Davenport Psychology Welcomes New Provider of Child and Adolescent Therapy Services

PRESS RELEASE

Sarasota, FL, January 1, 2024 – Davenport Psychology, a leading provider of psychological services in Sarasota and Venice, FL, is pleased to announce that Dr. Keri Downs, Psy.D., has joined the practice as a new provider of child and adolescent therapy services.

Dr. Downs is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and their families. She specializes in treating a variety of issues, such as:

She also offers parent coaching and parent groups to help parents manage their children’s emotional and behavioral challenges.

Dr. Downs uses evidence-based and creative techniques to help her clients achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) framework, and Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). She also incorporates animal-assisted therapy, play therapy, and art therapy into her sessions.

Dr. Downs received her Doctor of Psychology degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at La Rabida Children’s Hospital Chicago Child Trauma Center. She has worked in various settings, including residential treatment centers, therapeutic day schools, outpatient clinics, and public schools. She has also conducted research and presented on topics related to child and adolescent mental health.

Dr. Downs is excited to join Davenport Psychology and provide high-quality and compassionate care to the children and families in the Sarasota and Venice communities. She is currently accepting new clients and offers flexible scheduling options. To learn more about Dr. Downs and the services she offers, please visit her profile page or contact Davenport Psychology today 941-702-2457.

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How to help children deal with anxiety over winter break.

Winter break is a time for children to relax, have fun, and spend time with family. However, for some children, it can also be a time of increased anxiety and stress. The change in routine, the excitement of the holidays, and the pressure to be happy and cheerful can all contribute to feelings of anxiety in children. As a parent or caregiver, it’s important to recognize and address these feelings in order to help your child have a happy and stress-free winter break.

In this article, we’ll discuss the causes of holiday anxiety in children and provide tips on how to help them cope.

Understanding Holiday Anxiety in Children

The Pressure to be Happy and Cheerful

The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy and happiness, but for some children, this can create a sense of pressure to be happy and cheerful all the time. This pressure can be overwhelming and can lead to feelings of anxiety and stress.

Changes in Routine

The holiday season often brings changes in routine, such as a break from school, travel, or visits from family and friends. While these changes can be exciting, they can also disrupt a child’s sense of stability and security. This can be especially challenging for children who thrive on routine and structure.

Financial Stress

The holidays can also bring financial stress for families. Children may pick up on this stress and worry about the financial burden of gift-giving or the possibility of not receiving the gifts they want. This can lead to feelings of anxiety and guilt.

Family Dynamics

The holidays can also bring together family members who may not see each other often. This can create tension and conflict, which can be difficult for children to navigate. They may feel caught in the middle or worry about pleasing everyone, leading to feelings of anxiety.

Tips for Helping Children Cope with Holiday Anxiety

Communicate Openly and Honestly

The first step in helping your child cope with holiday anxiety is to communicate openly and honestly. Let them know that it’s normal to feel anxious or stressed during the holidays and that you are there to support them. Encourage them to share their feelings and listen without judgment.

Stick to a Routine

While it may be tempting to let go of routines during the holidays, it’s important to maintain some sense of structure for your child. This can help them feel more secure and in control. Try to stick to regular meal times, bedtimes, and other daily routines as much as possible.

Manage Expectations

Talk to your child about their expectations for the holidays and manage them accordingly. Let them know that it’s okay if things don’t go exactly as planned and that the most important thing is spending time together as a family. This can help alleviate some of the pressure to have a perfect holiday.

Involve Your Child in Holiday Planning

Involve your child in holiday planning and preparations. This can give them a sense of control and ownership over the holiday, which can help reduce feelings of anxiety. Let them help with decorating, baking, or choosing gifts for family members.

Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques

Teach your child mindfulness and relaxation techniques to help them cope with feelings of anxiety. This can include deep breathing exercises, visualization, or yoga. Encourage them to take breaks when they feel overwhelmed and engage in activities that help them relax.

