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 »
As a therapist working with adolescents and families, the topics of gender and sexual orientation come up regularly in my work. Times have changed quickly and gender is a very popular topic not only for kids, but also for our broader culture as gender roles are evolving beyond binary terms. Back in the day (actually, not very long ago), we ...READ MORE »
Happy Valentine’s Day from TSG! This week’s blog is all about love and strengthening the relationships in your life. As Valentine’s Day arrives this year, the topic of love and relationships is at the center of many of my client conversations. As a therapist in Washington DC working with adolescents, young adults, and families, I spend a lot of time exploring ...READ MORE »
This month, I’m writing a 3 part series on the anatomy of emotions for 3 main reasons– 1) Emotions are easily misunderstood and get a bad rap as being mysterious and complex; 2) When understood, emotions are good sources of data for making decisions, and 3) Emotions direct almost every single human interaction and decision. Recently, I attended a business conference ...READ MORE »
In my previous article, “How to Mother a Middle Schooler: Spoiler Alert, You Already Know!” I spoke of the similarities among the toddler years and tween years. I also addressed how your middle schooler or “tween” has a desire to fit in with peers, (hence they whine, “Everyone has a phone but me!”) and their desire for more independence at ...READ MORE »
It has officially arrived- holiday season 2019! Is it just me or has this year flown by? This time of year can bring upon feelings of excitement, joy, and love. It can also bring upon feelings of anxiety. Through all the travel, family gatherings, and breaks from school/work, some of our children may experience difficulty. As a child and adolescent therapist ...READ MORE »
As a family therapist, I have gained some insights that helped me compile these cell phone and screen use rules for tweens. Never write or forward a photo, or anything in a text, that you wouldn’t want forwarded to everyone in your school, your principal and your parents. Remember that everything you send can become public. Always ask before you forward a ...READ MORE »
Back-to-School can be a stressful and emotional period for both children and parents. This can be true for all families, but if there was a recent separation or divorce in your family, you are likely starting the school year with a ton of new logistics and feelings to consider. Children can be especially anxious at this time. What will they ...READ MORE »
My last blog post mentioned that there are no quick fixes to enhance your self worth. This does not mean that there is no roadmap whatsoever for enhancing self worth. Through my work with psychotherapy, I observe that each person’s roadmap is complex, highly individual, and takes time and patience to figure out. Perhaps a good first step is to practice ...READ MORE »
Having fun together breeds a strong romantic relationship. Decades of observational studies corroborate this claim, and I can also attest to this as a couples therapist in the Washington D.C. and Bethesda area. Shared leisure experiences are strongly tied to both personal wellbeing and relationship stability (i.e., whether the relationship lasts). If you are in a long-term relationship, it ...READ MORE »
