Over the next few weeks, many teens will be starting their first year in high school. Parents this is a good time to think back to your first day of high school and how you felt and what you were expecting. This can help you relate to some of the feelings your teenager may be…
Am I old enough to be having sex? Since I see a lot of teenage boys for psychotherapy, it’s not surprising I hear this question on a regular basis. Our society does not discuss the subject of sex and sexuality and boys have been given the message for a long time that being sexually active…
https://www.inspireamind.net/elevating-by-celebrating-mood/Elevating by Celebrating Anticipatory Anxiety & Initial Worry As we encounter birthdays, engagements, weddings, graduations, holidays and many other milestones; gatherings can bring both joy and anxiety. Some people find excitement, enjoyment and a sense of community in large celebrations. There are other people that can feel overwhelmed, anxious or even “frozen” by the prospect…
Most boys and teenage boys have grown up hearing a stereotype about what it takes “to be a man.” While many teenage boys may not agree with the stereotype, they are afraid to deviate from it because they don’t want to be labeled as “gay.” According to the research, this stereotype typically leads boys to…
It’s summer and most kids are having fun. While kids are having fun, parents are thinking about the upcoming school year, especially if their children are beginning High School, College or Kindergarten. However, there is another important beginning for children, Middle School. This is a major transition for pre-adolescents. As a psychotherapist who works with…
Back in the early 2000s, my teenage years were…difficult. As a transracial adoptee, living in White Suburbia, my identity formation was particularly fragmented, my urges to numb outweighed my hopes for the future, and my sense of belonging was built on self-betrayal as I attempted to fit in. My inner teen is beside herself as…
It’s summer time and many teenagers are out swimming, driving and skateboarding just to name a few summer activities. In addition if they play high school sports or traveling sports, they may be attending practice over the summer. The main sport at this time of year is football and cheerleading goes along with it. Summer…
Parents, teachers and students have been worried about mass shootings and school shootings for years. Many children are afraid to go to school because they are afraid of being killed at school. Many children are frightened by the mass shooter drills which occur at school. It makes sense why students, teachers and parents would worry…
As an adolescent psychotherapist one of the major issues I deal with is respect. Teenagers feel disrespected by their parents and parents feel dissected by their teenagers. At this time of year with seniors graduating high school and eighth graders beginning high school many teenagers believe they are entitled to more respect because they are…
Starting therapy at a young age in the face, specially when the child has experienced a traumatic event, is important for several reasons: Early intervention and prevention: Trauma, particularly when experienced during childhood, can have long-lasting effects on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. By starting therapy early, it is possible to intervene and…