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Hello!
As summer settles in, life often shifts to a different pace. School routines give way to vacations, camps, family gatherings, and longer days spent outdoors. While this season brings opportunities for fun and connection, it can also present new challenges as families adjust to changing schedules and transitions.
At McCaskill Family Services, we believe summer is also a wonderful time to focus on growth, resilience, and well-being. Whether you're helping a child prepare for a new school year, supporting a teen through life's changes, working on your own mental health, or simply looking for practical parenting strategies, our team is here to help.
In this issue, you'll find helpful resources, practice updates, upcoming events, and practical tips to support you and your family throughout the summer months.
As we continue celebrating nearly 30 years of serving our community, we remain grateful for the trust you place in us and are honored to be part of your family's journey.
We wish you a safe, healthy, and joyful summer!
All my best,
Dr. Pam McCaskill
office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com
734-416-9098
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McCaskill Family Services Newsletter
Term: Summer | Issue 78| June 29, 2026
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ADHD Myths That Deserve a Second Look 🔍
ADHD is one of the most commonly discussed mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. It is also one of the most misunderstood. In this month's feature, MFS therapist, Jaclyn Rink, M.S., explores three persistent myths about ADHD. Whether you're a parent, educator, clinician, or someone wondering if ADHD may be part of your own story, this article offers practical insights based on years of assessment and clinical experience.
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At McCaskill Family Services, we specialize in working with adults, children, teenagers and families with various presenting issues. If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, please contact us. Our clinicians are trained in empirically-based techniques, and would be happy to promptly schedule an appointment in person or via tele-health. We can be reached by phone at 734-416-9098 or by email at office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com.
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McCaskill Family Services is more than a practice to us—it is our life's work.
When we founded McCaskill Family Services nearly 30 years ago, our vision was simple: help children, teens, and families get the answers, support, and guidance they need to thrive. As licensed clinical psychologists specializing in child development, pediatric psychology and neuropsychological evaluations, we quickly discovered that many children were struggling not because they lacked potential, but because the root causes of their challenges were being missed.
Too often, children were given labels without receiving the comprehensive evaluations and support they truly needed. Learning disabilities were mistaken for ADHD. Anxiety was overlooked. Processing difficulties went unidentified. Families were left searching for answers.
We knew there had to be a better way.
As the practice grew, it became clear that the need extended beyond children. Parents, adults, couples, and entire families were looking for support, guidance, and solutions.
From the beginning, our philosophy has been simple: get it right. That means taking the time to understand each individual's strengths, challenges, experiences, and goals. It means looking beyond surface-level symptoms. It means combining comprehensive assessment with evidence-based treatment to create meaningful, lasting change.
Over the years, what started as a small private practice has grown into a multidisciplinary team of highly skilled professionals who share our passion for helping people reach their full potential. Today, we provide therapy, psychological and neuropsychological evaluations, couples counseling, eating disorder care, parent coaching, equine-assisted therapy, and much more.
While the practice has grown, one thing has never changed: our involvement.
McCaskill Family Services remains founder-led and family-owned. We are actively involved in the oversight of our services, the development of our programs, the clinicians we hire, and the experience of every family who walks through our doors. We have intentionally built a team of professionals who share our values, our standards, and our commitment to excellence.
We are incredibly proud of what McCaskill Family Services has become, but we are even more proud of the thousands of children, adults, couples, and families whose lives have been changed along the way.
Every success story matters to us. Every breakthrough matters. Every child who gains confidence, every parent who finds hope, every adult who discovers a path forward reminds us why we started this journey in the first place.
Thank you for trusting us to be part of yours.
Drs. Pam and John McCaskill
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Our Teen DBT Skills Group (Ages 12–18) helps teens develop practical coping skills for managing emotions, handling stress, navigating relationships, and building confidence. Participants learn evidence-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills including mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and effective communication in a supportive and engaging group setting. Join us July 15th- September 2nd, 2026 at 1:30-3:00pm weekly on Wednesdays!
| | Coming Soon: ADHD Parent Intensive | |
Raising a child or teen with ADHD can feel overwhelming at times. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Why does everything feel harder than it should?” you’re not alone. Our ADHD Parent Intensive is designed for parents and caregivers who want practical, real-life strategies to better understand and support their child. Whether your child has a formal ADHD diagnosis or struggles with attention, organization, or big emotions, this workshop offers support, education, and answers to everyday questions in a small-group setting.
Dr. Pam will be there all day to personally connect with you and answer all questions you may have!
| Awareness and Recognition Spotlight | This Month We Recognize: Pride Month | |
Pride Month is a reminder that feeling accepted and respected plays an important role in mental health. For LGBTQIA+ individuals, having access to affirming relationships, communities, and healthcare providers can make a positive difference in overall well-being.
