Dr. Mike
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. As another presidential election approaches, political conversations seem to be everywhere. These discussions can quickly become heated, often leading to frustration, misunderstandings, and, strained or even terminated relationships. But what if the way we vote is influenced more by the biology of our brains than by our rational, conscious thoughts?…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. With technology being so present in our lives these days, it can be tempting to turn our friends into virtual therapists when we are in a bad place or need help. And while it’s perfectly fine to reach out to friends on-line for general support, it’s entirely another thing to seek…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. “Sharenting,” which is a portmanteau of the words “parenting” and “sharing,” is a relatively new pop psychology term that involves the act of a parent excessively posting pictures, videos, updates and stories about their child or teen’s life. And while a lot of pop psychology terms aren’t very helpful, I think…
By Michael Oberschneider The teenage years are a critical period of emotional development. During this time, teenagers experience rapid changes in their bodies, brains, and social environments. These changes can often lead to emotional turbulence, confusion and poor choices/behaviors. As a parent, understanding the developmental challenges faced by your teen is the first step to…
In today’s fast-paced world, finding moments of peace and connection as a family can be challenging. The demands of work, school and extracurricular activities for the kids often leave little time for more meaningful personal interactions. However, there can be real benefits to prioritizing and integrating mindfulness into family life. Practicing mindfulness as a family…
Dr. Mike, I recently reentered the dating world after a painful divorce last year, and I met a great guy who I’ll refer to here as “Jack.” We have been on several wonderful dates, and I think there could be something special for us together. We’re compatible in so many ways – we’re in similar…
Dr Mike, Our 18-year-old daughter who is a senior in high school, is addicted to her phone, and we don’t know what to do. The phone is always in her hand, and even though my husband and I don’t disapprove of most of what she’s doing with the phone, we also think she’s on it…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. There is certainly a lot written on the Empty Nest Syndrome – the period of grief that many parents feel after their grown child leaves home – but there are far fewer articles on how parents can best navigate their pre-teen or teen’s journey toward independence while still living at home.…
By Michael Obschneider, Psy. D. Divorce is an inherently tumultuous life event that significantly impacts the emotional well-being of all those involved. And, the approach to divorce can greatly influence the outcome, with collaborative divorce offering a less adversarial alternative to traditional litigation. This method, focusing on negotiation and mutual agreement outside of court, holds…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. Dr. Mike: Our 16-year-old son is having a really hard time academically. He gets the occasional A, a lot of B’s and some C’s, and he doesn’t apply himself at all. His grades are all over the place, and we never see him doing homework. With grade inflation within LCPS, we’re…