Guiding Exceptional Parents

Book Club - Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
2020-04-08 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Join us to discuss the book Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff, Ph.D.
Wednesday April 8th, 2020 from 7:30pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting to be held virtually in my Zoom room!
Register here
Book summary:
The relentless search for high self-esteem has become a virtual religion; and a tyrannical one at that. Our competitive culture tells us we need to be special and above average to feel good about ourselves, but we can’t all be above average at the same time. There is always someone richer, more attractive, or successful than we are. And even when we do manage to feel self-esteem for one golden moment, we can’t hold on to it. Our sense of self-worth bounces around like a ping-pong ball, rising and falling in lock-step with our latest success or failure.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to self-esteem that many psychologists believe is a better and more effective path to happiness: self-compassion. The research of Dr. Kristin Neff and others strongly suggests that people who are more self-compassionate lead healthier, more productive lives than those who are self-critical. And the feelings of security and self-worth provided by self-compassion are highly stable. Self-compassion steps in precisely when we fall down, allowing us to get up and try again.
Dr. Neff helps readers understand that compassion isn’t only something that we should apply to others. Just as we’d have compassion for a good friend who was going through a hard time or felt inadequate in some way, why not for ourselves? Many people believe that they need to be self-critical to motivate themselves, but in fact they just end up feeling anxious, incompetent and depressed. Dr. Neff’s research shows that far from encouraging self-indulgence, self-compassion helps us to see ourselves clearly and make needed changes because we care about ourselves and want to reach our full potential.
This groundbreaking book shows readers how to let go of their constant, debilitating self-judgment and finally learn to be kind to themselves. Using solid empirical research, personal stories, humor, and dozens of practical exercises, Dr. Neff—the world’s leading experts on self-compassion—shows readers how to heal the wounds of the past so that they can be healthier, happier and more effective. Entertaining, highly readable and eminently accessible, this book has the power to change your life. (from Dr. Neff’s website)

Spring 2020 - Raising Your Challenging Child - Parent Child Journey
2020-03-09 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Dr. Dan Shapiro’s Parent Child Journey – An Individualized Approach for Raising Your Challenging Child is a 10-session program for parents of children (ages preschool through early adolescence) with difficult behaviors. It is designed to help parents identify the sources of their children’s challenges and learn what they can do about them. During each session, we will discuss proactive strategies for raising children with difficult temperaments and developmental differences. The emphasis is on customizing the strategy to fit each child’s unique profile while taking parents’ profiles into account as well. Different children, different parents, different approaches.
REGISTER HERE!
This section will be led by Dr. Sarah Wayland, Ph.D. and starts Monday, March 9th, 2020.
TOPICS

Know Your Child/Know Yourself
Time-In and Self-Care
Engagement and Understanding
Motivation through Positive Attention
Self-Motivation & Learning from Experience
Motivation through Rewards
Problem-Solving
Ignoring and Timeout
Pausing for Empathy and Self-Reflection
Weaknesses, Strengths, and Independence

Dates

March 9, 16, 23, 30
April 20, 27 (no class 6th, 13th)
May 4, 11, 18 (no class May 25th, Memorial Day)
June 1st

Cost: $150 – $350. If you pay what you can it helps us keep our program accessible to all.
REGISTER HERE!
You can help spread the word by downloading a copy of my flyer and posting it.

