Individual Matters

04/20/2026

Some kids seem bright, curious, and full of potential—yet they have trouble focusing, managing emotions, mastering academic concepts, navigating social dynamics, or completing everyday tasks. This may be twice exceptionality (2e)—when a child is both gifted and has a learning or neurodevelopmental challenge.

These children often experience anxiety, frustration, low self-esteem, or behaviors that look oppositional—but are actually brain-based.

The good news? With the right understanding and support, they can truly thrive.

👉 Learn more about twice-exceptional children and how a comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluation can help bring clarity.
https://www.individualmatters.org/post/when-bright-kids-struggle-understanding-twice-exceptionality-2e

Twice exceptional (2e) learners have strengths and struggles that exist side by side—and often mask each other. This can be confusing—and often frustrating—for parents and teachers.

04/01/2026

Dr. Katen's new novella is now available on Amazon!

"Return to Mancos" is a heartfelt, quietly powerful story about ordinary moments that turn out to be anything but. Through a genuine and endearing voice, it captures the humor, messiness, and meaning in everyday life. If you’re drawn to stories that feel real and stay with you, this is one to pick up.

https://www.individualmatters.org/post/return-to-mancos-a-heart-warming-new-novel-by-dr-katrina-katen

The characters in Return to Mancos and the serendipitous interweaving of their lives have been living in my head for nearly 15 years—like a quiet seed waiting for the right moment to grow. Lexi Logan is at the heart of the story—a young psychologist trying to figure things out. Her journey is he...

03/16/2026

Is your child bright but still struggling in school? The answer may lie in how their brain learns. Our newest post explains how neurodevelopmental testing can help gifted and twice-exceptional students thrive.

Neurodevelopmental testing can also help students understand themselves better. Many gifted or 2e students feel confused about why school feels easy in some ways and very hard in others. When they see their strengths and challenges clearly explained, it can be a relief. They often realize that their...

02/26/2026

Wondering what an ADHD, learning, and autism evaluation at Individual Matters looks like? Dr. Katen guides families in Grand Junction, CO through a compassionate, evidence-based evaluation that leads to clearer answers and targeted strategies for everyday life. Expect personalized testing, clear explanations, and practical next steps to reduce uncertainty and support your child. Check out our newest article to learn more:
https://www.individualmatters.org/post/what-is-included-in-a-neurodevelopmental-evaluation

A neurdevelopmental evaluation is much more than a single test. It is a careful, in-depth process that gathers information from many sources to answer an important question: Why is my child the way they are?

02/15/2026

🛑 Recess Plays a Crucial Role in Children's Development! 🧒👧
Recess isn't just a break from learning; it's essential for a child's overall well-being.
🌟 Here are 5 research studies highlighting the amazing benefits of recess for children in school:
"The Crucial Role of Recess in Schools" (2010) 🏫💡
This study emphasizes that recess improves memory, attention, and social skills, which are vital for children's success in school. 📚🧠

"Educational Outcomes of Recess in Elementary School Children" (2023) 📖 Recess contributes to academic performance by helping students focus and problem-solve better! 💪🎓

"Disparities in School Recess Persist" (2023) ⚖️ Highlights how recess promotes physical activity and social interaction, and how we need to ensure all students have access to it. 🌍🤝

"How Much Recess Should Kids Get?" (2022) ⏰
Daily recess boosts both physical health and academic performance—20 minutes is all it takes! 🏃‍♂️📈

"Research-Tested Benefits of Breaks" (2018) ☀️
Longer breaks help kids develop key life skills, like taking turns and resolving conflicts. 💬🤗

✨ Recess isn't just fun—it's vital for kids' growth in every way! 🌱👦👧 Let's support play in schools! ❤️ Want our list of 10 alternatives to taking away recess? Drop a 🛝 below and we will send them to you!

02/13/2026

Educational therapy is not just tutoring. It’s not just therapy either. It’s a blend of learning support and emotional support. It looks at how your child’s brain works, not just what grade they got on a spelling test. Read our latest post to learn more.

https://www.individualmatters.org/post/when-school-feels-heavy-a-mom-s-guide-to-educational-therapy

Educational therapy is more than tutoring and more than therapy. It blends learning support with emotional support.

