Thinking Tree Psychology

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Severna Park, MD
Thinking Tree Psychology

Psychology services for children, adolescents, young adults. Serving Severna Park, Annapolis, Bowie

06/25/2026

How to respond instead of react.

Your child rolls their eyes.
They refuse to listen.
They say something hurtful.

In those moments, it's easy to react.

But often, the most effective parenting happens when we pause before responding.

Try this:

⏸️ Pause.
🧠 Take a breath.
👂 Get curious.
💬 Respond calmly.

Instead of:
"What's wrong with you?"

Try:
"You seem really upset. What's going on?"

Instead of:
"Stop acting like that."

Try:
"Help me understand what's making this so hard right now."

Responding doesn't mean allowing inappropriate behavior.

It means staying regulated enough to address the behavior without escalating the situation.

Children borrow our calm before they learn to create their own.

And sometimes, a pause can change the entire conversation.

06/23/2026

Summer is for answers.

The school year has ended and many parents are left wondering:

Why was homework such a struggle?
Why did my child seem so overwhelmed?
Why did school feel harder than it should have?

Summer can be an ideal time for psychoeducational testing.

✔ Less academic pressure
✔ More flexible schedules
✔ Results and recommendations before the new school year begins

Psychoeducational testing can help identify challenges such as ADHD, learning differences, executive functioning difficulties, and more—while also highlighting your child's strengths.

The goal isn't a label.

It's understanding.

Because when children better understand how they learn, they can start the next school year with confidence, support, and a plan.

Interested in learning more? We currently have psychoeducational testing appointments available this summer. Learn more here: https://thinkingtreepsychology.com/evaluations

06/21/2026

Summer often means more free time—and for many families, more screen time.

As parents, it can be hard to know where to draw the line.

Current recommendations encourage families to focus less on counting every minute and more on creating healthy habits around technology.

A few age-appropriate guidelines include:

👶 Limiting screen exposure for infants and young children

🎨 Choosing high-quality, educational content

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Watching and engaging with content together when possible

😴 Protecting sleep, physical activity, and family time

📵 Creating screen-free times and spaces throughout the day

Healthy screen use isn't about perfection. It's about helping children and teens develop a balanced relationship with technology while making room for the experiences that support their growth and well-being.

➡️ Swipe through for the 5 D's of healthy screen use and simple ways to put them into practice this summer.

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06/19/2026

Summer is supposed to be relaxing, right?

For some teens, it is.

But for others, the end of the school year brings a different kind of stress.

Without the structure of school, teens may find themselves struggling with:
• Too much unstructured time
• Changes in routine
• Social isolation from friends
• Pressure to have the "perfect" summer
• Anxiety about the upcoming school year
• Increased screen time and disrupted sleep schedules

While school can be stressful, it also provides predictability, social connection, and daily structure. When those things disappear overnight, some teens may feel more anxious—not less.

If your teen seems more irritable, withdrawn, overwhelmed, or anxious this summer, know that they're not alone.

Sometimes a little structure, connection, and support can go a long way. We have immediate openings for teen therapy: https://thinkingtreepsychology.com/teen-therapy

Maryland

06/17/2026

ADHD is often misunderstood.

While many people think ADHD is simply about being distracted or having trouble focusing, it can affect many areas of daily life—including emotional regulation, executive functioning, self-esteem, and relationships.

Children, teens, and adults with ADHD are often working much harder than others realize.

When we understand the full picture of ADHD, we can better support the challenges people face and recognize the strengths they bring.

06/15/2026

As the school year comes to a close, some parents are celebrating accomplishments.

Others are left wondering: "What happened this year?"

Maybe your child struggled to get out of bed. Maybe assignments went unfinished. Maybe grades dropped, attendance became a challenge, or school felt like a daily battle.

It's easy to assume these struggles are about motivation.

But sometimes they're about something deeper.

Depression in children and teens doesn't always look like sadness. It can look like exhaustion, withdrawal, irritability, difficulty concentrating, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life.

As you reflect on this school year, consider looking beyond the report card. If your child struggled more than expected, it may be worth asking not just "How did they do?" but "How are they doing?"

Sometimes that question changes everything. Check out our latest blog post by Dr. Glenn Horwitz to learn more: https://thinkingtreepsychology.com/blog/2026/4/28/when-depression-makes-school-feel-impossible-a-guide-for-parents

06/12/2026

How to create a summer routine without overscheduling ☀️

Kids need structure, but they don't need every minute planned.

Try focusing on a few daily anchors:
• Consistent wake-up times
• Regular meals
• Outdoor play or movement
• A simple chore
• A predictable bedtime

A little structure helps kids feel secure. A little free time helps them grow.

The goal isn't a packed summer schedule—it's a balanced one.

06/10/2026

Before you help your child regulate…
take a moment to regulate yourself 💚

When emotions are high—meltdowns, backtalk, “I don’t want to go”—your nervous system reacts too.

And when we’re overwhelmed, it’s much harder to respond the way we want to.

A few simple ways to reset in the moment:

✨ Take a slow breath in through your nose, long exhale out
✨ Drop your shoulders and unclench your jaw
✨ Pause before responding—even a few seconds helps
✨ Lower your voice instead of raising it
✨ Remind yourself: “This is hard for them, not about me”

You don’t have to be perfectly calm.
But even a small reset can shift the entire interaction.

Because calm creates calm.

06/08/2026

At Thinking Tree Psychology, we believe every child, teen, and young adult deserves a space where they feel safe, seen, and accepted exactly as they are.

This Pride Month, we're reminded of the importance of creating emotionally safe spaces—places where young people can explore who they are, express themselves authentically, and know they don't have to hide parts of themselves to be loved or supported.

Research consistently shows that feeling accepted and connected can have a profound impact on mental health and well-being. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer a young person is the message: You belong here.

This month and every month, we are committed to fostering a welcoming, affirming environment for all.

Happy Pride Month. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

06/04/2026

If your teen is staying up all night playing video games… it’s probably not just about the game.
If they’re up until 2am (or later), it’s easy to feel frustrated.
But for many teens, gaming is how they unwind, connect with friends, and escape stress—especially this time of year.
The challenge isn’t always the gaming… it’s what gets pushed aside:
😴 Sleep
📚 School focus
🧠 Emotional regulation

Instead of going straight to “just turn it off,” try getting curious:
What’s making it hard to log off? What do they need at the end of the day?

From there, work together to create realistic boundaries:
– A consistent wind-down time
– Fewer devices in the bedroom overnight
– Other ways to decompress

It’s not about eliminating gaming—it’s about helping your teen find balance.

Address

650 Ritchie Highway, Suite 205
Severna Park, MD
21146

Telephone

+14439061132

Website

http://thinkingtreepsychology.com/

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