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Helping Children When They Are Upset
By Carolyn Knarr, MSW, LCSW, Director of Child Therapeutic Services One of the most important parenting skills is helping children learn to calm down when they are upset. A child can go from calm to out of control in five seconds or less! The more escalated the child’s emotions and behavior are, the more calm the adult needs to be. Responding with a lecture or with more intensity will quickly create a power struggle. When a child is “having a meltdown,” he* isn’t thinking with his frontal cortex, which is the rational, problem-solving part of his brain. He is responding with his amygdala, which is the emotional, fight or flight…
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The Importance of Parenting by Grace
By Carolyn Knarr, MSW, LCSW, Director of Children’s Therapeutic Services Often parents come to me, looking for guidance, because their child’s behavior is difficult or their attitude is disrespectful. These parents are struggling with their child because they feel they can no longer control them. They believe that, if they just have the right method of parenting, their children will respect and obey them. Although they may have read “how-to” parenting books or sought the scriptures for specific verses about parenting, they are missing the forest for the trees. Effective parenting is centered on understanding the gospel of grace and relating to their children in a way which reflects it. A…
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Jason: A Case Study of Play Therapy & Autism
By Carolyn Knarr, MSW, LCSW, Director of Children’s Therapeutic Services Jason is an eight-year old boy who is starting third grade. He is smart, funny, and loves video games. He is often teased at school, which causes him to feel badly about himself. Although he likes being around other children, he does not seem to get invited over to their houses. His mother said he is just a little “different”. He gets frustrated easily and has difficulty with fine motor skills, such as handwriting. The therapist scheduled a session with the parents to gather background information and discuss their current concerns before meeting with Jason. During this session, the therapist…
Marriage Family & Individual Counseling | St Louis MO
