Many parents have traditionally believed that children and adolescents do not have stress or problems in their daily life. People often think that children have no worries or that they have “too much of a good life” to be dealing with mental illness or other issues. Some adults will even minimize their children’s problems [...]
Whether or not you were the spouse who initiated a divorce, you certainly didn’t plan on ending up here when you got married. And when you started your family, you probably did not picture your child ending up with divorced parents. You likely pictured having an intact family, with parents sharing a love that [...]
We live in a hyper-connected age, yet we feel lonelier than ever before. “The number of Americans with no close friends has tripled since 1985” (Forbes). Because of the Internet, we can experience limitless virtual “connection,” but that doesn’t replace real-life interaction. Social relationships, whether with family or friends, play a vital role in [...]
Do you feel as if people don’t respect you? That they take advantage of you, don’t listen to you, or that you end up in situations where you are unhappy? When you learn to set healthy boundaries, your self-esteem will be strengthened, your relationships can improve, and you can experience the freedom and empowerment [...]
Even if you’ve never heard of the four main communication styles, you’ll probably recognize them instantly when they’re described. They are: Aggressive Passive Passive-aggressive Assertive A person isn’t defined entirely by one style, but when they face conflict, they tend to return to their baseline, which is one of these four types. Each situation [...]
Imagine you had a bad day at work. What is the first thing you do when you get home? Do you get yourself a snack and sit down to watch something? Do you call a friend to talk? How do you cope with a hard day or overwhelming emotions? Imagine that instead of using [...]
According to Kessler, et al. (2005), about twenty percent of all adolescents in the U.S. face a diagnosable mental health condition. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) (2017) found suicide to be the third leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 to 19. It is also estimated that just [...]
You are altogether beautiful my love, there is no flaw in you. – Song of Solomon 4:7 When you consider the fact that the media, entertainment industries, and magazines are all presenting women (and men) as flawless, it’s no wonder that eating disorders are becoming increasingly more common. Photoshopped images are creating the impression [...]
In the last several decades, the legalization of marijuana has been hotly debated, and its growing popularity has affected teenagers from all backgrounds. Teenagers in counseling often claim that marijuana is “natural” or “organic” or that it has health benefits. Unfortunately, lecturing adolescents about what they should not do often pushes them in the [...]
When someone hears the term “OCD” images of an obsessively clean person comes to mind. Perhaps someone who has to wash their hands three times after shaking someone’s hand. In reality, true Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) covers a broader range of conditions and can deteriorate the quality of life for the person living with [...]
