Maglione, Neidhardt & Associates

04/23/2025

All behavior is communication. Take time today to listen to others with all of your senses and appreciate the totality of the message that you receive. 

03/28/2025

Many clients come in for therapy with reported anxiety, but they also suffer from panic attacks. Managing panic attacks is different from the strategies to address anxiety.

A panic attack is an intense, sudden surge of fear or discomfort, often peaking within minutes. Symptoms include a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a sense of impending doom. Panic attacks can feel overwhelming but usually subside quickly. Anxiety, on the other hand, is a prolonged state of worry or nervousness, often tied to a specific situation or stressor. It builds gradually and can persist for days or weeks. While anxiety can trigger panic attacks, it’s more of a chronic condition, whereas panic attacks are acute episodes. Understanding the difference helps in managing each effectively.

Leaning into panic attacks means accepting and riding the wave of anxiety rather than resisting it. When panic strikes, the instinct is to fight or escape, but this often intensifies fear. Instead, acknowledging the sensations—racing heart, dizziness, breathlessness—helps diminish their power. Remind yourself that panic is temporary and not dangerous. Focus on slow breathing, grounding techniques, and self-compassion. By allowing the experience without fear, you reduce its hold over time. Each time you lean in, you train your brain to recognize that panic is uncomfortable but survivable. This approach fosters resilience, making future episodes less overwhelming.

If you are struggling with either condition or both, Maglione, Neidhardt & Associates can help with therapy services for children, adolescents and adults. Call us today at 813-722-1033.

03/14/2025

Sensory-friendly environments can profoundly impact a child's mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and sensory overload. These spaces, designed with calming colors, soft lighting, minimal noise, and structured layouts, create a sense of security and comfort. For children with sensory sensitivities, such as those with autism or ADHD, such environments help regulate emotions, improve focus, and encourage positive social interactions.

By minimizing overwhelming stimuli, children can better process their surroundings, leading to reduced meltdowns and increased emotional stability. Sensory-friendly spaces also promote self-regulation, enabling children to manage their reactions more effectively. When children feel safe and understood, their confidence grows, and they are more likely to engage in learning, play, and socialization.

Ultimately, these environments foster mental well-being, helping children develop resilience, emotional balance, and a greater sense of control over their experiences, laying the foundation for long-term mental health benefits.

Creating a sensory-friendly environment at home can significantly improve a child's well-being. Here are seven ways adults can achieve this:

- Control Lighting – Use dimmable lights, warm-toned bulbs, or natural lighting to reduce harsh glare. Blackout curtains can help with sleep regulation.

- Reduce Noise Levels – Minimize background noise by using noise-canceling headphones, soft rugs, or white noise machines to create a calm atmosphere.

- Incorporate Soft Textures – Provide cozy blankets, plush rugs, or weighted blankets to offer comfort and a sense of security.

- Create a Safe Sensory Zone – Designate a quiet, clutter-free space with sensory-friendly items like fidget toys, stress balls, or a small tent for retreat.

- Use Calming Scents – Aromatherapy with lavender, chamomile, or vanilla can help soothe anxiety and promote relaxation.

- Provide Structured Routines – Predictable schedules and visual schedules can reduce anxiety and help children feel more in control.

- Offer Movement-Friendly Options – Swings, rocking chairs, or exercise balls can provide sensory input and help with self-regulation.

02/12/2025

What is a CPT and how can it be helpful in the management of ADHD?

A Continuous Performance Test (CPT) is a widely used computerized assessment tool designed to evaluate sustained attention, impulsivity, and response inhibition—key areas often affected in individuals with attention-related disorders such as ADHD.

Continuous Performance Tests (CPTs) can help with ADHD medication in several ways:

Assessing Baseline Performance – Before starting medication, a CPT can measure attention, impulsivity, and response consistency to establish a baseline of cognitive functioning.

Monitoring Medication Effectiveness – By comparing pre- and post-medication CPT results, doctors can objectively evaluate whether the medication improves focus, reduces impulsivity, and enhances sustained attention.

Determining Optimal Dosage – Different dosages of ADHD medication can have varying effects. A CPT can help determine the most effective dose by measuring performance under different conditions.

Identifying Side Effects or Overmedication – If a person becomes overly sedated or shows excessive impulsivity, their CPT performance may decline, signaling a need for dosage adjustment.

Tracking Long-Term Progress – Regular CPTs over time can help monitor whether the medication remains effective or if adjustments are needed.

CPTs are not a standalone diagnostic tool but can be a valuable part of a comprehensive ADHD treatment plan.

Maglione, Neidhardt & Associates has CPT evaluation plans to meet your needs. Reach out to us if you would like to include data from CPT in your ADHD management and decision making.

Send a message to learn more

10/16/2024

Supporting children’s mental health after a natural disaster requires sensitivity, patience, and understanding. Begin by creating a safe space for them to express their emotions. Encourage conversations about their fears, but avoid forcing them to talk if they’re not ready. Maintain routines and structure to provide a sense of normalcy and security.

It’s essential to monitor behavior changes, such as trouble sleeping, withdrawal, or irritability, which may indicate distress. Offer comfort by validating their feelings and reassuring them that it’s okay to feel scared or sad. Engage them in activities they enjoy, as play can help them process emotions.

Limit their exposure to distressing news and social media to prevent additional anxiety. If symptoms persist or worsen, consider seeking professional help from a mental health expert. Finally, remind children they are not alone—whether through family, school, or community, let them know they are supported and loved.

