Parenting a Child with a Disability
Janet Fluker , M.Ed., M.S.
Being the parent of a child with a disability is a challenging journey. From the first moment of diagnosis, whether at birth or later in development, parents are flooded with many different feelings; love for their child, concern for...
10 Tips to Boost your Child’s Self-Esteem
Sarah Mixson , M.S.W.
Wanting your child to grow and develop into a happy, confident individual is normal for many parents. Though this is a common goal for most parents, it’s not always clear how to help your child build their self-esteem. Put...
How to Talk to Get Your Teen to Listen
Ever had a difficult time getting your teen to open up to you? Are they moody, and if you dare to ask what is wrong, all they say is “I don’t know”? The teen years are a time of...
What is Attachment Theory?
Janet Fluker , M.Ed., M.S.
John Bowlby, a British psychologist, was the first to develop the concept of attachment theory. He described attachment as a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings”. His primary interest was in understanding the bond between children and their primary...
When Parents Should Seek Therapy
Shaquanta Danjoint , M.S.
Parents are likely to seek therapy for the obvious reasons of their child experiencing difficulties at home and school. Therapy is often a last resort after many ideas are applied. In the busyness of life, we all grow up...
The Impact of Separation and Divorce on Children
Separation and divorce is rarely easy for anyone involved, but it can be especially difficult for children regardless of age. Relationships end between couples all over the world, however, the United States has been labeled as the “leader” in...
Effects of Medicating ADHD in Children
Allison Bates , M.S.
According to some pharmacies, antidepressants for teenagers have risen 38% from 2015 to 2019 (while adult prescriptions only rose 12% during that same period). As that study was pre-pandemic, the results now are expected to be dramatically higher. Many...
6 Pre-Marriage Questions Every Parent Should Share With Their Engaged Child
Jason Howard , M.A.
A 6-Minute Read As the weather starts changing here in Georgia, it is more than fall you’re noticing in the air. It’s time for wedding season. That’s right! September and October are on record as the second and first...
How to Have Productive Discussions (Not Arguments!) with Your Child
Kate Smith , M.A.
Every parent has been there: You start with what seems like a simple request or question, and then, suddenly, you are in a screaming match with your child. How did it escalate to this? First and foremost, remember who...
Summer Slump
Alexis Durham , M.S.
We are halfway through summer break. Are you starting to notice that your child has gone from being happy to be out of school and loving life to becoming more of a bored zombie around the house? Structure may...
Why Your Kids Don’t Want to Talk to You
Alexis Durham , M.S.
In this line of work, we often hear frustrations from parents regarding what their kids are and are not doing. A common one is typically something along the lines of, “I can tell something is wrong, but they won’t...
Caring for Elderly Parents
By original design, parents are there to guide their children, to teach them, and to advise them through the various stages of life. Children look to their parents for wisdom to overcome the challenges of life. When parents age,...
12 Tips for Building Better Relationships with Your Children
Set aside time weekly to spend time engaging in an activity that your child enjoys. Praise positive behavior that your child exhibits. Research has shown that positive reinforcement can positively improve a child’s social skills and behaviors. Give compliments...
Preparing Your Child for Their First Therapy Session
You have decided to take your child to therapy. Awesome! However, there is a problem: Your child does not want to go. Some children may not want to go because they believe they do not need therapy. Some may...
Helping Your Child Managing Losing
Imagine this- you’ve planned a family game night and the kids have been looking forward to this all week. Pizza, M&M’s, soda! But only a few minutes in, you already have a kid who has stormed out after their...
Good Question!
I’ve been asked many questions as a counselor before I start seeing somebody. Recently I spoke with a mom who asked some great questions and inspired me to think more about what may be some good questions to ask...
How to Support Your LGBTQ+ Child
Having family support for your child identifying in the LGBTQ community can be beneficial to their overall mental health and physical health. Being accepted by your family can decrease mental health symptoms such as isolation, depression, anxiety, substance abuse,...
March Madness Milestones
By the time you’re reading this, an NCAA basketball champion will have already been crowned and the NBA Playoffs, NFL Draft and MLB Opening Day will be gearing up, keeping the sports machine going… The sports machine never quits....
De-Escalating a Meltdown
On airplanes, we are taught to put on our masks first before helping others in a crisis. The same goes for managing a meltdown with little ones. This may mean stepping away first from the situation (assuming the child...
Strategies for Communicating with Your Teenage Daughter
There comes a time when every mother-daughter relationship has stress – which usually comes around the teenage years. Mothers are always trying to protect their daughters which can lead to confrontation around this age period. As mothers, you naturally...