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By Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP Many parents struggle with conversing with their adolescent. Attempts at communication often result in yelling, slamming doors, feelings of resentment, and a sense of h…
By Larry F. Waldman…
By Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP 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.1. Praise Positive BehaviorUsually when a parent approaches their teen it is to complain or scold them. In a short time the teen learns that when their parent wants to speak with them it likely means they are in trouble. Effective communication is not about to ensue under these …
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
October 14, 2024 Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP Clinical, Forensic Psychologist When I began counseling parents in the early 70’s, then as a school psychologist, it was often necessary to warn of the harmful effects of…
Larry F. Waldman, Ph…
Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP Clinical, Forensic Psychologist When I began counseling parents in the early 70’s, then as a school psychologist, it was often necessary to warn of the harmful effects of spanking and/or paddling as a common discipline method. Today, the pendulum has swung to the other extreme, as parents are not effectively addressing their children’s inappropriate behavior. Behavioral parenting theory is founded on the premise that the child learns to behave and function according to the consequences of their actions. Therefore, parents are encouraged to objectively observe th…
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
February 18, 2022 By Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP Psychologist, Trainer Resistance training (weight lifting) is far more popular than yoga. It is rare, especially among men, to find people who do both. Having spent t…
By Larry F. Waldman,…
By Larry F. Waldman, PhD, ABPP Psychologist, Trainer Resistance training (weight lifting) is far more popular than yoga. It is rare, especially among men, to find people who do both. Having spent thousands of hours in the gym for the past 50 years and a hundred hours on a yoga mat this past decade, it is unfortunately clear that many male lifters consider yoga to be primarily for women and not for “musclemen.” They are misinformed. Hoisting iron will build strength and improve bone density, which is certainly desirable, but it does little for aerobic conditioning, flexibility and balanc…
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
January 26, 2022 By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Clinical, Forensic Psychologist As you approach the age of our nation’s life expectancy, it’s natural to begin to consider end of life issues. How you might “pas…
By Larry F. Waldman,…
By Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Clinical, Forensic Psychologist As you approach the age of our nation’s life expectancy, it’s natural to begin to consider end of life issues. How you might “pass,” is one of those considerations. My Zeide, as we called him, my paternal grandfather, was a strong, active man till the day he died. I remember as a kid helping him with yardwork or home repairs while he wore a white shirt and tie, even when it was 90 degrees with 90% humidity in a hot, muggy Southern Wisconsin summer day. He never stepped out of the house without a shirt and tie. He spoke at…
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
May 10, 2021 The pandemic has changed the way psychotherapy is currently provided. My local listserve is burning up with colleagues talking about the problems, ethical factors, insurance questions, the extra energ…
The pandemic has cha…
The pandemic has changed the way psychotherapy is currently provided. My local listserve is burning up with colleagues talking about the problems, ethical factors, insurance questions, the extra energy required, and more, regarding telehealth. In business it is said that in a crisis many people suffer but some people become wealthy. For example, delivery companies (of packages and restaurant food), grocery stores, on-line shopping sites, on-line game sites (particularly bridge, canasta and mah jong), home-gym equipment outfitters, and, sadly, scammers are all currently experiencing a windfall.…
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
May 25, 2020 A major revelation to me from the current virus is the sad state of our digital system. Because many of us are house-bound, we are using the Internet more often for information, Entertainment and soci…
A major revelation t…
A major revelation to me from the current virus is the sad state of our digital system. Because many of us are house-bound, we are using the Internet more often for information, entertainment and socialization. Presumably due to this significantly increased demand, I regularly experience sites that don’t work, buttons that don’t function, pages that freeze or disappear, and everyone’s favorite, the dead-end loop. If my toaster, washing machine or car, even under heavy use, operated in this inconsistent manner, I would return it. Another digital issue that has frustrated me for years but …
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
April 25, 2020 As an experienced clinical child psychologist, I believe the ultimate goal of any parent is to rear an independent and responsible child. While at first glance this may appear obvious, if we observe m…
As an experienced cl…
As an experienced clinical child psychologist, I believe the ultimate goal of any parent is to rear an independent and 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.Our nation’s future rests in the hands of…
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
February 22, 2020 Despite our dreams many of us fail to achieve our life ambitions. Many of my clients talk about starting a business, becoming financially independent, writing a novel, traveling, furthering their ed…
Despite our dreams m…
Despite our dreams many of us fail to achieve our life ambitions. Many of my clients talk about starting a business, becoming financially independent, writing a novel, traveling, furthering their education, getting physically fit, or becoming a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. Most of the time their objectives go unfulfilled. Oliver Wendell Holmes said: “Most people go to their graves with their music still within them.” Why? 1) The need for immediate gratification A primary reason why people get “stuck in their rut” and fail to achieve their goals is that they “want it now.” T…
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
February 18, 2020 Schools today are required to provide more services than ever before. For example, many schools across the nation offer a free hot breakfast and lunch to students. Some schools serve as a communit…
Schools today are re…
Schools today are required to provide more services than ever before. For example, many schools across the nation offer a free hot breakfast and lunch to students. Some schools serve as a community Mental Health center and some even supply medical services to the neighborhood. One service I believe schools can and should provide is parenting training. Most parents struggle with disciplining and managing their children. Parents, unfortunately, have no training or guidance in one of the most important things an adult can do—raise an independent, responsible child. Schools are perfect…
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
February 17, 2020 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 reti…
The parent-teacher c…
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. 2) Come with a positive attitude. Parents should recognize that most teachers are hard-working, caring educational professionals who toil for little pay. Complainin…
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
February 17, 2020 I left the APA decades ago when I realized that as a clinician the APA was not my friend and certainly was not worth the expense to remain a member. I joined NAPPP as soon as I could. Nevertheless…
I left the APA decad…
I left the APA decades ago when I realized that as a clinician the APA was not my friend and certainly was not worth the expense to remain a member. I joined NAPPP as soon as I could. Nevertheless, the APA still plagues me. For more than a quarter century I have presented workshops across the country to mental health associations on how to develop, manage and market a thriving, cash-pay private practice. I did it quite successfully for 45 years in Phoenix, studied the topic, learned a few things, wrote a book on the subject and desired to share my knowledge and experience with other ment…
Dr. Larry F. Waldman
February 17, 2020 