08/15/2023

As parents, do you ever feel like your losing your children to the draws of our modern world, like social media, constant and instant connections with peers, and logarithms that are designed to keep your child engaged and addicted to their screens? Gordon Neufeld's book "Hold On To Your Kids" explores the vital role of parents in maintaining strong connections with their children in today's world. The book delves into the challenges posed by peer orientation, where children are more heavily influenced by their peers than by their parents. Neufeld emphasizes the importance of attachment and offers guidance on nurturing healthy parent-child relationships to foster emotional well-being, resilience, and a sense of identity in children. The book provides insight and strategies for parents to navigate these challenges and remain influential figures in their children's lives.

03/01/2023

Sometimes, parents of children who struggle with reading dread having their child read to them. The activity seems painful for the child and it is difficult to know how to help. Here are several tips for making that experience beneficial for the child as well as informative for parents:

1. Be sure to select a book that is at or, better yet, just slightly below your child’s reading level. If you are unsure, ask the child’s teacher for suggestions or printed reading material you can use to practice phonics and decoding skills at home.

2. Resist the urge to tell your child every word they don’t know. If they are still reading one sound at a time, prompt them for what sound the next letter makes. If it’s a sound combination that they have not yet learned, for example the word is soup, and they are still working on short vowel sounds, you can say “ou says /ou/ in that word” and allow them to use that information to decode the whole word.

3. If the child is having significant struggle and decoding every word, at the end of the sentence, have the child read it again, or read it for them to put meaning with what they have just read. When decoding is difficult, much of a child’s cognitive capacity is spent searching for the sound symbol correlations and blending the sounds into words, leaving little for comprehension.

4. Additionally, if they are struggling with the sentences to a considerable degree, consider that this text is too complex and offer to read the rest. Look for a less complex text to read the next time. You are not expected to get all the details right. There will be a learning curve for you as well.

5. Likewise, even if the text addresses just the right skills, use your expert knowledge of your child to judge when they need a brain break. You can read the rest or even take turns reading sentences or pages. Ultimately reading should be enjoyable. We don’t want them to associate the same feelings with reading that we have when considering running uphill, carrying a barbell, wearing scratchy clothes for miles at the gym. You get the point.

6. Finally, if a word they don't know is an irregular sight word, that is, the word cannot be sounded out using the standard rules of English, for example, the word said, tell the child the word and then have them repeat it and continue.

While a systematic and sequential direct instruction approach is necessary to provide the reading intervention necessary to support the growth and development of core reading skills, exposure through reading helps increase the likelihood of success. Furthermore, fostering attachment through engaging in reading with your child in a positive way will help strengthen your relationship and connect positive feelings to the reading experience.

01/25/2023

Daniella and I are officially on the sign. So thankful to be working with such a talented group of professionals at Mental Health Management Group (mhmgroup.com). Looking forward to growing together as we serve those with learning and mental health needs.

01/01/2023

Happy New Year!!!
Just like adults, children can choose to make their own New Year’s resolutions. Encourage a growth mindset when siting with your child and thinking about areas they would like to work to improve. Remember, strive for progress, not perfection. Here are some ideas:
- Trying new foods
- Reading more
- Helping more around the house
- Trying a new sport
- Learning to play an instrument
- Practicing mindfulness each day
New Year’s resolutions are a great time to teach kids to set manageable goals and encourage growth.

12/22/2022

Holiday events can be stressful for children. Family members who haven't seen the children for a while tend to focus a lot of attention on them, comment on how they've grown and changed, or hug and kiss them without asking. Even the change in activity level and managing multiple conversations and relationships can cause concern for kids.

Additionally, there may be pressure to get dressed up, take perfect family pictures, and be in a good mood for meals and events when that may not be how they are feeling inside.

We should be sensitive to the feelings and needs of our children. Remember that stress can be a natural and automatic physical, mental and emotional response to challenging events, and most children don't yet have the coping skills to navigate through on their own.

Some signs that children are stressed may include emotional outbursts, increased irritability, trouble sleeping, withdrawal from others, struggles in school, frequent complaints of headaches or stomach aches, and increased defiance.
Irritability and anger are common signs a child is overwhelmed because they are trying to get out of a situation that is causing them discomfort.

Here are some tips for helping your child manage stress:
• Plan ahead.
Identify potential “pitfalls” and reduce barriers to success. For instance, make sure to promote optimal sleep and nutrition prior to new holiday experiences, and recognize that the level of activity and noise may be triggers for most children.
• Consider creating space for them to express themselves.
Children need help putting words to the complicated feelings they are experiencing. Depending on the age of the child, this may involve coloring or painting, or describing the emotions they are experiencing.
• Set clear expectations.
Children thrive on routines. Outline examples of behaviors you will and will not tolerate. When correcting children, tell them what you want them to do rather than what not to do. For example, instead of saying, "Stop chewing with your mouth open," try saying, "Please chew with your mouth closed."
• Act, don't react.
When children act defiant, take a deep breath and calmly correct behavior. Don't mirror their anger level. Remind yourself that your children are impressionable, and your words matter.
• Pick your battles.
If their behavior is simply irritating, try to ignore it. The moment they do something positive, compliment them. Sometimes children simply want a reaction, so try to react to the positive behaviors immediately instead of the negative. Also, be OK with children sitting out activities that cause them discomfort or anxiety.
• Try to use humor.
A good laugh doesn't just lighten a mood; it also activates and relieves the body's stress response. Find a way to laugh by redirecting children's attention toward positive games and activities, such as reading comics or playing a game.