f we were to take inventory of our interactions with our children, tracking how much we tend to correct vs how much we connect with them, what might you notice? What would your child/teen say from his/her perspective? If you took out a sheet of paper and kept track for a few days, what would it look like? We want our children to succeed and provide them with helpful direction, but it can be easy to fall into a pattern where most of our interactions are corrective in nature.
Read MoreFor thousands of years, versions of the saying “laughter is the best medicine” have emerged in religious, scientific, and popular literature—and for good reason. Laughter helps our neurological, physical, emotional, cognitive, and social health in multiple ways.
Read MoreIn the ever-evolving landscape of mental health care, online therapy has emerged as a valuable resource for teenagers grappling with the challenges of adolescence. With the digital age seamlessly integrating into every aspect of our lives, it's only fitting that mental health support is also readily available at the click of a button. So, what are the benefits of online therapy for teens?
Read MoreHave you ever told yourself to “suck it up”? Feeling angry, suck it up. Feeling emotional, suck it up. In the complex tapestry of human experience, emotions play a pivotal role in shaping our perceptions, behaviors, and overall well-being. However, the tendency to bottle up emotions is a common coping mechanism that many people employ in the face of life's challenges.
Read MoreAs a therapist, I often witness the intense pressure high achievers face, particularly during finals season. The pursuit of excellence can be both a blessing and a curse, with the desire for success often leading to heightened stress levels. It's crucial for high achievers to navigate this challenging period with a balanced mindset and effective coping strategies.
Read MoreOur world is becoming increasingly more technology driven, causing us to turn to screens of various types, often out of necessity. Apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, in addition to video games, television, and texting, have become a regular part of our days. Schools have become more dependent upon technology with assignments posted, and often completed online, with some schools even transitioning completely to online textbooks. We read much of our news online, do research for homework or work online and, when the work is done, often turn back to our screens for relaxation. While there are certainly benefits to these interactions, there are also drawbacks.
Read MoreWhen should we be anxious about anxiety?
We have all been there. A strange sensation that takes over our body. It could be that our stomach begins to hurt, or our heart rate is suddenly faster and sounds like a herd of galloping horses in our ears. It may be the sweat gathering at the base of our neck and running down our spine, or the sensation of our limbs paralyzed. Anxiety disorders are one of the more common mental health disorders that affect 4 out of every 100 people globally.
Read MoreBack-to-School season is here! Facebook and Instagram are filled with sweet and hopeful back-to-school pictures. While the back-to-school rush will soon slow down, it won’t be long before fall sports will take its place. Following the start of fall sports, the rush of the holiday and Christmas season will begin. The rushing never seems to end. Finding ways to find peace and calm in the madness of it all might be our saving grace as parents and students. While there are many different ways to take care of yourself through the chaos of each season, a tool that can be practiced just about anywhere and at any time is mindfulness.
Read MoreWhen you gain more control over your thoughts, through awareness and intention – a process and skill that takes practice – you have the ability to impact your feelings and actions and how you experience and handle what you encounter.
While we all have our natural and learned ways of viewing the world and our circumstances, and there are varying degrees of and reasons that play into thinking styles and thought patterns, our thoughts and the attention that we give them have the power to impact our course.
Read MoreBoth gratitude and affirmations can be used to improve one’s mood and outlook on life. Gratitude has been shown to increase happiness and well-being, while affirmations can help change negative thinking patterns and create a more positive mindset.
Dealing with heartbreak is a challenging and painful experience, but with time and self-care, you can come out stronger. This blog provides several strategies to help you cope with heartbreak and heal. Remember, healing from heartbreak is a personal journey, and everyone’s healing process is unique. Be kind to yourself, allow yourself to heal, and trust that you will come out stronger in time.
Read MoreExperiencing disappointment is an inevitable part of life, and it's vital for children to learn how to handle it in a healthy way. Whether it's not getting a desired toy or failing a test, disappointments can be difficult for children to cope with, but with the proper guidance from parents, they can learn to bounce back and grow from these experiences. In this blog post, we'll discuss some strategies parents can use to help their children deal with disappointment, from acknowledging their feelings to teaching resilience and encouraging healthy coping strategies.
