Older Parenting: A Modern Day Fountain of Youth

Is older parenting worth it? YES! Fathering in Your 50s: Is There a Difference? My first psychology professor was Dr. Dick Bruce. He told a marvelous story about his family during Psych 100: When home for the holidays, one of his siblings complained that earning a Ph.D. seemed an impossible goal. The degree would takeContinue reading “Older Parenting: A Modern Day Fountain of Youth”

How to Make Peace With Something You Cannot Control

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”

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”

Bipolar/Mood Disorders – What can I do to help me feel better?

Know the difference between your symptoms and your true self. Your health care providers can help you separate your true identity from your symptoms by helping you see how your illness affects your behavior. Be open about behaviors you want to change and set goals for making those changes. Educate your family and involve themContinue reading “Bipolar/Mood Disorders – What can I do to help me feel better?”

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”

How Much Exercise is Too Much?

If you take it to an extreme, it can become harmful. As good as exercise is for you—and it’s very good for most people—too much of good thing can have negative consequences. Exercise puts physical stress on all your body parts and can ultimately lead to permanent damage to muscles, joints, and bones if youContinue reading “How Much Exercise is Too Much?”

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”

Boredom Leads to Unhealthy Food Choices

Bored? Then you are more likely to reach for fatty and sugary foods. That’s something that we’ve all known for years, but now there is scientific data that proves it. That data was recently presented at the annual conference of the British Psychological Society by Dr. Sandi Mann from the University of Central Lancashire inContinue reading “Boredom Leads to Unhealthy Food Choices”