I’m sure I’m dating myself with this reference to Alanis Morisette’s landmark album, Jagged Little Pill, but I’ve been channeling my inner agro-girl as I get my kids settled back into the school year. I realize this image doesn’t appear the least bit motherly or even polished and professional for a 50-something Family Therapist in Washington DC. Yet, ...READ MORE »
A huge component of maintaining healthy relationships, whether they are with romantic partners or with friends and extended family, is spending meaningful time together. With September bringing the return of school and after-school activities, it can be tough to schedule that meaningful time into our lives. However, without meaningful time together, couples lose the sense of “we-ness”, and friendships can ...READ MORE »
This time of year is a roller-coaster of excitement and anxiety for families. A new school year brings new opportunities, more structure, and so much learning and growth; and often, new stressors, social and academic challenges, and growing pains. As parents, it can be deeply rewarding to watch our kids launch and experience successes and new connections; it can also ...READ MORE »
Therapists are professional listeners, but also active co-authors and story-tellers as clients make meaning from their experiences and internal worlds. Therapy is many things, but at its’ core it is a process of creating a narrative that speaks our truth and acknowledges the pain or suffering in our lives, and at the same time manages to integrate compassion and focuses ...READ MORE »
In our journey of parenthood, we find ourselves navigating the intricate path of nurturing and shaping our children’s growth. As a child and adolescent therapist, I believe that fostering a secure and loving environment is crucial for our children’s well-being. In this blog, I will share insights and guidance behind the belief that every child deserves an opportunity to thrive ...READ MORE »
The “Window of Tolerance” is a concept that describes our experience of being in a stable, internally connected, socially engaged state. In polyvagal theory this is the “ventral vagal” state. It is grounded in a sense of security – feeling emotional safety, and holding a general belief in our self-efficacy and worthiness. That means that even if we face a ...READ MORE »
A couple years ago, I went scuba diving for the first time. Before I was permitted to dive, I first had to sit in a classroom and learn how to use the equipment, how to communicate with my companions, and how to respond to potential challenges. Many people could probably be given scuba gear, sent into the water, and they ...READ MORE »
childrena In the last blog, I shared information about The Parenting Pathway, which is my conceptualization of the parenting trek for parents of atypical kids. In my practice with children and parents in the past 25 years, I’ve been struck by how many parents discover so much about themselves as they are parenting and trying to help their children through their ...READ MORE »
In a prior post, The Parenting “Aha,” I share about two authors who write about parenting. The Journey of the Heroic Parent: Your Child’s Struggle and The Road Home by Dr. Brad M Reedy, Phd, and The Awakened Family: A Revolution in Parenting by Dr. Shefali Tsabary. Both of these books highlight how parenting is more than a task; ...READ MORE »
In order to understand how to manage your stress and reduce feelings of distress, dysfunction, and dysregulation, it is important to understand a core concept related to increasing resiliency: the “Window of Tolerance.” When we encounter challenges, we all experience the feeling of stress in some way, shape, or form. Stress is not inherently good or bad – it is just ...READ MORE »
TSG is aware of the high level of need for mental health support and treatment for the families in our community and beyond, and an increasingly short supply of available therapists. We are excited to offer new services with immediate daytime availability: Mental Health Consultations. These appointments are a one-time or brief preventive and/or supportive service for individuals and families who are not engaged in therapy at TSG, yet could benefit from consulting with a mental health expert in a variety of ways. Email intake@thesibleygroupdc.com for more information or to schedule a consultation.
Click here for more information on on our new mental health consultation service.
