Understanding and discussing body image with your teenager can be really tough. Adolescents get a ton of their messages about body image through Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Although these platforms provide opportunities for self-expression, they also fuel unhealthy comparisons and negative body image. 

Body image is how someone feels and thinks about their appearance. During adolescence, it's normal to feel especially self-conscious due to the changes happening during puberty and the pressures from society.  It's important to remember that body image is something that can affect people throughout their lives and can be influenced by both internal and external factors. 

External influences can often be subtle, like a friend's comment about needing to exercise to "earn" their dessert, or they can be more widespread, like the idealized images on social media. It's important to have open and empathetic conversations with your child about whether they are comparing themselves to others and how they are reacting to the things they see or hear. Understanding their perspectives is crucial in addressing any concerns they may have about their body image.

In therapy, we encounter diverse mindsets that shape individuals' perceptions, behaviors, and relationships. Fixed mindsets, rooted in the belief in innate abilities, often hinder personal and relational growth. Conversely, growth mindsets, characterized by resilience and a commitment to learning, foster positive change and empowerment.

To incorporate these mindfulness practices into your daily routine, start by setting aside a few daily minutes to engage in them. This can be done in the morning, evening, or even during lunch. By incorporating these meditation and mindfulness practices into your daily routine, you can develop greater self-awareness, reduce stress and anxiety, and build stronger, more fulfilling relationships with those around you.

When it comes to caregiving and by extension self-care in the Western world, the focus often ends up centering on the needs of the child - especially when that child is struggling emotionally, mentally, or physically. While this is noble, quite understandable and often completely necessary, parents stuck in this worldview may end up neglecting their own care, which may result in the child being left to turn to a parent that feels burnt out, overwhelmed, and less tolerant of the inevitable moments of distress that the struggling child presents.

Parenting is a complex journey, characterized by the ever-changing terrain of child development. As children grow and change, parents face different challenges and successes in guiding their behavior. In the search for effective strategies, the concept of a token economy emerges as a promising tool based on the principles of behavior modification. Let's take a journey through the different stages of parenthood, exploring how token economies can be tailored to meet the changing needs of children and teenagers.

Learning to manage emotions is an important skill for children to develop, as it helps them navigate their feelings and build resilience for future challenges. It also fosters healthy communication and social skills, improving their relationships with those around them. These are five simple steps to help children manage big emotions.

Children and teens who are struggling with ongoing difficulties in their social, emotional, or academic lives may develop sensitivities around bids or requests for change initiated by parents (as well as other authority figures). While these difficulties may stem from or be further exacerbated by internally-held negative core beliefs which often benefit from outside therapeutic intervention, how parents deliver these bids for change may also impact how the child or teen receives them and therefore if they take action on these requests.

To incorporate these mindfulness practices into your daily routine, start by setting aside a few daily minutes to engage in them. This can be done in the morning, evening, or even during lunch. By incorporating these meditation and mindfulness practices into your daily routine, you can develop greater self-awareness, reduce stress and anxiety, and build stronger, more fulfilling relationships with those around you.

Parenting is a journey filled with challenges and triumphs, and one key aspect of guiding our children toward positive behavior is the thoughtful application of consequences. Implementing consequences can shape a child’s understanding of boundaries and responsibility. In this guide, we’ll delve into practical strategies for using consequences effectively in parenting.

Most people deal with being picked on at some point in their lifetimes. Bullying affects millions of people each year from every age, gender, and race. It occurs across settings from school to work, and can even invade personal life online. The impacts of bullying on mental health can last a lifetime and contribute to low self esteem, anxiety, isolation, and possibly suicide.

Positive parenting involves fostering a nurturing environment that encourages a child's growth and development. One practical approach is using rewards to reinforce positive behavior. This guide will explore key steps and strategies for implementing positive parenting through a reward system.

Using effective communication strategies can greatly enhance both personal and professional aspects of life. From resolving conflicts with peers or loved ones, having meaningful debates with colleagues, or simply just asking for what you need, using this structured approach can improve the way we communicate and therefore increase the likelihood of success. Let’s take a look at exactly what this method is and how it can be applied to different situations to enhance communication.

Addiction is a complex battle that many individuals face, often struggling with powerful urges and cravings that can be overwhelming. In the journey to fighting the battle, journaling can be beneficial in helping you gain an understanding of the triggers behind your urges, what you're avoiding, and how to replace addictive behaviors with healthier alternatives.

If your teen’s school uses assignment portals (for example: Schoology, Google Classroom, etc.), you may be all too familiar with daily emails about late, incomplete, or missing assignments. Chances are if you are reading this, you are also familiar with the ensuing arguments, excuses, and denials that result from your teen. No matter how much you try, it’s the same day after day…

The bond between humans and animals can offer emotional, mental, and physical support. From the soothing comfort of an emotional support animal (ESA) to the tailored assistance of a service animal, these unique creatures play diverse roles in improving our well-being.

There is a common question that often lingers in the back of our minds until we are left with no other choice but to address it, “Who am I if I am not playing sports?” As an athlete, so much of our lives are centered around our sports. This includes our routine, physical health, mental health, the friends we make, the mentors we meet, and sometimes even down to the food we consume and how much and often we consume. It can take up so much time, we sometimes fail to leave room to explore other parts of ourselves.

So, your child has entered therapy. You may be experiencing a range of emotions and thoughts: relief, worry, anxiety, even curiosity. Many questions may come to mind like 'What are they talking about?', 'Will this actually help them?', or 'Are they talking about me?'. While these are understandable concerns, what will actually help your child will be learning how to support them in therapy and what to expect may occur as they go through the therapeutic process.

Note: This blog is a general background for parents and is not applicable to every situation. Please contact a mental health professional for more specific guidance in your unique situation.

One of the scariest moments for parents is finding out that their teen is having suicidal thoughts. In these life-or-death situations, it is normal to panic and do anything that you can to keep your child alive. And oftentimes, the suggestions from many mental health professionals is to have your teen go to the emergency room. Is that always the right choice?

Raise your hand if you are guilty of using the statement “Back when I played…” at least once with your child who plays competitive sports? It is easy for parents who are former athletes to get excited and fully immersed when their children play sports. Taking interest in your child’s sports and activities is encouraged and recommended. However, sometimes the parents' interest can negatively affect their child's athletic endeavors.

Recently, I went to a 5-day intensive training to become an EMDR Child Specialist led by Ana Gomez. I noticed that 3 things were consistently mentioned that prepare kids to reprocess bad things that have happened and are also highly important for healthy socioemotional development. They are: 1) Micro-Education, 2) Physicalizing Emotions, and 3) Affect Tolerance. Now before I break these things down, if you are scratching your head wondering what EMDR even is, please visit here to learn more about EMDR ……….