Benjamin Avshalomov is a Mental Health Counseling student at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. He received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in early childhood education from Touro College.

Benjamin exhibits immense drive and passion when it comes to the well-being of his community. He has worked as an EMT across the five boroughs and Long Island. Benjamin has also worked for more than 6 years as a medical assistant. He connected with people of all ages who suffered from allergies and asthma in a private office setting teaching them how to manage their symptoms. During the Covid-19 pandemic he worked as a medical assistant on a Covid relief van. He traveled throughout low-income neighborhoods in the Bronx to deliver testing and reliable information to those in need.

Benjamin has a strong background in research. He started his research in medical oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. After moving to New York for his undergraduate degree, his passion for understanding psychology began to develop. He immersed himself in research pertaining to anxiety and trauma. He wrote investigative articles on psychology and wellness for his school newsletter.

The relationship between behavior, cognition, and emotion has always been the center of Benjamin's passion. He is an advocate for children and adolescents with learning disorders and strives to fulfill their needs. He has volunteered in local hospitals teaching basic writing and reading skills to children with autism. Benjamin tutors young adults with learning disabilities at his university. He is also in communication with state legislators as he fights to preserve legislation that makes necessary mental health interventions available for all who need them. He is currently learning the foundations of critical therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Gestalt Therapy and Psychoanalysis.

Benjamin believes that supportive environments, individualized attention, and unconditional positive regard are central pillars of the therapeutic process. He is thorough, thoughtful, and sensitively understands that each developmental challenge is unique. He is enthusiastic to help children, adolescents, families, and all people in his community.

Creativity in Children with ADHD

creativity in children with adhd

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects many people globally. It has been connected to higher rates of failure in academic settings, a higher likelihood to be unemployed, and could make developing and maintaining relationships difficult. However, on the bright side, researchers have long wondered if ADHD has a strength: Enhanced creativity.

Continue reading
  3 Hits
3 Hits

Practicing positive communication: Children and Teens with Oppositional Defiance

Children and Teens with Oppositional Defiance

Have you ever been scared in your own home? Children and teens exhibiting defiant behavior consistently can be emotionally draining for themselves and others around them. There's a range between the usual independence-seeking behavior of teens and out-of-control defiant behavior. It's normal to exhibit oppositional behaviors at certain stages of an adolescent’s development.

Continue reading
  70 Hits
70 Hits

What is Hyperlexia?

Hyperlexia

Hyperlexia is a term that describes a child's precocious ability to read. Children with hyperlexia might show an intense interest in all printed material and could be able to read as early as 18 months old, before any real language skills have even developed. Hyperlexia is not a diagnosis by itself and does not appear as an official diagnosis in psychological diagnostic manuals. The term is used as a practical label to provide parents, educators, and mental health professionals with a better understanding of how a child with hyperlexia might think and learn. This is particularly important because hyperlexia often co-exists alongside Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders.

Continue reading
  31 Hits
31 Hits

Spot the Difference: ADHD vs Anxiety

ADHD vs Anxiety

Children with ADHD and children with anxiety can exhibit some similar characteristics and behaviors making it more challenging to tell the difference. For instance, children with ADHD are more likely to have higher rates of co-occurring anxiety. It can be difficult to tease out if inattention is due to anxiety or if in fact, the anxiety is a result of deficits regarding attention regulation due to ADHD. This brings up the added complication of secondary anxiety. Secondary anxiety in children with ADHD usually involves being anxious about executive functioning difficulty (anxiety about assignments, time management, school demands, etc.).

As we delve deeper into the differences between ADHD and Anxiety disorders, let's briefly look at some of the main symptoms of each.

Continue reading
  81 Hits
81 Hits

What is Dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder of written expression. It is a learning disability that affects children and adults interfering with skills like handwriting, typing, and spelling. It can also impact the capacity to translate ideas into language.

Although it is estimated that 5-20% of children have Dysgraphia it should not be confused with poor handwriting. Dysgraphia is more serious and generally appears when children are first learning to write. Each case is unique, and experts are not always sure what the causes are, but early treatment can help prevent or reduce problems.

Continue reading
  55 Hits
55 Hits

Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder Vs. Autism Spectrum Disorder: What is the Difference?

Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder Vs. Autism Spectrum Disorder

One of the main differences between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder (SCD) is that people with Autism have difficulties with social communication (language deficits, social challenges) AND also exhibit repetitive and/or disruptive behaviors.

Repetitive behaviors often look like:

Continue reading
  186 Hits
186 Hits

Implementing Vulnerability: Practicing Positive Communication

Implementing Vulnerability: Practicing Positive Communication Implementing Vulnerability: Practicing Positive Communication

Problems can arise in conversation. That's when emotions, expectations, and opinions clash. Everybody sees the world in a different way.

Continue reading
  318 Hits
318 Hits

Active Listening: Practicing Positive Communication

Active Listening: Practicing Positive Communication Active Listening: Practicing Positive Communication

Listening is so important. It is the easiest way to connect with other people and build relationships. We all know about passive listening. The person is hearing us speak but is tuned out or not mentally engaged. This could be discouraging and unsatisfying. Active listening is the opposite. It means listening completely. This type of listening is a skill that involves intentional engagement and can be improved over time with practice and effort.

Continue reading
  396 Hits
396 Hits

Considering the Risks That Lead to Self-harm or Suicidal Thoughts and behavior

Considering the Risks That Lead to Self-harm or Suicidal Thoughts and behavior Considering the Risks That Lead to Self-harm or Suicidal Thoughts and behavior

Depression, prior suicide attempts, psychiatric disorders, intense anxiety, and addiction are common risk factors for suicide.

Continue reading
  413 Hits
413 Hits

Parenting Doesn't Stop at Eighteen

Parenting Doesn't Stop at Eighteen Parenting Doesn't Stop at Eighteen

The finishing line is not 18! It can be difficult when your kids become adults. There are new challenges, new responsibilities and the stakes are higher. Guess what? You're still a parent! There are fantastic ways to help your young adult navigate this new stage of life.

Continue reading
  422 Hits
422 Hits

How can students with ADHD improve Organization?

How can students with ADHD improve Organization? How can students with ADHD improve Organization?

How can students with ADHD improve Organization? Understanding the importance of organizational skills and how to apply them is critical. Organizational skills refer to a set of cognitive abilities that facilitate goal-oriented behavior.

Continue reading
  472 Hits
472 Hits

Back to School! How to Navigate Anxiety Around Covid-19

Back to School! How to Navigate Anxiety Around Covid-19 Back to School! How to Navigate Anxiety Around Covid-19

Back to School!

This is a time like no other! As our children head back to school and to the playground, we are naturally concerned about Covid-19 and its variants. A little anxiety can be helpful! It reminds us to wash our hands and wear our masks. Following the advice of health experts is so crucial on our quest back to normalcy. Yet, it is our prerogative as parents to give our children the best tools possible in this new chapter!

Continue reading
  499 Hits
499 Hits