Book Club - The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz
2020-01-15 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Join us to discuss the book The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz (who will join us in person!)
Wednesday January 15th, 2020 from 7:30pm to 9:00 pm
at the offices of Guiding Exceptional Parents (4711 Sheridan Street, Riverdale Park, MD 20737)
Register here!
Book summary:
The groundbreaking book that explains Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) – and presents a drug-free approach that offers hope for parents–now revised and updated.
Does your child exhibit over-responsivity–or under-responsivity–to touch or movement? A child with SPD may be a “sensory avoider,” withdrawing from touch, refusing to wear certain clothing, avoiding active games–or he may be a “sensory disregarder,” needing a jump start to get moving. Are they over-responsive–or under-responsive–to sounds, sights taste, or smell? She may cover her ears or eyes, be a picky eater, or seem oblivious to sensory cues. Do they crave sensation? The “sensory craver” never gets enough of certain sensations, e.g., messy play, spicy food, noisy action, and perpetual movement. Or perhaps they have poor sensory discrimination. She may not sense the difference between objects or experiences–unaware of what she’s holding unless she looks, and unable to sense when she’s falling or how to catch herself. Some children with SPD have unusually high or low activity level? The child may be constantly on the go–wearing out everyone around him–or move slowly and tire easily, showing little interest in the world. Or they may have problems with posture or motor coordination – He may slouch, move awkwardly, seem careless or accident-prone.
These are often the first clues to Sensory Processing Disorder–a common but frequently misdiagnosed problem in which the central nervous system misinterprets messages from the senses. The Out-of-Sync Child offers comprehensive, clear information for parents and professionals–and a drug-free treatment approach for children.

Winter 2020 - First, Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask
2020-01-13 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
The workshop is for parents who want to improve their quality of life and their relationship with their children. The material I cover truly changed my life, and I would love to share it with you. To quote Brianna Wiest, “True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake, it is making the choice to build a life you don’t need to regularly escape from.” Take my class and start the process of building a life that sustains you, even when things are hard.
In this eight-session workshop you will learn new ways to think about your problems and how to implement self-care techniques proven to reduce stress, even when life is incredibly busy. In addition to learning more about yourself, you will join with other parents who want to learn skills taught in cognitive and dialectical behavior therapy, as well as mindfulness–based stress reduction techniques.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
This workshop will be led by Dr. Sarah Wayland, Ph.D. and starts Monday, January 13th, 2020.
Topics

Understand Yourself
Thoughts, Behavior & Feelings
Pleasant Activities, Relaxation & Mindfulness
Change Your Thinking
Effective Communication
Overcome Your Fears
Stages of Your Journey
Rewrite Your Story

Dates

January 13, 20, 27
February 3, 10, 17, 24
March 2

Cost: $125 – $300. If you pay what you can it helps us keep our program accessible to all.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
You can help spread the word by downloading a copy of the flyer and posting it.

Parenting Autism Summit
2019-11-04
We’re bringing together 28 of the world’s autism and parenting experts to share the most effective symptom management and parenting strategies for kids with less-obvious autism (or Asperger’s) and their parents.
They’ll share insights on the autistic brain and experience, the impact of sensory struggles, behavior, emotions, and regulation, social challenges, life as a teen or adult with autism, empowering your child for success, and so, so much more.
If you want to improve life for your child with autism, and improve life for yourself as a parent of a child with autism, this is an event you can’t afford to miss.
Get more information and register for FREE here.

Parent Academy Series - Fall 2019
2019-09-29 14:00 - 18:00 UTC
Come learn from our experts about language development, behavior management, and navigating the IEP process.
Two Sessions, Five Options
2:00 – 3:30

Speech Language Developmental Milestones and Stimulation Strategies (Tiffany Phoenix)
Tips for Managing Challenging Behaviors (Kimberly Brown-Lucas)

4:00 – 5:45

Know Your Child, Know Yourself: Parenting with Your Child’s Profile in Mind (Sarah Wayland)
Social Communication Disorders and Pragmatic Language Skills (Tiffany Phoenix)
IEP Goals: Learn How to Write and Manage IEP Goals (Kimberly Brown-Lucas)

Register here

Fall 2019 - Parent Child Journey - Raising Your Challenging Child
2019-09-18 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Dr. Dan Shapiro’s Parent Child Journey – An Individualized Approach for Raising Your Challenging Child is a 10-session program for parents of children (ages preschool through early adolescence) with difficult behaviors. It is designed to help parents identify the sources of their children’s challenges and learn what they can do about them. During each session, we will discuss proactive strategies for raising children with difficult temperaments and developmental differences. The emphasis is on customizing the strategy to fit each child’s unique profile while taking parents’ profiles into account as well. Different children, different parents, different approaches.
REGISTER HERE!
This section will be led by Dr. Sarah Wayland, Ph.D. and starts Wednesday, September 18th, 2019.
TOPICS

