Blog

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It's natural to want to protect our children from pain, disappointment, and frustration. When they come to us feeling anxious, our first instinct may be to remove the source of their anxiety, reassure them that there’s nothing to worry about, or distract them from their fears. However this "support" can actually increase anxiety.

As parents, one of our most important (and sometimes most challenging) roles is helping our children understand, express, and regulate their emotions. When a child has a meltdown, bursts into tears over something small, or reacts with frustration, it can take a toll on the entire family.

It’s easy to brush off name-calling as "just words" or part of normal childhood teasing. After all, didn’t we all get teased a little growing up? The fact of the matter is, name-calling can leave deep emotional scars — and the impact can stick with individuals long after the teasing stops.

One of the number one concerns that lead parents to seek therapy for their child is that the child’s behaviors seem “out of control.” Perhaps they are refusing to do anything the parent asks them to do or they go ballistic when it’s time to shut down the iPad. Spending just 15 minutes of one-on-one time with your child can make all the difference.