CRG Newsletter: Winter Edition

January 2014, Volume 4 (1)
In This Issue
What is Executive Functioning?
Managing the Stigma of Mental Illness in the Office
The Use of Stimulant Medications in Treating Executive Functioning Disorders
ADD Coaching: Growing a Person's Executive Functioning Skills
Meet the Provider: Valerie Long
Meet CRG's Front Office Supervisor: Jessica Beach
Quick Links
  
To learn more about CRG, please visit the
  
Save the Date!
  
Dr. Dana Lasek, Ph.D., HSPP, will be hosting Emotional Dysregulation in Teens: How to Help, a workshop for parents, caregivers, educators, and health providers.  The workshop will take place at Indiana Wesleyan University Conference Center North on Saturday, February 22, 2014.
For more information or to register, please contact CRG at (317) 575-9111.
  

 CRG Secure Email

Click here to join! 

Primary Care Psychiatry Foundation
  
The
Primary Care Psychiatry Foundation 
is scheduled to host a variety of informative conferences throughout the year.  Visit the
to stay informed on topics for their upcoming conferences!
Interested in Group Services?
  
CRG offers group services for children, adolescents and parents.  Please visit the 
CRG Website for a listing of all group services during the Winter and Spring 2014.

  

 

  

Welcome to the 2014 Winter Edition

By Julie T. Steck, Ph.D., HSPP

 

 

Welcome to the first CRG newsletter of 2014! We hope that this issue finds you relaxed and refreshed after the hubbub of the holiday season. We intentionally waited until the New Year to send out this newsletter as we know that everyone is overwhelmed and overstimulated during the holidays. In fact, reflecting on how many lists you made, how many things you were trying to keep track of, and how distracted you were should help you better understand what happens when an individual's executive functioning is on overload.

 

          This issue of the CRG newsletter is devoted to the topic of Executive Functioning (EF). The term "executive functioning" is being used increasingly in educational settings. In this issue Dr. Valerie Long tackles the important task of defining Executive Functioning in her article, "What is Executive Functioning?"   Dr. Long also addresses strategies for improving Executive Functioning. Dr. Julie Steck discusses the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Executive Functioning Disorders (EFD) in her article, "ADHD: A Subset of Executive Functioning Disorders."   Dr. Jason Rowland discusses the medical implications of addressing EFD in an interview with Dr. David Parker. This article is entitled, "The Use of Stimulant Medications in Treating Executive Functioning Disorders." Finally, Dr. David Parker provides an informative overview of ADD Coaching in his article, "ADD Coaching: Growing a Person's Executive Functioning Skills." Dr. Parker now offers ADD coaching services at CRG, and illustrates the power of this type of intervention for adolescents and adults in his article.

 

          As always, we want to introduce you to our team. Dr. Valerie Long joined CRG as a Psychologist in November 2013 and brings expertise in evaluations of children, adolescents, and adults. She has particular interest in providing therapy for adolescents and adults with anxiety and depression and   in addressing deficits in executive functioning. Ms. Jessica Beach has been with CRG for over a year and is now our Front Office Supervisor. Both members of the CRG team are spotlighted in articles in this issue.

 

 

 

 

 

What is Executive Functioning?

By Valerie Long, Ph.D., HSPP

 

 

The theory of executive functioning has gained increased attention among psychologists and educators over the past 20 years.  But what exactly is executive functioning?  Definitions of executive functioning vary slightly as research in this area unfolds and the concept of executive functioning continues to evolve.  Sheldon H. Horowitz, Ed.D., the director of LD resources at the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), offers the following description:

"Executive functioning involves activating, orchestrating, monitoring, evaluation, and adapting different strategies to accomplish different tasks.....It requires the ability to analyze situations, plan and take action, focus and monitor attention, and adjust actions as needed to get the job done."

 

 

Click here to continue reading What is Executive Functioning?

