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Play Therapy: Helping Children Express Big Feelings Through Play
As parents, we all want our children to feel safe, understood, and supported — especially when life gets challenging. But sometimes children don’t have the words to explain what they’re feeling. Instead, you might notice tantrums, withdrawal, anxiety, irritability, or behavior that feels confusing. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why is my child acting this way?” — you’re not alone. This is where play therapy and play-based approaches can make a powerful difference. Play gives children a safe, natural way to express emotions, develop coping skills, and grow emotionally — even when they can’t explain what’s going on inside. What Is Play Therapy and How Does It Support Emotional Growth? Children…
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ADHD in Children: Practical Tips Every Parent Should Know
Welcome to the wild, wonderful, and occasionally wacky world of parenting children with ADHD. If you’ve ever found your child attempting to construct a rocket ship out of cereal boxes at 7 a.m. or noticed they’ve become an expert at turning every household chore into an Olympic sport, you’re not alone. ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, often with a dash of chaos and creativity. Real-Life Adventures in ADHD Does your child have an uncanny ability to forget where they put their backpack… while it’s still on their back? Or perhaps they’ve managed to lose a shoe somewhere between the car and the front door?…
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What Do I Tell My Kids About Santa? Tips for Tough Conversations
With Christmas right around the corner, I have found myself having this conversation with multiple clients recently. “How do I explain Santa to my literal child with Autism?” “I don’t want to lie to my child who has experienced trauma, but I also want to keep the magic of Christmas alive for them.” “My child is afraid of Santa, how do I navigate that in my house where other children still believe?” There are no hard rules when it comes to Christmas “magic,” and I encourage everyone to think about what is best for the children in their household, even if it doesn’t look like the Hallmark movies. Below are…
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Easing Back-to-School Anxiety: 5 Tips for Parents and Caregivers
It’s that time of year again—new backpacks, sharpened pencils, and the familiar shift from the slower pace of summer back into the routine of school. For some kids, this transition is exciting. For others, it can stir up a wave of anxiety that shows up in big feelings, resistance, or physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches. Back-to-school anxiety is incredibly common. Change, even positive change, can feel overwhelming to a child’s developing brain. New teachers, unfamiliar classrooms, shifting schedules, and social dynamics all combine to create uncertainty. And uncertainty is where anxiety likes to hang out. So, how can we as parents and caregivers support children through this season? 5…
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How to Help Your Child Overcome Separation Anxiety
Practical strategies for parents separation anxiety can be a challenging emotional hurdle for children, especially in times of transition, such as a parent’s illness, changes in the environment, divorce, etc. Sometimes separation anxiety can appear like not wanting to go to school, wanting to stay close to the parent no matter where they go, not wanting to sleep in their bed alone, and many more. As parents, understanding how to support your child through these tough moments is crucial. Here are some practical strategies to help your child navigate separation anxiety effectively. 8 Steps to Support Your Child Through Separation Anxiety 1. Acknowledge Their Feelings One of the first steps…
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How to Combat Early Mornings for Your School-aged Child
As parents, we all know that getting our kids up and ready for school in the morning can be a real challenge. But for some children, the stress of waking up early and starting their day can have a significant impact on their mental health. Here, I will discuss some effective strategies to help combat the difficulties of early school mornings for kids and promote a positive start to their day: 1. Establish a Bedtime Routine One of the most important ways to combat early school mornings for kids is to establish a consistent bedtime routine. Set a specific bedtime for your child and make sure they stick to it…
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Exploring the Benefits of Different Types of Therapy
Today, many individuals are turning to therapy as a way to cope with the challenges and stressors of everyday life. Therapy comes in many forms, each offering unique benefits and approaches to healing. Let’s explore the benefits of different types of therapy and how they can help individuals navigate their mental health journey. 1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Therapists widely use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to focus on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. The main benefit of CBT is its practical approach, offering clients tangible tools to manage symptoms. CBT has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. 2. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):…
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How to be Childlike (but not Childish) to Improve Mental Health:
In today’s fast-paced and hectic world, it’s easy to get caught up in the stresses and responsibilities of adulthood. We often forget the carefree and imaginative mindset of childhood that can bring joy and lightness to our lives. However, embracing a childlike mentality while still maintaining maturity and responsibility can have significant benefits for our mental health. Being childlike means tapping into the curiosity, wonder, and creativity that children naturally possess. It means approaching life with a sense of playfulness and openness, rather than being weighed down by worries and fears. Embracing this mindset can help us to see the world in a new light, sparking our creativity and inspiring…
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A Reflection for Mental Health Awareness Month
As we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s essential to shine a spotlight on the significance of taking care of our emotional well-being, no matter where we are in life. Did you know approximately 1 in 5 adults (20%) will experience a mental illness this year? And that doesn’t include statistics about our children and youth’s mental health. Despite the prevalence of mental health conditions, only around 43% of adults with mental illness receive help, highlighting the need for increased awareness and support for mental health. The Importance of Self-Care Life can get pretty hectic sometimes, right? Between work, family, and everything else on our plates, it’s easy to…
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Understanding and Managing Child Anxiety
Anxiety among kids is becoming more and more widespread. It has serious consequences for their development and wellbeing. Thus, it’s essential to identify the signs of anxiety as well as comprehend its root causes. In this article we will focus on how child anxiety can influence children from early childhood up until adolescence. We will discuss the signs of anxiety in kids, what could be causing it and how to help them cope better. Understanding Child Anxiety and Its Triggers It’s completely normal for kids to have some fears during their childhood. However, when those anxieties become too intense, they can cause serious emotional problems and should be addressed right…
