Exercise also helps kids do better and feel better!

We all know exercise is good for us and can help us feel better and work better. However, we don't always put enough weight in how powerfully exercise can impact our children. The Sarasota County YMCA for the South County opened a school focusing on physical activity and its impact on children's functioning. This study supports a model of regular physical activity being a requirement for whole body health and well-being....

W. Douglas Tynan, director of integrated health care for the American Psychological Association, wrote this for a the kids health blog.

We all know exercise generally benefits children, and another study to confirm that was recently published in Pediatrics. Though this finding may yield a yawn or two, the latest research goes well beyond quantifying what most of us think is true.

Charles Hillman from the University of Illinois and colleagues found kids who took part in regular physical activity enhanced their cognitive performance and brain function. His group looked at the impact of a little more than an hour of vigorous exercise followed by 45 minutes of a less-vigorous skills game for a total of two hours every day after school during 150 days of a school year.

On measures of concentration, attention, flexible thinking, controlling impulses, and actual brain activity measured by scalp electrodes, the exercise group of these 8- and 9-year-old children did much better overall.

http://www.philly.com/philly/health/20141026_Exercise_is_good_for_children_s_brains__too.html

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Childhood Psychological Abuse as Harmful as Sexual or Physical Abuse

This new study speaks to the severe impact of psychological abuse on children. This study finds that psychological abuse could have more severe  impact on children that sexual or physical abuse alone.

I have seen many  examples of external ailments being seen as more "valid" by popular culture than things that cannot be directly seen on the outside. For example, if a student was struggling with depression and as a result had low energy levels, seemed to not care about things as much as they used to, and had a hard time with sustained concentration and attention they may be judged by teachers or parents as not applying themselves or being lazy. However, if the same student had a broken arm and couldn't write or engage in activities as they once did it would be more acceptable allowing time for them to heal. f we allow ourselves to take into account what happens inside we can create space for healing so it will change. If we criticize as in the case of the depressed student it is likely to leave the person feeling more intense feelings.

As related to this study, typically, sexual or physical abuse are seen, in popular culture, as likely to have more of an impact on children's functioning than psychological abuse however this does not seem to be the case.

http://apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/10/psychological-abuse.aspx

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

We can have what we hope for if we suspend disbelieve and vividly picture what our success would look like...

When things are tough in our lives we tend to more easily see roadblocks than what will help us get where we want. This can be protective, in that we can avoid the let down of failure or the frustration of contrasting how things are now compared to what we hope for, but it also stops us from more easily finding possible ways our or even having hope that we can. This article supports the importance of picturing the full image of hope for our future in high resolution to find an extra boost to overcome self-dobut.

Students who have chronic self-doubt may need an extra boost to pursue the dreams they are certainly able to achieve,” said study author Dr. Patrick Carroll, assistant professor of psychology at Ohio State University’s Lima campus.

“This study finds that what they really need is a vivid picture of what will happen if they succeed.”...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/10/25/what-motivates-people-to-pursue-dream-jobs/76573.html

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Curiosity, passion, at times boredom... all good stuff for kids.

Here is a great article from the local newspaper the Herald Tribune. I do not know of the authors other work but this is a thought provoking article. Especially, during a time of such rapid change in the accessability to a seemingly limitless depth of information. This Internet of information offers video lectures on many subjects, volumes of written text and digital textbook available to download in seconds.  With so much opportunity passion is a better outcome than the alternate of overwhelm...

What is it that we really want for our kids? We want them to be confident, courageous, content, caring and productive, right?

Although there's no insurance plan in child-rearing, we can at least know that our kids are well on their way to becoming all of those things if we can help them discover and nurture one thing — passion...

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20141019/COLUMNIST/141019658/0/search

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Misbehaving kids... what to do?

Stories of schools struggling with what to do with misbehaving kids. For teachers, it’s not clear how to get the kids to behave. Asking politely does not always work. Or detention. You can suspend them, but sending kids home from the thing they hate is a weird punishment. There's no general agreement about what to do... and evidence that some popular punishments actually may harm kids...

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/538/is-this-working

This is an interesting story... there is a racial component to the story but the message is a good one with or without race. Several points stood out to me... Hearing each student and letting them know you understand them seems to be an important part.The challenge of inspiring an internal drive for creativity and learning another. 

At the counseling and therapy offices of Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC. I work with students, parents, and schools to help students thrive and overcome academic,  mood, and behavioral difficulties. When things are not going well for students, it "stinks" but it is an opportunity to inspire our own curiosity and to try to understand what is going on any why. If you or a loved one is struggling at school, with mood or behavioral problems please contact Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC. 941-321-1971 for a confidential telephone consultation. Offices Venice and Sarasota.

