Dr. Ana Mena.

Here are some great books that touch upon various important topics and can serve as great conversation starters. 👇🏼

-Cell Phoney by Julia Cook
-What do I Say About That? By Julia Cook
-Foster Care, One Dogs Story of Change by Julia Cook
-Grief is like a Snowflake by Julia Cook

Death can be a very delicate subject to talk to children about. It may be sudden, expected, prolonged or accidental. Part of the experience is finding ways to express what's happened, to make sense of what's happened, and finally, to accept what's happened.

Here’s a good guide on what to do and what not to do.

The Do's and Don'ts of Talking With a Child About Death Parenting tips to help grieving children.

Las funciones ejecutivas del cerebro.

Great read!

What Is an ‘Almond Mom?’ and How to Not Be One The trending TikTok term "almond mom" is rooted in diet culture, and it's harmful.

According to E. Maguire et al.,
Meditation 12 minutes per day results in measurable growth in one’s anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) which is where we experience compassion, empathy, and concern for others.

-Dr. Mena

Our English Anxiety Group starts tomorrow! I am so excited to be able to provide psychoeducation on anxiety, practical tools on how to address it and teach coping skills, all to better equip group members and increase quality of life. See you all tomorrow evening.
Dr. Mena

Dr. Ana Mena. updated their address.

Dr. Ana Mena. updated their website address.

This is such a great video on childhood trauma and how we (as a society) need to learn to respond to our children.

I highly admire Dr. Bruce Perry and once again he does an amazing job at explaining how trauma affects our children and also how caregivers and educators can help our children in the best ways possible.

Please! Make the time to watch this.
-Dr. Mena

Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Bruce Perry in Conversation | SXSW EDU 2021 Oprah Winfrey and leading child psychiatrist and neuroscientist Bruce Perry, MD, PhD explore the impact of childhood trauma on who we become, the decisions w...

Men and Women With Depression Show Opposite Molecular Changes

We already know that men and women differ both physiologically and emotionally.

In this article published by PsychCentral, researchers found that because depression in men and women presents itself differently, that the treatment may therefore need to differ. To learn more about this interesting finding, click on the link below!

https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/03/14/depression-may-be-different-for-men-and-women/133741.html?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTldKalptTXlOVEl5TjJWaiIsInQiOiJaTVRKanpuVjEwb2c3SFZQb1RDQmJ4VjZUXC9jbmRFaW1SRVNZdGJpelZEZ2xIYjByczhHcHpPM0pVWXRsZXczMk5YNWtkOTlaRlc5aTI2ZCtwa3kxalFmSUxUc3ZPREV5WDN3c1d5N0hMWit1WU1pSFJaaDJucmZyeTB3b0kzeTQifQ==

psychcentral.com New research finds that men and women with major depressive disorder (MDD) have opposite changes in the expression of the same genes. If true, the discovery suggests that men and women may need

Researchers Discover Proteins in the Brain That Protect Synapses From Being Eliminated

bbrfoundation.org A research team led by a BBRF grantee has shown for the first time that the brain contains specialized proteins whose function is to protect synapses from being eliminated. Synapses are the connection points at which the brain’s tens of billions of neurons communicate. The discovery may have valua...

Resilience Guide for Parents and Teachers

apa.org

The Gut-Brain Connection: How Digestion Affects Physical and Mental Health - 1354557

Sharing this free training I will be attending for anyone that is interested.

"This presentation will explore the science and research behind the complex gut/brain relationship. Topics will include the impact of nutrient absorption on neurotransmitter creation, the enteric nervous system, and the relationship between the microbiome in our digestive track our mental health and addiction. We will also include a review of digestive disorders and their relationship to mental health."

goto.webcasts.com

American Psychological Association

School shooter drills are meant to prepare children for an emergency, but may inadvertently cause psychological harm. APA member Daniel Marullo, PhD, explains how to tell if your child is having a problem after a drill and how you can help them cope.

5 Ways Childhood Emotional Neglect Makes it Hard to Feel Loved as an Adult

blogs.psychcentral.com Here is a fact that may surprise you. When you grow up in a family that ignores, devalues, or eclipses your feelings, it damages your ability to feel loved as an adult. Hard to believe, I know, but it is true. I have seen it over and over and over again...

The Backwards Brain Bicycle - Smarter Every Day 133

The next 7 minutes will change the way you understand perception, bias, neuroplasticity, and how to ride a bike!

-Dr. Mena

youtube.com Get your own here ⇒ http://bit.ly/BuyBackwardsBike ⇐ Shirt: https://goo.gl/doOG3G I give talks: http://www.smartereveryday.com/appearances Patreon Support Li...

American Psychological Association

From anger in older adults to support and self-esteem, take a look at the latest peer-reviewed studies within psychology and related fields.

American Psychological Association

“These reports confirm much of what we psychologists and the APA have been saying for the last several years – namely, that migrant children who were separated from their families or arrived here unaccompanied are being retraumatized within the government’s shelters and detention centers.”

Middle-School Latino Children Report More Depressive Symptoms After Family Member Arrested, Study Finds

This epidemic is real. We will see the ramifications of these childrens’ stunted and delayed development as well as their depressive symptoms as they get older.

apa.org Latino children who experience the immigration-related arrest of a family member report more severe levels of depression than those who don’t have such an experience, especially if one or both parents are undocumented.

American Psychological Association

The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact permits licensed psychologists in seven states to see patients in other compact states legally without maintaining licensure in the other states.

American Psychological Association

It’s rare, but some children with autism spectrum disorder lose their symptoms. Now psychologists are exploring why, and how these children fare long term.

American Psychological Association on LinkedIn: "As a parent, you may want your kids to succeed in all they do, but it’s important to remember that failure is a necessary part of life. APA fellows Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore and Dr. David Palmiter...

As a parent, you may want your kids to succeed in all they do, but it’s important to remember that failure is a necessary part of life.

APA fellows Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore and Dr. David Palmiter explain the consequences of handing your kids everything and how to help them develop greater resilience and well-being in the face of disappointment.

linkedin.com March 16, 2019: American Psychological Association posted an article on LinkedIn

NIMH » The Teen Brain: 6 Things to Know

6 Facts to Know about a Teenager’s Brain

nimh.nih.gov A fact sheet outlining how a teenager’s brain grows, matures, and adapts to the world. This fact sheet also briefly covers the teen brain’s resiliency, onset of some mental illnesses, and sleep patterns in teens.

International Society For The Study Of Trauma And Dissociation

Attacks on the credibility of abuse survivors are not justified by research. http://ow.ly/k3D430jgwJU