… or is it? Like most of you, I’ve been spending a lot of time at home watching tv since there are only so many entertainment options during wintertime in the middle of a pandemic. One of my favorite shows that I’ve discovered during quarantine is Ted Lasso – I highly recommend it if you haven’t watched. It is heart-warming and ...READ MORE »
I’m not going to silver-line it: a lot of things are awful right now, and a lot of things we might look forward to at this time of year – holiday parties, gathering with family and friends, going out to restaurants for celebrations, taking winter vacations – are all cancelled. This pandemic has given us all sorts of problems and ...READ MORE »
… and we will be okay! I have been counseling clients lately with increasing anxiety and despair as we head into the winter and also another wave of the pandemic. Fears of a lockdown, dread of isolation, overwhelm about homeschooling while working from home and fewer social supports, and valid health concerns abound. When I say “we will be okay,” I don’t mean ...READ MORE »
COVID-19 has impacted our world in numerous ways. Here in our nation’s capital and surrounding suburbs, children have had to adjust to remote learning. Some students are returning back to school at the time of this writing with varying “hybrid” schedules, while others are continuing remote learning from home. As a therapist working with young children and their families in ...READ MORE »
As I read the book, “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld, to my daughter last night it had me thinking about what it means to really listen. As a child and teen therapist in Washington, DC I am often talking with parents about how to help their children listen more effectively. In this post, I’m going to talk about ...READ MORE »
Why are family routines important for my children’s well-being? Recent medical, economic, and social crises pose an ongoing threat to what is normal in children’s lives. Many have experienced upsets in routines related to school, out-of-school activities and family life. You and your children have likely experienced these upsets. Leaders of children organizations around the world agree that focusing on having and ...READ MORE »
After months of virtually seeing couples and families in my psychotherapy practice in Washington, DC and Bethesda, MD during the pandemic, I’m noticing how much relationships are changing due to the impact of COVID-19. Many of us in the DC metro area have been sheltering in place for almost 12 weeks–we’ve home schooled our kids, worked remotely at home, ...READ MORE »
I’m writing from my home in Washington, DC with a heavy heart and a troubled mind about how to guide our parents in having hard conversations with their children about the current racial injustices occurring in our city, and in our nation following the death of George Floyd. I approach this topic not as an expert, but as a mom ...READ MORE »
While the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) has changed its screen time guidelines for younger children ages 2- 5 years old {<1 hour daily of high quality use with adequate sleep, physical activity and media free zones/times), it is less clear about guidelines for school-aged children and teens: Where We Stand: Screen Time The APA (American Psychological Association) gives ...READ MORE »
I’m writing this post as a follow up to last week’s blog on basic LGTBQ terminology for parents of tweens and teens. As an adolescent and family therapist in Washington DC, I’m often the first point of contact for teens who are exploring their gender and sexual identity. That means that I’m often helping parents navigate this new territory with ...READ MORE »
