Dandelion Family Counseling, PLLC

The concept of neurodiversity acknowledges that ADHD and Autism are natural variations of the human brain and are therefore not deficits. It's critical to understand neurodiversity in a therapeutic setting in order to acknowledge and celebrate neurological diversity.

We get lots of questions about the differences between individual and group therapy here at Dandelion. Do you wonder which would benefit your kiddo more? Possibly both? This simple diagram describes the basic differences. Check out the Dandelion website for much more in-depth descriptions of the services we provide, as well as easy links for scheduling. www.dandelionfamilycounseling.com

Most of our social skills groups run year round and have waitlists, so if you are looking ahead to the busy school year, we encourage you to reach out now. Fill out an interest form on our website and an intake coordinator will be in touch soon.
www.dandelionfamilycounseling.com

Happy 4th from our family to yours!

Louisa Penka is one of our phenomenal Dandelion therapists. She works out of our Southpark and Huntersville offices and has a passion for working with neurodivergent children. As a prior ABA therapist, Louisa offers a secure space for both parents and children through collaboration, compassion, and trust.

Executive function is responsible for self-regulation, self-awareness, judgment, productivity, performance, and more. If your child struggles with executive function, check out the latest Dandelion blog, written by Madison Backer, for ways to start the process of change.

https://dandelionfamilycounseling.com/2024/06/24/executive-function-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-help-my-child-improve-executive-functioning/

Are you looking for a different sort of group for your anxious kiddo? Keep an eye out for more information on our Beyond Social Skills group. This group is designed to help kids decrease anxious thoughts about social situations and peers, decrease anxious over-thinking, find a community of like-minded kids, and improve self confidence and self talk.

Meet Madison Backer, one of Dandelion's phenomenal therapists! Madison, like all our therapists, is passionate about neurodiversity and she works hard to help your kiddos reach their full potentials. We are so lucky to have her on the Dandelion Team!

The Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, developed by psychologist and author, Dr. Ross Greene. is a powerful approach that can not only help address challenging behavior and tricky situations with children, but also strengthen the bond between the parent and child. To learn more, check out the latest Dandelion blog, written by Mirela Frank, titled "CPS at Home: Building Stronger Parent-Child Relationship."

https://dandelionfamilycounseling.com/2024/05/27/cps-at-home-building-stronger-parent-child-relationships/

Does your ADHD child seem overly sensitive or overreact to perceived rejection? Your child might have RSD, or rejection sensitivity dysphoria. RSD is an emotional response to being rejected or criticized. Learn more in the newest Dandelion blog written by Haley Cutrell.

https://dandelionfamilycounseling.com/2024/05/13/adhd-and-rejection-sensitivity-dysphoria/

If busy school year schedules have been a deterrent, summer is a good time to work on social skills! Our groups run year round and most have waitlists, so if you're interested in a social skills group during the summer months, now is a good time to reach out! Fill out an interest form on our website and an intake coordinator will be in touch soon!

www.dandelionfamilycounseling.com

Help us give a huge shout-out to our very own Mirela Frank who was approved for full licensure! We couldn't be prouder of her hard work and dedication. Congratulations, Mirela!

While the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, developed by Dr. Ross Greene, can be highly effective, there are some common challenges that come up when implementing the model. Mirela Frank explores some of these challenges, as well as strategies to overcome them in the newest Dandelion blog titled, "Overcoming Common Challenges in Implementing the CPS Model."

https://dandelionfamilycounseling.com/2024/04/22/overcoming-common-challenges-in-implementing-the-cps-model/

Today is a good day to get outside and play!

Parenting a child with high levels of resistance and opposition can be frustrating and exhausting. In this blog, Dandelion therapist Madison Backer discusses possible triggers for resistance and opposition as well as examples on how to cope with them.

https://dandelionfamilycounseling.com/2024/04/08/addressing-resistance-and-opposition-in-children/

Obviously, character traits vary from person to person, but today we are celebrating some positive Autistic strengths as we continue to highlight Autism Acceptance Month.

April marks the start of Autism Acceptance month, also known around here as Autism Celebration month! We accept, embrace and celebrate you just as you are!

Ultimately, through empathy and understanding, the CPS model aims to create a supportive environment where children feel valued and empowered to work collaboratively with adults to address challenging behaviors and situations. Interested in learning more? Check out the newest Dandelion blog titled, "The Role of Empathy and Understanding in the CPS Model," written by Mirela Frank.

https://dandelionfamilycounseling.com/2024/03/25/the-role-of-empathy-and-understanding-in-the-cps-model/

The pollen is raining down, so this is a good time to remind families that an uptick of behaviors is common during heavy allergy seasons. Even if your kiddo doesn't struggle with traditional symptoms of environmental allergies, histamine influences countless functions, such as learning, memorizing, paying attention and regulating temperature, appetite, sleep and mood.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Dandelion family and friends! Let's all wear some green, look for the rainbows in our lives, and make our own luck!

Happy World Pi Day! Pi(e) is always a good idea and you never have to choose between being a math enthusiast and a culinary enthusiast!

While high IQ may mask certain characteristics of ADHD, it can create other challenging dynamics and struggles for these kiddos. Interested in learning more? Read Mia Dadian's latest blog titled, "Can High IQ Mask ADHD?"

Today is International Women’s Day and we are celebrating all the phenomenal women at Dandelion Family Counseling!

Meet Mirela Frank, one of Dandelion's amazing therapists and group leaders. Mirela runs the Beyond Social Skills group and has a passion for helping kiddos reach their full potentials. We are so lucky to have her on the Dandelion team!

No matter your age, it can be really challenging to talk about emotions. Haley Cutrell explores the importance of having an emotional vocabulary and strategies for helping your child build one in the newest Dandelion blog titled, "How to Help your Child Build an Emotional Vocabulary."

https://dandelionfamilycounseling.com/2024/02/26/help-your-child-build-an-emotional-vocabulary/

We are so excited to welcome Geoff Oman, our newest graduate intern, to the Dandelion playrooms! Geoff joins us from Liberty University where he is completing his graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling and plans to work with ADHD and Autistic children when he graduates. As a father of exceptional children himself, he has an affinity for working with kiddos who struggle with forgetting things, listening, focusing, and social situations. Welcome to the Dandelion team, Geoff!

We are continuing to celebrate Black History Month by again sharing a blog titled, "Autism Represented in the Black Community," written by Alyse Bone.

https://dandelionfamilycounseling.com/2021/02/12/autism-represented-in-the-black-community/

The Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model is a more empathetic and collaborative approach to addressing behavioral challenges in young individuals. Interested in learning more? Check out our newest blog written by Dandelion therapist Mirela Frank, one of our therapists trained in the CPS model.

https://dandelionfamilycounseling.com/2024/02/12/introduction-cps-model-understanding-basics/

Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours!

Are you looking for a more peaceful approach to your everyday parenting style that allows you and your child to feel less stressed? Join Dandelion therapist, Alyse Bone, as she leads an online workshop in which she addresses parenting an ADHD child utilizing a mindfulness approach.

When: Monday, February 12th (6:30-8pm)
Where: Online Event

This workshop is hosted by The Rankin Institute at the Fletcher School. Please reach out to Laura Boggess at [email protected] for more information or sign up for this event here:

https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=j8rfg7iab&oeidk=a07ek23cbdecfbfab50