Mindwell Psychology

Child & Adolescent Psychologists

ADHD / ADD • Autism Spectrum • Dyslexia • Anxiety • Depression

Testing & Treatment
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Phone:     (703) 378-7998
14110 Robert Paris Ct., Chantilly, VA 20151

MindWell to present at Oakwood School: Knowing Your Child’s Mind…..

Your Child’s Mind: Promoting Motivation, Grit, and Executive Functioning

Rachna Varia, PhD and Kristi Guadagnoli, PsyD are co-founders of MindWell Psychology.  As both parents and psychologists, they understand how important it is to know and foster your child’s unique learning style.

Their talk will identify how our children learn and the importance of using natural strengths and developing strategies to improve on weaknesses.  In addition, they will discuss the role of executive functioning, or how a student can learn to learn.  Learning is an active process and many students have a more passive or disorganized approach.

  • What is the role of motivation and perseverance?
  • How can we teach and model the importance of grit or working hard?
  • How do we parent and teach our children without it becoming a power struggle?

Dr. Varia and Dr. Guadagnoli will be presenting the latest research, practical techniques, and real life examples in an interactive and informative manner.

The talk is open to the public and will be held at 7 PM at Oakwood School on Wednesday, October 8th.

Please register here: http://www.oakwoodschool.com/

What can attention problems look like?

Mindful pictureBeing able to pay attention—to focus, concentrate, and ignore distractions, is critical to school/work and life achievement. When individuals have disorders of attention (such as ADHD), the following ‘red flag’ symptoms may interfere with their success:

-Daydreaming/ “spacy-ness”
-Need for high levels of stimulation (hyperactivity, restlessness)
-Trouble staying focused on work
-Difficulty with self-control
-Underachievement in school and leisure activities (e.g. scouts, music lessons)
-Trouble with memory and learning new things
-Disorganization—time management problems, losing things, missing deadlines

Clearly, disorders of attention are not only about paying attention. People with attention disorders can have trouble paying attention, however, the real problems arise when they try to stay focused on something for a long time (e.g. like a long division problem or a textbook chapter). Executive functioning problems can lead to trouble with time management, organization, and remembering to finish important tasks. People with attention problems may need lots of excitement in order to stay focused. For example, a person may be able to keep his attention on an exciting video game for hours, but find his or her mind wandering after just a few minutes of homework. Attention disorders can look different in different people. In some cases, people with attention disorders have problems with self control. They may be hyperactive or always feel restless. They may make mistakes that get them into trouble because they act without stopping to think. Other individuals with attention disorders can seem dreamy, and find it hard to stay motivated. It is essential once you have recognized symptoms of attention problems to understand the nature of the problem.

If you believe your child may have attention problems, consider scheduling a consultation with a MindWell expert.

Is it ADHD or a Learning Disability…..or both?!

MindWell describes learning issues as falling into two major categories:Anxiety

Problems with academics (Learning Disabilities – LD)
Problems with executive functioning or attention (Executive Functioning Disorder (EFD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – (ADHD)
Individuals with EFD might have challenges with planning, organization, initiation, and monitoring themselves.

People with ADHD might show hyperactive/fidgety behaviors, inattention, distractibility, and/or impulsivity. These behaviors, present for years, can be seen at school, at home, and with peers.

Students with LD have a neurologically-based processing problem that interferes with the ability to master specific learning skills.

Possible learning disabilities can include:

Dyslexia
Dysgraphia
Dyscalculia
ADHD/Executive Functioning
Visual Processing Disorders
Auditory Processing Disorders

Once you identify a potential learning issue, MindWell typical recommends testing (psychoeducational, developmental or neuropsychological) to better understand the underlying cause of the learning problem.

If you or your child faces a learning issue, contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Rachna Varia, PhD