Tips for Successful Potty Training

I never intended to develop a specialty in potty training or handling urinary and fecal incontinence (e.g., bedwetting or soiling oneself). Before graduating with my Ph.D., I completed a one-year internship at Oregon Health and Science University. I worked at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. One of my supervisors was Dr. Kurt Freeman, who ran a specialty clinic for toileting issues. Each intern completed a 3-month rotation in his clinic. Every Monday afternoon, all the patients I saw experienced various toileting problems. 

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Self-Compassion: Treating Yourself With Kindness Actually Works

I was introduced to self-compassion quite accidentally. Psychologists are required to complete a certain number of continuing education hours. I have earned my hours many times by attending the annual convention for the Texas Psychological Association. One year, I made a last-minute decision to drop in on a self-compassion workshop by Kristen Neff, Ph.D., a professor from The University of Texas. She was one of the first to study self-compassion.

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New Service: LBHC Workshop Series

Our workshop series has been in the works for multiple years. In previous years our staff presented workshops for various groups. This included training for other psychologists on long-term patients and the business side of psychological practice. We offered a parent training session on school refusal. Dr. Gotowka provided a training session for pre-school teachers at a local day care the past two years. After Dr. Gotowka obtained his psychology license, he took the lead starting this project as an added service to the community.

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Avoid Avoiding: Tips for Overcoming Anxiety

Our emotions are vital to survival, but sometimes dwelling on them makes things worse. This is especially true for anxiety. When we face something that makes us scared or anxious, we feel uncomfortable. This activates our sympathetic nervous system. We call this the fight or flight system because it causes us to want to do something to get rid of this uncomfortable feeling.

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Telehealth or In-person Therapy: Which Is Better?

Since 2020, telehealth services have exploded. Telehealth has increased accessibility for mental health services. Many studies show that telehealth services have similar effects to traditional in-person therapy. This is particularly true when treating anxiety and depression for adolescents and adults (Abrams, 2020; Hagyari-Donaldson & Scott, 2025).

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Homework Helper: New Service for Student Success

I would have been a great candidate for Homework Helper. I did not naturally do well in school. Early in the grading period I fell behind on my work. Then I missed days to weeks of recess as I tried to catch up on my work. The best part of the school year was when the grading period ended. All the missed assignments changed to zeros, and I got to go to recess again. Despite my efforts, I fell behind again, and the cycle started over.

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New Year, New Insurance?

Many insurance plans reset on January 1. Did yours? If you have a new insurance plan or new benefits, please contact the office as soon as possible with the updates. We will need a copy of your new insurance card. It takes time to confirm benefits, especially during the first couple weeks of January. Please contact the office before your appointment so we have everything ready for you. This will help reduce problems when we file your insurance claims.

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How to Use Reinforcement: A Primer for Parents

As much as individuals may hate to admit it, the world largely runs on principles of behaviorism. We can trace much of what we do back to rewards or punishments to some degree. Denying this is almost akin to denying the existence of gravity. These principles were discovered, not invented. Individuals who oppose behaviorism argue it is a cold way to control someone. Behaviorism can be used without coldness, however. By understanding and utilizing these principles, we can use them in our favor rather than merely being controlled by them. In fact, one could even argue that giving emotional warmth to another person is a form of reinforcement.

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Tips for Parents: How to Be Successful in a 504 or IEP/ARD Meeting

In a previous post, I discussed my early experiences advocating for students in 504 or IEP/ARD meetings. Parents often feel overwhelmed with the number of school officials who attend these meetings. The number of acronyms also is overwhelming to parents. Many parents feel the school doesn’t seek their feedback. Others know so little about the process they don’t feel comfortable asking questions. Based on these observations, I offer these tips for parents to help themselves be successful in these meetings.

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Secrets For An Effective Study Session

The primary population of therapy patients I see is children and young adults, so a common issue I address is difficulty doing well in school. This can affect individuals who come for treatment for a variety of reasons. For example, individuals with ADHD often have difficulty staying on task and avoiding distractions. Individuals with depression may have difficulty getting started. Individuals with anxiety tend to become overwhelmed. In more general terms, students are in college or graduate school who didn’t have to study before. Each of these individuals could benefit from establishing an effective study session.

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