Perspective Taking for Problem Solving
It’s hard to understand how a 5 year old can feel stressed or why a teen can be so upset about the breakup of a month long relationship. Sometimes we wonder why it’s so hard for a teacher to understand that your child is trying to start his work, but he needs a few seconds […]
Reclaiming Masculinity to Build Emotional Intelligence
As we approach Valentine’s Day, I want to encourage intentionality with respect to how we teach and model masculinity to the younger generation of men. Masculinity continues to be associated with traits like toughness, independence, stoicism, and control. Unfortunately, these traits are also defined in a way that leads to disconnection from others, coercive power, […]
Things I Want to Break Up with in 2019
We have lots of relationships, mostly with people. But we also have relationships with things, habits, thoughts, and emotions. Like all relationships, they can have varying levels of health. I like to believe I have a healthier relationship with my self-esteem than I did in high school. I am better at not basing my self-esteem […]
Bringing Home Baby: Setting the Stage for Positive Sibling Relationships
Bringing home a new baby can be a stressful time for all involved. Follow these tips for helping older siblings adjust and to set the stage for positive sibling relationships. Keep Routines As much as possible, keep the older sibling’s routines. New babies bring a level of unpredictability. You’re never exactly sure when they will […]
“You Can’t Have Itchy Feet When You Fly,” and Other Lessons for Holiday Travels with Children
My daughter recently informed me that you have to deal with itchy feet before you fly. Granted, we were about to go on Soarin’, a Disney World ride, and she didn’t want to drop her shoe while itching her feet 20-feet off the ground, but I think she was on to something bigger. You see, […]
What Being Gifted Can Mean
Many parents will tell me that it “really doesn’t matter” if their child is gifted or not. I get what they’re telling me – they love their child regardless of their child’s IQ score. But understanding what being gifted can mean really does matter. Understanding the social and emotional aspects of giftedness helps smooth out […]
To the Parent Not in the Room
I work with children; therefore I also work with parents. Often, because of the realities of work schedules and managing multiple responsibilities in a family, only one parent comes to a session at a time. And that’s ok, but for those parents not in the room, I want you to understand the many ways in […]
Can’t We All Just Get Along? Not Always, and That Might Be OK
October is Bullying Awareness month and schools around the country are talking to kids about how to not be a bully, what to do if you see bullying, and what to do if you are being bullied. The trouble is, sometimes kids confuse the message. They overgeneralize the term “bullying” to other types of behavior […]
School Refusal: A Multi-Dimensional Approach for a Multi-Dimensional Problem
When children repeatedly refuse to go to school there can be a variety of causes and ripple effects for the individual and family. Resolving school refusal is not as simple as “just get them in the building,” and interventions should involve multiple groups of people working together. School refusal can stem from anxiety about separating […]
Time to Seek Help? A Parent’s Guide For Knowing When To Make the Call
When parents have a concern about their child’s mood, behavior, or school performance, they often ask themselves some version of, “should I actually worry or is this just a normal phase?” They try to figure out, “is it bad enough to actually talk with someone, or do we just wait and see?” If you find […]