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When our children are feeling big emotions, it can be hard to know how to help them. It becomes even more complicated when their behaviors aren’t acceptable. Here's 3 steps that can help.

Most of us enjoy being in control. Some of us feel very uncomfortable when we are not in control. Our relationship with control is a major contributor to our ability to maintain relationships, deal with emotions, and thrive day to day. Curious about you or your child's relationship with control. Try this art activity.

Child development is complex and can be difficult for parents to navigate. Often parents find themselves basing what is “typical” on their child’s siblings, their neighbor’s kids, or a quick google search. Understanding what is typical at your child’s age and what may warrant seeking some extra help can make all the difference.

All relationships have ruptures. Inevitably, feelings will be hurt, there will be disagreements, and every now and then we may not handle something as well as we would like. Whether our child is misbehaving, we are having a rough day, or everyone is just at their wit’s end, ruptures will occur. When this happens, we make a withdrawal from our joint bank account with our child. But what happens if we don’t have any money saved up?

When I tell people I am a therapist, I’m usually hit with “oh nice, so you listen to people.” I just grin and nod. Most of us don’t really know how therapy works. We might have visions of someone lying on a couch talking, someone taking mysterious notes. The best metaphor I have ever heard is that therapy is a dark room and the therapist has a flashlight.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a client plop down on the couch and immediately share how “terribly” they’ve been “coping.” As those sessions go on, we often find they have actually been coping well. They’re just still feeling the effects of a past trauma, a recent experience, or even the stress of current life. So, to discuss what coping skills are, let’s discuss what they aren’t.

During periods of extreme stress, abuse, or trauma, our minds often put up protections. But once we're safe, our minds have let down defenses and now we're are having to deal with the pain those experiences caused.

An article came out recently about why therapy isn’t working for this generation. The author made some compelling points, but the one that stood out to me most was about how therapists inhibit client’s growth by fostering reliance on the therapist. Honestly, this bothered me a great deal because skilled therapists don’t do this.

3 Struggles I See Most Often With Discipline Madison Longchamp, MS, LPC I see parents struggling all the time with discipline. Sometimes they’re inconsistent, sometimes the consequences don’t work or make sense, and sometimes it’s just complicated. I also see the other side. Kids and teens affected by discipline that isn’t effective or is confusing.  Here are some common mistakes I see and some ways to adapt.  1. Making your reaction the consequence.  When we yell, ignore, gi

AI is everywhere. We used to have to check a box to okay its use, but now, sometimes we aren’t even aware its operating in the background of whatever we’re using. I’m sure AI has its place in our world, but most of us therapists are getting concerned that it’s causing more harm than good when it comes to our mental health.

Change pretty much sums up the reason anyone seeks out therapy. It can be terrifying, exciting, sought after or avoided. It is probably the most certain thing in life, but also seems to be the least understood. So, in the context of therapy, what does change look like? I’ll sum up some truths about change based on how our brains work (the science) and also the way we can make sense of that and use it to support the change we want (the art).

Our nervous system is wired to protect us. When something feels threatening, our body automatically shifts into fight, flight, or freeze. These responses are not weaknesses — they’re brilliant survival strategies. The problem comes when the body doesn’t fully settle back down after the danger has passed. You might notice feeling constantly on edge, easily overwhelmed, shut down, or disconnected.

When people hear the word trauma, they often think of extreme or catastrophic events—war, abuse, or serious accidents. While those experiences absolutely qualify as trauma, they are not the only types that can have lasting psychological impact. In therapy and trauma-informed care, clinicians often talk about “Big T” trauma and “little t” trauma to help explain the wide range of experiences that can affect our nervous systems and emotional wellbeing.

Children experience big emotions just like adults do—fear, anger, sadness, confusion, and worry. The difference is that children often don’t yet have the language or emotional skills to explain what they are feeling.

Many people come to therapy expecting to talk through their problems. And for some, talking works well. But for others, putting emotions into words can feel difficult—especially when experiences are complex, overwhelming, or happened long ago.

Art can be a powerful way to express emotions that are difficult to put into words. You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from creative expression—sometimes simply putting color or shape on paper can help you understand what you’re feeling and release some internal tension. This simple exercise can help you check in with yourself and give your emotions a place to go.