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 […]
You watch your tween and notice the shift happening: the eye-rolls, the closed door, the peer drama. And you’re terrified of what comes next. Although terrifying, indeed, the tween years offer a unique window of opportunity to build emotional resilience, strengthen family bonds, and establish healthy coping skills before the more turbulent teenage years arrive. […]
Welcome to the final installment of our series on supporting neurodivergent children through puberty. In Parts 1 and 2, we explored the unique challenges puberty presents for neurodivergent youth and the foundational strategies for proactive communication, education, and boundary-setting. Now, we turn to what happens when the journey gets rocky—how to support your child through […]
A Journey Back in Time Before we dive into supporting our children, I invite you to take a moment and close your eyes. Think back to your own experience of puberty. Can you remember the intense mood swings that seemed to come out of nowhere? The desperate desire to fit in with your peers? The […]
Finding Support Through Life’s Changes with a NJ Licensed Counselor “Don’t ever change.” How many of us, if we flipped through our high school yearbooks, would find someone wrote this to us? The irony isn’t lost on me—could you imagine NOT changing from your high school self? I once had a former student approach me […]
Teens and Social Media Adolescence is a significant period of development where teens are going through physical, emotional, cognitive, and social changes. Forming social connections and developing relationships are a crucial part of identity formation and building a sense of belonging. This fosters social and emotional well-being. But, if identity formation is strongly shaped by […]
Insight From a NJ Teen Therapist As a parent of a teen athlete, you know how much their sport means to them. It’s more than a physical activity—it’s a source of identity, social connection, confidence, and purpose. So when an injury happens, it doesn’t just affect their body. It can deeply impact their emotional wellbeing, […]
In the world of sports, where precision, strategy, and performance reign supreme, it feels like making mistakes is not an option, whatsoever. Athletes, with their relentless pursuit of excellence, may struggle with the idea of errors. They find this unsettling, fearing that one misstep could cost them a game, a starting position, or even a […]
In recent years, vaping has emerged as a concerning trend among teenagers. It has become increasingly popular with teens, leaving many parents worried about their kids. Parents often wonder why, despite the many potential health consequences, teen vaping in NJ has become so normalized. I’ve written before about the dynamics of being a teenager. The […]
As summer winds down and the school year approaches, many middle schoolers and their parents begin to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. This transitional period can be particularly challenging for middle school students, who are navigating new social dynamics, increased academic expectations, and the changes that come with early adolescence. Understanding Back-to-School […]
As the days of summer wind down and the thought of returning to school looms, it’s common for high school students to experience a whirlwind of emotions. While the thought of reuniting with friends can be exciting, it’s also normal to feel a bit of anxiety about the unknown. Whether you’re facing a new school, […]
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 […]
In part 1, we discussed potential factors and warning signs for poor body image as an athlete. Now, we will identify helpful tools to promote a healthy body image. 1. Self-talk Our internal critic can be vicious. This is especially true in competitive athletic settings due to fierce competition and high expectations. Negative self-talk can […]
Our body is our vessel It stores all of our energy, power, memories, and is what keeps us going from day to day. As an athlete, it is incredibly common to have a love/hate relationship with our body. The pressure to be a certain body type and weight is constantly on our minds and sometimes […]