Know Your Child/Know Yourself
Time-In and Self-Care
Engagement and Understanding
Motivation through Positive Attention
Self-Motivation & Learning from Experience
Motivation through Rewards
Problem-Solving
Ignoring and Timeout
Pausing for Empathy and Self-Reflection
Weaknesses, Strengths, and Independence

Dates

September 18, 25
October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
November 6, 13, 20

Cost: $150 – $350. If you pay what you can it helps us keep our program accessible to all.
REGISTER HERE!
You can help spread the word by downloading a copy of my flyer and posting it. If you can’t make my class, this flyer has information about three offerings by other professionals on the Parent Child Journey Team.

Book Club - Differently Wired by Debbie Reber
2019-07-09 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a book club discussing the book: Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World by Debbie Reber
Tuesday, July 9th, 2019 from 7:30pm to 9:00 pm
Offices of Guiding Exceptional Parents, Riverdale Park, MD (map it)
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED – We are filled to capacity!
Special Guest: Debbie Reber will be joining us by video!
Book summary:
Today millions of kids are stuck in a world that doesn’t respect, support, or embrace who they really are—these are what Deborah Reber is calling the “differently wired” kids, the one in five children with ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger’s, giftedness, anxiety, sensory processing disorder, and other neurodifferences. Their challenges are many. But for the parents who love them, the challenges are just as hard—struggling to find the right school, the right therapist, the right parenting group while feeling isolated and harboring endless internal doubts about what’s normal, what’s not, and how to handle it all.
But now there’s hope. Written by Deborah Reber, a bestselling author and mother in the midst of an eye-opening journey with her son who is twice exceptional (he has ADHD, Asperger’s, and is highly gifted), Differently Wired is a how-to, a manifesto, a book of wise advice, and the best kind of been-there, done-that companion. (summary from amazon)

Book Club: Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
2019-04-22 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a book club discussing the book: Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert Sapolsky
Monday April 22nd, 2019 from 7:30pm to 9:00 pm
Offices of Better Together Family Therapy, Kensington MD (map it)
Go here to register!
Book summary:
Why do we do the things we do? More than a decade in the making, this game-changing book is Robert Sapolsky’s genre-shattering attempt to answer that question as fully as perhaps only he could, looking at it from every angle. Sapolsky’s storytelling concept is delightful, but it also has a powerful intrinsic logic: He starts by looking at the factors that bear on a person’s reaction in the precise moment a behavior occurs and then hops back in time from there in stages, ultimately ending up at the deep history of our species and its evolutionary legacy. (summary from amazon)

2019 Diamonds in the Rough Conference
2019-04-13
The 9th Annual Diamonds in the Rough Conference will place a special focus on the skills and supports students need to successfully launch at each educational stage.
For parents raising a child with special educational needs, even small changes can feel big. Growing in confidence and hope, thinking farther out, and developing plans for a child’s future becomes crucial as children age and mature.
The Diamonds Conference is a unique event at which parents, advocates, and professionals learn, connect, and share, with the goal of empowering children and ultimately launching them to becoming independent adults.
Dr. Sarah Wayland will be presenting Launching Twice Exceptional Students on the second day of the conference.
Please check the event website for more information, including cost.

Effective Communication
2019-04-08 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Effective Communication for Better Outcomes for Your Child.
Featuring Dr. Sarah Wayland
6:30 pm at the PTO meeting for CMIT-North Elementary School, Laurel, MD.
Time: 6:30pm
Date: Monday, April 8th, 2019
Location: CMIT-North Elementary School

Understanding Emotions
2019-04-07 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Understanding Emotions, Stress, and the Brain: Self-Regulation Strategies to Help You and Your Family,

Organized by CHADD Northern Virginia/DC Chapter
Our featured lecture, “Understanding Emotions, Stress and the Brain: Self Regulations Strategies to Help You and Your Family”, will be given by our guest speaker, Sarah Wayland, from Guiding Exceptional Parents in Maryland. Please RSVP.

Time: 2:00pm
Date: Sunday, April 7th, 2019
Location: Petworth Neighborhood Library
