Did you know that children start learning social skills from the time they are born? They learn to interact with their caregivers with eye contact or facial expressions. Children will continue to learn age appropriate social skills as they grow and develop, however; if a child is diagnosed with anxiety, ADHD, or autism for example, this can be more challenging to develop on their own.
Read MoreWe have said it over and over again: the holidays can feel stressful. The holidays can especially feel stressful when you have a child/ren who become overwhelmed easily, have sensory issues, and/or have issues with regulation. Not to worry! I am here to share tips on how to navigate these meltdowns.
Read MoreRecently, a lot of parents have shared with me that they feel they should be a “do as I say, because I said so” parent, also known as an authoritarian parent. This is what parents often turn to because they were raised like this, and it might feel like it is the only way to maintain authority.
Read Morenoticed a few years ago that a bit of tension stays with me on Sundays. I might be a bit shorter in my responses with my husband, feel a bit more tension in my body, or a bit of dread in my body. It’s funny that I feel this way every Sunday because I love my job. I created my job, and I’m my own boss, but even I am susceptible to Sunday Scaries.
Read MoreNow that the school year is underway and the first day nerves are wearing off, your child is meeting new peers, making new friends, and seeing friends that they didn’t see all summer. Sometimes meeting new people goes just like we want it to.
Read MoreFostering healthy self-confidence is essential to build positive self-esteem. Positive self-confidence helps children try new things, take healthy risks, and solve problems. It gives them a solid foundation for learning and development. Bibliotherapy is a great way to introduce concepts to your child.
Read MoreStarting the new school year is exciting, but it can also be nerve-racking for some children. Anxiety is a complicated for kids so I often use the terms nervousness, worry, fear, or school jitters. The term anxiety also comes with a stigma and many parents do not feel comfortable saying or recognizing that their child has anxiety. This can result in delaying treatment and not getting treatment at all.
Read MoreDid you know that 7.1 percent of children struggle with an anxiety disorder? Many other children will struggle with stress and nervousness. If you suspect that your child is struggling with the aforementioned, bibliotherapy is a great way to introduce the subjects.
Read MoreWhile this is a relatively new term, the idea is timeless and remains highly prevalent in conversations today. Burnout is sturdily linked to stressors related to health, relationships, and work; and the epidemic is only getting worse. As of this year, burnout is no longer just a feeling word. The World Health Organization has publicly recognized the severe impacts burnout has on physical, emotional, and mental health and has officially categorized the phenomenon as a medical condition.
Read MoreBibliotherapy is a creative art therapeutic approach that uses literature to aid in the therapy process. Children’s books can be an excellent clinical tool to support children’s exploration and understanding of their world and life experiences. This is a great tool I often give to parents in order to continue the therapeutic work outside of the office. Many children identify with the characters in the book because they are overcoming the same obstacles. Over the next few weeks, I am going to provide a list of books that can help kids over come different obstacles from anger to anxiety. This week I’m sharing books on anger.
Read MoreWelcome to the third and final week of my blog series featuring all six topics covered in Heights Family Counseling’s week long School Readiness Camp. This week’s blog will take a closer look at frustration tolerance and communication/listening skills. Below are links to 3 of my previous blogs.
Read MoreWelcome to week two of my three-week blog series coving our upcoming School Readiness Camp. This week’s blog will take a closer look at empathy and perspective taking as well as teamwork. Below are links to my two previous blogs.
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