High Point Psychology

08/28/2023

Happy Monday everyone!
We hope you take some time this week for yourself before the busy start of back-to-school!
Enjoy your week ☀️

08/15/2023

Happy Tuesday everyone! This is your reminder to do something that calms and relaxes you this week! Whether it is taking a nice walk, getting out in nature, reading a good book, taking a bath, or journaling☀️ Try to do something that relaxes you and helps you feel more at ease, as it is important to slow down our minds and bodies.

08/04/2023

The High Point Psychology team wishes you all a happy, safe, and relaxing August long weekend!

07/26/2023

Do your kiddos fight frequently? If so, the article below lists some ways that parents and caregivers can help maintain the peace and teach siblings conflict resolution.

Some strategies include:
• Getting at the root of the conflict. It could be the case that your children may be fighting for you attention.
• Be sure to praise the positive and recognize cooperative behaviour.
• Make a plan with your kids about how to respond to conflict in a productive way.
• Encourage your kids to tell you when their sibling does something positive, like sharing a toy, rather than sharing negative behaviors (also known as “tattling”).
• And many more! Check out the article here for more tips: https://childmind.org/article/when-siblings-wont-stop-fighting/

07/24/2023

Happy Monday Everyone!
What better way to start off the week than by practicing some gratitude?! What are some things that you grateful for today? ☀️

07/11/2023

Do you think that your child may be experiencing challenges with learning? According to an article from the Child Mind Institute, some of the early signs of learning challenges include:
• Issues with fine motor control, such as having trouble holding a crayon or utensils
• Trouble understanding or using language
• Challenges with picking up on sounds or rhyming
• Struggling to understand the fundamentals of counting or putting things in order
• Frequently becoming frustrated or upset during activities, like drawing shapes
• And more!
For more information, you can read the full article here: https://childmind.org/article/early-signs-of-learning-challenges/

07/04/2023

Have you seen our latest blog post that discusses the benefits of therapy, who therapy is for, and how to find the right clinician for you? If not, you can check it out here: https://www.highpointpsychology.com/single-post/title or click the link in our bio!

This blog post lists key steps that will help you find a clinician that you are comfortable with. We also cover some of the many benefits of therapy, which includes:
• learning, developing, and fostering new coping strategies
• working in habits you want to change
• improving, understanding, and communicating about relationships
• practicing self-reflection and self-awareness
• improving sleep
• increasing happiness
• and many more!

For more information, check out the full blog post!

06/30/2023

Happy Canada Day long weekend from the High Point Psychology team 🇨🇦 We hope you have a wonderful weekend!

06/27/2023

With the school year coming to an end, we thought it might be helpful to share some strategies to help you and your family have a successful and relaxing summer break! The following strategies are from this article: https://childmind.org/article/strategies-for-a-successful-summer-break/
• Try your best to maintain your schedule, such as meal times and bedtimes that are consistent with the school schedule.
• Make plans and make them visual! This is especially helpful for kids who prefer predictability!
• Spend time outside and engage in physical activity!
• Try your best to maintain or create a behavioural system. You can do this by finding two or three desired, positive behaviours and nurturing those with positive reinforcement. For younger children, a sticker chart with accomplished tasks can be beneficial!
• Work with your child’s strengths and interests!
• Check out the link above for more strategies!

06/21/2023

This is a friendly reminder to do something today that makes you smile 😃 we hope you are having a fantastic week so far!

06/09/2023

Marcy is a student counsellor from Yorkville University and will be offering low cost therapy options to her clients, while working under the supervision of Chris Graham, RPsych.

As a nurse, Marcy’s career has been built on caring and partnership and she is glad to offer this patience and presence in the counselling space. Marcy believes this space to be collaborative and creative where you can slow down and be your most authentic self. She feels this can be a gentle, but effective means of creating change in your life. Her practice is informed by somatic, narrative, solution-focused and mindfulness frameworks. It is her hope that through deeper self-understanding, you can leave sessions feeling more connected to your inner resources, feeling more confident navigating challenges with skill and compassion. Marcy can offer online counselling from the comfort of your home at an accessible cost and would love to connect with you!

