Child Therapy, Parenting Articles and Tips, Play Therapy Topics, Discipline Advice

One of the hardest things, in my opinion, is to help a child process a death. On one hand, you want to protect them from the details, but on the other, they need to be told something that can make sense to them. The grieving process is difficult for anyone, but especially hard for little ones who may not fully grasp the concept. I think it is our duty as adults to help children work through their loss in their way and their time, so here are some thoughts I have to assist in the process.

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I am currently reading a book on Leadership by Laurie Beth Jones, and she gives very helpful examples to illustrate how Leadership is discovered, practiced and developed. In one of the chapters, she discusses the importance of expressing yourself and the results of doing so from a leadership perspective. But, what does that have to do with anger, you ask? In the book, she gives an example I would like to share with you to perfectly explain anger and how it is not often what you think.

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My husband and I have been out and about over the last few days, and I have been up to my usual observations and analyses about parents and their interactions with their children. Unfortunately, there are many more instances that I feel are negative as compared to the ones that I smile and think, “That was an effective parenting moment”. The positives do occur, just not nearly as often as they should. So, I would like to share my recent parenting observations with you, how they were ineffective, and how it could have been better handled. [click to continue…]

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In honor of Valentine’s Day this week, I thought I would write about a little known gem to help you understand your kids better. Do you know how your kids receive love from you? Do you know the best way to show your kids that you love them? Do you know that each of your children will likely need to be shown and give love differently? The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell gives worthwhile insight into loving your kids. I have recommended this as a bedside reading to many of the parents with whom I worked in my practice over the years with raving reviews and results. [click to continue…]

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One of the common questions I get from parents is how to address all of the issues surrounding visits from grandparents and the inevitable complexities that arise. Grandparents treat kids very differently than we do as parents and therein lie the potential problems. Unless grandparents are involved in the day to day rearing of the child, they tend to be more laid back about rules, less likely to discipline and apt to spoil. This trifecta can create quite a disruption in the normal routine without taking steps to manage the temporary changes. [click to continue…]

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In light of the recent art mishap at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, wherein a Picasso painting was ripped and devalued, I realized it can be quite challenging to bring children to places that are not kid-friendly. My initial thought was that an unruly child was out of control, and in a tantrum fit for the record books crashed his elbow through the famous work of art. Turns out it was a middle-aged woman who “lost her balance” and fell into it, causing the six inch gash currently being repaired. [click to continue…]

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As a new mom, I find myself observing other parents with children even more than usual. In the past, I seemed to focus on the kids. However, lately, I am watching parents and how they interact with and respond to their little ones. So, as I venture out with my son, I am acutely aware of the need to make the most of the time out in the world. [click to continue…]

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The class I teach at the University of South Florida is called Interpersonal Relations in Counseling. Despite its formal title, it is essentially a communications course. I spend an entire week covering the chapter on listening. What is interesting to me, and especially to students, is the marked difference in listening and hearing. One is a voluntary, cognitive process (listening) and the other is an involuntary, biological process (hearing). When considered in terms of our comprehension of the spoken word, in order to listen and not merely hear, we have to learn how and practice the skills. [click to continue…]

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One of our greatest challenges as parents is to teach our children everything they need to function appropriately in the world. Initially, children learn the basics of language and communication and we think we have completed a major milestone. [click to continue…]

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