Dear Parents: Get Over Yourselves

parents

Did I get your attention?  You might be wondering what this blog is about.  It’s been heavy on my heart over the past few years in my practice that so many teenagers don’t get the support or help they need because of their parents.  Even some teenage clients who have made it to counseling don’t improve because their parents make their child’s counseling about themselves or attempt to control it.  Today I’m going to talk bluntly about the importance of allowing your child to get the help they need—without making it about you. If you are the parent of a tween or teen, this blog is for you! Teens and Mental Health According to Mental Health America, Clinical Depression will...

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Do You Live in a Depressed House?

depressed

This time of year can be especially difficult for those who are prone to Depression.  Lately, I’ve noticed an influx of clients who are really depressed and struggling with the cold, dreary days we’ve been experiencing.  Whether it’s Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or both—it can be hard to function when the days are so short and gray. Have you ever heard of a depressed house?  It’s a household that has one or more people who struggle with Depression.  When even one person in a house struggles with Depression, it changes the whole dynamic of a house.  So how can you help your household? When You Are the Depressed Person Depression can look very different from person to person.  For some,...

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Why Your “Good” Kid is at Risk for Teen Depression

teen depression

I work with a lot of teen Depression.  It’s not unusual for a client’s parent to be upset when their teenager is diagnosed with mental health issues.  It’s common for them to say “But my kid is a good kid”.  The problem is, depression and anxiety (and other mental health issues) do not discriminate.  Your teen could be the best kid, and they could still struggle. Today my hope is to obliterate the stigma that good kids don’t struggle with mental health issues.  Because they definitely do.  I want to talk about the pressures put on kids today, and how that also impacts their emotional well-being.  And maybe how we can work together to help prevent mental health issues and...

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How to Set Boundaries with Teens

boundaries with teens

If you are a parent to a teen or preteen, you know these years with them are fun and challenging.  From hormones to peer pressure, to staying up on the newest social media trend, this time is hard on parents!  If you struggle with boundaries yourself, it can be hard to know when and how to implement them with your teen.  Today on the blog I’m going to tackle boundaries with teens, and why they are so important to set. What are Boundaries? Boundaries are bumpers we put in place to protect ourselves and to protect our loved ones.  When we set boundaries with others, we teach them how we want to be treated.  We also communicate what we will...

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Dear Younger Me: A Letter to Myself

younger

Have you ever considered the advice you would give to your younger self?  I thought about this the other day while working with some teen girls.  The struggles they are experiencing nowadays seem to be very similar to what I went through many years ago!  If I could give some advice to younger teenage me, this is what I would say: Dear 16 year old Christy- I know you think the things you are going through right now are the end of the world.  You just went through a painful break-up, have body image issues, friend drama, and overall High School stress.  As hard as this is to believe, it does get better. The things that you think are so...

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