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Articles by Larry Waldman

Browse published articles attributed to Larry Waldman, with full-archive search.

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By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

The Keys to Effective Studying

THE KEYS TO EFFECTIVE STUDYING Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Parents regularly tell their children to “study hard” so they can get good grades, get into a good college, get a good job, and be successful. While children are encouraged to study, do they truly know what they should do? Researchers on an effective studying generally recommend the following: 1) Organize the material conceptually rather than attempt to memorize many bits of unrelated information.

Primary topic: Parenting

2,383 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***FIVE SURE WAYS TO RAISE A RESPONSIBLE CHILD

As an experienced clinical child psychologist I believe the ultimate goal of any parent is to rear an independent, responsible child. While at first glance this may appear obvious, if we observe most parents in action on a day-to-day basis, it becomes evident that many parents have no idea how to achieve this objective. Most parents never take a course on parenting or even read a book or two on the topic. Ask many parents, "How do you foster independence and responsibility in your child?" and you are likely to get a blank stare.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,714 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Changing Undesirable Behavior In Our Kids

Back in my undergraduate years I took a required course for all psychology majors entitled Experimental Psychology. Early in that course in a lab we were each instructed to train a white rat to turn right in a T-maze. (A successful trial was defined as the rat not going past a line on the left side of the maze and the rat had to proceed all the way to the right within five seconds—to eat a small piece of compressed grain.) When the rat made five consecutive “correct” responses, it was determined that the rat had “learned” the appropriate response.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,609 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***TAKE YOUR PROSAC, SEE YOUR SHRINK, THEN PUT ON YOUR RUNNING SHOES

Depression and anxiety are, by far, the most common mental health problems. Nearly 20 percent of the US population struggles with or will struggle with one or both of these problems. The most common treatment today for these issues is medication—typically prescribed by the primary care physician (not a psychiatrist). This treatment is considered a Biological intervention, as the medication is designed to alter the individual's brain chemistry.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,540 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***HOW TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR TEEN

Many parents struggle with conversing with their adolescent. Attempts at communication often result in yelling, slamming doors, feelings of resentment, and a sense of hopelessness that issues can be resolved. Below are nine strategies to enhance communication with your teen.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,535 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***Overindulged Children

An adolescent in Texas recently was in the news for killing and/or injuring several persons due to recklessly driving his new BMW while quite intoxicated. Apparently, this teen had an alcohol-related incident a few months before this tragedy. At trial a psychologist testified that this boy should not be incarcerated because he was a victim of his parents’ wealth and indulgence. The syndrome was coined “Affluenza.” Amazingly, the judge agreed and sentenced the teen to a 120 days in a posh treatment facility.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,521 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***FIVE WAYS TO ARGUE CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH YOUR PARTNER

The divorce rate nationally hovers at around fifty percent but it is several percentage points higher in Maricopa County, according to census figures. I believe divorce is a national tragedy, as it is terribly stressful and often expensive for the involved adults, quite sad for the parents of the couple, and absolutely traumatic for the children. A major reason for this unfortunate divorce statistic is that most couples do not learn how to settle their issues.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,516 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***Video Games: The Newest Plague

A mother of a boy, 12, I was counseling recently spoke about a “play date” her son had. As had been arranged, the mother of the other boy brought her son over to the house around 1 pm. The two boys greeted each other at the door and immediately proceeded to the bedroom, where they began playing video games.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,478 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***TEENS AND THE VAMPIRE SYNDROME

Having recently returned from a vacation back east, which included a visit to New York City, I found that it took me several days to recover from the jet lag due to the three-hour time difference. One of the first clients I saw upon returning to work in my practice involved an adolescent male whose mother remarked that with school about to start she wondered how her son was going to get to bed at a reasonable time and awaken early in the morning in time for school—given the summer schedule he has been living. My jet lag and this mother's comment caused me to think.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,392 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***Must You Feel Like It to Do It?

