Samantha Saltz, M.D. + Thoughts on Covid-19
Amongst all this chaos, it’s time that we focus on the positive. Our community has come together to fight COVID-19 and I feel we must recognize some of our accomplishments to date. Thank you to all physicians, healthcare workers, teachers, researchers and people worldwide, for working to combat this lethal disease. People truly can accomplish […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Couples in Covid-19 Quarantine
On April 1, 2020, Doctor Sam hosted a Facebook Live discussion with Dr. Rachael Silverman about communication techniques, structure, and ways families can destress while in close quarters. Make sure to follow Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Doctor Sam on Facebook to receive invitations to future events: https://www.facebook.com/doctorsamllc/
Samantha Saltz, M.D. On The Front Lines of Covid-19 – Doctor Sam and ER Physician, Dr. Nathan Dvor
On March 23, 2020, Doctor Sam hosted a Facebook Live discussion with ER Physician, Dr. Nathan Dvor about Covid-19. Make sure to follow Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Doctor Sam on Facebook to receive invitations to future events: https://www.facebook.com/doctorsamllc/
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Signs and Symptoms of Depression
In this video, Doctor Sam discusses the signs and symptoms of depression. Follow Doctor Sam on Facebook for more content: @doctorsamllc
Samantha Saltz, M.D. 2018 HEArt Show
Doctor Sam is proud to be a sponsor of the 2018 HEArt Show, an annual event to promote awareness of the healing power of expressive arts and to raise funds for organizations that utilize art in the healing process. Where: Sacred Treehouse 250 Royal Court Delray Beach, FL 33444 When: Friday, September 28, 2018 6:00pm-9:00pm […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. We Are All Human Beings
Hurricanes destroyed homes and businesses in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. The damage that these storms caused, while large, was often followed by an equally large sense of community. The heart-felt stories are numerous. University of Miami physicians guided a mother through the home-birth of her daughter, Destiny, during the storm. Marc Bell opened his […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Understanding death: A child’s perspective
Many assume that children who are young “won’t remember” or “won’t understand” death. However, in many cases, children are more perceptive than adults realize. Depending on a child’s level of cognitive development, death can be a challenging topic for parents to discuss with their children. Here, I explain stages of development and how children understand […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Something to Smile About
“Smile and the world smiles with you. . .” People have repeated this phrase for years and its particularly significant early in life. Consider a newborn baby who is not yet able to engage socially. While many parents have an innate love for their child, their attachment often increases at 6 to 8 weeks. This […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. 13 Reasons Why – You would not believe what your child may be watching
You have probably heard of the popular Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.” The series is about an adolescent girl, Hannah, who recorded audio tapes before her death detailing 13 reasons why she committed suicide. Each tape centers on a different person who bullied her, hurt her or simply let her down. After her death, the […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. What Moms Mean to their Children
The attachment between a mother and her child begins before the baby is born. From conception, a mother starts visualizing her newborn, modifies her lifestyle to care for the fetus, and starts attuning to her body’s signals that naturally change during pregnancy. Upon birth, most mothers change their priorities. They refocus concerns about their own […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages
Some people believe in a soul mate. When they find that person there is intense passion, attraction and also feelings of vulnerability. These emotions initially unite two people. But with time, the excitement dwindles and couples often forget how to recreate their initial chemistry. Part of maintaining your soul mate’s hunger for your love involves […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Helping Hands
American culture values self-sufficiency. We learn at a young age to only ask a teacher, coach or counselor for help when it’s critically and imminently needed. While encouraging independence is valuable, we need to place more emphasis on human interaction and the importance of seeking help. Many people feel embarrassed to ask for help and […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Minimizing Stress and Taking Care of the Caretaker
As a parent, do you ever feel like your life is devoted to others and that there is little time for you to do anything you find enjoyable? Are you constantly pulled in different directions? Parents are expected to manage work, children, a spouse, extracurricular activities, doctor appointments, grocery shopping, cleaning and much more. The […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Catastrophic Thinking: the Negative Impacts
Too often people use words like never, forever, always and impossible. These words can be harmful and are often related to all-or-none (and sometimes catastrophic) thinking. Extreme and catastrophic thinking may be related to poor physical conditions and social experiences. For example, a 2015 study assessed catastrophic thinking in patients with distal radial fractures and […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. The Three States of Mind
