Our Thoughts

As a child therapist, I often hear parents say, “I just want my child to feel confident, happy, and supported.” Childhood is a time of major growth, but it can also be filled with challenges that impact a child’s emotional well-being, behavior, confidence, and relationships. Child therapy can be a powerful tool to help children thrive. In this blog, we’ll explore what child therapy looks like, why it matters, and how parents can feel confident in seeking support for their chi

High school finals are approaching, and whether your teen is taking finals for their first time or their last, they might be feeling a significant amount of stress. It is no secret that finals can feel daunting. They are the closing chapter of a semester of hard work and often determine what the final grade will be. Because every teen’s needs are different, it is important to understand what kind of support will help them the most during this challenging time.

The holidays often center around hours in the kitchen creating large meals and special desserts with family and friends. In many cultures, food plays an important role in holiday traditions and  celebrations. Yet, it is also quite common for negative or anxious thoughts about eating to surface—especially during this food-focused time of year.

It’s more common than we might think: when you’re struggling, hurting, overwhelmed, or just exhausted, and then a voice in the back of your head says something like, “Other people have it worse” or “You shouldn’t feel this way.”

When your child is struggling, it hits differently. You feel it in your chest. You question yourself. You want to fix it (probably yesterday). But parenting doesn’t come with a manual, and sometimes kids need support beyond what even the most loving home can provide. That’s where child therapy comes in.

It’s that time of year again! College applications are underway, and highschoolers everywhere are preparing essays, asking for recommendations, and figuring out their next steps. For parents, this can be challenging. You want to encourage your teen to do their best, but you also don’t want to overwhelm them. Often, the pressure that parents put on their teens is well-intentioned. However, sometimes extra pressure can be confusing, overwhelming, and create tension between a pa

After school, kids fill their time in many different ways. Some jump right into homework, others participate in clubs or sports, and many unwind by playing video games or watching their favorite shows. In some families, chores are a part of their kid’s daily routine. So, what is the best way for kids to spend their time after school? In this blog post, I will be discussing my opinions on chores for children including: pros and cons, appropriate chores, how to reinforce comple

Flexible thinking is an important skill for everyone and something we can all practice each day. Being a good flexible thinker means we can manage the inevitable challenges we face with greater ease and less emotional strife.

While there are books out there on how to handle certain situations, there really is no step-by-step guidebook to parenting, especially when it comes to teenagers. Everyone is experiencing both the positives and negatives and wondering if they are doing it “right.”

Every couple has phases where conversations fall flat or you feel like you’re sitting in an awkward silence and you don’t know what to talk about. Maybe it’s because you’ve both been busy or tired or just caught up in the routines of everyday life. You still care about each other deeply, that’s not in question, but maybe the spark of connection and the easy flow of talking about everything and nothing seems harder to find these days. Know that you are not alone and that it is

As I mention in almost all of my blogs regarding relationships, pretty much every couple argues at some point. The healthiest, most loving relationships have moments when communication breaks down, words get sharper, tones rise, and understanding becomes less of a priority. It is in those heated moments that many people try to push through, determined to have it resolved right away. But sometimes, the best thing people can do in that situation is not to keep talking but to ac

Have you ever had a therapy session where you discuss how stressed out, frustrated, and ‘on edge’ you’ve been recently and somehow ended up with the therapist discussing ways to practice gratitude? The reason for that is more clinical than you may think. Often times when one practices gratitude, they are often able to find moments of joy more readily. Finding joy (or experiencing pleasant sensory experiences) can help regulate the automatic nervous system.

I recently completed the official certification process to be an ADHD-CCSP. What is that, you ask? CCSP stands for Certified Clinical Services Professional and my area of expertise is ADHD. 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is more than just needing things to be clean and organized. People with OCD often struggle with intrusive and irrational thoughts (otherwise known as obsessions) that trigger intense anxiety and distress. In an effort to feel better, they might perform certain repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (otherwise known as compulsions) that temporarily reduce anxiety.

OCD is characterized by the presence of intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repeated behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions). These compulsions are attempts to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared event but they actually reinforce the OCD cycle.

As the days grow shorter and colder, many people begin to notice a shift in their mood, energy, and overall well-being. Tasks that once felt manageable can become difficult. There's a tendency to sleep more, withdraw socially, or experience a lingering sadness that’s hard to explain.

At some point, nearly everyone faces the challenge of living with a difficult person, whether it’s a passive-aggressive roommate, a controlling parent, a chronically messy partner, or someone whose moods shift like the weather. Shared living situations can already be stressful, but when they’re marked by conflict, tension, or emotional strain, daily life can become draining and overwhelming.

Mistakes, regression in progress, relapse, moments of weakness, resurgence of negative feelings and habits, maladaptive coping mechanisms, and the unearthing of what we once thought of as resolved. Unwanted happenings can feel like unwelcome guests; reminding us of a time when we were vulnerable, lacked self-control, and did not know any better.

Sports injuries can happen to athletes at any level and can have a significant impact on mental health. Whether the injury is a minor sprain or a major fracture requiring surgery, the physical aspects of recovery often receive the most attention, while the mental and emotional impact is just as significant.

The adolescent years can be defined by intense physical, emotional, social, and mental changes. Adolescents desire to be more independent individuals. They are figuring out who they are and who they want to be. They might begin to argue more than usual or break the rules at school or home. Many times, changes in an adolescent’s behavior are a typical part of growing up. Sometimes, however, more extreme behavioral challenges might arise...

Co-parenting can be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences after a separation and/or divorce. Even when both parents want what’s best for their children, emotions, old wounds, and communication differences can make collaboration hard, even deciding “what’s best” for the child can look different for both of them. Conflict is almost inevitable, but how you handle it can make all the difference in maintaining a healthy environment for your kids and yourself.

The end of a marriage or a long-term relationship is more than just the loss of having a partner, but it’s also the loss of a shared identity, a rhythm you’ve lived inside of for months, years, or even decades. When two lives become so intertwined, it can be natural to lose sight of who you truly are. So when the relationship ends, many people find themselves asking: Who am I now?

What is creative self-care and why does it matter? How would you and your client benefit from creative self-care? Who would benefit most from creative self-care? Creativity is like a muscle. If you do not exercise it, it will weaken!

Making friends can be difficult at any age! During middle school and high school, however, it can sometimes feel impossible. Many friends groups may seem like they’ve already solidified and won’t change. You might find yourself paralyzed with fear, thinking that no one will want to get to know you. I’m here to tell you that this is not true!