Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

There is an old saying that goes something like, “At a dinner party, you don’t talk about politics and religion.” Who knew that in 2020 we would need to add “education” to that list? The decisions and issues surrounding going back to school this fall have proven to be polarizing, anxiety-provoking, and controversial. For many, the plan for how school will… Read more »

With the new school year just around the corner, many parents have more questions than answers about how to navigate the new world of virtual learning. These questions often take on additional significance for parents caring for children with special needs and chronic medical conditions.  Such questions include: Will the 504 Plan or IEP, Individualized… Read more »

As a parent during this COVID-19 Pandemic, you probably have many questions regarding how to best meet the educational needs of your child. Questions you may have are: 1) Due to the interruptions of the 2019-2020 school year, is my child on grade level? 2) Can the educational needs of my child be met by… Read more »

Many of us think of grief as it pertains to the loss of a loved one, but grief can pertain to loss of any kind. When we define it more broadly this way, it opens the door to view any life transition through a grief lens. If we look at difficult life events and transitions… Read more »

Video Clip from Today Show Featuring Matt Bitsko, PhD

20 Questions To Help Decide What’s Best For Your Kids (And You) This School Year Coronavirus: Mental Health Coping Strategies Could therapy relieve your coronavirus stress? How to decide, what to expect, and where to find it. How to protect your mental health during a quarantine Why Walking Matters – Now More Than Ever How… Read more »

The Sandwich Generation is a term frequently used for individuals who find themselves simultaneously responsible for caring for their children and their parents. Typically, the transition from child, to adult-child, to parental caregiver is a fluid process in which the child and older adult develop and accept their new roles within the family system. The… Read more »

Establish a daily home-school schedule. Rituals and routines reduce anxiety and distractibility. Setting expectations for a child’s day with a visual schedule can improve his/her motivation. It may be fun to create such a schedule with your child as an arts and crafts activity. Identify one quiet place in the house where your child can… Read more »

Dear Summit clients and families,In the usual greeting of these times, I hope you are healthy and taking care of one another. In this brief note I would like to focus your energy on what to look out for and how to take action. I spent twelve years working at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond,… Read more »