With COVID-19 cases spiking and more stay-at-home orders imposed, the holidays are likely to look a little different for everyone this year. For some, holiday traditions may need to get altered or skipped altogether, like other celebrations and events from this year. After an exhausting year of letdowns and changes, it may feel like the […]
Ways to Feel Happy and Grateful At the End of a Hard Year
For many people, 2020 has been a challenging year. So much this year has felt adverse, complicated, and even disappointing. With the fear of the pandemic, the apparent divide in our nation, kids home from school, and the holidays approaching, it can be hard to feel grateful or even happy – especially if you’re feeling […]
How to Help Teens Who Are Suffering from Depression and Anxiety
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I have recently seen many kids who say they “feel stuck,” bored, “have no place to go or no one to turn to,” and “feel like they’re in a dark cloud and can’t get out.” These are signs of depression. Depression and anxiety are affecting an alarming amount […]
The Ways Covid-19 Has Changed Bullying
While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly all of us, the adverse effects experienced by children may be the ones with the direst consequences, primarily because those are the ones that are most likely to be overlooked and unaddressed. Media has covered the economic and other hardships that have impacted adults; however, as a therapist, […]
What Kids Need to Be Hearing from Their Parents Right Now
The thing that your kids (and teens) need the most right now is you. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or trusted adult relative or friend to a child or teen, you are more valuable and needed than you may realize. The pandemic has caused significant changes in most of our kids’ and teens’ lives. For […]
How to Survive a Virtual Back-to-School Year
Many of us are scrambling to prepare for a school year that will be starting virtually. If you’re a working parent, you may be wondering how you’re going to juggle work and have your kids at home, attending school. Your kids may be wondering how they’re going to stay connected to their friends or how […]
Ways to Make the Most Out of This Year’s Summer Break
After ending a school year cut short by a pandemic, summer break is starting for many. But, these next two months will likely not consist of the same types of vacations, summer camps, and other activities that you had initially planned on. If you’re a parent with school-aged kids, you may be wondering how you […]
What Parents Need to Know About Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is an ongoing online harassment. It may include texts, social media, emails, and gaming chats. Cyberbullying occurs for many of the same reasons as other forms of bullying, but it can be more dangerous because of its 24/7 convenience and anonymous nature. Another threat of cyberbullying is that the bullies can include people who […]
How to Get Through COVID-19 with Peace and Hope
Within a few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes to our lives and world. Here’s how to replace feelings of anxiety and depression with peace and hope. COVID-19 has drastically affected the lives of nearly everyone. Almost all of us have experienced significant disruptions and changes in our lives. School and business closures, […]
Why It’s Important for Kids to Have Self Compassion
Self-compassion is an important concept that we don’t hear a lot about, and one that most of us don’t practice enough. Both kids and adults need self-compassion What is self-compassion? Self-compassion means understanding your emotional state in a non-judgmental way, to be able to turn understanding, acceptance, and love inward. Our outlook and goals are […]