By Dana Donahue, LCSW A few months ago, my youngest son surprised me with a decision to run for a student council position in his elementary school. If you knew him, you’d understand my reaction: Of all my children, he is the most cautious and hates to be the center of attention. He enjoys putting himself out there in the… Continue Reading »
Common Reasons Why Your Reward System at Home Is Not Working
By Zuly Ramirez, LPC As a parent, you’ve probably tried reward systems and charts to help manage your child’s behavior. And like many parents, you may have had limited success with these tools. The good news is that reward systems and charts can indeed be highly effective for kids as young as 3 years and even for teens. Effective reward… Continue Reading »
Parents, We Can’t Be There For Everything
By Krystal Glassman, LPC One evening, while sitting in the local park with my children, the ice cream truck slowly drove up, playing that infamous and decidedly repetitive Ice Cream Truck Song. My son, deliriously happy to hear this, began dancing around, smiling from ear to ear. His dance moves, although not on the beat, were absolutely adorable. If he… Continue Reading »
Increasing Your Child’s Emotional Awareness
By Zuly Ramirez, LPC One common reason parents bring in their children into my office for counseling is that the child is having difficulty managing and regulating their emotions. Parents will say their child easily gets upset over small things and quickly escalates into negative behaviors such as screaming, crying, throwing things, or hitting others, leaving the parents stunned and… Continue Reading »
My Child Has Anxiety: How Can I Help?
By Zuly Ramirez, LPC A child or teen who experiences their world with overwhelming, worrisome thoughts can have difficulty with a myriad of tasks: going to school, completing homework, making friends, talking to others, and even sleeping can become incredibly difficult. This can pose unique and frustrating challenges for the parents, who often witness these struggles and wonder how they… Continue Reading »
Honey, We Broke the Kids: Guiding Children through Divorce
When couples exchange the words “’til death do us part,” that promise doesn’t always stand the test of time. Divorce can happen for any number of reasons, including financial strain, conflict, disconnection, and infidelity. Even though divorce is common (perhaps as high as 50% of marriages), we know it isn’t easy for couples, especially when children are in the mix…. Continue Reading »