Decisions are made constantly. They may be as important as the person you choose to marry or as simple as what to eat. Regardless of what the decision is, you need to be mindful of the thought process utilized when coming to those decisions. Dialectical behavioral therapy teaches people about the three states of mind: […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. A Life Worth Living
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart,” Helen Keller nobly expressed. She desired a human connection and learned how to read, write and speak despite being deaf and blind. She made her life worth living. Why is this important? While most […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Voices Heard When Others are Silenced
It is hard for people to unite. People fear differences, change and a world where they may be an outcast in a sea of homogeneity. But children learning to embrace one another, irrespective of their race, religion, gender, sexuality or abilities are some of the most important lessons that parents can teach. When differences divide, […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Parenting an Adolescent
During adolescence children strive for independence. They flee from the nuances of childhood and simultaneously ignore the responsibilities of adulthood. If they make a mistake, they expect parents to rescue them; but when they accomplish something great, they take full credit. Naturally, this lends itself to friction between parents and their adolescent children. Adolescents often […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. The College Application Nightmare
An estimated 20.5 million students attend college and enrollment rates have increased by approximately 20 percent between 2003 and 2013.1 Many parents are guilty of measuring success according to which universities have granted their offspring a ticket of acceptance. This can make the college planning and the application process a nightmare for high school juniors and their families. Adolescents need […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Whose Bed is it Anyways?
You’ve been asleep for 2 hours when feet tiptoe into the bedroom around 1AM followed by a blanket being dragged across the carpet. Johnny hops between you and your spouse and is wrapped in a cocoon within minutes. Too tired to move, you close your eyes and go back to sleep. Your little visitor now […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Anxiety Awareness
Anxiety is an internal state of restlessness that may be difficult to suppress. Some people bite their nails, while others sweat and shake. The physical and mental effects of anxiety disorders can be debilitating. Therefore, children must employ effective coping mechanisms before their anxiety becomes unbearable. The approximate lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders is 16%.1 Generalized anxiety […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Visible Blindness
Kristy was breathtaking. She was about 4’11”, had beautiful brown hair and blistering blue eyes. Her skin was gentle, soft, much like a China doll and always natural. Kristy didn’t wear makeup, she didn’t need to. However, she didn’t see herself as beautiful. She couldn’t. All she could see was loneliness at the lunch table […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Detecting Depression
Parents know there’s something wrong. Their child has been to the pediatrician and the medical work up is unremarkable – but something is off. A parent’s instinct is often more helpful than clinical tests. If a parent is concerned, it’s everyone’s job to listen. In order to meet clinical criteria for major depression, symptoms last […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Leading: Appealing to others’ needs and wants
Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” Leaders have the ability to motivate others to perform. They understand that human behavior is driven by needs like shelter, food and clothing. Once these needs are fulfilled, people extend their […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Everybody Loves Taffy: Praise as a Platform for Suggestion
We’ve heard the phrase “everybody loves taffy,” meaning that everyone likes to be complimented. Why is this statement so profound? One reason is direct: praise cultivates warmth and happiness. The other is more disguised: praise establishes a safe platform to open others to your suggestions. In his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. It’s not “fine”
Everyone has pet peeves that make them irritated; one of mine is using the word “fine” as a complete response to a question. Think about someone you know who uses the word fine regularly. Is it possible that they use the word so “Feelings Inside are Not Expressed?” Or is it because they are, according to Aerosmith, “Fucked Up, Insecure, Neurotic, […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
“Get me out of here!” your child screams kicking his feet back and forth and playing with his food. It’s been all of ten minutes at the dinner table and your youngster just can’t sit still. He won’t go to bed and there is a ball bouncing in his bedroom until 11:00 pm. Finally, by […]
Samantha Saltz, M.D. Facebook – Take it at Face Value
Our world on social media is characterized by constant comparison to the lives of others. But what you see is sometimes a distorted view of reality. The world has changed since the birth of Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and other social media services. Many individuals look to these services to connect with others and fail to […]