Clear Answers for Learning, Anxiety & OCD
Welcome! I am happy you’re here.
This blog is a resource for parents who are trying to understand why learning, school, or anxiety feels harder than it should for their child.
You will find clear, practical recommendations on neuropsychological evaluations, anxiety, OCD, and emetophobia written in parent-friendly language and backed by clinical experience.
Whether you’re wondering if your child needs testing, trying to understand OCD or anxiety, or looking for next steps, this space is designed to help you make sense of what’s going on and feel more confident about how to help.
Why Does My Child Guess Words When Reading?
If you’ve ever sat next to your child during homework and thought “that’s not the word…” You’re not alone.
Many parents notice the same pattern:
Your child looks at the first letter… and guesses.
They substitute a word that kind of makes sense.
They skip small words like “the” or “of.”
They turn “horse” into “house.”
They read quickly but inaccurately.
Or they read slowly and still guess.
The GI tests are Normal, so Why Are You Afraid of Throwing Up?
Many parents come into my office exhausted and confused.
They’ve done everything right.
Bloodwork.
Endoscopy.
GI consults.
Diet changes.
Elimination plans.
Reassurance after reassurance.
And yet… nothing really changes.
Their child still feels nauseous every morning.
Still panics before school.
Still avoids eating, sleeping over friends’ houses, or going anywhere unfamiliar.
Still asks, “What if I throw up?”
And the hardest part?
Every test comes back normal.
Why Does My Child Feel Like They’re Going to Throw Up All the Time (Even When They’re Not Sick)?
Why Did My Child Fall Apart in Middle School?
If you’re asking this question, you’re probably feeling blindsided.
Your child may have done fine in elementary school. Homework wasn’t a battle. Teachers didn’t raise major concerns. School felt manageable or maybe even easy at times.
And then middle school hit.
Suddenly, your kids grades dropped. Homework started taking hours. Anxiety showed up where it never had before. Your child became overwhelmed, irritable, exhausted, or withdrawn. School went from “fine” to emotionally charged almost overnight.
Parents often say: “Nothing big changed…”
But the truth is: a lot changed, even if it wasn’t obvious.
Why Does My Child Study So Much but Still Do Poorly on Tests?
If you’ve found yourself Googling this question, you’re probably exhausted and worried.
You’ve watched your child:
Study for hours
Review notes again and again
Do fine on their homework
Explain the material out loud
And then… fail the test.
Parents often say:
“They knew this at home.”
“They studied so much.”
“They just froze.”
“I don’t understand what went wrong.”
If this is happening repeatedly, it’s not just bad luck and it’s not because your child isn’t trying.