Understanding Family Conflict and Learning How to Find Peace

Written By: Tarra Symons, AMFT at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program What comes to mind for you when you hear the phrase “family conflict?” Do you think of words like friction, strife, hostility, frustration, falling-out, and shouting? These are all possibilities, but these approaches to managing disagreements within a family make finding resolutions very challenging. Developing […]

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Diary of an ACS Intern

Written By: Aishwarya Subramanian, MFT Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program it is a cold, foggy morning,  the last day of school before the weekend. As I walk onto the campus grounds of La Entrada Middle School in Menlo Park, all bundled up in layers, I am reminded of another cold foggy morning from years […]

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5 COPING STRATEGIES FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH DEPRESSION

Written By: Aishwarya Subramanian, MFT Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program What is depression? What does it really mean to wallow in the depths of my mind, Feeling like I am drowning, When in fact I know how to swim. Maybe this is one of those times where swimming isn’t enough. Something else – a […]

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Diary of an ACS Intern

Written By: Dara Gray Tynefield, AMFT at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program Some of the best advice I received as a graduate student was about practicum and supervision. I was told be very careful and very selective with both. While the three thousand hour requirement toward licensure seems onerous at times, it is truly an amazing […]

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Diary of an ACS Intern

Written By: Briana Rodriguez, ACS Trainee & Psy.D. Student, ACS’ On-Campus Counseling Program Hello to whoever is reading this!  My name is Briana Rodriguez and I am a third year doctoral trainee at Adolescent Counseling Services. I began working at ACS this year and will be here for one year as part of my training. […]

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Diary of an ACS Intern

Written By: Rebecca Good, PhD, Intake Coordinator, ACS’ Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program Working as a post-doc at ACS, has been one of the most valuable experiences I have had in my professional and clinical career. Something that has struck me the most about ACS is how much everyone truly cares about the work they […]

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Why Do Our Teens Use Cannabis (and What Can We Do About It)?

Written By: Ingrid Ammondson, PhD, Program Director, ACS’ Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program Any of you who have attended parent education seminars at your school or at Adolescent Counseling Services already know that adolescence is an exciting (and sometimes dangerous) time of physiological, psychological, and spiritual growth. So much so that we might imagine placing […]

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When it’s Time to Exhale: Thoughts and Reflections on Coming Out in the 21st Century

Written By:  Ryan Fouts, LCSW, Outlet Program Director, ACS’ Outlet Program In honor of National Coming Out Day, celebrated annually on October 11th since 1988, here are some thoughts, reflections, and reminders about coming out in the 21st Century. 1. Coming out is a gift. It’s easy to see coming out as a scary, hard thing (because […]

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Understanding and Managing Student Stress

Written By: Dara Gray Tynefield, AMFT at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program Eustress vs. Distress For our students, the excitement of a new school year often gives way to a full routine of classwork, homework, extracurriculars, sports, clubs, arts, friends, family, jobs… and while the positive stress of a full and productive schedule is not inherently […]

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Outlet Celebrates Local LGBTQ+ Youth Community at 2018 Out to Eat Fundraising Gala

Former Outlet Program Director, Anthony Ross, featured keynote speaker at this year’s event PALO ALTO, Calif. – Outlet, a program of Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS), a community-based nonprofit agency dedicated to the healthy social and emotional welfare of youth, will host its annual fundraising gala Out to Eat, on October 4th, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. […]

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