Empty promises can be a source of anxiety, frustration, and resentment within all relationships, not just parent-child relationships. Empty promises can be overlooked because in the moment the promiser likely intends to follow through with their promise, but does not realize the negative effect it has on the promisee when they do not do what … Read more
Reflecting upon recent events in this country and across the world, it may be easy to become discouraged or disillusioned with the state of humanity. The news is inundated with stories of violence and crime, creating the impression that the world is bad and scary, that people are evil and unpredictable. What the news presents, … Read more
College can be a fun and exciting time, but it is often also a stressful time for many students. When students have difficulty managing stress, they are at risk of experiencing anxiety or depression. A recent article in the American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology magazine highlights the impact that stress has on many college … Read more
Not everyone who experiences stress meets criteria for a psychological disorder. Stress is a relatively common occurrence, and some stress can even be positive – feeling a bit tense can provide the energy and motivation to tackle a challenge. However, as we all know by now, high levels of stress can impede performance, trigger anxiety, … Read more
As both a mom and a clinical psychologist, I am often approached by parents who are concerned about their child’s academic progress, emotional health, or pattern of behaviors. Parents often have some intuition that something isn’t right, but they don’t know how concerned to be, and whether or not to seek professional guidance. Here are … Read more
Summer break is almost here and that means a less intense morning and evening schedule and more time with siblings. Unfortunately, that can also mean more sibling conflict. Here are a few options for reducing teasing to help your summer go more smoothly*: Give an immediate time-out for both parties: To the Child Claiming to … Read more
Recently, a good friend of mine stumbled across a blog titled the “10 Myths of Introverts” by Carl King (http://www.carlkingdom.com), which describes his perceptions of being an introvert in an extroverted world. Since finding this blog, my friend has been educating more extroverted souls like myself with the wisdom she collected, and perhaps more importantly … Read more
Here we are in January. It’s boom time for health clubs and diet plans – how many of us have made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and get in better shape? Unfortunately, most people fall off the diet-and-exercise wagon fairly quickly, leading to feelings of frustration, guilt, and even hopelessness and depression. The problem … Read more
Most parents of a teenager can often find their teen glued to the internet or a cell phone reportedly “interacting” with friends. Many of these parents do not fully understand what their child is doing for all those hours while on the phone or computer and could benefit from a brief lesson on some of … Read more
When children make poor behavior choices, I often hear parents say, “I thought he knew better.” Raising a morally responsible child is a main goal for many parents, and parents often experience anxiety or frustration when their child chooses a path that does not reflect the expected morals of the family. However, it is critical … Read more
