The Family Check-In Challenge
The “Family Check-In Challenge” is an A Brighter Day initiative designed to encourage open conversations within families as we roll into the new school year. This routine isn’t just a matter of asking how each person’s day was; it’s about setting a time and place where every family member, especially teens, can openly discuss their […]
Walk Your Path: How to Understand and Combat Peer Pressure
Peer pressure at school, a universal phenomenon experienced by teenagers across the globe, plays a considerable role during these formative years. As adolescents strive to carve out their unique identities, these external influences can deeply impact their mental health, choices, and overall well-being. The Faces of Peer Pressure Peer pressure can manifest itself in various […]
A Silent Epidemic of Teen Mental Health
Instead, we considered the emotional turbulence in teens’ everyday lives, their familial and social dynamics, and the internal battles they fought when alone and vulnerable. At the time, I could scarcely fathom the actual magnitude of the issue. The Startling Reality of Teen Depression and Anxiety Our preliminary research, albeit non-scientific, suggested the problem was […]
Animal Therapy: Embracing the Healing Powers of Connection
Including animal therapy in psychological treatment is not new, nor is it uncommon. Dogs, cats, horses, and other animals have played a large part in humans’ lives, and the healing benefits and the unique bonds created by interacting with animals have been documented for thousands of years! Today, Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) helps people cope […]
Father’s Day: Strengthening Parent-Teen Connections for Emotional Health
Happy Father’s Day to all the dedicated dads celebrating this special occasion, as well as those whose presence is remembered and cherished. Often, holidays such as Father’s Day present terrific opportunities to build stronger connections with our teenagers and truly discover what is circling around their adolescent emotional quotient. Despite the self-centered “me” nature of […]
Mental Health Basics
The term “mental health” has gained an immense amount of popularity and attention in recent years and is a hot topic in workplaces, schools, social media, and much more! Navigating this complex term can be overwhelming as it encompasses so many different areas of psychology: mental illnesses, psychological health, emotional well-being, and mental wellness. If […]
We Are Changing Teen Lives Every Day
We are all painfully aware of the epidemic of stress and depression in the lives of our teens. Recent surveys suggest that as high as 50% of all teens have experienced overwhelming stress and/or depression at some point. Left unchecked, depression can lead to the most awful of outcomes: suicide. You can find these disturbing […]
Counseling vs. Therapy: Is There A Difference?
While the terms “counseling” and “therapy” are typically used interchangeably when talking about mental health interventions, there are vast differences between the two types of services! While both are treatments for mental health issues that involve interacting with a mental health professional and working through an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, there are key characteristics […]
Beyond High School: How to Manage Mixed Emotions in the Real World
Congratulations on making it to the end of the school year! Chances are you are moving up a grade or will be graduating soon. Quite likely, you are experiencing a mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and sadness. Having a combination of feelings about moving on to the next chapter in school or in life […]
Stress: The Good, The Bad, and The Benefits You Never Knew Existed
While it might be difficult to accept, stress is a part of our everyday life. You might think that all types of stress are bad, but that isn’t true! In most cases, we believe that stress is a negative thing that wreaks havoc on our physical and mental health, but it can actually provide us […]
