Rethinking What Counseling Means for Kids
Caroline Buttrey , M.S.W
When most people hear the word therapy, they often picture trauma, or a problem that needs to be fixed. But for children, therapy is so much more than that. It’s not just about healing, it’s about learning, growing, and...
Naming and Taming Big Emotions
Caroline Buttrey , M.S.W
If you’ve ever seen your child go from calm to melting down in a matter of seconds, you know how powerful emotions can be. For kids, big feelings like anger, sadness, or frustration can feel confusing and even a...
Supporting Your Teen Through Suicidal Struggles: Why CAMS Can Make a Difference
Kara Cunningham , M.A.
As a mental health professional trained in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) protocol, I specialize in helping teens and adolescents navigate one of the most difficult challenges they—and their families—may ever face: suicidal thoughts and behaviors....
Strengthening the Parent-Child Relationship
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
Parenting can feel a bit like a juggling act. Shuttling kids around to all of their events, while also trying to work, take care of the home, and manage your own time is daunting on the best of days....
How to Listen to Teens
Korina Calbay , M.S.
Teenagers often feel misunderstood by their parents, and parents feel like communicating with teenagers can be a mystery. When parents punish their teens, they may feel like it is the only consequence that makes sense. Based on the book,...
Big Changes, Big Feelings
Aleisha Parker , M.Ed.
Kids and teens are still building their sense of identity and safety in the world. When a major life change occurs like moving, changing schools, divorce, a new sibling, or even graduation to middle or high school, it can...
The Procrastination Effect
Alyssa Kiss , M.A.
Procrastination is a common issue that all of us deal with throughout our lives. It is human nature to push things off that are unpleasant, boring, or mundane. This problem can be especially difficult for middle and high school...
Tips for Defiant Behavior
Shaquanta “Shelley” Danjoint , M.S.
If your child is struggling with defiant, aggressive, impulsive, irritable behaviors and can be especially difficult with obeying rules and respecting authority these may be signs of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) symptoms. Raising kids can be challenging but it...
Does My Child’s Bedtime Matter During the Summer?
Sarah Mixson , M.S.W.
When school is out and summer begins, it’s natural for routines to shift. Bedtimes are often stretched later, screens stay on longer and sleep habits can fall by the wayside. While summer brings more freedom and fun, consistent sleep...
And They’re Off! Emotionally Preparing for Middle School
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
It is that time of year again when we acknowledge our children’s hard work and celebrate their transition from one chapter of their life to another with graduation ceremonies and parties. While the word “graduation” typically evokes thoughts of...
Catching Your Child Green-Handed
Kara Cunningham , M.A.
The Parent Trap “Once again, you didn’t do your chores like you were told!” “Hitting your brother when you are mad is not okay.” “What have I said about your dirty dishes? It is your responsibility to rinse and...
What “Tantrums” Can Tell You
Caroline Buttrey , M.S.W
Tantrums are often loud, messy, and emotionally charged, but they’re also incredibly important. While it may look like your child is “just trying to get attention” or “being difficult,” tantrums are a form of communication. Young children (and even...
Why Routines Are Especially Important for Kids with ADHD
Caroline Buttrey , M.S.W
For children with ADHD, the world can often feel unpredictable and overwhelming. Their brains are constantly taking in information, jumping from thought to thought, and struggling to filter out distractions. This is where routines become incredibly powerful. A consistent...
Helping Your Child Through Your Divorce
Maddie McGarrah , M.Ed.
Divorce can be an emotionally overwhelming experience for everyone involved, but for children, it can be especially confusing and painful. As parents, you may worry about how the separation will affect your children and what you can do to...
Grounding Techniques: Easy Skills to Help Your Child Manage Their Anxiety
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
Anxiety is an excessive worry about a real or perceived threat that can result in avoidance behaviors and physical reactions. It differs from fear in that fear is an appropriate response to an immediate threat, whereas anxiety is usually...
Knowing the Signs of Trauma in Children
Maddie McGarrah , M.Ed.
Recognizing signs of trauma in children is an important but challenging task for parents, caregivers, and educators. Traumatic experiences can deeply affect a child’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Since children often lack the language or coping skills to...
A Kid’s Guide to Expressing Feelings
Line Fleming , M.A.
How are you feeling today? This is a question we hear often. But what Is the answer? Some feelings are easy to understand while others are confusing and not as easy to understand and express. We can also feel...
Building the Parent-Child Relationship
Becca Samelson-Webb , M.A.
All too often, I hear parents share that they are unable to connect with their children. They don’t understand their interests, are confused by their behavior, or frustrated by their attitudes. Sometimes parents respond by setting stronger punishments, leaving...
Fostering Independence for Anxious Children
Caroline Buttrey , M.S.W
Parenting a child with anxiety and social challenges can feel like a delicate balancing act. On one hand, you want to provide them with the comfort and support they need. On the other, you know it’s important to encourage...
How to Talk to Your Teen – Part 1
Stephen Walters , M.Div., M.A.
Recently, I became a parent to a teenager. Now, I have been his parent his whole life. However, I understand that our communication needs to evolve from how I spoke to him when he was 3 and how I...