Parenting

Is My Child Suffering from Anxiety?
June 8, 2020

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...

Why Your Kids Should Be Allowed To Tell You No Sometimes
May 4, 2020

One of the skills I end up having to teach almost all the kids I work with, no matter their presenting problem, is assertiveness. An anxious child may be too afraid to express how they feel and be passive...

Transitions: How to Cope With Change and Set Realistic Expectations and Cope With Transition
April 6, 2020

Change is inevitable, in fact they say that the only thing in life that is constant is change. If we pay attention, we can see that even in nature things are constantly changing. The seasons change, the tide changes,...

When “Perfect” Isn’t Good
March 18, 2020

Are you wondering, “Why is my child so easily stressed/overwhelmed?” “Why is my child so easily frustrated?” or “Is my child struggling with perfectionism?” If you ask these questions, there is a reasonable chance your child may struggle with...

5 Social Skills that Every Kid Needs to Master Part III
March 18, 2020

We’ve come to our final two social skills that every kid needs to master. While there are more than just 5 social skills, these five are foundational for all others that develop over time. #4 Recognizing Feelings in Others...

The Importance of Superheroes in Play
March 18, 2020

Superheroes have always been around but lately it seems they have increased in the movies and television, so it would be only natural that our children are interested. Entering fantasy play can allow kids to unburden themselves and have...

Helping Your Middle Schooler Be Safe in a Technological World
March 18, 2020

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...

Suicide Prevention
February 10, 2020

Suicide is an epidemic that has been impacting our nation and community. It’s important to take some time to touch on this difficult topic. A big part of this is learning to be intentional about noticing things in your...

Body Appreciation and How to Compliment Others
February 3, 2020

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
February 3, 2020

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…
January 27, 2020

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...

Gaining Connection with Your Child
January 13, 2020

We are all busy, let’s face it. As adults we are working, parenting, and squeezing in “adult time”; and children are studying in school, doing activities after school, and playing with friends. With our busy schedules, we feel guilt...

Handling Big Emotions and Helping Your Child Calm Down
January 7, 2020

Every child is different, and that includes their reactions to things. You may see that your child has a different reaction to their siblings, peers, or cousins. That is ok, some children just feel things more intensely than others....

5 Social Skills that Every Kid Needs to Master Part II
January 7, 2020

Social Skills are crucial to success. Without social skills, none of us would make it very far in life. In my last blog, I touched on the first skill: Initiating Conversation and Listening Attentively. In this blog, I will...

Teaching Your Child About Emotions
January 7, 2020

For the younger children and teenagers, emotions can be very confusing. At any given time, things and circumstances around us change, which sometimes makes us feel different. As many would say; emotions are like rollercoasters going up and down,...

Be the Change You Want to See In Your Communication
January 7, 2020

A common issue that I encounter in my work as a counselor is communication problems. Most of the time we think of communication problems being exclusive to couples or marital counseling, but the reality is communication problems can be...

5 Social Skills that Every Kid Needs to Master Part I
December 30, 2019

We are living in an increasingly digital world. As a result, social skills that were so easily developed 20 years ago are becoming less and less natural to our children. Rather than going around the neighborhood to see who...

Effectively Navigating Change
December 16, 2019

Fall is approaching and there will be significant changes in our world. Leaves will fall and the temperature will as well. This is a change that we expect to happen each year. Expected changes can be nice however does...

More than a “Bad Mood”: Identifying Teenage Depression
October 21, 2019

Adolescence is riddled with changes, being a teen means wrestling with identity, self-image, belonging, and much more. There are constant transitions which can be confusing and difficult for parents and teens to navigate. We know another contributing factor is...

Video Games – How Much is Too Much?
September 30, 2019

We have all seen the rise and fall of trends in play in our children: slime, fidget spinners, and more, but what seems to stick around are video games. These games stick around because there is always something new...