Category Archives: Resources

Not Alone

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Dr. G

Not Alone is a collaboration of parents of kids with special needs, writing for other parents of kids with special needs from a Christian perspective. Many parents involved in the project have become widely read authors in their own right. All have firsthand experience with the struggles involved in raising children with disabilities. They seek to provide a place where parents with similar challenges can “do life” together.
Continue reading →

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Understanding depression in kids and teens…an epilogue

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Dr. G

We’ve put together a resource page for pastors, church staff, volunteers and parents with interest in the subject of depression and teens. Continue reading →

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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for kids with depression…pros and cons

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Dr. G

The kids I treat are prone to what one of our therapists refers to as “stinking thinking”…automatic, irrational thoughts pop into their heads in the course of day-to- day living that trigger negative emotions and lead to patterns of self-defeating behavior. These patterns of self-defeating behaviors often reinforce their cognitive misperceptions and lead to a downward spiral resulting in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sometimes, suicidal thoughts or plans. Continue reading →

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Where do I go for help if I think my kid might be depressed?

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Dr. G

It’s been my experience that many churches offer reasonably good short-term counseling and support for adults, but very few will have staff with adequate training or supervision in counseling children or teens. So…where does a parent go to find the right help when they suspect their child needs help for depression? Continue reading →

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What if Mom is depressed?

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Dr. G

But for the sake of this discussion, it appears that in examining depression as a specific disability, regular involvement of either the child or the parent with depression at church not only produces spiritual benefits, but actually helps reduce the risk for the condition itself. Continue reading →

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Understanding Depression and Comorbidity in Children and Teens

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Dr. G

This is Part Four in our Winter 2013 blog series Understanding Depression in Kids and Teens…A Primer for Pastors, Church Staff and Christian Parents. Today, we’ll look at the phenomena we refer to as “comorbidity”… the propensity for other mental health disorders … Continue reading →

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Kids and Depression…What Does the Data Say?

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Dr. G

Suicidal thinking and behavior is very common among youth with depression. Approximately 60% of teens diagnosed with depression will experience thoughts of suicide…30% have made one or more suicide attempts. Continue reading →

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What do kids and teens with depression look like?

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Dr. G

Today, we’ll help readers develop a mental picture of what they might notice in a child or teen experiencing an episode of Major Depression. Continue reading →

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Depression…Definitions matter

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Dr. G

The purpose of this series will be to help pastors, church staff, volunteers and Christian parents improve their ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression and children and teens and help them to most effectively support kids with depression and their families. Here’s a tentative outline of some of the topics we’ll be covering in the series… Continue reading →

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Road Trip…to the 2013 McLean Bible Church Accessibility Summit

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Dr. G

On Friday evening, Katie Wetherbee will be teaming up with Amy Kendall, Disability Coordinator from Saddleback Church in California to present Comfort and Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture That Could Change the Kingdom.

Also on Friday evening, Harmony Hensley will be presenting on the topic of Volunteer Recruitment and Retention.

On Saturday, I’ll have the opportunity to share on the topic of Supporting Children and Teens who Struggle With Anxiety. Rebecca Hamilton will be participating as part of the panel in a discussion…Respite-The Gift of Time, led by Jackie Mills-Fernald and including Sib Nafziger Charles and Cameron Doolittle. Continue reading →

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