Figuring out how to get your teen to go to therapy is one of the hardest things a parent can face. You can see your child struggling, and you want to help. But every time you bring it up, the walls go up. The good news is that resistance is normal. It doesn’t mean therapy…
Anxiety in college students rarely looks the way most people expect. Your college student seemed fine in high school. Maybe a little stressed before exams, a little anxious about getting in. Nothing that raised real flags. Then they left for school, and something shifted. The calls got shorter. The grades slipped. You ask if they’re…
Your teen may need counseling if changes in mood, sleep, grades, friendships or behavior last for weeks instead of a few bad days, keep getting worse, or get in the way of school and home life. Start by offering support and talking openly at home, and if your teen is still struggling, a counselor can…
Parenting young adults living at home isn’t an easy job. You’ve guided them through life since birth, and now that they have reached adulthood, your expectations have shifted. You hope they will launch into independence, but things might not be going as planned. If your young adult is not working or going to school, you…
Young adult isolation can sneak up on you. This stage of life is full of twists, turns, and unexpected detours, and for many people in their late teens and twenties, finding their footing feels more complicated than ever. The pandemic years left many young adults confined to their homes or dorm rooms for long stretches,…
Learning how to handle tantrums is one of the most challenging parts of parenting, and if you are in the thick of it right now, you are not alone and you are not failing. Tantrums are a normal part of childhood development, but that does not make them any easier to live through. Children struggle…
Teen vaping is a real problem for many families, and it can catch even the most involved parents off guard. Teens often talk about vaping like it’s no big deal, or even like it’s cool. It doesn’t matter if your teenager is a star athlete, a brainiac, or just a teen being a teen. Any…
Has your once chatty kid gotten quiet, irritable or closed off, and now you’re searching for the signs of depression in teens? You’re not alone, and it can be frightening to watch. You may not know whether it’s a phase or something more, or how to even start the conversation. That’s a lot to carry…
Tension in the home can make you dread walking through your own front door. Have you ever felt like you just don’t want to go home? Maybe you are so tired of the uncomfortable feeling there that you would rather work more just to avoid the stress. If this is you, you aren’t alone. I…
Phones at night can quietly take a big toll on teens, and many parents never see it happening. This generation deals with most of the same stressors as the generations before them, but their challenges have been compounded in a new way. In some ways, it’s never been harder to truly connect with peers, even…
SAT anxiety is real, and if you are feeling the pressure as the SAT or ACT gets closer, you’re not alone. A lot of teens walk into test season already consumed by it. What will it be like? How will I do? What if I don’t hit the score I need? On top of your…
Maybe you have seen ads online from organizations looking for volunteers and wondered about the benefits of volunteering for you or your teen. Maybe it has crossed your mind to help out, but you don’t know where to start or if you even have the time. There is a strong case for making the time,…
Coping with grief is something we all face at some point, whether it is the loss of a pet, a grandparent, or even a close friend. Losing a loved one is never easy, and it often leaves us brokenhearted and down in the dumps. No two people grieve the same way, and grief does not…
Thank you notes were a big deal in the house I grew up in. My family was generous when it came to holidays and birthdays, and my grandparents were always quick to remember the milestones and let me know they were thinking of me. Something my parents always instilled in me was to write a…
Academic pressure can sneak up on you in small ways. Have you ever found yourself asking everyone around you about their test score, or feeling more at ease, even a little proud, when you find out you did better than someone else? If so, you may be joining a competition over who is getting the…
Healthy teen relationships don’t happen by accident. Many teens and young adults never stop to think about the expectations they have for a relationship when they first begin to feel attracted to someone. That’s why it matters so much to help teens understand what they want in a relationship and how to tell whether it…
Valentine’s Day for teens can be a lot more complicated than it looks. The holiday is set up for couples to show their love for one another, or at least that is the message teens are given. In elementary school, you were expected to give everyone a card and bring some kind of snack or…
Have you ever felt like disconnecting from technology is next to impossible? It could be work emails, school notifications, your teen calling or texting you, or a steady stream of requests from other family members. Teens are especially attached to their phones, and that makes sense. Phones are where their friendships, social media, music, and…
Raising resilient teens is something so many parents and teachers care about, yet it isn’t always clear how to help. Teens often aren’t sure how to handle big emotions, let alone the everyday stress of school, friendships, and growing up. Resilience is a must, and the good news is that there are real steps you…
Poor grades can turn a peaceful home into a daily battleground. The pressure to bring home good grades often leads to constant tension and frustration for both the parent and the teen. You want your teen to succeed and feel confident about their future. Most of the time, though, teens under this kind of pressure…