 

 

                                             

ADHD: A Subset of Executive Functioning Disorders

By Julie Steck, Ph.D., HSPP

  

 

The term "executive functioning disorders" has been used increasingly in educational settings and is often used as another term for the characteristics associated with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), particularly the inattentive form of ADHD.  However, Executive Functioning Disorders (EFD) are not unique to ADHD.  The causes of EFD are heterogeneous and are linked to a number of neurocognitive and behavioral issues.  Some EFD's, such as ADHD, are present in early childhood and often continue well into adulthood.  Other EFD's are acquired as the result of accidents and illnesses or as part of a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, such as Parkinson's disease.  Individuals who are suffering depression or who are overwhelmed by anxiety and stress may also demonstrate executive functioning difficulties, but these are typically transient and improve as the anxiety, depression or stress is alleviated.

 

 

To continue reading the article by Dr. Julie Steck, Ph.D., HSPP, click here.

  

 

 

                                                

The Use of Stimulant Medications in Treating Executive Functioning Disorders

Interview with Jason Rowland, M.D.

  

 

Dr. David Parker recently sat down with CRG psychiatrist, Dr. Jason Rowland, to learn more about the role of stimulant medications in the treatment of individuals with EF issues.

 

 

  1. When physicians use the term, "executive function" (EF), what do they mean? Is it just another word for ADHD?

     

I don't know that most physicians use the term "executive functioning disorder." It's not a medical diagnosis found in the DSM-5 or ICD-9 or ICD-10 (diagnostic manuals). It's a descriptive term coming out of disability services and educational realms. It is much broader than ADHD; ADHD is a specific disorder of EF. ADHD has to start in childhood and can continue across the lifespan. Not all problems with EF are ADHD. But the term EF refers to the mental processes involved in forward planning, time management, being able to initiate and stay with tasks and activities, break projects down into individual pieces and get them accomplished.

 

 

Read more about The Use of Stimulant Medications in Treating Executive Functioning Disorders.

  

 

 

                                                

ADD Coaching: Growing a Person's Executive Functioning Skills

By David R. Parker, Ph.D.,

Postsecondary Disability Specialist/ADD Coach 

 

 

The field of personal/life coaching has gone through tremendous growth over the past 15-20 years. Along the way, many coaches around the country have developed the specialty of coaching adolescents and adults with ADHD. This article will provide a brief overview of ADD coaching, contrast it with other services available at CRG and elsewhere, and discuss how ADD coaching can help clients strengthen their executive functioning skills.

 

What Is ADD Coaching?

 

Coaching emerged over the past two decades to help adults create more fulfilling, balanced lives. It is a wellness model, meaning that coaches focus on people's strengths and resources rather than their weaknesses, disability, or emotional pain. Coaches believe that people are creative, resourceful, and whole. This viewpoint drives coaches to elicit ideas from clients whenever possible, rather than telling clients what to do.

 

 

For information about ADD Coaching: Growing a Person's Executive Functioning Skills, click here.

 

 

                        

Meet the Provider

Valerie Long, Ph.D., HSPP

Interviewed by David R. Parker, Ph.D.

  

CRG is very pleased to welcome Dr. Val Long to our team! Her extensive background as a psychologist in the Midwest and South give her a wealth of experiences helping individuals and families. Read more to learn about Dr. Long's specialties, background, and personal interests.

 

Read on to learn more about CRG's newest provider, Valerie Long!

 

For more information about Valerie's academic and professional background, please visit her page on the CRG Website.

 

 

                                                

Meet CRG's Front Office Supervisor,

Jessica Beach!

By Angela Beard, Business Office Manager

  

Many of you have probably had the chance to meet Jessica Beach, one of CRG's many friendly faces at the check-in window, check-out window, or even over the phone. Jessica has been a part of the CRG team since September 2012. Over the past few months she has been transitioning into her new role as Front Office Supervisor. After building a close working relationship with Jessica, I was thrilled when given the opportunity to interview her and get to know more about her hobbies and interests outside of the workday.

 

Click here to learn more about our Front Office Supervisor, Jessica!