To book with Marcy, follow this link: https://marcykralik.setmore.com/marcykralik or click the link in our bio!

06/02/2023

Are you wondering how you can support your child through bullying? Are you unsure how to prevent bullying from happening or how to respond if your child is being bullied? What about if your child is bullying others?
If you have asked yourself any of these questions, then our latest blog post may be be helpful in providing insights and strategies around bullying: https://www.highpointpsychology.com/single-post/how-to-support-children-through-bullying

Some strategies for responding to bullying include:
• increasing supervision during unstructured time
• taking a collaborative role with your child
• encouraging participation in activities where they feel successful
• providing opportunities for your child to be a leader
• and many more!

Read our blog post for additional information and strategies by clicking on the link above.

05/19/2023

We hope you have a happy, safe, and rejuvenating long weekend!
- The High Point Psychology Team

05/16/2023

High Point Psychology is now offering a low cost therapy option for adults! Sessions are available in person or virtually, and will operate on a sliding scale on a pay-what-you-can model.

Sessions are provided by our student counsellor, Marcy Vanderveen, under the supervision of Chris Graham, RPsych.

To book a low cost therapy session with Marcy, or for more information, please visit www.highpointpsychology.com or email [email protected]

04/03/2023

High Point Psychology is seeking a highly skilled Registered Psychologist to join our team to provide therapy services to children, adolescents, and their families. The successful candidate will have a passion for helping children and adolescents with a range of emotional and behavioral issues, and will use evidence-based interventions to promote positive mental health outcomes. Psychologists who provide counselling services to adults will also be considered; however, the focus of this position will be with youth and their families. This contracted position is part-time and ideal for someone who is looking to transition into private practice work.

What we are looking for:
✔️Registered Psychologist in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists. (At this time, we are not able to supervise Provisional Psychologists in this position.)
✔️Master’s or Doctoral degree in clinical, counselling, school, or applied psychology. (Related degrees will be considered.)
✔️Experience providing therapy services to children and adolescents with various presenting concerns.
✔️Knowledge of evidence-based interventions for child and adolescent mental health.
✔️Team-oriented and collaborative attitude.
✔️Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
✔️Experience working with diverse and marginalized populations.
✔️Experience in formal assessment, children and youth in care, trauma, and supervision are definite assets for our team.

Please visit our website to find out more about High Point Psychology and our team (www.highpointpsychology.com). High Point Psychology’s office is located in Midnapore in SE Calgary.

If you have any questions or are interested in applying for the position, please submit your cover letter highlighting your experience and resume/CV to [email protected].

03/20/2023

Happy Monday everyone!
This is your reminder to do something today that brings you joy 😃
Have a wonderful week!

03/14/2023

Do your children struggle to get along? If so, the following article may be beneficial to read: https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-siblings-get-along/
This article offers suggestions for how to help siblings get along and foster strong bonds!
Some topics include:
• Set ground rules and have clear schedules when everyone is feeling calm
• For younger children, concrete tools like visual schedules may be helpful so they understand what is coming next
• Provide positive reinforcement often
• Clear up roles and responsibilities and set age-appropriate boundaries
• Encourage connection by rewarding teamwork and promoting shared experiences
• And many more!

02/14/2023

Are you wanting to set limits on your child’s screen time? Are you concerned about the amount of time your child is spending on technology?
The following article offers some recommendations to set screen time limits, as well as factors to consider: https://childmind.org/article/screen-time-during-the-coronavirus-crisis/

First, it has been suggested to consider your child’s overall health and how they spend their time. Ask yourself whether your child is getting adequate sleep, exercise, spending time with their friends, etc. If these areas appear to be lacking as a result of excessive screen time, here are some strategies to set reasonable limits:
• Be compassionate and show you understand that they enjoy their screen time
• Try offering additional screen time as an incentive for good behaviour
• Brainstorm other fun activities together
• Model healthy screen time and technology use
• Try to keep a schedule/routine

02/07/2023

Happy Tuesday everyone!
This is your friendly reminder to do something that bring you happiness today, whether it’s reading a book, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate or tea, journaling, or going for a walk! Take some time for yourself on this beautiful Tuesday!

