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....
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,...
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...
Talking Tips for Teens 3
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Teens and Social Media Usage
Jessica Gross , M.A.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people under 24 in the U.S. and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Report from 2023 found that 20% of the country’s 12–17-year-olds have had at least one major depressive...
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...
Understanding ADHD in Teens
Jessica Gross , M.A.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. The essential feature of ADHD is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity...
The Importance of “Mattering” to Teens
Bailey Smith , M.Ed.
I recently read the book “Never Enough” by Jennifer Breheny Wallace, which dives into achievement culture among adolescents and how it contributes to mental health concerns like anxiety and depression. Through my own school-based counseling work with high school...
A Guide to Overcoming Academic Pressure as a Teen
Sarah Mixson , M.S.W.
Going back to school can be a stressful time for teenagers who struggle with academic pressure. Between balancing homework, tests, extracurricular activities, and social lives, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Academic stress can be the result of parental pressure,...
Helping Your Student with Back to School Feelings
Kara Cunningham , M.A.
With summer quickly coming to an end, children and teens in your home may be experiencing familiar and competing feelings like excitement, dread, anticipation, and anxiety. Often, these feelings may not be expressly spoken, but there are clues your...
How to Support Emotional Regulation in Your Teens
Jessica Gross , M.A.
What is emotional regulation you might ask? Emotional regulation is the “ability to exert control over one’s own emotional state.” It is quite common for teens to struggle with emotional dysregulation due to the flood of hormones rushing through...