Parenting Len Lantz, MD Parenting Len Lantz, MD

Riding Out the Storm: Dealing with Your Child’s Anger Outbursts

All kids have anger outbursts at some point. If you find yourself frustrated by these outbursts or helpless in creating positive change, you might need to consider a different strategy. Sometimes the best course of action when your child is upset is to give them some time and space to calm down. This article addresses strategies for supporting your child to calm themselves down during anger outbursts, without your immediate intervention, which can make the situation worse.

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Wellness Len Lantz, MD Wellness Len Lantz, MD

Sleep as a Mood Stabilizer in Bipolar Disorder

If you have bipolar disorder, getting the right amount of sleep at the right time of day is absolutely critical in achieving and maintaining mood stability. Good sleep at night clearly exerts mood-stabilizing benefits. This article addresses several strategies for improving mood stability in bipolar disorder and discusses the tradeoffs faced in regulating your activities and schedule.

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Parenting Len Lantz, MD Parenting Len Lantz, MD

Conveying Love in Parenting

Most parents love their kids tremendously, but it can sometimes feel like there is a disconnect or uncertainty in whether kids actually experience that love. This article addresses the role of effectively conveying love as a core tenet of parenting.

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Parenting Len Lantz, MD Parenting Len Lantz, MD

Positive Communication with Kids

Parents can be extremely frustrated when it seems like anytime they communicate with their kids, it ends in a meltdown. There are basic approaches for enhancing positive communication with your children. This article explains different types of communication between parent and child, helpful strategies and pitfalls to avoid.

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Never Delay Dealing with Depression

Some people avoid dealing with their depression only to find out that they waited too long. This article addresses the reasons for dealing with depression immediately. Depression can become a pattern in the brain, so doing activities that alleviate depression and getting rid of your depression as quickly as possible will give you the best outcomes.

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Parenting Len Lantz, MD Parenting Len Lantz, MD

Behavioral Shaping: Getting More Positive Behavior from Your Kids with the First Rule of Parenting

Many parents find that trying to convince their kids to have more positive behaviors is either ineffective or backfires. This article addresses the strategy of behavioral shaping for parents to enhance positive behaviors and reduce conflicts when their kids are off-task. This basic parenting strategy, colloquially known as Grandma’s Rule, when consistently applied, can help life at home go more smoothly.

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Advocacy, Len's Picks Len Lantz, MD Advocacy, Len's Picks Len Lantz, MD

The Strengthening Behavioral Health Parity Act (SBHPA): An Enormous Step Forward in Mental Health Parity

The Strengthening Behavioral Health Parity Act (SBHPA) was a major step toward mental health parity in the US. Before its passage, many Americans, especially those with ERISA-based health plans, were not protected by federal and state mental health parity laws. This article describes the history of mental health parity and what people can do to advocate for themselves.

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How Good is Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT)?

Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) is a computerized version of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that is delivered over the internet. This article addresses hard questions critics have about iCBT, research supporting its benefit, the impact it can have in communities and who can benefit from the treatment.

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Wellness Len Lantz, MD Wellness Len Lantz, MD

Supportive Psychotherapy: How Good is “Treatment as Usual”?

Supportive psychotherapy is commonly used as a comparison intervention or “treatment as usual” in mental health research studies. While it is often expected by the scientific elite to be less effective than newer, manualized therapies, it has been proven to be an effective intervention for many conditions. This article covers basic approaches in supportive psychotherapy and who might benefit from the treatment.

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Wellness Len Lantz, MD Wellness Len Lantz, MD

Helping Depressed Friends and Family

Helping someone you care about who is depressed can be a challenge, but your informed persistence can make all the difference. This article addresses ways of supporting the people you care about in their fight against depression.

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Psychiatry Len Lantz, MD Psychiatry Len Lantz, MD

A Stepwise Approach to Medications for Depression

Many people are not told what to expect when prescribed an antidepressant medication. Basic information, such as the dosing range, the goal of treatment, how side effects can be overcome and how long to stay on the medication, is frequently left out of a clinical encounter. This article outlines a methodical approach to antidepressant treatment for depression.

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Parenting Len Lantz, MD Parenting Len Lantz, MD

Predators and Unhealthy Peers: Helping Your Teen and Protecting Your Relationship

Unfortunately, many parents’ first response is the wrong one when dealing with a predator or friends who are pulling their teenager into a drug culture or other unhealthy relationships. This article addresses a plan of action for dealing with parental missteps and preserving your relationship with your child as they navigate the uncertain waters of adolescent relationships.

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Parenting Len Lantz, MD Parenting Len Lantz, MD

Helping Teach Your Child Social Skills

Some parents are at a loss if their child struggles with social skills because it seems like such a basic, naturally-acquired ability. However, many kids struggle with lagging social skills and this can result in fewer friendships, trouble learning at school or aggression. This article addresses creative strategies for helping your child.

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Psychiatry Len Lantz, MD Psychiatry Len Lantz, MD

How Record Keeping Can Help Treatment-Resistant Depression

Many people with longstanding depression believe that they have tried every treatment out there. A detailed review of their history often reveals that they are mistaken and that there are several strategies that they have never tried. This article addresses what information is needed to make a well-informed decision about what treatment to try next and how a history of past treatments combined with a strategic, methodical approach can open up options to newer and potentially more effective treatments.

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Parenting Len Lantz, MD Parenting Len Lantz, MD

How to Help Your Child Learn from Their Mistake

Sometimes kids make a big mistake. How you deal with it can have a positive or negative impact on your relationship with them and determine their likelihood of repeating the mistake and what lesson they learn from it. This article addresses a strategy for handling your child’s mistake and helping them learn from it.

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How Does Yoga Help Depression?

There is growing evidence showing that yoga is beneficial for depression. Researchers are looking at biological mechanisms, but are there other factors involved? Yoga practices vary, which makes determining the mechanism of its benefit difficult. However, observing yoga from a holistic perspective, rather than only from a neurobiological standpoint, may lead to insights into how yoga helps depression.

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Psychiatry Len Lantz, MD Psychiatry Len Lantz, MD

A Plan for Stubborn Depression

When depression hits, it’s nice when the first treatment that you try works. On the other hand, depression that gets partially better only to worsen again is frustrating and demoralizing. Having a plan for treatment-resistant depression will get you better faster. This article outlines basic steps that are part of a larger plan for getting rid of your depression.

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