Hello! My name is Lauren Rodenbeck (Rebman). I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate at Adventures In Learning. It is a pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful family business, and I’m thrilled with the new opportunity to share my professional thoughts and stories on this blog!
For my first entry, I’d like to share with you a little bit about myself and touch on why I love what I do.
I earned my bachelors degree at the wonderful Purdue University (Boiler Up!) where I majored in Psychology and minored in Child Development and Family Services. I had grown up observing the field of psychology and had always envisioned myself working as a mental health clinician. My studies at Purdue only encouraged me to continue learning and studying the fascinating field. Excitedly, I forged ahead into graduate study at Indiana University – Purdue University, Fort Wayne (IPFW). It was in my master’s program I found my home away from home and passion in the psychology field – Marriage and Family Therapy.
Recently, my focus has been working with children, adolescents, and their families as they navigate the stressors of ADHD. In my sessions, I work with clients through skills-based counseling. Many of my clients with ADHD struggle with working memory deficits, poor impulse control and emotional management, lack of attention and focus, and low self-esteem (to name only a few). In addition, many of their family and peer relationships are strained due to their inattentive/hyperactive symptoms. Parents feel like they have “tried everything and nothing works!” and may be looking for a helping hand, a new idea, unconditional positive regard, and support. Siblings may feel ignored, less important, and frustrated.
My goal is to conjointly teach the individual with ADHD new techniques to decrease lagging skills, while working with their family to ensure success as a family system. Sessions and treatment plans are built uniquely for each family. Through the therapeutic alliance and exercises, an awareness of strengths, talents, and potentials are recognized; eventually, a constructive and healthy self-esteem is built.
Our world moves fast enough. To be successful, we need to have the skills to pay attention, focus, concentrate, sit still, buckle down, and get the job done. We need to have the social skills to deal with difficult people, family members, and our occasional frustrating neighbor. More importantly, we need to have confidence and faith in ourselves to tackle what life throws at us; we need to be able to cope with the stressors of life in a healthy way to fulfill our human potential and reach our personal goals.
I love what I do. There are few things that bring me more joy than to hear the happiness and relief in a child, parent, or sibling’s voice when a positive environmental, relational, or personal change has been made to improve their overall quality of life.
In this blog I will be sharing professional thoughts and exercises I use with my clients. It is my hope and goal that, at some point, one of our postings through AIL will touch another’s heart and/or mind. If I’ve peeked your interest, please stay tuned!
“I cannot think of a single psychological problem that is not traceable to a poor self-concept. Positive self-esteem is a cardinal requirement of a fulfilling life.” – Dr. Nathaniel Branden
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