Alec Rozmiarek, BA, Intern

How much of your energy each day do you spend on work?
 
Not just the work you’re paid to do, but the energy you spend off the clock.
 
The energy spent laying awake at night dreading the work day ahead. The energy spent wishing you were driving to literally anywhere else but work. The time spent mustering up the courage to talk to your boss, worrying how they’ll punish you for speaking.
 
The energy spent thinking:
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“How will my boss set me up for failure today?”
“What will I do ‘wrong’ today?”
“Will my boss just make something up to be mad about today?”
“Why am I being treated this way?”
 
It may surprise you how much of your energy, on and off the clock, can be drained by having a boss who mistreats you, belittles you, refuses to engage with you constructively, or perhaps even discriminates against you. And it can feel like there’s no way it will stop—your boss is the one you are supposed to turn to if you have a problem, right?

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

Parenting a child with ADHD is a bit like trying to teach a butterfly to follow a straight path. They’re colorful, curious, and full of energy, but boy, do they get distracted! If you’ve ever wondered what’s really going on inside your child’s brain and why they act the way they do, you’re not alone. Let’s take a closer look at how the ADHD brain works and how understanding it can help you parent with more patience, compassion, and maybe even a little humor.

What’s Happening inside the ADHD Brain?

Imagine you’re driving a car with an overactive accelerator and unreliable brakes. That’s the ADHD brain. It’s not that your child isn’t trying; it’s that their brain is wired differently. ADHD impacts the areas responsible for attention, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Think of it as having a Ferrari engine with bicycle brakes.
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Kids with ADHD are often amazing problem-solvers, creative thinkers, and full of enthusiasm—when they’re engaged. The trick is learning how to harness these strengths while addressing the challenges.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

If you’ve got an ADHD kiddo at home, you’ve probably heard advice like, “They need structure.” But what does that actually mean? And how do you create structure when your child seems allergic to schedules? Don’t worry—you’re not alone, and we’ve got some tips to help.

Why ADHD Kids Thrive on Structure

Think of structure like bumpers on a bowling lane. It doesn’t guarantee a strike, but it keeps the ball out of the gutter. For ADHD kids, routines and clear expectations provide a sense of safety and predictability in what often feels like a chaotic world.

When there’s structure, your child doesn’t have to guess what’s coming next. This reduces anxiety and helps their brain conserve energy for other tasks, like actually doing the thing instead of arguing about it.