ON September 2, 2021, I spoke with Channel 4 News about recent violence in our schools. Click here to see the story.
Troubled teens need psychological help before their lives spin out of control and commit a crime. I was interviewed by WSMV-TV News 4 in Nashville on January 22, 2020, about a group of teens who vandalized a new home, costing the owner thousands of dollars.
WSMV-TV News 4 in Nashville interviewed me about a disturbing app that asks users to complete 50 daily tasks including harming yourself and committing sucide. Suicide games and apps are used by children and teens, and parents need to watch for signs of depression. If your child is depressed or feeling anxious, then therapy is really important. Children need to communicate their thoughts and process their feelings with a knowledgable child psychologist.
Channel 4 interviewed me to discuss how fans can find a way to enjoy the Predator's game and get back into it after two losses. Sports psychologists teach players how to move past their anxiety, move forward and concentrate on the next game. Motivation is a powerful key to success. As a fan, your excitement and support helps the team too. I work with individuals and teams to help them be successful in their sport. For more information, contact me.
FOX 17: Nashville child psychologist says fidget spinners shouldn't be written-off
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Fidget spinners have become America's new "IT" toy and also the subject of national debate.
The toys have actually been around for a few years, marketed as a device to help children dealing with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The premise is the spinner will allow children and adolescents with ADHD to be preoccupied, allowing for more focus in the classroom or with the task at-hand.
Consumer demand has exploded recently, with both online and brick and mortar retailers stockpiling the toy. Given the toy's intent, fidget spinners have made their way into homes and classrooms. However, the toy has also become popular among children not dealing with ADHD and some schools have even banned them, calling it a distraction.
FOX 17 spoke with Dr. Brett Shapiro, a child psychologist in Nashville who works with children and adolescents with ADHD to get his take on fidget spinners.
Dr. Shapiro says he hasn't really seen any in-depth studies surrounding the effectiveness of fidget spinners and if they are "really helping mental health or harming it." Dr. Shapiro says it is also possible for children to become more focused on the spinners than the subject matter they should be focused on, but adds the spinners shouldn't be written off.
"I understand where teachers are coming from and how they could become a distraction, especially for students who are not using the spinners," Shapiro says. "However, I wouldn't dismiss the idea for a child."
Dr. Shapiro says a solution would be to have educators and parents get a baseline behavioral evaluation on the child before they are given the toy and then another evaluation of the child with the toy.
"This way a parent or educator knows if the toy is effective," Dr. Shapiro says.
Shapiro says in the end, parents shouldn't look at the spinners as a cure or final solution to helping with ADHD.
"It's not going to cure ADHD, I think it's a good strategy to include, but setting a reinforcement schedule based on a child's behavior and scheduling break time are also important strategies," Shapiro said. "A fidget spinner is just another technique to employ."
As a specialist in treating children and adolescents with ADHD, I can help your child to develop strategies and coping skills to help with the challenges they face. For more information, contact me.
WKRN News 2: How much should you monitor your teen’s social media, texts?
More and more children are running away or being abducted because of relationships formed online with strangers. WKRN News 2 interviewed me on May 5, 2017, about how important it is to monitor your child's social media presence. See the interview above for advice on how to prevent your child from being harmed. Click here to watch the interview.
If you are concerned about your child's use of social media, contact me for a consultation. We can help your child learn to use social media in safe and appropriate ways.
Newschannel 5: Expert Weighs In On How To Talk To Kids In World Full Of Turmoil
Jonquil Newline of News Channel 5, interviewed me on July 16, 1916 about how to talk to kids when a tragic event occurs. This is the text of the interview.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It's difficult to turn on the TV or scroll through phones without seeing tragic images.
In the past several months, we've seen terror attacks both overseas and on U.S. soil, plus mass shootings in San Bernardino, Orlando, and Dallas. Then there's the police shootings in Baton Rouge and Minnesota that have spurred protests across the nation.
It's inevitable at some point young eyes were and are watching.
"There's so much going on in this world in terms of violence. There's so much on the news, around the world, and a lot of times kids see this," Nashville child psychologist Brett Shapiro said.
Shapiro is also a father of two nine-year-old twins, Isabel and Hayden. He said young children may find it difficult to understand the difference between reality and fantasy.
"Often times children learn from what they see, so if they see a violent act they think it's normal," said Shapiro.
He said parents should not be afraid to ask how their children feel. Educating them on what causes violence and the consequences of it is imperative. He also added parents shouldn't shy away from their children's questions.
"Parents need to be calm, they need to be patient, they need to be reserved in the sense that, if they're caught off guard with it, that's the perfect time to sit down at the child's level," Shapiro said.
However, how young is too young? Shapiro said that depends on the child's development but shielding them may be the biggest mistake you can make.
"Even if parents shielded them without having a phone or some sort of technology they're going into environments where there is that opportunity, there is that technology. So to say children don't see that, I don't know if that's a fair thing to say," said Shapiro.