Posted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Transgender getting local press

Here is a great resource for Transgender information in the Sarasota area.

http://transsarasota.heraldtribune.com/

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Report underscores link between mental health and learning on college campuses

We can easily miss or accidently overlook the impact of emotion on academic performance. Emotions are not always easy to identify on the outside they don't always have a physical presentation. This all makes it easier to overlook their presence and impact on academic performance. World class athletes hire psychologist to help them perform at their peak why not do this for our students?

Dr. Charles R. Davenport is a Licensed Psychologist who provides counseling and services in Venice,  FL and Sarasota,  FL.  He works with students who are struggling academically or emotionally or who have a learning disability and or are gifted.

Check out this article below for more information about the impact of emotion on academic performance...

Common mental health myths as well as effective models and approaches for treating college-specific issues are included as part of the primer published by APA and other educational organizations. Providing culturally competent services and outreach to specific populations is vital to helping all students seek help when needed,” the report states. “Students who participate in counseling report improvements in their satisfaction with their quality of life.” About one-third of U.S. college students report having had difficulty functioning in the last 12 months due to depression — almost half said they felt overwhelming anxiety in the prior year, according to the 2013 National College Health Assessment. Along with stress, these mental health problems can interfere with learning, limiting students’ creativity and interest in new information, the primer states...

http://www.apa.org/pubs/newsletters/access/2014/10-14/mental-health-college.aspx

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

For Some, Multitasking May Not Hinder Performance

Although scientists and educators recommend focusing on a single task to aid retention and improve task proficiency, new research suggest some teen digital natives may be an exception.

Presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition, researchers caution that telling youths who are juggling multiple electronic devices to “focus on the task at hand” may not always be good advice...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/10/13/for-some-multitasking-may-not-hinder-performance/76094.html

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

7 Ways to Deal With a Toxic Co-Worker

Do you feel exhausted the second you walk into your office in the morning? Do you sometimes come home from work feeling completely and utterly emotionally drained?

If it’s not the work itself or the job that’s bringing you down, it could be one of your co-workers. Let’s be honest: All of us at one time or another have brought personal issues into the office. The problem starts when personal issues affect the person’s work or the work of colleagues.

There is another type of co-worker: one who is unhappy with his or her job and shows it in a negative way each and every day. This fosters an extremely negative work environment. The question becomes: How can we handle toxic co-workers so that our work is not interrupted and we are not emotionally taxed at the end of every day?

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/10/02/7-ways-to-deal-with-a-toxic-co-worker

 

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

 

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

 

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

 

 

Helping Kids Take Criticism Constructively...

Parents and teachers spend an enormous amount of time thinking about how to frame feedback for kids. We’re torn between the desire to teach and the urge to protect children from pain. In an attempt to make feedback palatable, we dress it up in pretty outfits, sand down its sharp corners and construct feedback sandwiches of critical meat between slices of fluffy and comforting praise.

 

We all face criticism, both constructive and destructive, but how we deal with that criticism determines whether we persevere and learn from experience or crumple under the weight of our own self-loathing and despair. Receiving feedback is a skill, and like most skills, it requires practice, and a willingness to change and improve. Most children get plenty of practice. Ironically, adults need to help them make that practice count — by giving them feedback on how they handle criticism.

 

1) Don’t hesitate to offer feedback.

2) Back off on constant praise. - Don't over use praise... it is helpful but so is acknowledging the parts they feel upset about and letting the feelings be there without a "fix"

3) Watch your body language.- be open not critical uncross your arms!

4) Switch up your pronouns.- help them share their feelings not just reflect yours

5) Formulate new goals after a big failure.- Hope about future success and opportunities to do well is very powerful and empowering.

 

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

 

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

 

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

 

Feeling adventurous? Extraordinary experiences could hurt your relationships, study says

If you’ve just returned from an exotic getaway, gushing about it may harm your relationships, suggests a study published in the journal Psychological Science.  

“Extraordinary experiences are pleasurable in the moment but can leave us socially worse off in the long run,” study author Gus Cooney, a psychologist at Harvard University, said in a news release.

 

Cooney said the study was prompted by personal experiences. His inspiration isn’t uncommon: Imagine a situation when an ordinary conversation about TV or work is hijacked by someone’s tale of a fantastic trip, and everyone else feels left out...

