To Mothers Struggling with Addiction: You Are Not Alone
I had an idyllic childhood. I was a cheery kid with great parents, raised in a wonderful neighborhood, always cared for and never wanted for anything. When people hear this…
Parenting
Technology Boundaries for Children and Teens
When people think about boundaries in families, they often think about family members knocking on a closed door, or what type of information should be shared between parents and children…
Parenting Pandemic Style
The pandemic has thrown all parents into more intensive parenting. If you are newly on furlough, working from home, or unemployed, you have been thrust into being a combination at-home…
Fritz Perls, the World Needs You More Than Ever
On March 14th, 1970 — fifty years ago — Fritz Perls, the man behind Gestalt Therapy, died. Few people reading this will know who he was, let alone the significant…
Increasing Attachment in Grandfamilies and Kinship Care
While working as a family therapist with kinship families, also known as grandparents raising their grandchildren, I came across families who were struggling with the ability to rebuild broken trust….
Telling Your Child to Sit Up Straight Doesn’t Work: Why Criticism Doesn’t Foster Change
Childhood can be the sweetest of times, especially when enriched by loving family and friends and strong support systems. However, even with the best circumstances, children rarely come out unscathed,…
Strategies for Advocating as a Parent of Black Children
From the prickly micro-aggressions that occur on the playground to the implicit biases disguised as discipline against black skin that begins in preschool — racism is an illness that our…
How to Love Bad Kids: Unconditional Positive Regard
You can be anything you want to be, we’ll love you no matter what, my parents used to say. But what if I got bad grades and was mean to…
Yes, No, Maybe So: Conscious Consent and Boundary Setting
Consent is now a word trending on social media and for good reason. The #metoo movement looms large as people are speaking out about sometimes decades old boundary violations that…
Controlling Screen Time for Children with ADHD
Parents are often concerned about their child’s screen time and report difficulty enforcing limits. Screen time includes time with all screens including social media, online gaming, and watching videos. Enforcing…
When Teens or 20-Somethings Think You’re Bugging Them, But Really They’re Bugging You
Many parents feel constrained and controlled by their teen’s irritability, anger, and fragility — circumventing necessary communications, problem solving, and limit setting. The need to steer clear of dreaded reactions…
Are You Raising Your Grandchildren?
When I arrived at Rosa’s house, she was making popcorn for her two grandsons, ages 8 and 6. The kids greeted me, then happily took their snack out to the…
What Parents Can Do When Their Child Is Anxious
When anxiety and avoidance behavior interfere with life activities in the family, school, or the community, a child may have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental…
The Effects of Screen Time on Children
Among the parenting world, many topics can become points of contention. Is this idea the right or wrong way to parent? Will it have a positive or negative effect on…
Teaching Children Mindfulness
In our practice, we’ve noticed how more and more adults are becoming familiar with the concept of mindfulness. We know that mindfulness benefits us and improves our ability to be…
