Category Archives: Anxiety Disorders

Thinking Orange…Partnering with parents when kids have disabilities

More so than with parents in the general population, church leaders may need to do more to earn the right to partner with parents from families affected by disabilities. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Game of Chess With No Winners…Mike Pitts

We need information that will help us include, celebrate, and minister to your teen’s uniqueness. We don’t want to label your student or give them an IEP at church. We are the church-not the public school. We want to make them feel wanted and included. Continue reading

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What if a parent ALSO has mental health issues?

When we’re talking about kids experiencing mental health concerns that keep them from church, there’s a reasonable possibility that their mother or father experienced or continue to experience similar difficulties that kept them from attending church. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Ministry Environments | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Perry Noble’s admission says about mental illness, stigma and church

What’s fascinating (from a psychiatrist’s perspective) about Perry’s experiences is the progression he went through over a period of years in his attitudes regarding mental illness and what they may have to say about levels of stigma in the church related to mental health treatment. Continue reading

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Key Ministry, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ten ideas for promoting spiritual growth when kids have ADHD or anxiety

Today, we’ll look at the catalysts to spiritual growth discussed in Reggie Joiner’s book Think Orange, and propose ten strategies that could be useful when kids have ADHD, anxiety, or social communication disorders. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Including kids and teens with mental illness at church…What are the barriers?

I’ve come to the conclusion that our team at Key Ministry needs to, at the very least, put forth a conceptual model for a mental health/trauma inclusion ministry that could be implemented by churches of all sizes, denominations and organizational styles. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Why “snow days” are rough on many kids with disabilities

Unscheduled days off from school provoke dread among families of kids with conditions we frequently see in our practice…kids with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), kids on the autism spectrum and kids with ADHD. Well-meaning school officials who cancel classes in severe winter weather because of concern for the safety of kids waiting outside for extended periods, or the safe transport of kids and teachers to and from school often cause unintentional hardships for families of kids with disabilities. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas struggles for kids with mental health issues

Kids with common mental health conditions react to the holidays very differently than do adults. Today, we’ll look at three struggles common during Christmas break among the kids and families we serve, and suggest practical strategies for parents to minimize the impact of the holidays upon their children. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Families, Key Ministry, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nurturing spiritual growth in kids with anxiety…Inclusion Fusion Library

Rhonda discusses the unique spiritual needs of children who have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Social Phobia and Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder. Katie and Rhonda cover identification, accommodations and unique spiritual issues for each manifestation of anxiety from the church nursery to the high school youth group.
Continue reading

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Spiritual Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What I learned at the child psychiatry meetings…

I thought I’d share some brief summaries of several studies I found interesting… Continue reading

Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Depression, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment