There’s no escaping change.  Change can pop up in any realm of our life. At work, it can be new directives coming from a boss. At home, it can be children going off to college.  In current events, as vaccination numbers increase and COVID cases decrease, many people are faced with having to leave what has become their haven at home and return to life pre-Covid.  For many of us, change can be challenging and unwelcome.   ...
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After almost a year of virtual learning, children are starting their return to in-person school. There are many ways children may respond to this transition, and it can help connect with them to understand how they are feeling leading up to their first day back and as they continue to move into this new stage of “normal.” Children are astute at picking up their caregiver’s emotions, so chances are if you are excited or anxious, they may be feeling similarly. Some children will be more forthright with sharing their worries, and others may need you to initiate the conversation. Here are some ideas for starting and navigating the conversation ...
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Working as an individual, couples, and family therapist gives me a unique front seat to conflicts of all forms.  I have witnessed politics play a part in much disagreement throughout immediate and extended families in my career.  Still, I have never seen the degree of political division that has infected American culture over the past several years.  Although this issue has always existed, the concerns facing America today are personal, painful, and more disturbing than most of us have ever witnessed.  I hope that we one day emerge from this with relationships remaining intact.  Here are some suggestions as to how you may be able to make that happen ...
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Whether you have younger or older children, helping them process their experiences can give them a sense of understanding of both the world around them and their responses to that world. The deeper that children and parents understand their feelings and reactions to what is happening in any given moment, the better they can be present to their own and others’ experiences, leading to less mindless reactivity, which reduces reactive conflict and challenging interactions between family members.  ...
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Every day, adults ask kids and young adults questions such as "what do you want to be when you grow up"? Or perhaps "after you graduate, what do you want to do with the rest of your life"? These challenging questions can produce understandable anxiety.   Many of them may not have the 'tools in their toolbox' to navigate the complexities of finding gainful employment that aligns with their skills and interests ...
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