When people hear the term affirming care, they may think it requires a major overhaul of policies or practices. Realistically, it often starts with small, intentional actions. Using inclusive language on intake forms, asking rather than assuming about relationships or identities, and respecting a person's chosen name and pronouns are all easy ways to help someone feel seen and valued. These practices communicate the message: You belong here.
Affirming care matters across the lifespan. A child who feels safe talking about their experiences, a teenager exploring their identity, an adult navigating relationships or workplace challenges, or an older adult seeking support all benefit from environments where they don’t have to wonder whether they will be accepted before they walk through the door.
Additionally, Pride Month is an opportunity to reflect on how we create welcoming spaces in the mental health field. While furthering our knowledge is important, we may not be experts on every identity or experience. What matters most is approaching people with respect, openness, and a willingness to learn. Things that may feel small to us, like using the correct pronouns, updating a form, or avoiding assumptions, can have a big impact.
As a community, we can all help create spaces where people feel comfortable being themselves. Everyone deserves to know that when they reach out for support, they will be met with dignity, respect, and genuine care.
| *We acknowledge that numerous important heritage/awareness months and religious/cultural observances may occur at the same time. While we are highlighting one in this issue, this choice is not intended to diminish the significance of others. In alignment with our commitment to cultural humility and ethical professional practice, we aim to approach these acknowledgments thoughtfully and remain mindful of the diverse identities and experiences represented within our community. |
A monthly newsletter addition from our
Dietitian and Eating Disorder Recovery Team.
Finding a Summer Routine
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Now that summer is here, many families are working to find that new routine. Our ED team has 3 quick tips to help keep consistency during the summer fun.
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Anchor It - Pick a few priorities for the day and week, and build around them. Make sure all meals and snacks, therapy and nutrition appointments, and medical check-ups are non-negotiable.
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Prep It - Save the mental load of meal prep and planning for a time of the day or week when you are refreshed and ready. Proportioned leftovers ready to microwave and grab-and-go snacks ready in the pantry, fridge, or on the counter can help ease stress.
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Bend It - It is okay and normal to have a different or non-traditional routine during the summer months. Some days may have all meals on the go, and some will have a late dinner (or two dinners). Remember consistency, not perfection, is the goal.
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A monthly addition from our team of relationship experts: covering important topics, information, and answering common questions about romantic relationships.
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Celebrating Pride and Queer Relationships
June is Pride Month—a time to annually celebrate the strength, history, and joy of LGBTQIA+ communities and relationships. It is also an opportunity to recognize the resilience that many queer individuals and relationship partners demonstrate while navigating both everyday life stressors and the unique challenges associated with minority stress.
Research consistently shows that strong relationships can serve as a powerful buffer against stress. For LGBTQIA+ relationships, navigating both everyday challenges and minority stressors—such as discrimination, social stigma, or lack of family support—can make intentional relationship support especially important.
Here are some ways to actively celebrate and support queer love and LGBTQIA+ relationships:
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Educate Yourself. Learn about the history and challenges of the LGBTQIA+ community and the common stressors that people in queer relationships continue to face. Resources like NASCSP Eau Claire Health Alliance, PFlag, and GLAAD offer valuable insights and educational materials.
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Practice Active Emotional Support & Create an Accepting Environment. Ensuring a safe and accepting environment where one another’s identities, experiences, and strengths are celebrated can counteract the effects of minority stress and foster a sense of safety and growth within the relationship. Listening with curiosity, validating feelings, and resisting the urge to immediately "fix" problems can help your partner, friend, or loved one feel understood and connected.
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Talk Openly About the Impact of Minority Stress & Approach Stress as a Shared Challenge. Research suggests that acknowledging and discussing experiences of discrimination, stigma, or identity-related stress can help partners better understand one another's experiences and work together to cope effectively. Research on coping indicates that relationship partners who view stress as "our problem" rather than "your problem" tend to experience greater relationship satisfaction and resilience.
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Maintain Connection During Difficult Periods. Small acts of affection, appreciation, and quality time can help preserve closeness when external stressors feel overwhelming.
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Participate in Local Events & Support Local LGBTQIA+ Businesses and Organizations. Shopping at queer-owned businesses, joining a LGBTQIA+ organization, or attending a local Pride event can help foster community and connectedness which reduces the overall impact of stress.
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Seek Support When Needed. Turning to affirming friends, community groups, or LGBTQ+-competent mental health professionals can strengthen both individual well-being and relationship health.
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Hi there! My name is Sierra Sands and I'm a masters level clinician at McCaskill Family Services who specializes in the treatment of Anxiety, Body Image/Self-Esteem Issues, Depression, Interpersonal Conflicts, and Struggling to Launch/Survive for Young Adults. I am also part of our comprehensive psychological evaluation team.
Thank you so much for staying in touch with the practice and I hope that you can use some of the useful information from our newsletter. If you or someone you know would like to schedule an appointment with me, please contact our office at 734-416-9098 or email us at office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com.
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409 Plymouth Road, Suite 250, Plymouth, MI 48170 • 734.416.9098
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