Mad River Behavioral Health

  Our Little Thought Gremlins  Most of your thoughts emerge into your awareness from your subconscious.   You felt it happen when you read that statement.  You had  some sort of instant reaction.  Perhaps it was barely perceptible or maybe it was a quite strong thought.   • “That’s bunk!”  • “Hmmm, that’s interesting.” What was your first thought?   Where did it come from? It wasn’t there. You read the statement.  Suddenly, it was there in the blink of an eye.  This happens in simple, unimportant scenarios like this, but it also happens in your personal relationships, your parental relationships, your work relationships, your random interactions with strangers, even with your self.  Watch what thought leaps instantly into your head the next time you spill your coffee on your nice shirt.  “I am such a dingus!”   A person cuts you off on the highway. A thought or series of thoughts jumps immediately into your awareness....

It's never too late or too soon. Wherever you are in your parenting journey, whether with newborn child or young adult, begin teaching problem solving skills, thinking skills, and verbal reasoning skills. Problem Solving, Thinking, & Verbal Reasoning There are other important skills (like, how to do laundry, dishes, math, and weak-side layups), but these are the Big Three. All are skills. All are taught, coached, encouraged, trained, and ... practiced, practiced, practiced to mastery over time. Please keep in mind that skills are increased gradually, incrementally over time only through repetitive practice. Practice to mastery is the only path to skill development, the only path forward. We will work toward developing these skills (problem-solving, thinking, verbal reasoning) by practicing on a regular basis the * Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) process developed by Dr. Ross Greene. This process can and should be practiced during all routine problems and mor...