Feeling safe when you’re not in control is a valuable skill Source: ibreakstock/Shutterstock Being in control feels safe, you can feel safe when you’re not in control too. The world is unpredictable and your power is limited, so feeling safe without control is a valuable skill. When the world disappoints your expectations, your brain releasesContinue reading “How to Make Peace With Something You Cannot Control”
Tag Archives: anger management
Ten Kid-Friendly Rules for Texting With Respect and Dignity
How to talk with kids about netiquette and cyberbullying prevention As a School Counselor and educator on the subject of Bullying Prevention, one of the most commonly asked questions I receive is, “What is the “right” age for youngsters to begin texting and using social media?” As with most aspects of child-rearing, there isn’t aContinue reading “Ten Kid-Friendly Rules for Texting With Respect and Dignity”
My Brain Made Me Do It! Neuroscience for Kids Who Need It
How the basics of brain science can help kids change troubled behaviors Several weeks ago, I was sitting in the hallway of my school building talking with a student who was feeling distraught after her involvement in a heated conflict with several classmates. The young girl had lashed out verbally at a group of studentsContinue reading “My Brain Made Me Do It! Neuroscience for Kids Who Need It”
The 7 Rules for Texting in Relationships
6. Don’t let a committee interpret your partner’s text. Source: Syda Productions/Shutterstock While waiting for a table at a busy restaurant the other day, I witnessed a man angrily banging away on his phone. This well-dressed man in a charming suit had a grimace on his face and would pause to look at his phoneContinue reading “The 7 Rules for Texting in Relationships”
Teaching About Social Meanness In Middle School
Developmental insecurity in early adolescence can cause cruelty at school. Several books ago I wrote one, Why Good Kids Act Cruel, to help parents help their early adolescents in middle school deal with mistreatment from social cruelty in any of the five forms it commonly takes: teasing, exclusion, bullying, rumoring, and ganging up. Why isContinue reading “Teaching About Social Meanness In Middle School”
5 Better Ways to Deal With Disappointment
…and why being hard on yourself isn’t part of the solution. When people marry, they are usually determined to make it through thick and thin, impervious to divorce and discontent, even though two out of five couples will separate and only 30 percent will enjoy a happy marriage. Nearly 80 percent of people have an optimism bias when itContinue reading “5 Better Ways to Deal With Disappointment”
4 Ways to Survive Unexpected Situations
Expert advice for maintaining your confidence and finding a positive outcome. Life throws unexpected things at us all the time. Some we like—such as finding a $20 bill on the sidewalk—but many of them we don’t, such as missing a flight due to an extra long line at airport security. Sometimes unexpected events can be muchContinue reading “4 Ways to Survive Unexpected Situations”
What Is Therapy? — The Complete Definition of Psychotherapy
Therapy [psychotherapy] is the process of working with a licensed therapist to develop positive thinking and coping skills and treat mental health issues such as mental illness and trauma. Answering the question of “What Is Therapy?,” however, goes far beyond this basic definition. The definition of psychotherapy depends on the therapist, type of therapy andContinue reading “What Is Therapy? — The Complete Definition of Psychotherapy”
5 Ways to Help Young Kids Communicate Their Emotions
One of the most valuable lessons you can teach your child is to identify and manage their emotions. Doing so shows them that experiencing a range of emotions is normal. Kids who learn healthy ways to express and cope with their emotions show less behavioral problems. They feel more competent and capable. “Being able toContinue reading “5 Ways to Help Young Kids Communicate Their Emotions”
Venting My Anger
Myth: I shouldn’t “hold in” my anger. It’s healthy to vent and let it out. Fact: While it’s true that suppressing and ignoring anger is unhealthy, venting is no better. Anger is not something you have to “let out” in an aggressive way in order to avoid blowing up. In fact, outbursts and tirades onlyContinue reading “Venting My Anger”
Amplify Wellness with Meg Duke 