The Diagnosis Debate

A person sitting near a doctor

Most visits to a medical doctor involve a similar sequence of events; the patient presents their
symptoms and the provider goes through a mental checklist and/or administers a series of tests
until they eventually deduce the reason for the patient’s ailment – a broken bone, an ear
infection, a ruptured appendix, etc.

Spring has Sprung: Time to Help our Kids Re-connect with Nature

Family spending time together, symbolizing unity and support services

Spring has Sprung: Time to Help our Kids Re-connect with Nature During the winter season, we all find ourselves confined to indoor activities which often place limitations on movement and options for play. As parents we likely all have been waiting for spring and warmer weather so that we can do more family activities outside … Read more

Parenting Adult Children When They Move Back Home

Man hugging an elderly couple in a bright kitchen.

Parenting Adult Children When They Move Back Home About 45% of people between18 and 29 years of age are living at home according to a 2023 Harris Poll for Bloomberg. According to the poll, the primary reason that young adults return home is to save money. Moving back home also can give adult children an … Read more

Don’t Make It Worse

A girl watching the sunset

Don’t Make It Worse We all experience life differently, yet one commonality among us all is that we are all going to experience distressing events, as well as physical, emotional, and mental pain, at some point in our lives. Some of the distressing/painful experiences will be things that we can control, such as choosing to … Read more

Adults Need Play Time Too!

Adults Need Play Time Too! It’s a no-brainer that play is an important part of childhood.  As children, play allows us to express our creativity, try on different roles, and develop important social-emotional skills that help us “play well” with others.  However, play for adults can be an afterthought and something we do not actively … Read more

Let’s Talk About Play

Parent and child spending quality time together

Let’s Talk About Play As a parent of three myself, I know firsthand how easy it is to get sucked into the day-to-day management of a family. Before you know it, keeping up with children’s growing social calendars becomes a full-time responsibility (Wait, is it a soccer or volleyball night!?!?).  Then on top of the … Read more

Is it a BIG, Medium, or little deal?

A mom holding a child on the beach

Is it a BIG, Medium, or little deal? I frequently use an excellent social-emotional curriculum for kids called Unstuck & On Target (Lynn Cannon, Lauren Kenworthy, et al).  It’s particularly useful with children and tweens who struggle with emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility, but its concepts can be useful to all parents when their kids–or they themselves–have a … Read more

A Few Thoughts on Self-Care

A girl standing in sunlight

A Few Thoughts on Self-Care The new year brings fresh starts and new goals, and I feel like it is a great time to think of our own self-care plans and what helps each of us recharge. We all have different definitions of what self-care might mean for us as individuals. Activities such as exercise, … Read more

Finding and Keeping Connection

A group of friend doing bongfire

Finding and Keeping Connection Some years ago, around this time of year, I got a call from someone very dear to me. She told me she was making a New Year’s resolution that we would get together at least once a month. This is one of the few New Year’s resolutions that had true staying … Read more