02/12/2026

Unlock the full picture of your child's potential—discover how comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluations reveal hidden strengths and true solutions, not just one puzzle piece! https://www.individualmatters.org/post/comprehensive-neurodevelopmental-evaluations-seeing-the-whole-child-not-just-one-piece

02/09/2026

Happiness is available! But it takes building intentional pathways in our brains. Lisa Reigel, PhD, explains in the latest episode of the Individual Matters podcast. Give it a listen! https://youtu.be/zMPa0yvYjMs?si=0a6dfOkhykFcmJS3

02/08/2026

School is built around weaknesses. Think about if a student does poor in math, that becomes the focus. They may be exceptional in reading, science, etc. but the focus is on the weakness.
If all the feedback is about what you are bad at, trying feels risky. Trying becomes another chance to point out failure. So students eventually shut down. When their weaknesses become the focus, which is often the case, then it is understandable why they hate school.
That is the flaw.
A weakness focused system teaches fear, not growth. It conditions students to believe ability is fixed and that mistakes are something to hide. Research on mindset shows that when students see ability as fixed, effort drops, persistence fades, and learning slows.
Now there is nothing wrong with improving weaknesses, but that shouldn't be the focus of education or life. Research says when we focus on our strengths we are exponentially more success than just fixing weaknesses.

But now let's compare that to a strengths based approach. When we focus on student's strengths and what they do well.
Then students experience success, which gives them confidence.
Confidence makes them willing to try new and harder things.
That willingness is where rigor actually comes from.
Rigor is not forcing difficulty on students who feel incapable. It is students choosing challenge because they believe they can handle it.
You do not get students to stretch by reminding them what they cannot do. You get there by helping them experience success first.
When we miss that, it is no mystery why so many students leave school defeated and done with school.
Let's focus on their strengths, so success gives them the confidence to reach their potential.

02/06/2026

“What were you thinking?!!” Answer: Your kid wasn’t thinking. Their brain was unregulated, and kids must be regulated before they can think. They cannot answer when stressed.

There are far better questions to ask a struggling student, and Lisa Riegel, PhD, offers several, as well as many other good parenting and educator tips, in our latest podcast episode: “What Kids Really Need to Learn: a Brain-Based Approach.” Check it out! https://youtu.be/zMPa0yvYjMs?si=WRQGAAtWprR0ne2U

02/06/2026

What do kids really need in order to learn, grow, and thrive?

It's not more pressure. It's not more punishment. And it's definitely not “try harder.”

In this episode, we sit down with leadership strategist and former educator Lisa Riegel, creator of "Neurowell", to talk about how the brain truly shapes learning, behavior, and emotions. She shares simple, science-based ways to support focus, confidence, and emotional regulation at home and in the classroom.

If you are a parent or educator who wants practical tools, encouragement, and a fresh perspective on helping kids succeed, this conversation is for you.

Listen now and discover how small changes can make a big difference.
https://youtu.be/zMPa0yvYjMs

What Kids Really Need to Learn: A Brain Based Approach is a powerful conversation for parents, teachers, and educators who want to better understand student ...

02/04/2026

Many parents are confused about what kind of evaluation their child really needs.

ADHD testing? Learning testing? Autism evaluation? Or something more comprehensive?

If your child is struggling in school, with focus, emotions, or social skills, it is not always obvious where to start. And choosing the wrong type of assessment can mean more time, more stress, and more cost later.

This article explains the difference between comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluations and narrow, single-focus assessments — and how to know which one makes the most sense for your child.

If you have been wondering what type of testing is right, this post is for you. https://www.individualmatters.org/post/comprehensive-neurodevelopmental-evaluations-seeing-the-whole-child-not-just-one-piece

A comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluation looks at how your child’s brain is working across many areas, not just one. Instead of focusing on a single concern, it examines the whole picture of your child’s development, learning, attention, memory, language, social skills, emotions, and execut...