Social media is a whole new world for the parents of current adolescents. The different platforms seem to appear and become outdated in a matter of months, so staying current is a challenge. Teens use social media to communicate, build relationships, show off the different things they do...
Every new year, people all over the country decide to create a list of how they want to live a slightly different life once January hits. Common resolutions involve eating healthier, going outside more, being more connected to their faith, or being on social media less. Each year we have...
Kids engage with the world through play. This is how they explore the world, learn how things work together, and grow in their ability to sustain interpersonal relationships. It’s not surprising that play is also how they explore their inner self when they have struggles with...
A theme that comes up frequently when working with teens, and with adults as well, is parentification. This is a big, fancy word for the roles of parent and child being reversed, not to a complete extent of literally living the other’s life, but by filling their role in a family...
When kids start to hit puberty, many aspects of their life begin to change, sometimes without much warning. Puberty begins anywhere between 8-13 years old with girls being on the younger end of the spectrum. Adults understand the physical changes that occur during puberty, but the mental...
In the San Ramon-Danville area, the academic pressure has been building and children and teens are feeling this weight. They feel like they need to be the best, get straight As, and always be the top of the class. Being average at anything is considered failure and passing a class with a...
Recently kids in the San Ramon area have returned to school, which brings many emotions for both the parent and child. A new school year can be exciting, but it’s also stressful and scary for some children. Having to adapt to a new teacher, new expectations, and a new structure is...
Many people understand the importance of adults having boundaries with their kids and teens. Usually these boundaries are a general criteria of behaviors and expectations, as well as consequences for when the boundaries are broken. Sometimes these rules are unspoken and other times...
I’ve worked with my share of children and teens at CPCC and, not surprisingly, what comes with this role is the ability to work with the parents as well. When parents bring their children to counseling, there is typically some mixture of the parents desiring what’s best for...
ADD and ADHD are fairly well-known diagnoses, but they have several overlooked aspects that clients and their families are often surprised to learn. ADHD isn’t just a childhood disorder; it follows the child into adulthood and can present differently at different ages. It is...
