By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

Let’s face it—getting teens to prioritize sleep can feel like an uphill battle. With packed schedules, endless screen time, and their natural tendency to stay up late, sleep often takes a back seat. But the truth is, sleep is vital for their health, mood, and even their success in school. If you’re wondering how to help your teen get the rest they need, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.

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.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

Parenting any child can be challenging, but when you add ADHD to the mix, it can feel like you’re juggling flaming swords. The good news? With the right strategies (and maybe a little extra caffeine), you can navigate these challenges without losing your cool.

Why ADHD Can Be Frustrating

Kids with ADHD aren’t trying to push your buttons (well, not most of the time). Their brain struggles with executive functions like planning, organizing, and impulse control. This means tasks like putting on shoes or finishing homework can turn into an Olympic event.

Finding a therapist after experiencing domestic abuse can be daunting, but the right support is crucial for healing. In this guide from DomesticShelters.org, Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS, offers practical tips to help survivors identify therapists who truly understand the complexities of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse. It covers questions to ask, such as evaluating a therapist’s experience, their therapeutic approaches, and whether they fit your emotional and financial needs. It also highlights resources to locate specialized professionals. With thoughtful advice, this article empowers survivors to take a confident step toward recovery.

Read the full article here or click the button below.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS

90 degree days are here! Time to go swimming and camping. Time to stay up late and time to sleep the day away.
 
These are some of the things that my boys are loving about summer. 
 
And even though it is still July, I am already dreading the transition to going back to school.
 
While the transition from the carefree days of summer break can be challenging for most children, it can be particularly tough for those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). So, why is this shift from summer vacation back to the routine of school days difficult for children with ADHD?

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC

The end of the school year is upon us!  As we start our summers during the age of COVID-19, we will continue to have to be flexible and manage our expectations.  Trips have been canceled.  Summer camps will look different; if they happen at all.  And the worry of what school will look like in the fall looms large for many.  Radical acceptance is a difficult concept for many adults to adhere to, so what about our kids?
 
In my lifetime, there has not been a global situation that has affected our children as much as this pandemic is, and the effects will be ongoing, long after there is a vaccine and our worlds look closer to how they were in 2019.  These times can be confusing, frustrating, and scary for many.  Our children’s mental health will be affected if it hasn’t been already, and while mental health professionals are equipped to deal with these experiences that our children are living through, parents are on the front lines.  Parents are the first line of defense.  This may seem really scary as a parent (I have the privilege of being a parent to two wonderful boys and feel unsure all the time).
 
How can we as parents help our children weather this storm?

The holiday season is upon us.  A time for family and friends, too much food and presents.  Many parents I know worry about how much is too much when it comes to presents and gift giving.  Parents buy many many toys that are sometimes tossed to the side and not used in the ways that you hoped.  This can bring up feelings of frustration and resentment and may make you wonder what your child is grateful for, if anything.  If you ask your child what they are grateful for, many times you will hear that they are grateful for their tablets or phones, toys, maybe their house or if you’re lucky they might say you or their family.  While these are definitely things to be grateful for, the ideas of gratefulness or gratitude are much bigger than the things we possess.  How can we teach our children about the power of gratitude?

​Extra-curricular activities can be a fun way for children to learn skills and values such as time management, the value of team work, the value of hard work and dedication, as well as many others.  There are all types of activities that are beneficial for kids to participate in; music, art, volunteering in the community, drama, and athletics.  If you have a high energy or hyperactive child, providing your child ways to exercise and burn off some of that energy is needed and athletic activities are great for this.  If your child has ADHD, it can be challenging to find an extracurricular activity that will keep your child engaged, motivated, and will help with the illusive skill of time management.  Many children with ADHD not only struggle with focus and attention to detail, many also struggle in the social world as well, making team sports more difficult.  Some children with ADHD do very well in a team environment and the team dynamics do not cause anxiety or blows to their self-esteem.  If you do have a child that struggles in the social arena and may need an individual sport, martial arts may be exactly what you are looking for.

By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC

Yep, school is coming.  Most likely, your summer schedule has become more lax and free-spirited.  Vacations, inconsistent meal times, staying up late, and sleeping in are all some of the perks of summer vacation.  As school approaches, parents fear the process of getting their kids back into a set and structured schedule.  This is difficult for almost all children and parents alike.  One of the major struggles I hear during the transition time of starting school in the fall is how to set a morning routine.  For children with ADD and ADHD, structure in the mornings can help set the day and help them feel some control over their busy minds and bodies.