Read MoreFor many, navigating their way through the transitions of young adulthood can be challenging. Erik Erikson, in his lifespan theory of development, described eight psychosocial stages that individuals go through. In each stage, the individual faces a different “crisis” or developmental task. Erikson referred to the stage from approximately 12 to 20 years as “Identity vs. Role Confusion.” In this stage, adolescents move toward adulthood by making choices about values, vocational goals, etc. (i.e. Who am I? Who can I be?). The following stage is “Intimacy vs. Isolation.” The task that individuals face in this time of young adulthood is an increasing willingness to form and commit to relationships and affiliations.
Read MoreThe tween and adolescent years are an odd mix of equal parts bittersweet emotions and watchful anticipation, as we watch our children grow and flourish and begin to spread their wings. Future independence is looming on the horizon, and that horizon is faster approaching as each of these turbulent years passes. As parents we cling so desperately to the memories of when they were little, when they would follow us around, sit in our laps, and shower us with countless kisses and hugs. As much as we tell ourselves that we want for them to be independent, to reach their potential, to reach their dreams, it’s actually hard, very hard in fact, to let go as they grow.
Read MoreIt is the season of resolutions and change! Personally, I am not big on New Year’s resolutions. It just feels like so much pressure to change and change quickly. I like to think of change as gradual, intentional work that can be started any day of the year. As a therapist, I am always looking for tools and techniques that might facilitate steady and positive change for my clients… and myself! Journaling can be an amazing tool for anyone looking to make healthy changes, process experiences, and track progress.
Read MoreEven before the pandemic, our children and teens were beginning to show us signs of greater stress than generations that came before them. Chronic stress, from the pandemic, school pressures, or family discord is different. Left unchecked, long-term stress can contribute to both physical and mental health problems. Prolonged stress can cause high blood pressure, weaken the immune system, and contribute to diseases such as obesity and heart disease. It can also lead to mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression—disorders that are becoming more common in youth.
Read MoreAnger is a difficult feeling. It makes us want to destroy things and say hurtful things we later regret. When we look back at what we said and did when we felt angry, we feel sorry and wish we had done things differently. Therapy can help you learn about your anger and teach you how to manage it. This way, instead of acting out of anger or pushing it away, you will get curious about anger and allow it to pass before it gets out of control. Therapy is a safe place to learn more about yourself, try out new activities, and make new habits that will help you be happier, calmer, and more in control when you feel angry.
Read MoreAs an EMDR therapist, I am asked a lot, what is EMDR? EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
Have you ever felt a memory physically or had a disturbing reaction about a particular memory? EMDR believes that our past emotionally-charged experiences overpower our present emotions. Through EMDR processing, we can hold onto our memories by adapting them to a more neutral-feeling emotion. Together we can break through emotional blocks that keep us stuck and powerless to our feelings.
The word “failure” is defined as a lack of success. This can be a lack of success in any endeavor. It simply means that something did not go as planned or imagined. The word alone can trigger thoughts that evoke powerful feelings of pain, shame, and regret. The fear of failure can be paralyzing; it can keep us from starting projects, making decisions, or taking risks. It can prevent us from actively engaging in the world in ways in which we might like. But why? What if we could remove the judgement from our analysis of our failures and, instead, see them through a positive lens that would allow us to recognize and receive the gifts that can come from failure.
Read MoreWhile it definitely still feels like summer outside, fall and back-to-school are upon us. Excitement and anticipation are in the air! Students are preparing for new grade levels, new schools, fall sports and activities. They are excited about reconnecting with friends and exploring new groups. Unfortunately, the excitement of the new year also comes with the dreaded stress and anxieties of actually being back in school.
Students are back-to-school and back to facing many of the tough realities that come with it:
Performance expectations around grades
The emotional and physical toll that can come with Middle School and High School sports
Navigating friendships and relationships
Managing time and various commitments
Coping with the universal temptations of peer pressure and social media
