HELLO and WELCOME! 

FROM THE SOUTH BAY / SO CAL CHAPTER OF CHADD

 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects our lives in different ways. Symptoms are not the same for everyone and can appear differently over time.  We know that the best support often comes from those who have "been there"...those of us who live with ADHD.  Sharing, talking and networking with other ADHD adults and parents with ADHD children and teens and young adults, is a good way to learn about this "difference." More importantly, we learn that we are not alone.

 

Our Chapter's mission is to provide ongoing support to help us understand this "difference" which affects our lives, our children and our families. With the current concerns about mental health, in addition to the daily social demands among our youth and their families, we recognize a need to support families with hands-on strategies and practices.

 

The South Bay/So Cal Chapter of CHADD offers the following Support Programs for Adults, Families, and Teens (ages 11-14) and their Parents:

 

1.  Our CHADD ADHD SUPPORT GROUP (AGES 18 +)  is facilitated by  Justine Ruotolo, LMFT.  Justine Ruotolo, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Virginia and an Executive Function/ADHD coach.

 

Justine has been working in the ADHD community for over 30 years and is a graduate of the Pepperdine University clinical master's program, with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. Justine works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and parents. Justine facilitated our Adult Group successfully for over 10 years in California and we are delighted to have her back as our Adult Group Facilitator.

 

We meet via Zoom bi-monthly and our next CHADD Adult Support Group Zoom meeting is on SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025  @ 1 pm (PST).  If interested in participating, please email Justine at Justine @ missadd.com and Carolyn at ckellychadd10g@gmail.com and we will send you the Zoom link. 

 

 

2.  Our CHADD FRIDAY NITE LIVE MEET-UP FOR TWEENS AND TEENS (Ages 11-14) AND THEIR PARENTS are in-person and monthly on a Friday night, from 6 pm - 7:30 pm. Doors open at 5:45 pm. 

 

Here are our remaining 2025 dates and our Special Guests:

May 16, 2025 - T. J. Vanmarter, Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, BCBA, LMFT. & Sunny Lim, ACSW, Associate Social Worker, specializing in Neurodivergence.

 

The ultimate goals of the Friday Nite Live Meet-up are to help strengthen resilience, teach self-advocacy and foster mental wellness in a confidential and safe space. It is important to learn how to better communicate within families to build trust, improve social skills and advocacy. 

 

Our Tween & Teen Meet-up provides opportunities to share their internal struggles and successes with others and develop positive strategies to navigate their feelings, improve social skills, and communicate effectively. 

Our Parent Meet-up provides opportunities for parents to learn and support each other and their children. Parenting is quite challenging under the best of circumstances. And when our tweens/teens struggle, parents struggle and parenting can be overwhelming and isolating.  

 

For information about participating in our CHADD FRIDAY NITE LIVE MEET-UP FOR TWEENS AND TEENS (ages 11-14) AND THEIR PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP, contact Carolyn Kelly, Chapter Coordinator @ ckellychadd10g@gmail.com. 

 

 

 

3. The CHADD WOW FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP meetings are monthly on a Saturday evening via Zoom.  Meetings are from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Special guests and their topics are provided below. All are welcome to participate. 

 

Here are our 2024-25 Dates:

 

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 (SATURDAY @ 6 PM)

 

TOPIC: When Kids and Parents Have ADHD

 

TOPIC DESCRIPTION:  Managing ADHD in the family is quite challenging and at times, can be quite chaotic. Balancing children’s needs, parents’s needs, extracurricular activities, school and work schedules is a daunting task in all families. But these struggles become more pronounced and overwhelming in households where both a parent (or parents) and child (or children) deal with ADHD. There are no one-size-cures-all solutions for executive function deficits, but there are things that parents and kids can do to make their life at home and school and work a bit easier and more harmonious.

 

Come learn ways to be better organized and be more focused so that responses within the family are more effective, consistent and calm. Learn how to keep emotions out of the equation so that parents can pay attention to and respond positively to behaviors they want to encourage.  None of these are easy with ADHD.  But there are tools that can help parents improve their behavior management skills, leading to positive parent-child interactions and a more effective and proactive direction for their children and their families.

 

SPECIAL GUEST: T. J. Vanmarter, Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, BCBA, LMFT. T.J. Vanmarter has over 13  years experience treating individuals with a variety of mood disorders, neurodivergency (ADHD, Autism, etc.) academic and behavioral disorders, and managing life transitions (work, school, relationships, grief, etc.) T.J. Vanmarter is licensed in CA and AZ and holds a certification in behavior analysis. His practice is affirming, client-centered and goal-oriented, treating individuals, couples and families.

 

OCTOBER 19, 2024 (SATURDAY @ 6 PM)

Topic:  Boosting Executive Function Skills: Tools for Home, School and Work

 

Topic Description: This presentation will offer practical strategies for enhancing organization, managing daily routines, and improving task completion at home, school, or work, whether it's for your child or yourself.

