A few weeks ago, in the midst of a hectic day of holiday shopping, I came across some Thanksgiving decorations on final clearance and recognized that I was definitely not thankful for the long lines and list of things to do. But as I waited in that line, I had time to reflect on the importance of gratitude and how ...READ MORE »
As a family and teen therapist in Washington DC, who often helps parents and teens navigate a better relationship, I’m writing to offer some impressions about how parents can go beyond just policing their teen to parenting them in a manner that feels more effective and more rewarding. We are all afraid of the police. Let’s be honest. An almost ...READ MORE »
Spring is here and the school year is finally winding down. Summer is just around the corner, and for many kids this is a fun time of year – a time to enjoy the nicer weather, look forward to summer vacations, and wrap up a successful academic year. However, for many families, this time of year can be a real ...READ MORE »
Recently, I’ve noticed a trend from social media that is playing out in children’s friendships. As a therapist who facilitates group therapy to aid children in their friendships in the Washington DC area, I have noticed that personalities and stories from certain social media platforms—which are played out in short clips or longer episodes—-are creating social templates for children’s friendships. ...READ MORE »
Over the course of this month, I’ve discussed what I mean when referring to the word “process” therapeutically when I work with children, adolescents, teens, and their families. In the previous two blogs, I have outlined how parents can have appropriate expectations and better communication with their children and teens. In this blog, I want to cover the third aspect ...READ MORE »
For many people who haven’t had experiences with therapy before, it can seem mysterious and intimidating. As a psychotherapist in the Washington DC area for the past 10 years, I’ve had many friends and family members ask me for guidance about whether they should seek help, who to go to, what type of treatment to ask for, and what therapy ...READ MORE »
In my work providing child therapy and family therapy in Washington, DC and Bethesda, MD, every day I hear from parents about scuffles at school, on the playground, or at home between siblings. Often after a pushing or hitting incident, the parent (or the child, if he or she is old enough) turns to the aggressor for an apology or ...READ MORE »
Spring is here and the school year is finally winding down. Summer is just around the corner, and for many kids this is a fun time of year – a time to enjoy the nicer weather, look forward to summer vacations, and wrap up a successful academic year. However, for many families, this time of year can be a real ...READ MORE »
Setting boundaries can be challenging! As someone who has always been very hard-working, it is not in my nature to say no to a new project or task. And as someone who is very empathetic, I can easily stretch myself thin in how much I give of myself to others. As a therapist working with adolescents and families in DC, ...READ MORE »
In my many years of providing counseling services to children, adults and families, sometimes I’ve encountered exasperated clients who are desperate for a quick fix or a solution to their problem at hand. They share their dilemma, and I listen. Then, I might offer a simple strategy in the moment, and they quickly retort, “I’ve tried that, it doesn’t work.” I ...READ MORE »