By: Allison Petro, LMHC These are no doubt scary and strange times for everyone. The coronavirus pandemic has caused people’s lives to change across the globe. For those of us caring for children, it can feel overwhelming to help them cope when we feel like we are barely even holding it together ourselves. Here are 7 tips to help your
By: Allison Petro Anxiety is experiencing feelings of worry or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities. Everywhere I turn, I feel that people are talking about anxiety. Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed by life, relationships, school, your job, or your children. Or maybe your child is experiencing nervousness on a regular basis, and you feel at
by Mike Martinez, RMHCI Children can, at times, trigger anger. Many parents know this deep down, but the sentence alone may bring some feelings of sadness. For others, that first sentence is an overwhelming and obvious fact. Maybe that fact is why you’re here reading this. I’m here to let you know that you are not alone. Let’s start by
By: Colleen Andre, LMHC At this point of your life it has finally dawned on you that you did not have a childhood. Instead, you suffered parentification (a process of a role reversal where a child plays the parent to themselves or to their parent). Having fun and feeling carefree as a kid was not an option for you. The question
By: Allison Petro, LMHC Is your child going through a difficult time? Perhaps you are concerned that your child is anxious or maybe your child has experienced an upsetting and confusing event also known as a trauma. When children are anxious or have experienced or witnessed an upsetting event, it can manifest itself in many ways including: trouble sleeping, behavioral
By: Janie Lacy How can anyone explain tragedies like the on going mass shootings, especially school shootings, to kids? There are a few things that parents can do to address any questions or any fears that may come up in children after being exposed to news reports or conversations from classmates. 1) Be Flexible It is important that you realize there
You just found out your teen is self-harming. Your heart drops to the pit of your stomach. You feel shocked, confused, and utterly lost. What now? You are not alone. About 17% of teenagers have engaged in self-harm at least once according to the American Psychological Association. Often times, self-harm occurs as a way to cope with distressing feelings or
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Is it really? For many, the holiday season is a somber time where we remember loved ones lost or the scarcity and pain in our lives. Here are some ways to combat the holiday blues Reach out! As human beings we need to be with people. Making new memories is a great
The holidays can be a stressful time for blended families. Whether your family has gone through a recent divorce/separation, or not, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with stress and anxiety about the holidays and making it all work. Here are 5 ways to beat the holiday stress for blended families and time sharing. Plan Be open and honest in discussing
By: Colleen Andre I recently got sucked into a new fall show called This is Us. I am loving it so far as the tear-jerking moments tug at my heartstrings. But, the show is not just about creating sappy moments and making viewers cry. The show really hones in on topics real people struggle with, anywhere from body-image to abandonment
