Emotions have a bad reputation in our culture. While we are typically comfortable expressing and being around others who are expressing joy, excitement, or a calm demeanor, we see other emotions as unacceptable. We understand that all humans of all ages experience a wide range of emotions, yet we don’t want to see them all, even in our children. Why? ...READ MORE »
Have you ever been in a situation where someone was talking to you and in that process, they were making you feel like you either had to do something to fix the situation for them or that you had done something wrong? Perhaps they were complaining or perhaps they were being downright nasty towards you. Typically, when we find ourselves ...READ MORE »
Many students are in their first few days or weeks of school in the Washington, DC metro area. As a family therapist who also works with couples and parents, I’m often meeting with parents this time of year and reminding them how they can support themselves as they help transition their children back into school routines. I’m also a ...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 »
As an adolescent and family therapist in Washington DC, I support a lot of parents and teens who are working through conflicts at home or with peers. Managing conflict can be a challenge at any age, and doing so effectively is crucial in our relationships. Disagreements can bring up intense emotions, resulting in reactive and aggressive behavior; yet avoiding a ...READ MORE »
As a therapist in Washington DC and nearby Bethesda, who works with divorcing parents, I attended a lecture several years ago presented by Dr. Edward Farber who specializes in this very subject. I had been working with divorced parents for years at this time, yet was pleased to take away a fantastic nugget of information from the class. Dr. Farber ...READ MORE »
As a family therapist in Washington DC and nearby Bethesda, MD, I often notice that the most resilient clients are those who manage shocking news with connection, courage and compassion. We become shocked when we must discern if an event, person, situation is a threat or not to our personal safety or character. When we are confronted with an uncomfortable, ...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 »
As a child and teen therapist in Washington DC, I am frequently talking with parents about how to manage screen time. In my work providing individual psychotherapy to children/teens and family counseling, I don’t use a ‘one size fits all’ approach–every child and family has different needs and benefits from individualized interventions and strategies. While creating a media plan that’s ...READ MORE »
As we enter the week of Thanksgiving, I want to pause on the notion of gratitude. We often are especially thankful this time of year. I admit, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! It is about food, family, and taking in and reflecting on all of the good stuff in life. As a family therapist in Washington DC and nearby ...READ MORE »