A parent tells their young child to brush their teeth. The child responds, "I don't want to; I don't feel like it." It is perfectly normal for children to believe that they must be in a certain mood state (feel like it) to do something. Most parents, though, tell their child that they are sorry that they don't feel like brushing their teeth but go and do it anyway. This child-like thinking continues for many adults. Unfortunately, as adults we often don't have someone making us do it anyway.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,389 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***CHANGING UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOR IN OUR KIDS

Back in my undergraduate years I took a required course for all psychology majors entitled Experimental Psychology. Early in that course in a lab we were each instructed to train a white rat to turn right in a T-maze. (A successful trial was defined as the rat not going past a line on the left side of the maze and the rat had to proceed all the way to the right within five seconds—to eat a small piece of compressed grain.) When the rat made five consecutive “correct” responses, it was determined that the rat had “learned” the appropriate response.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,382 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***ACHIEVING “OK” IS “GREAT” IN MARRIAGE

Ironworks Inc. and Acme Steel have been doing business together for twenty-five years. Ironworks manufactures steel widgets and Acme sells raw steel. These two companies have worked together for all this time for two basic reasons: 1. They need each other. 2. The money is right. Ironworks believes they are buying their raw materials at a reasonable price and Acme believes they are selling their steel at an acceptable price.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,366 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***Five Reasons Why Second Marriages Fail at a High Rate

For some time the divorce rate in the USA for first marriages has held at about 50%. This is a national tragedy. This statistic also means that many people have subsequent marriages.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,306 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***ACCADEMIC SUCCESS IN TEENS IS EQUAL TO THEIR ABILITY TO SEE THE FUTURE

Jason, 14 is like most male adolescents. He is into video games, hockey, and, of course, hanging with his friends. If you ask him the classic question adults love to ask teens, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Jason will reply, "I don't know—maybe a lawyer or an engineer."

Primary topic: Parenting

1,286 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***The Power of Immediate Reinforcement

A basic tenet of behavioral psychology is that the closer the consequence is to the behavior, the more powerful the effect it has on that behavior. For example, if one could eat a sensible nutritious meal, immediately step on the scale and be down two pounds, dieting would be easy. Unfortunately, one has to eat healthfully for an extended period before any appreciable weight is lost. Thus, even though most adults know they should eat better (and exercise more) the delayed reinforcement sabotages their efforts.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,244 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***MAKING YOUR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE MORE EFFECTIVE

The parent-teacher conference can be an efficient tool to communicate with your child's teacher. Below are a few tips on how to make that meeting more productive: 1) Show up: My wife, now retired from teaching fourth grade for 28 years, often said that the parents with whom she most needed to talk rarely scheduled a conference. Children perform best in school when their parents are involved in their kid's education.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,232 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***How State and Local Mental Health Associations Can Afford to Get High-Priced Speakers

Many smaller associations do not have the membership base to afford paying a “big name” speaker to present at a training or convention. The speakers who present for these associations are usually members of that group and present for free. While this system is cheap, and sometimes can provide for an interesting presentation, over time the “same cast of characters” are presenting at most meetings. This situation leads to lower registrations at conferences--which worsen the association’s financial position.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,208 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***Why you Can’t Afford to Practice Without an Office Assistant

For the past twenty years when I present to mental health providers on how to develop, manage, and market a private practice I always ask members of the audience to raise their hand if they practice without an assistant. Depending on the group and location, typically half or even more of the providers acknowledge practicing solo. When I question why this is the case, the most common reason expressed is cost. My response is always the same: “You cannot afford to practice <u>without</u> an assistant.”

Primary topic: Parenting

1,205 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

The Word Depression Has Lost Its Meaning

Recently, I overheard an adolescent tell her friend, “I was so depressed yesterday but I’m fine today.” Her friend replied, “Yeah, I understand; I get depressed sometimes, too.” This conversation reflects the very common misuse of the term “depression.” Most individuals mistakenly refer to depression when, in fact, they are simply sad or unhappy. We all occasionally “get down,” “get bummed out,” or have “the blues,” but these feelings usually last a few hours or a day or two, and the individual can manage their life—eat, sleep, work, socialize, etc.r

Primary topic: Parenting

1,148 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

***Forming Our Relationships Backwards

The divorce rate in the U.S. continues to hover around 50 percent and the dissolution incidence when one or both of the parties have been previously married is about 65 percent. This is a national travesty. The amount of emotional angst and money spent, not to mention the extent of trauma brought to the involved children, is immeasurable.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,129 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Can "Stinkin Thinkin" Make You Ill?

Just as we develop various behavioral habits, we institute certain thinking habits, as well. Some of our behavioral habits are healthy, like exercising regularly, and some are not, like consuming a bowl of ice cream before bed. By the same token, some of our thinking habits are positive and healthy, like “I can do this” or “I deserve to be treated respectfully,” and, again, some thinking patterns are negative and unhealthy, like “I can’t do this—I always fail” or “I deserve to be mistreated—I am unworthy.”

