Parenting

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...

How to Tackle Bedtime
September 23, 2019

Getting down a bedtime routine is like nailing the perfect recipe. In order to have a successful, stress-free, bedtime there are a few keys ingredients that go a long way when it comes to sweet dreams. Consistency Try to...

5 Tips for Improving Your Child’s Sleep Hygiene
September 9, 2019

It’s common knowledge that children need plenty of sleep. Depending on their age, most children need anywhere between 9 and 13 hours of sleep in order to be at their best. While children sleep, their brains are actively sorting...

How To Talk To Your Kids About Going To Therapy
September 3, 2019

  There are many different ways a child becomes one of my clients: I’ve had kids google therapists, print out my profile, and ask their parent to schedule an appointment with me, often times families are referred, or maybe...

Make It Positive
August 19, 2019

Often times when I’m meeting with parents for the first time to discuss therapy for their child, parents feel desperate for help and change as soon as possible, yet they understand that even with therapy it will take time...

Anxiety: What to Do and Not Do
July 8, 2019

Anxiety seems to be a common word I hear at every age with my clients. It seems to be increasing in children, and adolescents. For parents I understand that sometimes it can be tricky navigating what to do and...

Parenting: Before You Fix It, Sit With It
June 10, 2019

Much like a wife desires a husband to hear about her day before coming up with solutions for her daily difficulties, our children desire the same from parents. Too often we as parents accelerate past the consoling portion of...

The Art of Skill Building
June 10, 2019

Before becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor, I spent some time working as a behavior aid at school specifically for students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. One of the lessons that stuck with me from that experience is that...