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...
Talking Tips for Teens 2
Stephen Walters , M.Div., M.A.
So far in 2025, I have been giving parents some tips on how to talk to their teens, and last time I started giving teens tips on how to talk to parents. My hope is that communication in the...
How to Talk to Your Teen – Part 3
Stephen Walters , M.Div., M.A.
So far this year, we have been looking at tips on how to talk to our teenagers and how to make 2025 “The Year of Communication.” In Part 1, we looked at avoiding lecturing, active listening, and validation instead...
What is Play Therapy and is it Right for My Child?
Haley Aguero , M.A.
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” -Plato Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is the oldest and most researched therapy for children. Children are at a different developmental age...
How to Talk to Your Teen – Part 2
Stephen Walters , M.Div., M.A.
In part 1 of “How to Talk to Your Teen,” I mentioned that I have a teenager and I am trying to figure out how to communicate well with him as the dynamics of his needs change. I mentioned...
Talking Tips for Teens 1
Stephen Walters , M.Div., M.A.
So far in 2025, I have been giving parents some tips on how to talk to their teens. I mentioned that I now have a teenager and that communication changes as our kids age. I want to help parents...
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...
Encouraging Flexible Thinking: Playing Games “Wrong”
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
Flexible Thinking is an important skill that allows children to understand situations different perspectives, embrace change, learn to adapt, and engage in critical thinking. However, this skill can be difficult for some children to learn on their own, leading...
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...
Eliminating the Stigma of Mental Health in Children
Just like adults, children experience mental health challenges and diagnoses. A crucial step in helping children feel comfortable in therapy is addressing and eliminating the stigma often associated with mental health concerns. For children, their self-image is a central...
Let’s Talk about Social Media & Screen Time
Alyssa Kiss , M.A.
Parents raising a teen in today’s world of technology can often experience confusion, stress, and judgement from others for their decisions surrounding social media use and screen time. There are mixed messages, a lack of sufficient research, and little...
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...
Understanding and Managing Anger: A Guide for Kids
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...
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...
The Anxious Generation: Book Review
Bailey Smith , M.Ed.
If you have ever thought… Kids these days are always on their phones! My middle schooler never spends time with any friends in person. Taking my high schooler’s phone as a consequence causes more problems than it’s worth. Why...
Supporting Teenagers Through Difficult Times
Sarah Mixson , M.S.W.
Adolescence is a time of growth, change, and challenges. For many teens, it can be difficult to navigate academic pressures, social dynamics, and personal struggles. As a parent, it can be challenging to know when to step in and...