Mental Health

Being a Guide to Your Teen as They Explore Boundaries

in Anger Management / Mental Health / Parent Role Models / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Setting Boundaries  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Dafne Garcia, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program RAISING A FAMILYis not an easy job. As children go through their developmental stages, it challenges parents to learn and adapt to where their child is at developmentally. Raising a teen is no different. Teens go through many changes in their lives that include […]

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Body Image in Adolescence

in Behavioral Norms / Disorders / Eating Disorders / Mental Health / Middle School Behavior / Perfectionism / Self care / Teen self-esteem / Teen Self-Image  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Tucker Chopp, Clinical Intern at ACS, Outlet Program for many young people,the teenage years become increasingly fraught with highly self-conscious thinking. It is typical for adolescents to become preoccupied with how they are perceived by others and how they fit into society. How teens present themselves physically often becomes a significant concern in […]

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Autonomy in Adolescents

in Helicopter Parenting / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Setting Boundaries / Teen Privacy  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Kenzie Bohnsack, Clinical Intern at ACS, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program A desire forautonomy is experienced at two critical stages in life, toddlerhood and adolescence. Autonomy can be defined as feeling, behaving, and thinking independently, a sense of self-governance or freedom to make choices. During adolescence, youth begin to separate from their parents […]

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Practicing Self-Compassion

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Intern / Mental Health / Perfectionism / Self care  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Elaina Vielbaum, Clinical Intern at ACS, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program rooted in buddhistphilosophy and psychology, the construct of self-compassion is considered to be a just as vital to feel as it is with other feelings (Neff, 2003). Similarly, to the definition of compassion, self-compassion encompasses the same qualities as compassion for others, […]

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So You’ve Been Invited to Have a Family Session with Your Teen… An Attachment-Based Approach

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Family Bullying / Intern / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Jaimie Sandlin, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program and Community Counseling Program family sessionscan be tense, but the expected outcome is that you all emerge stronger together. When your teen’s therapist asks you, their caregiver, to join them for a session, it can be nerve-wracking. You might feel defensive. You might feel […]

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Boundaries – For You AND Your Teen

in Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Setting Boundaries  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Elizabeth Rivera, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program and Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program   “Your no makes the way for your yes. Boundaries create the container within which your yes is authentic. Being able to say no makes yes a choice.” ― Adrienne Maree Brown, Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good […]

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Asexuality: An Explainer

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / LGBTQ Issues / Mental Health / Mental Health / Relationships / Sexuality / Society Norms  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Tucker Chopp, Clinical Intern at ACS, Outlet Program what is asexuality? Broadly speaking, it refers to folks who do not experience sexual attraction to others. “Asexual” or “Ace” is often used as an umbrella term to refer to people who consider themselves to be included in the asexual community. A lack of sexual […]

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An Athlete’s Toughest Competitor…

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Anxiety / Depression / Disorders / Mental Health / Perfectionism / Stress  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Grant Robinson, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program what would you say is an athlete’s toughest competitor? Their opponent? The playing field? The other side’s coaches or parents? What about an athlete’s own body and mind? There are so many different opponents that an athlete has to deal with on a daily […]

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Practicing Mindfulness

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Anger Management / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Self care / Stress Management / Teaching Mindfulness / Teen Motivation  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Anna Fitch, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program what is mindfulness? Over the past three decades, a movement of mindfulness-based positive psychology has taken the field by storm. As a result, mindfulness has become commonplace within the vernacular of modern-day society. While well-intentioned, mindfulness has become somewhat of a cultural commodity, leading […]

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Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth during the Holidays

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Family Bullying / Intern / LGBTQ Issues / Mental Health / Mental Health / Parenting / Teen self-esteem  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Nat Bricker, Clinical Intern at ACS, Outlet Program for many individuals, the winter holidays can bring a variety of different emotions, from overall positivity and joy, to significant stress. The emotional well-being of LGBTQ+ youth during the holidays is particularly impacted by family dynamics and levels of family acceptance. It is important for […]

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