Limit Screen Time

The holiday season often brings an influx of new toys and gadgets, which can lead to increased screen time for children. However, excessive screen time can contribute to feelings of anxiety and stress. Set limits on screen time and encourage your child to engage in other activities, such as playing outside or reading a book.

Be Mindful of Your Own Stress Levels

As a parent or caregiver, it’s important to be mindful of your own stress levels during the holidays. Children are highly attuned to their parents’ emotions, and if you are feeling stressed or anxious, they may pick up on it. Take care of yourself and practice self-care to ensure you are in a good place to support your child.

When to Seek Professional Help

In some cases, holiday anxiety in children may be more severe and require professional help. If your child’s anxiety is interfering with their daily life or causing significant distress, it may be time to seek help from a mental health professional. Signs to look out for include:

Refusal to participate in holiday activities
Changes in eating or sleeping habits
Frequent physical complaints, such as stomachaches or headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Withdrawal from family and friends
Excessive worry or fear

If you notice any of these signs in your child, it’s important to seek help from a therapist or counselor who specializes in working with children.

Conclusion

The holiday season can be a time of joy and happiness, but it can also bring feelings of anxiety and stress for children. As a parent or caregiver, it’s important to recognize and address these feelings in order to help your child have a happy and stress-free winter break. By communicating openly, maintaining routines, managing expectations, and practicing self-care, you can help your child cope with holiday anxiety and enjoy the holiday season to the fullest.

Maximizing the Potential of Gifted Students: Strategies for Success

Gifted students are often considered to be those who possess abilities significantly above the average in areas such as academics, creativity, and leadership. These students are frequently identified by their exceptional cognitive abilities and often face unique challenges in their educational and social lives. It is important to support these students in developing their full potential, both academically and emotionally. Here are some strategies that can help gifted students thrive.

Challenge Them Academically– Gifted students are often bored in the traditional classroom setting, where they are frequently unchallenged. These students need a curriculum that provides them with a depth and complexity of content that is commensurate with their abilities. To help meet this need, schools should consider offering advanced classes, acceleration, and independent study options. These opportunities will not only help the student grow academically but also foster a love of learning.
Encourage Creativity– Gifted students are often highly creative and imaginative. They need opportunities to explore their creative side, whether it’s through writing, art, music, or other forms of self-expression. Encourage these students to explore their interests and provide them with the resources they need to succeed. This will not only help to develop their creative abilities but will also give them a sense of purpose and self-worth.
Foster Independence– Gifted students often have an independent streak, and they need opportunities to pursue their own interests and passions. Encourage these students to take initiative and develop their own projects. This will help them build critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as the confidence they need to pursue their goals.
Develop Social Skills– Gifted students may struggle with social skills due to their heightened intellect and ability to think abstractly. They may have trouble connecting with their peers and may experience feelings of isolation. It is important to provide these students with opportunities to interact with others and develop their social skills. This can be done through group activities, mentorship programs, and other social opportunities.
Address Emotional Needs– Gifted students often experience intense emotions, and they may struggle with feelings of anxiety and stress. It is important to provide these students with emotional support and help them learn coping strategies. This can include counseling, support groups, and other resources.

In conclusion, supporting gifted students requires a commitment to providing them with the resources and opportunities they need to develop their full potential. By challenging them academically, encouraging creativity, fostering independence, developing social skills, and addressing their emotional needs, we can help these students thrive and reach their full potential.

Sources:

National Association for Gifted Children. (2021). Supporting the Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Children. https://nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/supporting-the-social-and-emotional-needs-of-gifted-children

U.S. Department of Education. (2021). Gifted and Talented Education. https://www.ed.gov/gifted-talented

National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. (2021). Meeting the Needs of Gifted and Talented Students. https://www.gifted.uconn.edu/nrcgt/meetingthe-needs-of-gifted-and-talented-students/

Tips for Back to School Success

Are you dreading another year of school? The good news is that your upcoming school year can be easier and more successful than ever before as long as you’re equipped with some school success tips on what to expect and do.

From organizing your class schedule, so you don’t get overwhelmed with homework at once to finding the best way to get your work done quickly, and on time, these tips will help you have the best school year yet!

