When someone we love is diagnosed with cancer it can feel daunting to know how to talk about it. Sometimes we avoid the conversation altogether. Or the conversations become emotionally charged. Our ability to connect with our loved one and offer them comfort is influenced by a few things totally out of our control: Fear […]
I’ve discussed before the idea of language as a superpower. When I introduce this idea to parents, they want to know: what does this look like in real life? Or better, how exactly do I do this? To help answer that question, I am going to refer to the great Tina Fey. In Tina Fey’s […]
It’s picture day at school, and that often brings excitement for many school-aged children and their families. Children pick out their favorite outfits, their hair is fixed just right, and we all hope for a genuine smile that captures the school year perfectly. For children with selective mutism, picture day can feel very different. After […]
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 […]
Self-Aware and Still Stuck: Now what? Hey, I see you. You’re the one who knows your patterns like the back of your hand. You’ve got the psychological playbook on yourself memorized: why you shut down in conflict, why you overfunction in relationships, why you just can’t seem to say no. You’ve read the books. Done […]
Summer flies by in what feels like the blink of an eye. One minute you’re enjoying long, carefree days, and the next you’re shopping for bookbags, crayons, and classroom supplies. For many children, returning to school is an exciting milestone: new teachers, reconnecting with friends, fresh opportunities to learn, and fun experiences like field trips. […]
The Exhaustion of Trying to Move Forward If you’re reading this, you’re likely exhausted. Maybe you’re the partner who was betrayed, and you’re exhausted from the constant vigilance, the intrusive thoughts, or replaying every detail of your partner’s affair. Or perhaps you’re the partner who strayed, and you’re exhausted from the guilt, the endless questions, […]
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. […]
In working with young people who have experienced bullying, one belief I’ve encountered stands out: the idea that people are inherently hateful toward those who are “different.” While this belief may reflect a painful lived experience, it can become a limiting belief that holds us back. Furthermore, it reinforces the very systems that allow bullying […]
Grief is a deeply personal experience that has the potential to leave us raw and reeling. These experiences that profoundly impact us are not something that we simply just “get over”. Instead, grief is something that we learn to carry with us. One of the profound ways we “carry” our grief is through rituals. Throughout […]
We don’t talk enough about this truth: Changing your mind is not a failure. It’s human. It’s growth. From a young age, many of us learn that being “consistent” equals being strong. We praise sticking it out, pushing through, and not quitting. While perseverance is a valuable trait, this message can quietly turn into something […]
In preparing for a first date, you may be running through a variety of questions and imagined scenarios in your mind. “What if we don’t have anything in common?” “What if they don’t like dogs?” “What if I’m about to meet my future spouse?” However, if you are someone living with food allergies, these questions […]
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 […]
When Your Child’s Reaction Triggers Your Own As someone who lives with food allergies myself, I know the undercurrent of hypervigilance that weaves its way into daily life with food allergies. The constant label-checking, the calculated choices, the hyperawareness in social settings. Living with food allergies means living with a quiet, persistent hum of caution. […]