Primary topic: Parenting

1,064 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Being Present and Aware--Minfulness

Being Present and Aware—Mindfulness By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Psychologist Freud said depressed people rue the past and anxious individuals fear the future. More than a century later psychologists are currently emphasizing “mindfulness”—being “aware,” focused, and “being in the present.”

Primary topic: Parenting

984 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

The Word Depression Has Lost Its Meaning

Recently, I overheard an adolescent tell her friend, “I was so depressed yesterday but I’m fine today.” Her friend replied, “Yeah, I understand; I get depressed sometimes, too.” This conversation reflects the very common misuse of the term “depression.” Most individuals mistakenly refer to depression when, in fact, they are simply sad or unhappy. We all occasionally “get down,” “get bummed out,” or have “the blues,” but these feelings usually last a few hours or a day or two, and the individual can manage their life—eat, sleep, work, socialize, etc.r

Primary topic: Parenting

889 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Tips on Managing Anxiety

TIPS ON MANAGING ANXIETY By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Anxiety is the second most common form of mental health disorder, next to depression. In many cases, though, depressed individuals also struggle with anxiety and many anxious people frequently feel depressed. It is estimated 20 million persons in the US regularly deal with anxiety. Anxiety often is described as a feeling of tension and/or fear. Some of my patients report it is like “an impending sense of doom.”

Primary topic: Parenting

883 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Why Seniors Need to Get Back to the Gym Part 3

Why Seniors Need to Get to the Gym Part 3 (of 4) By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Psychologist/Senior Fitness Specialist Weight Training

Primary topic: Parenting

883 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Why Seniors Need to Get Back to the Gym Part 2

Why Seniors Need to Get to the Gym Part 2 (of 4) By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Psychologist/Senior Fitness Specialist Aerobics

Primary topic: Parenting

877 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Why Seniors Need to Get Back to the Gym Part 4

Why Seniors Need to Get to the Gym Part 4 (of 4) Byr Larry Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Psychologist/Senior Fitness Specialist Flexibility/Balance Flexibility and balance are as important to senior fitness as aerobic and strength training. As seen with aerobicizing and weight lifting, this adage very much applies: “Use it or lose it.” Another quip I recently heard is equally relevant: “When I rest, I rust.” Over time, without intervention, our bodies gradually become stiffer and our balance significantly deteriorates. Body Tightness and Stiffness

Primary topic: Parenting

868 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

BetterLiving Through Chemistry?

All living things, human and animal, strive for homeostasis—keeping things balanced. If hungry, we eat; if thirsty, we drink; if sleepy, nap; etc. Humans, though, take this one step further: Not only do we want our biological processes balanced, we want to feel good. (We feel good when the pleasure center in our brain is stimulated.) Alcohol, drugs, fatty greasy food, jewelry, fancy cars, expensive clothes, sex, video gaming, etc. have little to do with balance but everything to do with seeking pleasure.

Primary topic: Parenting

853 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Why Seniors Need to Get Back to the Gym Part 1

Why Seniors Need to Get to the Gym Part 1 (of 4) By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Psychologist/Senior Fitness Specialist Why Seniors Need to Get to the Gym

Primary topic: Parenting

851 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

The Word Depression Has Lost Its Meaning

Recently, I overheard an adolescent tell her friend, “I was so depressed yesterday but I’m fine today.” Her friend replied, “Yeah, I understand; I get depressed sometimes, too.” This conversation reflects the very common misuse of the term “depression.” Most individuals mistakenly refer to depression when, in fact, they are simply sad or unhappy. We all occasionally “get down,” “get bummed out,” or have “the blues,” but these feelings usually last a few hours or a day or two, and the individual can manage their life—eat, sleep, work, socialize, etc.r

Primary topic: Parenting

848 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Forming Our Relationships Backwards

FORMING OUR RELATIONSHIPS BACKWARDS By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP The divorce rate in the U.S. continues to hover around 50 percent and the dissolution incidence when one or both of the parties have been previously married is about 65 percent. This is a national travesty. The amount of emotional angst and money spent, not to mention the extent of trauma brought to the involved children, is immeasurable.

Primary topic: Parenting

828 views

By Larry WaldmanRecently published1 topic

Forming Our Relationships Backwards

FORMING OUR RELATIONSHIPS BACKWARDS By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP The divorce rate in the U.S. continues to hover around 50 percent and the dissolution incidence when one or both of the parties have been previously married is about 65 percent. This is a national travesty. The amount of emotional angst and money spent, not to mention the extent of trauma brought to the involved children, is immeasurable.

Primary topic: Parenting

822 views

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