 

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/10/06/feeling-adventurous-extraordinary-experiences-could-hurt-your-relationships/

 

Reposted By:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

 

Venice Office

1525 Tamiami Trail S.

Ste. 603 A

Venice, FL 34285

 

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

 

14 Ways to Be a Happier Person

There are a lot how to articles online that suggest you can change your life in just a few easy steps. If it were that easy wouldn't everyone just do these things have their life the way they would like it?

 

If your life is not how you would like it is because you failed to do this? Probably not! We are responsible for our lives however there are frequently underlying feelings and thoughts that get in the way of us "just changing." By implementing a list like the one below we can monitor where things "get in the way" of us making changes. It is from being curious and trying to understand these things I get in the way that stands a real chance to help us find change. This is how Dr. Charles R. Davenport works with many patients to overcome challenging patterns in their lives. Dr. Davenport is a licensed psychologist with offices in Sarasota and Venice Florida. For more information check out his website http://www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

Sometime this morning, during your shower or at breakfast, you probably did a mental run-through of your day. You decided when you’d tackle various tasks and errands. Perhaps you vowed to hit the gym at lunchtime. Maybe you even plotted to get out of something. The one thing you forgot to plan for: happiness...

 

http://time.com/3433493/14-ways-to-be-a-happier-person/

 

Reposted By:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

 

Venice Office

1525 Tamiami Trail S.

Ste. 603 A

Venice, FL 34285

 

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

 

For most chronic pain, neurologists declare opioids a bad choice

Sarasota County and much of Florida has been plagued by pain pill over use and abuse. Here is a great article on the problems with using opioids for chronic pain.

 

Patients taking opioid painkillers for chronic pain not associated with cancer -- conditions such as headaches, fibromyalgia and low-back pain -- are more likely to risk overdose, addiction and a range of debilitating side effects than they are to improve their ability to function, a leading physicians group declared Wednesday...

 

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-for-chronic-pain-opioids-20141001-story.html

 

 

Reposted By:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Offices Sarasota and Venice

 

1525 Tamiami Trail S.

Ste. 603 A

Venice, FL 34285

 

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

Depression Linked to Abnormal Pain Processing in IBS Patients

Anxiety and depression are frequently seen with migraine headaches, autoimmune flairups of psoriasis, eczema, arthritis, and IBS.  

Here in an article on IBS,  pain, and depression.  When we have chronic pain we tend to be more susceptible to depression. Particularly feelings of hopelessness to change the pain. This article may be related?...

Dr. Charles R.  Davenport is a Licensed Psychologist who helps patients with depression or anxiety. Offices are located in Venice,  FL and Sarasota,  FL.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) process pain signals from the gut abnormally, according to new research. These unusual brain responses to pain are especially severe in patients with more depression symptoms...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/10/04/depression-linked-to-abnormal-pain-processing-in-ibs-patients/75721.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. 

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Offices Sarasota and Venice

1525 Tamiami Trail S.

Ste. 603 A

Venice, FL 34285

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Scientists reveal how curiosity changes our brains | Science Recorder

According to a report from the University of California at Davis, researchers gleaned new insight into how our natural curiosity about a subject makes it easier for us to learn information about it. The research appears in the latest issue of the journal Neuron, offering insights into what goes on in our brains when our curiosity is aroused...

http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/researchers-reveal-how-curiosity-boosts-learning/

Reposted By:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Offices Sarasota and Venice

1525 Tamiami Trail S. 

Ste.  603 A

Venice,  FL 34285

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

A Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Approach to the Emotional Problems of Exceptionally and Profoundly Gifted Adolescents and Adults: A Psychiatrist’s Experience

An eclectic form of psychodynamic psychotherapy is presented to address the emotional problems of exceptionally and profoundly gifted adolescents and adults. The approach includes cognitive/behavioral techniques as well as psychologically informed mentoring, coaching, and advising. Once a psychodynamic formulation was established, it was used to guide all subsequent therapeutic interventions. Three phases of psychotherapy can be recognized. In the first phase, patients addressed their guilt about being exceptionally endowed. They elaborated and organized a personal vision for their giftedness and found an appropriate venue for its expression. In the second phase, patients modulated their need for complete autonomy so they could collaborate more effectively with the therapist and others. In the third phase, patients were able to integrate their extracognitive abilities with their superior intellect. They learned more mature methods of conflict resolution and were able to employ all aspects of their gifted endowment more effectively...

http://www.sengifted.org/archives/articles/a-psychodynamic-psychotherapy-approach-to-the-emotional-problems-of-exceptionally-and-profoundly-gifted-adolescents-and-adults-a-psychiatrist%E2%80%99s-experience-2

Reposted By:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Offices Sarasota and Venice

1525 Tamiami Trail S.

Ste. 603 A

Venice, FL 34285

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com