How do we teach our kids to cope with stress?

By Pamela Garfield, LCSW Site Director at Gunn High School Our kids just got through the end of the semester and finals.  Finals, holidays, college applications and the many other pressures of this time of year can be very challenging. Sometimes life just takes over and we have to go into “survival mode” to get […]

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Asking For Help – It’s Ok

Jennica Janssen, LMFTI ACS Outpatient Counseling Intern Is there anything wrong with asking for help? As you read this question, you are probably thinking, “Of course not.” However, the truth is that most people do not want to reach out of their comfort zone and ask for help. Instead, people accept too much responsibility and […]

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Who’s In Your Teen’s Village?

by Martha Chan, LMFT Site Director at Terman Middle School By now the saying that “It takes a village to raise a child” has entered our language, but what does it mean for the parents of teenagers?  When our children enter adolescence, one of their primary developmental tasks is to branch out beyond the immediate family […]

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Do Your Teens Know That You Adore Them?

by Rom Brafman Ph.D., Site Director at La Entrada Middle School It recently occurred to me that few people I have come across truly believe that they are great. Women appear to be even more apt to have difficulties owning their greatness.  Ask someone whether they think they are great and they’re likely to look […]

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Palo Alto City Library offers “Free” Teen Parenting Programs

The Palo Alto City Library will present a series of three free parenting programs during the summer which are aimed at parenting teens.  Speakers are from Parents Place and a light meal will be served. Registration and information is available on the library’s events calendar at www.cityofpaloalto.org/library or you can call 650-329-2436 for more information. […]

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Spring Fever or Loss of Motivation: How to Help Your Underachieving Teen

By Jennifer Jones, LCSW, Site Director, Palo Alto High School It’s that time of year; the long winter is over, trees are blossoming, the temperature is warming, and we all want to go to the beach instead of to work.  That’s why Spring Break was invented.  But what if a week of vacation doesn’t revive […]

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Stanford Pediatric Bipolar Disorders Program hosts Parent’s Night

On Thursday, May 2nd Stanford’s Pediatric Bipolar Disorders Program will be hosting a Parent’s Night for parents of children who have or may have bipolar disorder. The event will be held at the Psychiatry Building, 401 Quarry Rd, Stanford, CA 94305. The evening will have a presentation and Q&A session with doctors with Kiki Chang, […]

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Navigating the Relationship with your Teen

by Chris Chiochios, LMFT, Site Director for JLS Middle School In my work with teens and their parents, I find that one of the most common and primary “complaints” or problems that bring families to seek additional support for their teen or child is communication, or lack thereof.  In reality communication is occurring, but it […]

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