How To Interview A Teen Therapist You’ve spoken with your pediatrician, family, friends and google. You have a list of potential therapists for your teenager. But what are the questions to ask to determine if they are the right therapist for your teen? (Downloadable PDF below) Most teen therapists expect and welcome questions before scheduling […]
What Are Signs a Teen Needs Therapy? Your teenager slams their bedroom door for the third time this week. Maybe they’ve been withdrawing from family dinners, or you’ve noticed their grades slipping. Perhaps they’ve mentioned feeling overwhelmed, or you’ve caught glimpses of anxiety that seems bigger than typical teenage stress. You find yourself wondering: “Should […]
The text message comes in at 3:47 PM: “Can I go to Jake’s house after school? His mom said she’d make burgers.” Your heart does that familiar skip as your mind races through the questions. On the grill? On the stove? Does his mom know about the dairy allergy? Will there be cross-contamination? Should you […]
Being the parent of an anxious child can at times be a consistent struggle. If you are a parent who has experienced intense anxiety, you may understand that out-of-control feeling. If anxiety has never been an issue for you, you may find your child’s anxious behaviors baffling. Anxiety can gnaw at you. It makes it […]
In Star Light, Star Bright, Please Go to Bed Without a Fight, we saw how bedtime can be a challenge for anxious children. Let’s now dive into the key ingredients for creating the perfect recipe for your child’s bedtime routine. Consistency One of the most important components of a bedtime routine is a consistent, predictable, recurring […]
As the summer winds down, many children feel anxious about going back to school. Whether it’s a new grade, a different school, or just the shift from the freedom of summer, back-to-school anxiety is common. This can be particularly hard for kids who tend to experience high levels of anxiety. As a parent, it can […]
It’s not unusual for a child to be fearful of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms can be intense and unpredictable. For some children fears of thunderstorms are just a passing phase. However for others, they can trigger a range of emotions in children, from anxiety to panic. The panic may be almost impossible to soothe. Furthermore, fears can […]
Childhood anxiety is an experience that often confuses parents and caregivers. As a child anxiety therapist, I see many different forms of anxiety. Most of us are familiar with classic signs of child anxiety. We see a child hiding behind their mother’s legs. They are unwilling to pet or even look at the playful puppy. […]
The therapeutic benefits of play are numerous. You can find these discussed in Part 1 of The Vital Role of Play in Easing Anxiety in Children. In fact, play is very frequently integrated by our clinicians who provide child anxiety treatment at home and in our Scotch Plains, NJ and Branchburg, NJ offices. There are […]
Play is a powerful tool for children and adults alike. However, academic pressures and extracurricular commitments frequently overshadow the importance of play. We live in a society that can be very focused on accomplishments. This can even seep into therapy. There can be an expectation in therapy that we fix the problem, develop coping skills […]
Hey there, fellow mom! If you’ve ever found yourself drowning in a sea of guilt over the myriad challenges of motherhood, you’re not alone. Mom guilt is a universal experience. Understanding its nuances and learning how to navigate it can be transformative. Here are 5 lessons I have learned through being a mom and a […]
The desire for emotional support from parents is a natural and deeply ingrained aspect of being human. It is in fact built into our biology and physiology. It’s rooted in survival. Furthermore, this is intensely true as children but doesn’t disappear as we become adults. Additionally, as adults, we can feel the need for parental […]
What is EMDR Therapy? Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a well-researched technique for therapy. EMDR can help individuals feeling “stuck” to move forward through reprocessing distressing memories. Including memories experienced after a traumatic event. EMDR is effective at helping adults, teens, and children. It uses bilateral stimulation of both the left and right […]
Time has often been touted as a great healer, yet there are some wounds that linger. Years ago, you experienced an assault that left an enduring imprint on your soul. While society might expect you to have moved on, it’s crucial to recognize that healing is not a linear process. Furthermore, after a sexual assault, […]
When it comes to the question of how to deal with toxic family members, one of the first questions to ask yourself is: should I attend functions that will drain my mental well-being? Sometimes skipping these challenging family gatherings doesn’t feel like an option. If you plan to attend, here are some strategies to escape […]