Navigating New Horizons: Family Support and Resilience in the Immigrant Journey

Written By: Anthony Ramirez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program PARENTS OFTEN IMMIGRATEwith their children in search of better opportunities, driven by the hope of providing a brighter future for their families. These adults, who have invested years into building their lives and families in their home country, face a monumental decision: to leave […]

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Equine Assisted Therapy: What Is It and What Are The Benefits?

Written By: Maeve Phelan, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program WHAT IS EQUINEAssisted Therapy (EAT)? Equine assisted therapy is a form of treatment that involves activities with horses in an equine environment. Such activities include ground work, learning to care for horses, and riding or learning to ride horses. Equine assisted therapy is often […]

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Understanding Suicide Prevention for Middle Schoolers: The Role of Social Media

Written By: Kaera Spencer-Peterson, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program AS OUR WORLDbecomes increasingly internet-based, middle schoolers engaging with others on social media platforms can be both enriching and challenging. Social media is a significant part of their lives, offering avenues for connection and expression. However, it also poses risks, particularly when it comes […]

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The Impact of Social Media on Teen Social Anxiety: What Families Should Know

Written By: Tracy Kraft, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program IN TODAY’S DIGITAL WORLD,social media has become a vital tool for teenagers to connect with their peers, share their experiences, and express themselves. While it offers benefits such as social support and online companionship, research increasingly shows that social media can contribute to mental […]

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The Impact of Academic Pressure and Stress on Mental Health

Written By: Julia Albro, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program ACADEMIC PRESSUREacademic stress are two constructs that heavily apply to the child and adolescent population. They are ones that are not often discussed, with implications that can be physically, emotionally, and mentally harmful for those experiencing them. With the increase in youth’s feelings of […]

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What Should I Do When I Grow Up?

Written By: Chandler Cole, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program It’s a big question,and a lot of young people have the same worries about what they should do as a future career path, what they should study in college, or if they even want to go to college. “What if I don’t like what […]

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First-Generation American Teens

Written By: Patricia H. Scherer, MS, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program Growing up the child of immigrants can have numerous advantages for some individuals. Immigrant parents from many cultures, including LatinX, Asian, and Eastern European backgrounds, emphasize the importance of family, collectivistic values, and cultural and religious heritage, all of which can buffer […]

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Being Mindful of Depressing Thoughts

Written By: Alonzo Howard, BS, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program negative thoughtsare the leading cause of future episodes of depression. Depressive episodes may occur at any point of the year. However, findings show higher rates of major depressive episodes during November and December. During this season there is an increase in conflict between […]

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Youth Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What You Can Do

Written By: Patricia H. Scherer, MS, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program The COVID-19 pandemichas been raising concerns about mental health around the globe. Research indicates that since the onset of the pandemic, psychological distress, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, have been rising in the general population. However, adolescents during the pandemic experience […]

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Supporting Adolescent Immigrants

Written By: Ruby Ortiz, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program a CHILD’S EXPERIENCEwhen immigrating to the United States and adapting to a new reality is often one that is overlooked. However, it is important to know that from 1989 to 2001, the U.S. accepted approximately 400,000 refugee children (Xu, 2007). We should recognize that […]

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