How to Help Your Child At School: Navigating Resources, 504 Plans, and IEPs
Learn how to advocate for your child at school by understanding the resources available, including 504 Plans and IEPs. This guide walks parents through communicating with teachers, requesting evaluations, and securing the support their child needs to thrive academically and emotionally.
How to Help Your Child Calm Down: Effective Behavior and Coping Strategies
Discover effective strategies to help your child calm down and manage big emotions. Learn coping tools, co-regulation techniques, and tips to support your child’s behavior through stressful moments.
Helping Your ADHD Child: Strategies for Thriving at Home and School
As a child and teen therapist—and a parent of an ADHD kiddo—I know firsthand how challenging it can be to help kids "do the things," whether that’s following routines, getting out the door on time, or managing emotions. Parenting a child with ADHD comes with unique hurdles, especially when big emotions show up unexpectedly. I recently hosted a parent workshop where we talked about these very challenges and shared strategies for creating structure while still being flexible. In this blog post, I want to share some of the key takeaways from that workshop to help make routines work better for your family and support your child’s mental health.
7 Ways Routines Improve Your Child’s Mental Health
As a therapist who uses play therapy, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful routines can be for supporting children’s mental health. In a world that can sometimes feel unpredictable and overwhelming, routines offer children a sense of security, stability, and control. In this blog, I’ll explore how establishing routines can benefit your child’s emotional well-being and mental health.
Helping Your Anxious Child: Tools and Tips for Parents
Anxiety in children is more common than you might think. It shows up in all sorts of ways—difficulty sleeping, trouble focusing, irritability, or even physical symptoms like stomachaches or headaches. As a therapist specializing in child and teen anxiety, I see these struggles every day, and as a mom, I know firsthand how confusing it can feel when your child is overwhelmed. Here are some tips and tools to help your anxious child.
The Power of Play Therapy: A Deep Dive
In this blog post, we will dive into the magical world of play therapy and explore the many benefits and how it can help your child experience healing, growth, and transformation. Play therapy is a form of therapy that uses the natural medium of play to aid children in processing experiences, expressing their emotions, and discovering coping skills in a safe and nurturing environment.
How to Know if Your Child or Teen Needs Therapy
Navigating the mental and emotional well-being of our children and teens can be both rewarding and challenging. As parents and caregivers, it's natural to wonder about the signs that indicate whether a young person might benefit from therapy. Understanding these signs not only helps us support their growth but also ensures they receive the professional help they may need. We’ll explore key indicators that suggest when therapy could be beneficial for your child or teen, empowering you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their mental health care.
How To Help A Teenager With Anxiety: Tips For Parents
Getting through the teenage years can be hard for both teens and their parents. As your child struggles with the pressures of school, social dynamics, and the ever-changing landscape of their own identity, anxiety may become a frequent companion. As parents, it's essential to provide the right support and guidance to help your teen build resilience and manage anxiety effectively. Here are some practical tips to assist you on this journey.
Understanding ADHD in Children: A Guide for Parents
In this guide, we'll explore practical tips and strategies tailored for parents embracing the ADHD journey with their children. At Reach Counseling, we're committed to partnering with children and parents to embrace their unique neurodiversity. We firmly believe in uncovering and nurturing each child's inherent strengths and qualities while empowering them to understand their brain and neurodivergent identity.
The Power of Co-Regulation: A Guide for Parents in Nurturing Emotional Well-being (Plus a free resource!)
Do you have a child that experiences intense, stressful meltdowns? Sometimes, it feels like there was no trigger, no warning, and nothing that can console them in that moment. We’ve been there, and here at Reach Counseling, we are committed to helping you and your child navigate these big emotions. We are here to walk you through emotional co-regulation: what it means, how to do it, and how to ask for support!
Sandtray in Therapy: How does it help kids and teens with their mental health?
Sandtray is an expressive art tool that is typically used by therapists that work with children and teenagers, but it can be helpful for all ages! The client is asked to create their world in the tray, and they do so by choosing figurines and arranging them in a way that is meaningful to them. The client is able to process deep intrapsychic topics in a way that traditional talk therapy can’t, as the tray or ‘scene’ that they create often tells a story in itself. The client is no longer reliant on their words to tell a story, and this can lead to deeper and more meaningful healing.
Are video games bad?
Are video games bad? How do video games affect a child’s brain? A child therapist provides a look at the science of how your child’s brain is affected by video games and ways to help navigate a healthy balance and increase emotional regulation after your child plays video games.
6 Tips for Handling Your Moody Teen
Having a teenager at home can be… well, tricky, to say the least. With their quickly changing moods and strong opinions, it can be hard to know what to do when they are testing your limits. Below are six helpful things you can try at home to make it a better space for everyone!
Four Strategies for Setting Limits with Your Kids
No parent is perfect, and you are trying your best. Enforcing rules and boundaries can be challenging when your kids are tired and dysregulated. (Or when the parent is tired and dysregulated.) Most kids don’t like being told “no.” It doesn’t feel good. It may cause tempers and behaviors to rise. Here are four strategies to help you set limits with your kids.