Dr. Tali Shenfield holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Toronto and is a licensed school and clinical psychologist. She has taught at the University of Toronto and has worked at institutions including the Hospital for Sick Children, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, TDSB, and YCDSB. Dr. Shenfield is the Founder and Clinical Director of Advanced Psychology Services.
‘Risk’ is a word that few parents enjoy contemplating. After all, whether it’s realistic or not, we instinctively want to protect our kids from all forms of potential harm. However, while this type of parental care is nothing new, experts today worry that parents are becoming overly risk-averse. Changing social dynamics have left both, parents and their kids feeling ...
According to various studies, emotional and behavioural problems among children are far more common than many of us realize. It’s estimated that currently, 17% to 22% of those under 18 struggle with emotional issues severe enough to hinder their development. Out of all of these issues, anger is the most prevalent. While many children struggle to control their anger at times, kids ...
To the parents of children with learning disabilities, it will come as no surprise that anxiety often goes hand in hand with learning problems. Of course, some degree of worry and fear is to be expected when a child’s academic performance is compromised. Having to face frustration and uncertainty every day at school would, after all, make anyone nervous. ...
Having a child show deep attachment can be a moving experience. It propels parents to model good behaviour, maintain their child’s trust, and generally be the best people they can be… But at the same time, many parents worry that this level of attachment may not be healthy for their child. In today’s culture, there’s an enduring ...
Angry meltdowns and childhood go hand in hand. Kids’ natural impulsivity and lack of perspective make them prone to lashing out over apparently minor issues—particularly during early childhood. Being denied something they want, being criticized even in a constructive way, or being teased can all spark disproportionately intense fits of rage. For parents, it can be difficult to know ...
Children with Asperger’s (AS) and High-Functioning Autism (HFA) can appear somewhat paradoxical in nature. On one hand, many kids on the Autism Spectrum are cautious, anxious, and shy. On the other hand, it’s not uncommon for AS and HFA children to struggle with impulse control, too. This can make them look aggressive and rebellious—even when that isn’...
Discussions about returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic often revolve around helping children (and their families) stay physically healthy while participating in classroom learning. For many kids, however, the mental health implications of going back to school are equally challenging. Though some children eagerly anticipate seeing their friends again, others are experiencing profound anxiety about how their lives will ...
Modern parenting methods typically revolve around a rigid system of enforcing accountability: If a child behaves well, he (or she) is rewarded. If a child behaves badly, he is punished. In theory, this approach is logical enough; we expect our children to learn that their actions have consequences. Furthermore, we expect this knowledge to help them form a natural aversion ...
So here you are. Your child has done something wrong or hasn’t done something they should have done. In ...
Autism has been in the spotlight for many years. In movies, television, and novels, autistic characters are portrayed to have ...
Misdiagnosed ADHD is a common issue that parents face when seeking treatment for their children's attention and behavior issues. ...
