Upon 20 years as a psychotherapist and 45 years on the planet, I continue finding strength in the Serenity Prayer by Karl Neigbuhr (scroll down). In the past year, significant personal losses brought the value of this prayer to the forefront of my daily coping. I created the following adaptation that I’d like to share,…
In celebration of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (May 10), I advocate for the most valuable gift we can give to our children…mindful parents and caregivers!!! Mindfulness does not require meditating regularly (though it is helpful). Mindfulness is a way of being, rather than doing. Being a mindful parent/caretaker means being fully present in the moment,…
Having a place for psychological safety is particularly beneficial during times of stress. Autumn is a season of many transitions that generate anxiety for children: new schools, new classrooms, new teachers, new routines, weather changes, etc. This is a prime time to proactively support our children emotionally. Here is an idea… Have you wondered why children love…
For National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (May 6, 2019), I make a call to parents/caretakers of young children to roll up our sleeves, get down on the floor and… play! Playing for a few minutes as part of daily routines is one of the best investments we can make in our children’s mental health. I am referring…
Welcome to the holidays! The frenzy of celebrations and anticipation can drive us to overlook the accompanying stress of traveling, logistics, cooking, family obligations, shopping…and affording it all! We may end up not taking time to rest and enjoy with our families. Traditions and the mass media lead us to repeat habits without questioning how much they…
More reflections on capturing the opportunity to grow as parents, while supporting our children’s wellbeing…in my interview for Awesome Women Entrepreneurs Radio Show about my journey becoming an early childhood therapist and consultant.
September naturally brings a number of transitions; beginning of the school year, end of vacation time, weather changes, catching up with postponed work, new performance goals, etc. At this time, it is also natural for stress and discontent to creep up on us without noticing. Can our families sail this transition gracefully? Can we retain…