Resetting the Household Through the Fall
Who thought we would still be social distancing, wearing masks, or not returning to work or school right now? It has been a huge adjustment to have our kids home all day and try to entertain them. Lots of...
Preparing Our Kids for Virtual Schooling
This year has been full of many changes for people of all ages. School as our kids have known it has taken a dramatic change and the changes are going to keep coming. So how do we prepare them...
Helping Kids Cope with Anxiety During COVID-19
The news, statistics, numbers…the outlets for negative information are endless. It’s important for us to find ways to avoid these negative information sources that are meant to inform us, but usually go beyond that to a point of scaring...
Kids Know Technology, Parents Know Relationships
Let’s face it, technology can be daunting, especially for those of us who did not earn a degree in computer science or some other technology related field. Technology is everywhere and encompasses a wide range of activities we engage...
Is My Child Suffering from Anxiety?
Anxiety is an epidemic in today’s society. It rears its head in school, the work force, and in culture, affecting all ages. There are signs of it everywhere and it’s getting worse. While anxiety is a normal emotion to...
Teens and Vaping
Vaping is a trend that has been on the rise recently, specifically for adolescents in middle school and high school. This trend of using various types of e-cigarettes is an addictive process that more adolescents are engaging in or...
Criticism vs. Complaint
In the past two months, we have been in close quarters with our partners and noticed some cute and some not so cute habits of theirs… Or maybe things were rocky before sheltering in place, and now those issues...
How To Establish Healthy Personal Boundaries: Part 1
This topic may seem a little strange given the circumstances the world is currently facing, but given the forced personal boundaries that have become a must to help stem the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic, I thought I would...
Home from College
The Coronavirus has changed how most of us conduct our day to day life and most of us found ourselves trying to quickly adapt to many fast changes. If you are a college student, you may find yourself in...
Under One Roof: Managing Family Dynamics During COVID-19
As many of us are now all at home, you may notice that your family dynamic has been magnified. This can be both positive and negative, but either way, it can be highly stressful. Whether you have small children...
The Power of Music and Dance
Most of us love music and find ourselves singing or dancing along when our old favorite songs come through our radios. Almost everyone can think of times music and dance has positively impacted their lives. It can send shivers...
How to Manage Our Household Anxieties
So here we are, still at home with school remaining out, all due COVID-19 and keeping each other healthy and safe. Yet, how do we keep our household happy and calm with everyone home and getting annoyed? We have...
Five Tips To Find Some Normalcy During A Not-So-Normal Time
“This all feels so surreal”, “weird”, or “uncertain of the future” are just a few phrases that I have (virtually) heard over the past week from loved ones. Our beloved pets are so happy that we are constantly home...
De-escalating Situations with a Child
Do you have a child that is constantly “Acting out” or participating in “undesirable behaviors”? What if there is secondary gain involved? How can I tell the difference between if a child needs more attention or if there is...
Helping Your Middle Schooler Be Safe in a Technological World
Middle school is a time in your child’s life where they will embark in curiosity like never before. Middle schoolers are constantly growing, changing, and exploring; and in 2020, times are different, as most interactions with each other are...
Body Appreciation and How to Compliment Others
How do we show our appreciation for our children? We may show up to support them at their softball games and chorus recitals, give hugs and pats on the back after they’ve had a long day, or express words...
Embracing the Changes, Challenges, and the New
Summer is gone, and by this time of the year your kids are settling into the new school year. A new school year can bring about a variety of emotions for your student and for you as a parent....
If You Are on The Fence About Counseling…
Since becoming a counselor, it has continued to surprise me how many misconceptions there are out there about counseling and mental health care. In fact, one of the very first clients I ever had asked me if he had...
How NOT to Talk to Someone With Anxiety
It has been my experience that usually when we respond to those who are struggling, we are all trying our best to be as empathetic and kind as possible to our friends and loved ones. While our intentions are...
What to Do When Feeling Defensive
Defensiveness is a factor dealt with in many relationships, whether it be constant trouble or a road block you encounter every now and then. We see defensiveness when we try to talk to someone about our feelings, experience, or...