About Plum Tree Psychology
Dr. Ann Weller is a Child and Adolescent Psychologist and the owner of Plum Tree Psychology, Ltd. Her education, training, and background experience has been exclusively in the treatment of young people. She’s worked in outpatient settings, community mental health, and college counseling. She was a clinical director at a psychiatric inpatient hospital. She’s worked with thousands of children with behavior issues, such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggression, self-injury, and suicide attempts.
Dr. Weller has diagnosed and treated children with a range of illnesses, including: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, behavior disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dr. Weller has co-authored research in conjunction with Chicago’s Loyola University Psychology Department. She’s given trainings throughout Illinois to students, teachers, mental health providers, parents, and state agencies. Topics include: Understanding IQ, Teen Suicide, Managing ADHD in the Classroom, Running Children’s Groups, and Helping Children Manage Anxiety.
Dr. Weller’s areas of focus include: Psychological Assessment, ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, and self-injury/suicide.
Entries by Plum Tree Psychology
Perfect Child
by Plum Tree PsychologyMany parents ask me if perfectionism is problematic in kids. It can be. It’s all a matter of adaptiveness. Does perfectionism help or hinder your child? In our fast-paced, information-saturated environments, our children need to continually adapt. But, perfectionism can be the opposite–perfectionism can be rigid and unmoving. Psychologists typically distinguish between two types of perfectionists: […]
Self-Esteem (“I got this, Mom”)
by Plum Tree PsychologyGood self-esteem is the ultimate buffer in kids’ lives. It bolsters them during failure. It navigates them through social pressures. It weathers their emotional (and hormonal) storms. It keeps their negative self-statements in check. Good self-esteem encourages kids to try new things. It helps them understand other people, and treat them well. It makes life more enjoyable. Self-esteem is not something […]
Are ADHD Stimulants Working?
by Plum Tree PsychologyA common ADHD treatment is stimulant medication. Methylphenidate is popular, with trade names of Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana, and Metadate. An amphetamine salt (trade name Adderall) is also used quite a bit. Dosages are typically prescribed based on a child’s size. It is not uncommon for these dosages to be too high. Parents may notice a trade-off […]
4% of Teens on Antidepressants
by Plum Tree PsychologyThe Centers for Disease Control reported recently that about 1 in 25 teenagers take antidepressant medications, writes the Huffington Post. Depressive episodes in adolescents can look different from adult depression. For one, teens tend to show more irritability than sadness. Another difference is that teens are not as adept as adults in articulating issues associated with depression. […]
No TV for Toddlers
by Plum Tree PsychologyMental health professionals have long urged parents to limit kids’ TV time. Excessive TV watching has been linked to ADHD symptoms, and other concerns. Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended even stricter measures on TV. As in, no TV for children two years old or younger. Young children who watch TV have higher chances […]
Pesticides Linked to ADHD Symptoms
by Plum Tree PsychologyThe “organic movement” has roots (pardon the pun) in studies about harmful effects of pesticides. Pesticides Linked to ADHD Symptoms. A new study (conducted by Canadian researchers used data collected from nearly 1,140 children participating in the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) suggests more bad news about […]
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