02/03/2023

Everyone is welcome to join, from graduates to any applicable students/families!

Renfrew has organized a virtual information session on February 13th from 5:00 – 7:30 to share information about post-secondary experiences and available community supports and services for DHH students (and learners with additional needs).

Confirmed presenters include representatives from MRU, BVC, Olds College, Connect Society, Calgary Alternative Support Services, Calgary Scope Society, Momentum, and Prospect.

Please scan the QR code to register.

01/17/2023

Are you interested in a skill building group for your child?
We are offering an in-person and a virtual 8-week session that will cover emotional regulation, flexibility, attention, planning, goal setting, and more!
If you are interested in the Wednesday virtual sessions, please click this link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nRQf_RZRIP-5JWsCAZ8FGOxnKuZOIHviTPwsvCgJ-8Y/viewform?edit_requested=true

If you are interested in the Tuesday in-person sessions, please click this link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yobMoE593FtGbpu-HLDT8hAjdTN0q8NXsRnecQZH_Pk/viewform?edit_requested=true #

You can also email [email protected] with any additional questions that you may have, or visit our website for more information: https://www.highpointpsychology.com

01/13/2023

Are you setting some goals for the new year or trying to form new habits? If so, our latest blog post may be a helpful to you! We discuss how to set realistic and achievable goals as well as how to create and build new habits, click the link to read more: https://www.highpointpsychology.com/single-post/realistic-new-year-goals-and-forming-new-habits

01/10/2023

Is your child socially anxious? If so, the following article may be of help to you: https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-anxious-kids-in-social-situations/

The article lists some ways parents and caregivers can help their children who are socially anxious, such as by:
• Adjusting your expectations. Not every child enjoys social situations, and that is okay.
• Try to determine what exactly is causing the anxiety, is it big groups? Fear of judgement?
• Provide your child with as much information as you can, without overwhelming them. For example, if there is a social gathering, explain where it is, who will be there, what it might look like, and even form scripts or role play with your child.
• Praise your child for taking baby steps. One week they may watch a group play, and the next week they may watch from a shorter distance; this is progress. Finding a buddy can also help.

See the article above for more tips!

01/09/2023

Our partners at the University of Calgary are launching a family support program for spouses and partner's of police, fire, and paramedics. Dr. Stelnicki is proud to be a facilitator in this program! For more information: https://familyfirstresponder.ca/signup/

Re:Building Families groups starting in AB and BC the week of Jan 30. Evening and mid-day groups; 24 spots available! See QR code below or click link to signup: https://familyfirstresponder.ca/signup/

01/02/2023

Happy New Year from High Point Psychology! We hope 2023 is amazing for all of you!

#2023

12/23/2022

Happy Holidays to you and your family from the High Point Psychology team!
We hope you stay safe and warm and take some time for yourself this holiday season.

12/19/2022

We have an update on your Brain Builder’s Group sessions!
Wednesday sessions will now be virtual/online classes. Classes will run virtually from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM from January 25th to March 15th, 2023.
The Tuesday classes will be held in person from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM from January 24th to March 14th, 2023.

You can register your child in either the Tuesday or Wednesday class. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or would like help registering.

Here is the link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScx1nMuxdiQLJuv32TtwGoJQ9B4pkcLJTLXutL4mGQSkUui0A/viewform?usp=sf_link

12/09/2022

Have you seen our latest blog post on the importance of sleep? If not, you can check it our using this link: https://www.highpointpsychology.com/single-post/the-importance-of-sleep
The post discusses sleep recommendations, sleep hygiene, how to get a better night’s rest, and how screen time affects our sleep.

11/24/2022

Are you puzzled by your child’s emotional dysregulation, impulsiveness, forgetfulness, or fleeting attention? Do you wonder why your bright and capable child sometimes has so much trouble doing the things they need to do?

The answer may lie in their executive functioning (EF) skills. These are the skills that help us regulate our attention, emotions, and behaviour to help us reach our goals – they are needed for just about everything we do!
EF skills develop naturally throughout childhood and adolescence but can be helped along by explicit teaching and practice.