 

Special Guest: Stefanie Rushatakankovit, Licensed Educational Psychologist & Board Certified Behavior Analyst, LEP, NCSP, BCBA, is the Executive Board President of Our Village, a South Bay Los Angeles non-profit supporting neurodivergent individuals. With a background as a school psychologist, Stefanie brings extensive experience in assessng and supporting children with ADHD, Autism and Learning Disabilities. Stefanie's diverse experience spans school, clinical and home settings. Stefanie now practices privately in Torrance, CA, offering therapy, assessments, social skills groups, and parent coaching for children and teens, with a strong focus on building executive functioning skills. 

 

NOVEMBER 16, 2024 (SATURDAY @ 6 PM)

Topic:  “On your Mark, Get Ready, Get Set…Stop! How Using the Components of Executive Functioning Will Get You Going."

 

Topic Description: Development of Executive Function varies from adolescence to old age. In adolescence development seems to take longer as we transition to young adulthood. Age related differences in Executive Function continue into our senior years. Studies continue to explore and provide better understanding of executive functions across the lifespan. These studies are important to also better understand the ADHD brain and Executive Function.

 

Executive Functions (EF) are high -level cognitive processes that include planning, initiation, shifting, monitoring and inhibition of behaviors.  EF’s play a very important role in our everyday lives, allowing us to focus on specific tasks, engage in successful problem solving, and plan for the future. EF’s vary developmentally through the different life stages.

 

Kathy Whelan-Gioia  joins us to discuss the components of Executive Functioning and will share evidence based strategies that can help support efforts to create successful routines, efficient work habits and adult traits to support independence.

 

With ADHD, we often deal with additional “roadblocks” through all the stages and Kathy will help identify key factors to develop and create systems to form “habits” that work for you or your child.

Kathy’s presentation is a “life’s Book of Instructions” and provides helpful tools and “accommodations” to guide us forward to become productive, marketable and successful to support our self-advocacy and independence.

 

Special Guest: Kathy Whelan-Gioia, M.S., M.Ed., ET/P, Member of COPAA  Kathy Whelan Gioia is currently in practice as a Non- Attorney Advocate in the South Bay Area.  Her career spans over decades as a Educator servicing students from Elementary level to high school to her position as a  Diagnostic Education Specialist at the California Department of Education, Diagnostic Center of Southern California located at Cal State LA. During her tenure at the CA Department of Education, she was and continues to be regarded as a skilled Trainer and Speaker for ADHD, Transition Services and Executive Functioning.  She prides herself in creating effective and specialized Transition Planning programs with a focus on positive secondary outcomes for students via evidenced based outcomes and strategies.

 

In addition to a M.S In Education and an M.Ed. in Special Education. Kathy maintains professional standing as an Educational Therapist, and an active member of COPAA (Council of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates).

 

FEBRUARY 22, 2025 (SATURDAY @ 6 PM)

Topic: Narrative Shift Coaching and Therapy 

 

Topic Description: Justine Ruotolo has been an Executive Function Coach and LMFT for over 30 years. Justine began as Miss ADD, and has recently switched to Narrative Shift Coaching and Therapy. Come learn about Nattative Shift Coaching Therapy and how it could help you. The focus is on the stories we carry with us...stories tht shape our beliefs and influence our thoughts and behaviors. narrative Shift Coaching is a technique or program that helps people change their stories to create new options and results for themselves and their families. It can help people become more aware of their stories and then be able to re-write tttttttttttthe stories tht no longer serve them.

Justine made this change to help others understand the need to shift their narrative which can help them get better. EFD's, anxiety and depression can improve; couples and families can learn to communicate on a positive level...because changing the narrative of your life can change you.

 

Come learn how Narrative Coaching can help you, by providing each of you with tools that could help you feel and do better. Narrative Coaching helps examine your life stories, your values, beliefs and assumptions about your self. You can identify how these stories have shaped you and learn how to reframe stories that no longer serve you and learn how to rewrite more empowering narratives about yourself. Gain insight and make positive changes to create narratives that align with your goals. 

 

Special Guest: Justine Ruotolo, LMFT, is our CHADD Adult Support Group Facilitator.  Justine Ruotolo, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Virginia and an Executive Function/ADHD coach.

 

MARCH 22, 2025 (SATURDAY @ 6 PM)

 

Topic:  ADHD Across the Lifespan:  Challenges and Superpowers 

 

Topic Description: ADHD often affects people throughout their lives and unique manifestations differ across the lifespan.  ADHD during childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle and late adulthood have their own challenges and superpowers. Understanding the challenges and superpowers are both central to an integrated life. We will discuss ADHD in each life stage and allow time for your personalized questions.  

 

Special Guest:  Sandra Zoe Brown, Ph.D.

