anxiety #calgarytherapy #mentalhealthawareness

Are you looking to strengthen your relationship? 🔆Every couple faces challenges, but with the right support, you can navigate them together. Our couples counselling offers a safe space to explore your feelings, improve communication, and deepen your connection. 🤝🏼Our experienced clinicians understand the diverse dynamics that come with different relationship structures and are committed to providing professional couples counselling in Calgary. Whether you’re dealing with conflict, seeking to rekindle romance, or simply wanting to grow together, we're here to help! 📞The Family Psychology Place is ready to help you on your journey towards a happier, healthier relationship. To find out more, you can visit our website here: https://lnkd.in/g78cDHUh  or call the office at 403.250.7792. #couplescounselling #couples #relationship #neurodiversity #calgarytherapist #albertatherapist #familytherapist #familypsychology #adhdbrain #albertapsychologist #albertatherapy #mentalhealthmatters #autism #ADHD #communication #socialskills #selfcare #mentalhealth #familytherapy #cognitivebehaviortherapy #depressionhelp #youareenough #ocd #counseling #anxiety #calgarytherapy #mentalhealthawareness

‼️New Team Member Alert!‼️ Meet Ayesha, a Registered Provisional Psychologist who will be joining the FPP team this month and is now accepting new clients for assessments at our South office. Ayesha has developed a holistic understanding of assessments, their uses in different contexts, and the impact they have on individuals and their families across her experience in both the private and public sectors. Her goal is to ensure that her clients and their families feel heard, seen and understood throughout the assessment process and she achieves this goal by providing a space focused on open discussion and connection-building. Call 403.250.7792 to see if she is the right fit for you! #neurodiversity #calgarytherapist #albertatherapist #familytherapist #familypsychology #adhdbrain #albertapsychologist #albertatherapy #mentalhealthmatters #autism #ADHD #communication #socialskills #selfcare #mentalhealth #familytherapy #cognitivebehaviortherapy #depressionhelp #youareenough #ocd #counseling #anxiety

🔆Mid week motivation from our team member Nancy McLean! 🔆 #motivation #motivational #psychologist #yyc #yyctherapy #yycpsychologist #neurodiversity #calgarytherapist #albertatherapist #familytherapist #familypsychology #adhdbrain #albertapsychologist #albertatherapy #mentalhealthmatters #autism #ADHD #communication #socialskills #selfcare #mentalhealth #familytherapy #cognitivebehaviortherapy #depressionhelp #youareenough #ocd #counseling #anxiety

‼️New Team Member Alert!‼️ Meet Emma! Emma is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who has recently joined FPP at our South office. She holds a Master of Science in Educational Psychology with a specialization in School and Applied Psychology. Emma strives to take a strength-based perspective with a focus on safety and kindness in her practice administering psychoeducational assessments. If you are interested in a psychoeducational assessment for your kiddos or teens, call our office today to see if Emma is the right fit! #neurodiversity #calgarytherapist #albertatherapist #familytherapist #familypsychology #adhdbrain #albertapsychologist #albertatherapy #mentalhealthmatters #autism #ADHD #communication #socialskills #selfcare #mentalhealth #familytherapy #cognitivebehaviortherapy #depressionhelp #youareenough #ocd #counseling #anxiety

Have you filled your cup today? We know the importance of taking care of yourself and ensuring that you are doing daily check-ins to make sure that you are meeting all of your self care needs. Sometimes gaining the tools to fill your own cup can be challenging. We are here to help you navigate your own self care. #neurodiversity #calgarytherapist #albertatherapist #familytherapist #familypsychology #adhdbrain #albertapsychologist #albertatherapy #mentalhealthmatters #autism #ADHD #communication #socialskills #selfcare #mentalhealth #familytherapy #cognitivebehaviortherapy #depressionhelp #youareenough #ocd #counseling #anxiety

Worried your kids are going to be bored this summer? We asked our team member Delaine Bennett to provide some suggestions to you! Recent research suggests that boredom can boost creativity, as it leads to daydreaming and imaginative play, which helps develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills. It also enhances self-regulation, teaching kids to manage their time and resources better, and it stimulates a desire for new experiences, helping kids discover new interests and fostering personal growth. So, this summer, don’t worry if your child says they’re bored; it’s a natural and beneficial part of their development! #neurodiversity #calgarytherapist #albertatherapist #familytherapist #familypsychology #adhdbrain #albertapsychologist #albertatherapy #mentalhealthmatters #autism #ADHD #communication #socialskills #selfcare #mentalhealth #familytherapy #cognitivebehaviortherapy #depressionhelp #youareenough #ocd #counseling #anxiety

Have you heard of Virtual Reality Therapy? We are excited to announce that we are now offering Amelia Virtual Reality with some of our clinicians. This cutting-edge form of psychotherapy can help you address and overcome a variety of psychological and emotional challenges such as: Anxiety Disorders, Phobia, Relaxation, ADHD, OCD, Mindfulness and more! Follow this link to find out more about the benefits of Virtual Reality Therapy! https://lnkd.in/gd5NBZJi #neurodiversity #calgarytherapist #albertatherapist #familytherapist #familypsychology #adhdbrain #albertapsychologist #albertatherapy #mentalhealthmatters #autism #ADHD #communication #socialskills #selfcare #mentalhealth #familytherapy #cognitivebehaviortherapy #depressionhelp #youareenough #ocd #counseling #anxiety #mentalhealthawareness #vr #vrtherapy