Kids can’t always put their feelings into words Source: Child’s Play: How Play Therapy Works | Psychology Today By Tomás Casado-Frankel, LMFT I am frequently confronted with parents’ concerns regarding the effectiveness of play therapy as a form of treatment. They say, “But it’s just play!” Play therapy is not just play. The treatment might be fun for the young patient—yes—but there is a lot that’s being expressed and understood. Play therapy is meaning-full! Young children ...read more
How social media is affecting teen anxiety
Yes, that means a break from Instagram. WHY GEN Z-ERS SHOULD UNPLUG TO RECHARGE THEIR MENTAL-HEALTH BATTERIES Being a teenager was hard enough when the only social technology used on a daily basis was a clunky desktop computer in the classroom (for fighting cholera on The Oregon Trail, duh). Now teens never get a break: When they’re not texting their friends, they’re scrolling through Instagram, and the constant state of connection is messing with their mental health. According ...read more
Mentally Strong Kids Have Parents Who Refuse to Do These 13 Things
Give up the bad habits that rob kids of mental strength. Source: Mentally Strong Kids Have Parents Who Refuse to Do These 13 Things Raising a mentally strong kid doesn't mean he won't cry when he's sad or that he won't fail sometimes. Mental strength doesn't make you immune to hardship and it's not about suppressing your emotions. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Mental strength is what helps kids bounce back from setbacks and it gives them the strength to keep going, even when ...read more
Choices
Karyn Zuidhof, MA (R. Psych) September 29, 2017 I hate feeling overwhelmed. You know the feeling, the one where you feel like you are barely keeping your head above water, and you are reacting to people and situations in a rash, and sometimes volatile manner. No matter how your partner, kids, or boss did or said something, you take it as an attack. There are so many things on the to-do list it’s nearly impossible to decide where to start, so you find the couch and some ...read more
Prioritizing Self Care
Lauren Chan, MA (Registered Psychologist) September 22, 2017 As the summer is coming to an end and the business of schedules and routines falls back into place, it’s often easy to forget about prioritizing what is truly essential for all of us: self care. What exactly is self care? It is the process of attending to one’s personal health and well-being. For the sake of simplicity, we can classify self-activities into four main categories: ...read more
The Healthy Mind Platter
"Essential nutrients for your brain and relationships" Robyn Manzano, MA (R.Psych) September 22, 2017 For the majority of us, from the moment our alarms go off in the morning to the moment we close our eyes at night, we are bombarded with a flurry of mundane and critical tasks and responsibilities, countless internal and external expectations, and an overload of notifications and information. We continually strive for success and efficiency. We feel comfortable ...read more
Creating A Unique and Positive Family Culture
Creating A Unique and Positive Family Culture Robyn Manzano, MA For most people, the summer season is greeted with much excitement. Not only is there a shift in pace and schedules, there is an anticipation of more time to relax and enjoy the warm weather. The summer season typically allows families for more time to connect, bond over new and special experiences and reminisce about memorable events of the past. However, it is nearing the end of summer and soon it ...read more
It’s Time to Stop the Stigma Around Couples Therapy
Therapy isn't a dirty word. As a couples therapist, “We came in before there was a real problem” is music to my ears. This very wise couple doesn’t wait until a crisis hits. No one is flirting with a coworker. Vicious, repetitive arguments aren’t heard late at night. Or worse, silence hasn’t crept into their marriage. If only this couple were the norm. Many couples don’t do maintenance on their relationship. Instead, they’re inundated with normal distractions – work stress, piles of ...read more
Why self-care is an important part of parenting, and how to make time for it – The Washington Post
There’s nothing selfish about self-care. Your kids can’t be at their best if you aren’t too. By Lindsey Roberts January 24 In traditional ground-fought wars, the command post behind the lines would often have hot coffee, good food and dry clothes. Was this because the generals were selfish? Or because they deserved it for having made the highest ranks in the military? No, it was because if the command fell or experienced low morale, the rest of the troops, and indeed the entire war ...read more
Is Therapy Right for Me? 8 Signs You Should Seek Counseling
Is Therapy for me? Have you ever asked this question. We are sharing this article to give people some food for thought. If you - or someone close to you - is experiencing any of these issues, or if you'd simply like more insight into yourself, consider seeking a therapist's support. In our fast-paced society, more and more people find it challenging to juggle unrealistic work and home life demands. We frequently have to deal with high levels of daily stress, which negatively affects our ...read more