As holidays approach, my thoughts turn to the “mixed bag” that the holiday season can produce. Positive elements, such as celebration, connecting with family, and spiritual reflection are often rivaled by feelings of anxiety, strain and even painful memories. I would like to offer 3 tips for parents on how to negotiate common “Holiday Challenges”.
Here are four strategies to help you ground and relax when you feel stress in your body. Practice and enjoy these gifts to yourself. 1. Grounding: It’s amazing what 30 seconds of sensing gravity can do. The next time you feel charged up or stressed out, see if you can feel the weight of your
There is an old saying that “whatever you give your attention to grows.” Think about how that plays out–in your garden or your work, with your children, or with your worries and fears. In times of stress, guided imagery offers one strategy for shifting our attention to positive resources. Guided imagery helps us to enter
TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT WITH CHILDREN AND TEENS The political events of the last few weeks have focused our national, neighborhood, and family conversations on sexual assault, abuse and harassment. Wherever you find yourself on the political spectrum, many report that this is an emotionally grueling time. It has been particularly triggering for those who have experienced
By Melissa J. Johnson, PH.D. Founder & CEO Licensed Psychologist (PSY 13102) As we speak with parents, teachers, and kids this week, wildfire related stress is a common theme. The saturated news coverage, school closures, and smoky air all add to the stress for kids. We want to share some curated resources for families, educators, and others who
In the aftermath of the divisive 2016 election, many parents are asking, “How do we talk to our children?” Many parents acknowledge that they are experiencing big feelings, lots of questions, and a desire to identify action steps for healing and moving forward. They’ve also shared that their children are having many of these same
Can you name the feelings you experienced and continue to feel in the aftermath of the Orlando massacre? Shock, fear, anger, sadness, grief, confusion, disbelief, broken-heartedness, compassion are a short list of emotions that I’ve heard friends and colleagues describe over the past 2 days. We need to figure out how to help our children
For some of us, spring is a time of year when the impulse to do it all and be it all kicks into high gear. The promise of warmer weather and longer days ahead brings plenty of new opportunity and an increase in expectations and over-scheduling. Is it really possible to meet all the obligations
When we listen to children, we hear about their worries. The monster under the bed. The mean kid at school. And now, the economy. News headlines are confusing–and scary. And then it hits home. “My favorite teacher got a pink slip.” “Mom just lost her job.” “Boy, my parents are sure fighting a lot… about
The new school year is off and running with excitement and stress. Research shows that there are many good ways to deal with your stress as a parent. In fact, soothing yourself will calm your kids. Here are some activities to de-stress. Enjoy. Lead your kids to the road of relaxation by example: The first