Our Blog

Much has been written about bullying and the impact on adolescent development. We know that it just takes one friend to increase the sense of safety and inclusion and reduce the impact of bullying on vulnerable youth. Teens have been […]

Adolescence is a search for identity. Figuring out who you are, what and whom you like, what drives your motivations and what values guide your path is a complex journey. As we enter into a new year and in fact […]

Suicide attempts, self-injury, threatening violence, running away, drug abuse, promiscuous sex, refusing to go to school, violent outbursts . . . help!! Sometimes we see teens acting in ways that seemingly make no sense. What in the world is the […]

Many if not all of us in the business of working with teens would describe ourselves as understanding. So why do many teens walk away from their interactions with adults feeling like we just don’t understand? Professionals in various roles are […]

Enjoying the early mornings of school days yet? Yaaawn…. Now that we are back into the school routine, let’s focus on the massive circadian shift needed for teens to readjust to the early morning school demands after a long summer […]

“Ugh . . . I hate this, get me away!”   It makes complete sense that we are wired to get away from the experiences and things we dislike. This has likely kept our species thriving and prevented us from […]

Teenagers are famously rough around the edges when expressing emotions. Being able to express emotions verbally is critical for mental wellness, empowering growth and change, and is very much a developing skill set for adolescents. Even we as adults can miss the […]

Have you ever had a teenager tell you something that immediately activates you to DO SOMETHING to solve the problem or lower the risk? Anxiety is a powerful emotion – warning us that something bad might happen and to do […]

Let’s start by accepting that we cannot control our teens’ behavior. Stay with me here. Giving them tools for assessing their own choices empowers them to be fully responsible for their decisions, for better or worse. It also communicates our confidence in […]

“You suck!”   One of the biggest challenges providers (and parents) experience with teens is how to respond to disrespectful behavior. It’s only natural to strike back by setting a limit and/or using an authoritative tone. However, when teens express […]