Author Archives: Russ Silberman

The Moment Parents Notice It usually happens subtly. A child who used to tell long stories at the table now gives shorter answers. The kid who loved bright sneakers asks for plain ones. You wonder, “When did this change? Did I miss something?” Many parents on Long Island describe the same feeling. Nothing is clearly […]

The Day It Starts to Fray Every family has a routine that once felt like a lifesaver. Bedtime used to be calm. Homework used to fit before dinner. Then one week, it all feels wrong. Parents wonder, Did we break something? Usually, nothing broke. Children grew. Life shifted. The routine stayed the same while everything […]

Feelings Need Words Children are not born knowing how to describe what happens inside them. They feel excitement, worry, embarrassment, but the language comes later. Parents usually see the behavior first and the words much later. A child who snaps at a sibling might be scared. The one who refuses to leave the house may […]

Wait—Aren’t They the Same Thing? A lot of parents assume psychotherapy and behavioral therapy are just two names for the same service. They’re not. They overlap, sure, but the way they work with kids feels very different.

It Feels Like a Lot at First Most parents don’t expect to find themselves here. Maybe a teacher raised a concern. Perhaps you noticed your child struggling in ways others didn’t. Either way, it can feel like someone just dropped a mountain in front of you. Where do you even start? That question alone can […]

The Everyday Struggle You know those mornings when everything unravels before 8 a.m.? Shoes go flying, someone’s crying on the floor, and you’re already late. Most parents and teachers I talk to know that scene all too well. Acting out feels like chaos in the moment—but usually, it’s a clue.