Behavioral Health
Dependent on a person’s circumstances, we know that mental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people and the ability to adapt and change and cope with adversity. Further, mental health is indispensable to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and contribution to community or society. It is easy in either families or communities to overlook the value of mental health until problems surface or system changes occur.
Dependent on a person’s circumstances, we know that mental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people and the ability to adapt and change and cope with adversity. Further, mental health is indispensable to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and contribution to community or society. It is easy in either families or communities to overlook the value of mental health until problems surface or system changes occur.
This section is written and sponsored by the kind staff at Mental Fitness Center PC.Mental Fitness Center also holds some wonderful events and we will list those as well.
Here is more information about one of the founders of Mental Fitness Center:
Linda M L Bull, is a founder and co-owner of the Mental Fitness Center located in downtown Rochester. Linda is a child and family therapist, specializing in Behavior Analysis and holds a license as an LLP. She received a Master’s of Science, from the Clinical Behavioral Psychology program at Eastern Michigan University. As Behavior Consultant and department supervisor at Independent Opportunities of Michigan Inc., Linda worked for over 13 years with individuals with Developmental Disabilities, concentrating on Autistic Spectrum Disorder. In addition to individual counseling with children and adults dealing with anxiety, depression and ADD/ADHD, Linda specializes in children/adolescents with developmental disabilities and/or behavior challenges, conduct disorders, parent and family skill training, behavior analysis and communication/social skill training.
Linda works from a comprehensive and holistic approach to prevention healing, and well-being. She seeks to educate and facilitate understanding of the reciprocal role that nutrition, fitness and environmental factors have on achieving behavioral change and mental health.
You can contact Mental Fitness Center at 248-601-3111 or visit their website at www.MentalFitnessCenter.org.
Back to School Tips to Help the ADHD Child and Family Start the Year off Right
Heading back to school can be a stressful time for any family; even more so for those families who have children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Consider the following tips as the school year begins. As always, remember that consistent parenting is crucial!
Tips to help out at home:
- Get a routine started at the beginning of the year and try to maintain it (i.e. bedtime and homework )
- Schedule frequent breaks during homework which will help prevent meltdowns and temper tantrums. Consider giving your child a timeframe to finish their homework such as by 5:00 pm with the incentive to earn extra play time, computer time, or television screen time. This tends to keep ADHD kids motivated and on task.
- Avoid doing homework in high traffic areas at home and with limited distractions (i.e. TV, video games, toys, ect).
Tips for success at school:
Continue reading: Back to School Tips to Help the ADHD Child and Family Start the Year off Right
Seeking “Supernanny” success in your home?
This column is written by Mental Fitness Center, a contributor to OaklandCountyMoms.com.
You have attended the parenting classes… all of the best ones out there. You’ve learned so many great strategies and they really sound like they will work in your home. You took notes, you read books, you even watch “The Supernanny.” You are excited to implement all that you have learned…and then you step back into your busy, family life!
What happens? Why does it become so difficult to make change happen at home ? You wonder “Why can’t my family follow through?” “ What is wrong with them?” “What is wrong with me?”
Continue reading: Seeking “Supernanny” success in your home?
Creating Change One Step at a Time
This column is written by Mental Fitness Center, a contributor to OaklandCountyMoms.com.
You are diagnosed with low blood sugar and given a “new” diet to follow. The first few weeks are pretty good, but slowly you find yourself reverting to old eating habits and before long you notice changes in your blood sugar, mood and overall health again.
You are a mom trying to stay organized. But no matter how many lists you create or organization systems you buy, you can’t seem to stay on top of the chaos of life.
You have a child with extraordinary needs. He follows a specific diet, take supplements, attend appointments with specialist and participates in therapies. You are trying to manage all of this and still attend to the needs of your family.
If any of these situations sound familiar, you’re not alone. Many individuals and families are struggling with the challenge of making a health or lifestyle change. Often we know
Grow new seeds this spring with your SUPERKID
The behavioral health section is sponsored by Mental Fitness Center, a contributor to OaklandCountyMoms.com. For more information on SUPERKIDS or any of the information in this article, please call 248-601-3111 or visit http://www.mentalfitnesscenter.org/.
In celebration of Autism Awareness month, this article discusses strategies to connect with children with Autism. Kids on the spectrum are sometimes referred to as SUPERKIDS.
Along with sunshine and fresh air, spring brings a sense of renewal and growth. You may find yourself excitedly cleaning out the clutter, prepping the yard and planting new seeds in anticipation of the budding life soon to follow.
If you are the parent of a SUPERKID, spring may be the perfect time to clear the cobwebs of familiarity and foster growth in your superhero lives. Just as you would tend to your garden, set time aside this spring to nurture new seedlings in your SUPERKID and then ENJOY watching them blossom.
Continue reading: Grow new seeds this spring with your SUPERKID
Growing a Healthy Relationship
Special to OaklandCountyMoms.com
Contributor: Joelle Lucido and Megan Rotar
Like any good gardener will tell you, a well-tended garden provides the best fruit. Likewise, relationships that are well-nurtured tend to be the healthiest. It may take some effort to “prepare the soil”, laying the foundation for a meaningful relationship, but doing so has a significant impact on the quality of the “crop”. By doing this work early on, it allows deep roots to form. Well-established roots yield a bountiful “harvest” year after year as long as the soil continues to be cared for and nourished.