If you think your child would benefit from a bit of extra EF strength training, then our Brain Builders Group may be for you! Offering an 8-week in-person skill-building class in South Calgary for two different age groups.

Registration Form link: bit.ly/EFBrainBuilders

High Point Psychology | Specializing in child, adolescent, and adult assessment, therapy and consultation. Contact us for a complimentary phone consultation.

10/27/2022

What is executive functioning?
Executive functions are the skills for self-regulation that we all need to function each day. They help us plan, organize, make decisions, control emotions, and shift between situations.
Children with poor executive functioning are often more disorganized than other children.
Here are some tips to help with executive functioning:
• Create a checklist with clearly defined steps
• Set time limits for longer steps/projects
• Use a planner
• Explain the rationale behind learning a new strategy or skill
• Explore different ways to learn
• And many more!

The information in this post is from https://childmind.org/article/helping-kids-who-struggle-with-executive-functions/
Check out the article for more information!

10/12/2022

Why is self-care important for parenting?
According to the following article https://childmind.org/article/fighting-caregiver-burnout-special-needs-kids/
patenting can be stressful, and studies show that parents of children with developmental, psychiatric, or learning disabilities are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, and marital problems.
Some tips for self-care and avoiding burnout from the article include:
• knowing your limits and remember you are not the only one who can help
• try to get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and exercise
• don’t be afraid to ask for help
• to help mitigate feeling isolated, find a support network outside of family, spend time with friends, plan social activities, and make time for activities that are pleasurable, such as reading

For more tips, check out the article above!

10/06/2022

Happy Thanksgiving from the High Point Psychology team! We wish you a fun, safe, and restful long weekend!

09/22/2022

Check out this infographic prepared by our very own, Dr. Andrea Stelnicki, Registered Psychologist!

Please visit our website https://www.highpointpsychology.com or send us an email at [email protected] if you have any questions or inquiries.

09/15/2022

The following article lists some back-to-school tips for parents and caregivers: https://childmind.org/article/helping-children-with-special-needs-go-back-to-school/

Here are some helpful tips to help make the back-to-school process more seamless:
• Mental health problems may come up. Parents and caregivers can model confidence and calm behaviour as well as add structure in the family life to help ease anxiety.
• Be sure to keep open communication and help kids and adolescents manage stress.
• Remember that teachers matter. Be sure to talk to them regularly as they know lots about your child as well.
• Homework time is important.
• And many more!

09/07/2022

This is a friendly reminder that applications for the 2023-2024 school year for Westmount Charter school opened on September 1st, 2022 and will close on November 30, 2022 at 3:00pm.

If you would like to schedule a giftedness assessment, please send us an email at [email protected] or call us at 587-480-7490

You can also visit our website at: https://www.highpointpsychology.com

08/22/2022

The following article lists some of the back-to-school dos and don’ts: https://childmind.org/article/back-to-school-dos-and-donts/

To name a few:
•Do: get back into routine
•Don’t: forget to refuel
•Do: talk about changing friendships
•Don’t: share your anxieties
•Do: have a trial run
•Don’t: be afraid of setbacks

And many more!

08/18/2022

Have you ever wondered if your child may be gifted? If so, our latest blog post may interest you: https://www.highpointpsychology.com/single-post/giftedness

To book a giftedness assessment, email us at [email protected] or visit our website: https://www.highpointpsychology.com/

08/15/2022

With the stress that comes along with the end of summer and returning to school, take time to let your mind wander today!

Check out this article for more information on thinking and undistracted thoughts: https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/finding-time-to-think-is-more-enjoyable-than-expected-study-says/

08/05/2022

Although it’s only August, school is right around the corner, and it doesn’t hurt to get prepared! The following article lists some ways to help prepare children for getting back to school: https://childmind.org/article/preparing-for-back-to-school-success/

Some tips include:
• Communicate with teachers
• Get your child organized
• Settle into routines
• Schedule family time
• And other strategies!

07/26/2022

We hope you are having a fun, safe, and rejuvenating summer! Enjoy the all the sunshine ☀️