Alright, let’s have a look at them.

1. Get Organized – Start the Year With a Plan

With all of these new responsibilities and homework assignments, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by how much you have on your plate.

Creating a plan at the beginning of the year will help you stay organized and find success in school.

Establishing routines and ensuring you are properly prepared before class starts will make things much easier in the long run.

It’s never too early to start thinking about which classes will be most important for your future goals, so make sure you research potential colleges.

Keep in mind the courses they offer and whether or not they might require certain prerequisites. If you’re still deciding what classes to take next semester, consider focusing on subjects you enjoy or want to learn more about.

If you’re having issues focusing on what matters due to stress, depression or perhaps anxiety, you should talk to a therapist or an expert.

2. Set Goals

Setting goals will give you motivation and a plan of action, which will help ensure your success. To set goals, list what you want to accomplish for the year and break it down into manageable steps.

Then go about listing ways that you can reach those objectives. For example, if one of your goals is to become more organized this year, you might brainstorm methods such as setting homework schedules and waking up earlier.

Once you have determined how these methods could help you achieve your goal, write them down on another sheet of paper, so they are easy to reference when needed.

Make sure each step is specific enough to be achieved within an appropriate time frame; then, prioritize them from easiest to hardest so that you know where to start.

3. Keep it Simple

After a summer of relaxation, adjusting back to school schedules can be a bit difficult. The key is breaking everything down into manageable chunks and starting with manageable tasks.

Figure out when you need to wake, shower, eat breakfast, and get dressed. Once you’re on campus, prioritize your time by meeting with your academic advisor as soon as possible.

Make sure you have all your class registration forms filled out ahead of time to avoid confusion.

Start scheduling meals with friends who share your schedule so that if one person needs an extra hour to study or finish an assignment, then they’ll have someone else who can eat lunch with them.

If you feel overwhelmed or stressed during the first few weeks, take a deep breath and remember that it’s only temporary! Just do all you can to keep things simple so that you will be able to achieve your goal.

4. Have Some Fun

Don’t forget about playtime! It’s important to not only study but also have some fun. Once in a while, let yourself take time away from studying and do something you enjoy.

Spending time on your hobbies will help relieve stress and lead to new ideas or inspiration that may help with your studies.

Make sure to keep up your physical activity as well. Take time to get outside and exercise regularly. If this isn’t possible, try taking stairs instead of elevators and escalators whenever possible.

Regular exercise helps release endorphins and helps clear your mind so that you can focus better on your studies later.

5. Get Enough Sleep

Get enough sleep regularly, and your brain will function more efficiently, enabling you to think, study, and remember new information more easily.

In addition, it improves concentration and academic performance. If you have been getting up late, try to sleep early so you can wake up early. This will give you more time to prepare for school.

Ensure you eat healthy food, like fruit, in between meals and snacks instead of sweets or sugary drinks.

Try not to eat food late before bedtime, so you don’t gain unnecessary weight. Also, make some plans for any homework at least every night so you won’t feel overwhelmed when it’s due tomorrow morning.

6. Learn from Your mistake

Reviewing your mistakes can deepen your understanding of what you did right or wrong. Self-evaluation is important because we don’t always notice our shortcomings; we often see only our strengths.

After self-evaluating, take what went well and try it again this year, and address problems by solving them.

Finally, start fresh with new supplies, a healthy breakfast, a clean desk, and organized time blocks.

Get Ready for Good Grades by Preparing Your Mind

The biggest factor in success in school is the quality of time you spend studying. If you have a limited amount of time and want to get the most out of it, we recommend setting a timer and working on your next assignment until it goes off.

This will help you manage your time so that you’re not just browsing on social media or scrolling through Facebook but doing something constructive.

When using this technique, set a goal to study for 10 minutes at first and then increase it by 10-minute increments as you become more comfortable with this routine.

For example, if you can’t seem to concentrate after 30 minutes of studying, take a break for 5 minutes before continuing.

You may want to reward yourself after your session with a snack or even watch one episode of your favorite show before bedtime!