DEPRESSION - MyHope

Embracing Vulnerability

Most of us have spent a good part of our lives trying to avoid feeling vulnerable. But learning to instead embrace that feeling can actually bring us closer to experiences that add purpose and meaning to our lives, according to Brené Brown, PhD. Brown, author of Daring Greatly, writes that vulnerability is uncertainty, risk and […]

Mindfulness and Six Key Elements of Psychological Well-being

What does it mean to be a psychologically healthy person? Many people assume that good mental health means feeling happy most of the time. Indeed, studies show that positive emotions have many benefits. They increase resilience to stress and encourage us to learn, grow, and bond with others. However, there’s much more to good mental […]

Moving Toward

Moving Toward At front and center stage of Buddhist psychology is mindfulness: moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness. By bringing neutral observation to life, the habitual tendency to categorize into good versus bad or like versus dislike gives way to open exploration, understanding, and wisdom. Mindfulness is to know and see things as they are arising and passing. […]

Can You Learn to Be Kind to Yourself?

Do you ever feel like your sense of self-worth goes up and down like a ping-pong ball, depending on whether you’re feeling successful or more like a failure? Do you sometimes tell yourself “nobody’s perfect,” but you don’t really believe it? You might benefit from developing what is called “self-compassion.” It’s learning to be kind […]

Learning How to Trust and Honor Your Own Voice

You have to love, respect, and honor yourself (and others) before you can really tackle reaching your unique potential. This is not to say that the ones you love aren’t important, that spirituality doesn’t matter, or that others don’t have wisdom you need. Instead, it’s simply to point out that you have been gifted with […]

Taking Responsibility

Step up to the plate. Take charge. Make it happen. Do something. Speak up. You’ve heard these admonitions and probably many others. But it’s always easier said than done. Whether you’re concerned about the state of the world, the nation, your neighborhood, or your organization, you probably know the feeling. You’ve found a problem and […]

Creating Meaning

Say you are in your 20s or 30s or 40s, and feeling depressed and hopeless. Perhaps you feel your situation is so bleak and hopeless that you are considering suicide. Now imagine yourself in your 80s. Looking back, how would your 80-year-old self tell your life story? Perhaps you have a pet that you rescued […]

Feedback Games

SITUATION: Reggie, a 5th grader, is new to the district. The school team is concerned that he is not keeping up with 5th grade work. The school team initiated this meeting with Reggie’s parents. The goal of the meeting is to share information about concerns and obtain consent for assessment. PLAYERS: 4 MOM DAD GEN. […]

Information Gathering: What to Include When Assessing Student

Parent report of: Current concerns about student’s learning(i.e., “What are your biggest concerns for J at this time?) Perception of student’s strengths and challenges( i.e., “Describe for me what he’s really good at – what he loves – and what can be more difficult for him.) Developmental history, including: Any delays in walking/talking/toileting) Any loss […]

Why Identify Autism in Schools?

Eligibility for specialized education services is provided for all students based on need – not eligibility category. Schools may not limit access to specific services or programs to be provided only to individuals with a specific eligibility determination – children who need the services have equal access, regardless of the educational eligibility category that the […]

Assessment in Developmental Disabilities: Tools

Assessment in Developmental Disabilities A Lecture for NSP Special Topics Course NRSC 7670 OV1 (Course Director: K. Gardiner) February 5 & 7, 2013 Presented by Susan Hepburn, Ph.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist/Associate Professor Departments of Psychiatry & Pediatrics/JFK Partners/University of Colorado DEVELOPMENTAL/INTELLECTUAL ASSESSMENT TOOLS (sequenced developmentally) 1. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) (Bricker […]

Don’t Let Imposter Syndrome Hold You Back

Does this sound familiar? You love your boss, the CEO. He’s the smartest, fairest, least ego, most supportive leader you’ve ever worked for, and you trust his judgment – business and otherwise – completely. And you love your career, which has provided many opportunities to work on cool projects, with teams of knowledgeable individuals, to […]