Welcome to Our Blog!

This blog is written by the clinicians at Jonah Green and Associates, a mental health practice based in Kensington, MD that provides quality services for children, teens, families, and adults. It is intended as a resource for families who are seeking to expand their knowledge about mental health and mental health services, and also as a resource for families who are seeking quality mental health services, especially in the mid-Atlantic region. Please feel free to post questions and comments on any of the entries as well as on any topics or articles from our companion web site www.childandfamilymentalhealth.com.

January 27, 2020

Walking The Middle Path: Striving For Balance in Parenting

“You just don’t understand me at all!”

“You never listen to anything I say!”

“Everyone is smarter than me!”

Chances are that if you have been caught in an argument with your teen that starts with one of these polarizing statements, you have found it quite tricky to get out of. It can be extremely challenging for your teen to regulate their emotions and have a constructive conversation once they have escalated from rational into black and white thinking. However, our teens are not the only ones facing black and white thinking challenges. Parenting teens can present us adults with challenging dichotomies like being too strict versus too lenient or holding on too tight versus forcing independence. By showing our teens that we too have this struggle, we are able to normalize the challenges and model healthy ways to problem solve.

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April 17, 2019

The Konmari Method for Decluttering Emotions

Cherry blossoms, day light savings time, the sweet smell of fresh flowers…the return of all these things after a long winter can only mean one thing: Spring has finally sprung!

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January 7, 2015

Returning to Work After Baby

After my daughter was born, the last thing I wanted to think about was leaving her to return to an office. It was a feat getting out the door on time for playgroup, let alone putting on a work-appropriate outfit and carrying on a conversation that didn’t revolve around sleep and how to get more of it. For me, I felt lucky to have the opportunity to take a long maternity leave, but I also had many friends who were happy to go back to the office earlier. Regardless of when it happens, returning to work after baby is a source of anxiety for many parents. It can be a difficult transition filled with worry and fear.

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May 12, 2014

Please Secure Your Mask First: Self-Care for Mothers

As Mother’s Day is approaching, I reflect on all the joys and struggles of being a mom. In my mind, one critical point continues to be underemphasized in the world of parenthood – self-care. While self-care is essential for everyone, I’m going to focus on its importance for mothers.

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March 18, 2014

How to Make the College Application Year “Chill,” for You and Your Teenager

Spring is here and high school juniors are just now finding letters in their mailboxes that tell them whether a college has accepted them for their incoming freshman class. For many students, an acceptance letter allows them to breathe a huge sigh of relief, not only because they now know where they will wind up, but also because it signifies that the year of applying to college, froth with anxiety, trepidation, self-doubt and possibly tension between them and parents or teachers, is now over. For some students the application process is particularly difficult and stressful – for those who have learning disabilities, or executive functioning deficits, or social anxiety, or performance anxiety, or fear of separation from their parents – the list goes on. And what child doesn’t have some kind of challenge? After all, growing up means that they aren’t there yet.