 

Sandra Zoe Brown, Ph.D., has worked with individuals, couples, families and groups for over 40 years, and currently has a psychotherapy practice in Torrance, CA. She works with individuals, couples and families and has specialized training and experience in a variety of conditions, including ADHD. Her practice is based on an amalgamation of experience from a broad range of theories and therapies. Since we each have unique backgrounds, genetics, developmental history, culture, and life experience, there is no one single theory or approach that applies to all of us. Sandra's individualized approach is a combination of clinical experience, education, intuition and confidence in the therapeutic process. It is important to understand that all therapy approaches must be based on trust, caring and an interactive therapeutic relationship. Drawn to the field of psychology due to a fascination with the brain and neuroscience, Sandra's focus is on working directly with people. Dr. Brown has specialized training in alcohol, drugs and behavioral additions...the effects of these addictions on the Family, Adult ADHD/ADD, Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and EMDR. Fluent in American Sign Language, Dr. Brown also works with hard-of-hearing and deaf individuals and families. Dr Brown previous taught psychology in several universities and continue to be a lifelong student, enjoying keeping current on recent ADHD research and best practice methods.  Feel welcome to review her website for additional biographic information: www.sandrazoebrownphd.com.

   

APRIL 19, 2025 (SATURDAY @ 6 PM)

 

Topic:  The Lived Experience of ADHD beyond the DSM Criteria

Special Guest:  Joel Schwartz, Psy.D.

Dr. Joel Schwartz is a licensed clinical psychologist who co-runs a private practice in San Luis Obispo called Total Spectrum Counseling. He specializes in therapy and testing for the misunderstood, particularly autistic people from a neurodiversity perspective.  He is the creator of the term “Neurodiversity Affirmative Therapy” and has consulted internationally on the topic.  He is an ADHDer himself, and loves to teach others about the experience of living with ADHD.

 

As a therapist, he is warm, compassionate, and strongly humanistic, allowing for all the oddities and unexplored aspects of his clients to emerge and be validated. As a testing psychologist, Dr. Schwartz specializes in difficult and complex cases.

Dr. Schwartz grew up in Southern California. He developed an early interest in psychology, strangely enough, from a childhood filled with science fiction stories. These stories often provided fascinating looks into human psychology and the human spirit. Dr. Schwartz attended UCLA as an undergrad where he conducted research in the field of neurolinguistics. From there, he attended Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf School of Clinical Psychology for his Master’s and Doctorate degree. He has worked in various settings including colleges, clinics, a federal prison, and residential treatment centers. Through his experience with a vast array of individuals he has stuck with one important lesson among many; as the psychoanalyst Harry Stack Sullivan said, “We are all more human than otherwise.”

 

Date TBA (SATURDAY @ 6 PM) 

 

Topic:  Soft Skills: The Importance of Soft Skills Training for Individuals with Differences

 

Topic Description:  Individuals with differences make up nearly 20% of the American workforce, but face greater challenges in finding and maintaining employment. In most cases, it is because they have not had the opportunity to learn and develop soft and hard job skills that are important to finding employment and holding onto a job. Soft skills are important interpersonal skills that define how you work...how you interact with others. The ability to "read" other people and adapt to uncertain situations can be difficult for individuals with  differences. Dr Erxleben joins us to discuss how individuals with differences can learn to master certain soft skills and identify careers that are well-suited for particular differences.  

 

Special Guest: Virginia (Ginny) Erxleben, Ed.D., BCET, Co-Founder & Director of CLU(Center for Learning Unlimited) for over 20 years and now Executive Director of CLU Transitions, a Digital Arts and Animation Studio (DBA Brainstorm Productions) 

 

For more information about our CHADD WOW FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP, contact Carolyn Kelly, chapter coordinator at ckellychadd10g@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

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We encourage you to become a CHADD member. For about $1 a week ($53 Annual Family Membership or $130 Annual Professional Membership), you would help support your local chapter and CHADD's national advocacy efforts for information, services, support and accommodations in the schools and in the workplace.

FOR INFORMATION, email Carolyn Kelly at ckellychadd10g@gmail.com

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Do you need immediate assistance? 

As a volunteer, I may not be able to get back to you if you need immediate assistance. 

If you are seeking information for something that is time-sensitive (such as an IEP/Section 504 meeting at your child’s school), or are looking for a local  professional with AD/HD expertise, please contact CHADD’s National Resource Center on AD/HD (NRC), online at http://www.help4adhd.org/ or by phone toll-free at 800-233-4050 (press option 2, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Eastern time). 

The NRC is staffed by trained health information professionals who can answer many of your questions about AD/HD and provide other helpful information and resources. (NOTE: the NRC does not provide legal or medical advice, but can offer ideas and suggestions to help you find what you are looking for).

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CHADD does not endorse or represent products, services, publication, medications or treatments. Meetings are free and open to the public, although membership with CHADD is strongly encouraged, since your local group will receive a portion of your dues to continue supporting your community.

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