Six Critical Messages Kids Need Every Day

​I believe in you.
I trust in you.
I know you can handle it.
You are listened to.
You are cared for.
​You are very important to me.
--- Barbara Coloroso, parenting expert
                                  author of Kids Are Worth It 
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      9 Tips to Help Kids Succeed in School  
On the podcast, Thriving Kids, Dave Anderson, PhD, senior psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, interviewed Adam Zamora, PsyD, about how to help kids succeed at school. Practical strategies included:
1.   Make learning fun. Instill a love of learning from an early age by reading to your child, exploring their areas of interest, and exposing them to a variety of opportunities.
2.  Establish good habits at home. Consider creating a dedicated homework space, setting up a planner to manage assignments, helping kids organize their backpacks and school papers, and offering homework support.
3.  Teach school skills at home. Don’t assume your child knows how to be a good student. Find ways to teach them how to organize, prioritize and plan tasks, set goals, take notes, and study for tests. Online tutorials — plus your own knowledge — can help.
4.  Get involved. Get involved in your child’s school community and establish an open line of communication with their teacher. Don’t be shy about seeking additional support if necessary.
5.  Give them space. Sometimes, experience can be the best teacher. Don’t be afraid to let your child make mistakes and figure things out on their own once in a while.
6.  Be patient and understanding. If your child is struggling in school, be supportive and encouraging while helping them figure out what they might need to succeed. 
7.  Don't compare your child to others. Every individual succeeds at their own rate and has unique strengths and challenges — so it is likely to be counterproductive to compare your kid to others.
8.  Encourage but don't stress. It’s one thing to encourage your child to do their best but try to strike a balance; too much pressure often backfires.
9.  Focus on effort, not outcome. Kids will grow to be more resilient — comfortable trying things and making mistakes — if you praise their efforts instead of focusing on results. Let them know that you’re proud of them even if their grades aren’t perfect, and when they do succeed, continue to focus on how their effort played an important role in their success.

**NOTE**

Therapy sessions are being held in-person as well as via Thera-LINK, 
a virtual, HIPAA-compliant platform. 

How Can Mathias Counseling and Consulting Help You?
Check out this short video about Carlabeth Mathias!
Sessions are being conducted in-person. 

Welcome to Mathias Counseling and Consulting!
Located in Fishers, Indiana

Each of us has a unique set of talents, challenges and opportunities. Our fast-paced society is full of demands, expectations, and uncertainties, which test not only our physical stamina at times, but our psychological stamina as well. 

Adjusting to a new school. Divorce. Death of a loved one. Moving. Job loss. Health concerns. Problems making friends. We wonder about our reactions and those of our children to events like these. What is happening here? Why doesn’t this make sense? Is my child's behavior normal? What can I do to help my child and my family? 

And sometimes, along the way, we learn that our child has special challenges. Mood swings. Attention and focus. Learning difficulties. Autism. Anxiety. Depression. Then our questions become. . . How I can best help my child? Can I raise my child to become a happier, healthier, and contributing member of society? 

Parenting is a hard job. Sometimes it's too hard to do alone. Even the best parents are overwhelmed at times. 

Mathias Counseling and Consulting helps you meet these challenges through individual and group counseling, classes for children and parents on key issues, and consultation for schools, churches, and community agencies. 

We help you make sense of life.

Reliable Resources for Parents


With so many resources available on the internet, it is often hard to know which ones are the most reliable.  The following reputable websites offer parents information on a variety of topics related to children and teens.                  

​Explore these sites for good information regarding topics such as adolescence, stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, parenting, kids' technology use, sleep issues and other important issues. 



Children, Teens, and Traumatic World Events
​
Often our world is rocked with violent and disturbing events and images. These can be very damaging for the mental health of our children and teens.  Please consider limiting your child's exposure to the news and social media platforms.  Some useful and reputable sources of help for parents are:

AACAP Facts for Families, "Terrorism & War – How to Talk to Children”
AACAP Facts for Families, “News & Children”
AACAP Facts for Families, "Disaster: Helping Children Cope"​
Helping Children with Traumatic Events     ​
​     Talking to Children About Disasters
Helping Children Cope With Frightening News​
How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings
(This also applies to other kinds of shootings.) ​


Words of Help
"At many times throughout their lives, children will feel like the world has turned topsy-turvy. It's not the ever-present smile that will help them feel secure. It's knowing that love can hold many feelings, including sadness, and that they can count on the people they love to be with them until the world turns right-side up again." --- Fred Rogers

              Programs for Groups                               and Communities


GREAT programs for parents:
K-12, preschools, and faith communities!

Toolbox for Success: Strategies for Handling Stress and Anxiety

"The "Other 3R's" - Raising Responsible, Resilient and Resourceful Children
 
How to Listen to Your Kids So They Will Want to Talk to You!

Strong Kids: Helping Your Child Face Challenges, Handle Setbacks and Develop Resilience

No More Bullies!

Give Your Child Roots and Wings

Taming the Tantrum Tiger, Managing the Morning Mayhem, Braving the Bedtime Battle, and Other Perils of Parenting Preschoolers
​
Suicide Prevention

Select "Parent Programs" tab to learn how to bring a program to your school or faith community!

​Tragedy in Our World
​
​What do we say to our children?
In times of tragedy and violence,
parents wonder how to handle this. 
It IS important that we talk and listen!

Click on these American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry  links for helpful advice:

AACAP Facts for Families, "Terrorism & War – How to Talk to Children”

AACAP Facts for Families, “News & Children”

AACAP Facts for Families, "Disaster: Helping Children Cope"

And these are also great resources:
​
Helping Children with Traumatic Events
     ​
​     Talking to Children About Disasters

LIMITING your child's media exposure is important!
"Raising Teens Today. . ." Podcast
with Carlabeth Mathias

Listen to a recent podcast featuring Carlabeth on "The Toolbox," a series of podcasts hosted by the counselors at Westfield Middle School!  Topics include anxiety and depression in teens, friendship, social skills, and technology, among others.  To listen, click: www.spreaker.com/user/10115907/021-carlabeth-mathias

Are You a Parent?

Want to learn some new ideas? Don't have time to attend a class? Check out ONLINE 
opportunities offered through Mathias Counseling!
Active Parenting: Ages Birth—5
and Ages 5—12.
Click here.

Suicide Prevention...

...is everyone's business!
Mathias Counseling helps in three ways! Click here to learn more!
​See this video about suicide prevention.
7965 East 106th Street, Suite 116   •   Fishers, Indiana 46038   •   317.586.2141
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