Mental Health

Marijuana use and abuse rates decline among US teens

in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment / Behavioral Norms / Co-Occuring Disorders / Drugs & Alcohol / E-News / Marijuana / Medical Marijuana / Mental Health / Parenting / Prevention / Recovery / Uncategorized  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

By: Sam Levin, The Guardian  Rates  of adolescent marijuana use and abuse have declined across the US, according to an unprecedented study that casts doubts on one of the central arguments against legalizing weed. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis surveyed 216,852 teenagers from all 50 states and found that […]

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The Addict and the Enabler

in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment / After-School Counseling / Co-Occuring Disorders / Community Counseling / Drugs & Alcohol / E-News / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Recent Trends / Recovery / Risky Behaviour / Setting Boundaries / Teen Partying / Teen Peer Groups / Treatment  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Laura Cole, ACS Clinical Intern, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Community Counseling Programs ACS’ Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program depends on the participation of not only the teen struggling with substance abuse, but the family or guardian as well.  Addiction affects the entire family, and each family member has a personal responsibility to the […]

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LGBTQ Youth Health: What to Talk About During Pride Month

in Co-Occuring Disorders / Depression / E-News / Gender / Gender identity / LGBTQ Issues / LGBTQ rights / Mental Health / Mental Health / Outlet / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Pride Month / Stigma / Suicide Prevention / Transgender  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

By Justin Toro and Donna Futterman, M.D., US News Health  June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning – or LGBTQ – Pride Month. For many, it’s the colorful and provocative gay pride parades that define the occasion, but beyond the glitter lies a much deeper meaning. LGBTQ Pride acknowledges this community’s violent struggle, pays homage […]

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Substance Use Among Teens Is Never Benign

in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment / Binge Drinking / Drinking / Drugs & Alcohol / E-News / Marijuana / Parent Tips / Parenting / Risky Behaviour / Smoking / Teenage Smoking / Treatment  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

By: Kathleen Meyers, Ph.D., YouthToday.org Kathleen Meyers, Ph.D., is a senior investigator with the Treatment Research Institute and a recognized leader in the assessment and treatment of adolescent substance use disorders, delinquency and co-morbidity. Meyers is the author of the Comprehensive Adolescent Severity Inventory, a multidimensional assessment instrument for youth with co-morbidity, which is widely […]

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Oppositional Defiance Disorder: A Breakdown

in Co-Occuring Disorders / Community Counseling / Disorders / E-News / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parenting  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Alex Basche, ACS Clinical Intern, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment & Community Counseling Programs   Through my work in ACS’ Substance Abuse Treatment program, it is not uncommon to see co-occurring behavioral disorders in youth struggling with substance abuse. Anxiety, mood and behavioral disorders top the list of the most common adolescent mental health diagnoses, so […]

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Understanding differences in mental health symptoms in the LGBTQ community

in Anxiety / Co-Occuring Disorders / Depression / E-News / Gender / Gender identity / LGBTQ Issues / Mental Health / Outlet / Risky Behaviour / Self-Harm / Sexuality / Stress / Suicide Prevention / Transgender  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Reported By: News-Medical  |  Study By: Drexel University  A study exploring the prevalence of mental health symptoms in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning (LGBQ) community, found that the oft-overlooked questioning and bisexual youth face their own significant challenges, particularly when it comes to depression, anxiety and traumatic distress. “I think the failure to include […]

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Praise Goes A Long Way

in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment / Community Counseling / Drugs & Alcohol / E-News / Mental Health / Parent Role Models / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Recovery / Stigma / Teen Self-Image / Treatment  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Christine Miller, ACS Clinical Intern, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Community Counseling Programs Too often teens feel like they are constantly being told “No” by their parents, teachers, coaches, or other adults, and that they do not hear “Great Job!” enough. Being a teen is hard enough. But, being a teen that has […]

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Trust: A Two-Way Street

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

Written By: Laura Cole, ACS Clinical Intern, Community Counseling and Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Programs In relationships trust is an essential component.  But, what is this sometimes seemingly “intangible” thing we call trust among parents and teens?  How is it built and maintained on this two-way street?  How does one repair when a breach occurs? […]

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Wellness Focused for Teens

in E-News / Mental Health / On-Campus Counseling / Stress / Stress Management / Teaching Mindfulness / Teen Self-Image  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Kyle Yamasaki, MFT, ACS Site Supervisor Wellness has been around for millennia, but it feels like a refreshing approach to helping teens with social-emotional problems in our schools.  As the site supervisor for ACS at Redwood Continuation High School (RHS) in the Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD), I can share some of […]

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Probing The Complexities Of Transgender Mental Health

in Anxiety / Depression / E-News / Gender / Gender identity / LGBTQ Issues / LGBTQ rights / Mental Health / Mental Health / Outlet / Risky Behaviour / Stigma / Transgender  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By:  Tara Haelle, for NPR Experiencing the world as a different gender than the one assigned you at birth can take a toll. Nearly all research into transgender individuals’ mental health shows poorer outcomes. A new study looking specifically at transgender women, predominantly women of color, only further confirms that reality. What’s less clear, […]

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