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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
by Charlotte Villemoes, LMFT Site Director at Woodside High School After years of challenging teen years my son has finally emerged again, and much to my delight I am discovering he was hiding a real human being in there, someone who is able to communicate and show some basic interest in other people, including his […]
by Katie Luce, LMFT Site Director at Redwood High School & Jordan Middle School This article is intended to educate parents and families about a serious issue affecting adolescents known as cyberbullying. My hope is to provide information, highlight some of the emotional issues that arise from cyberbullying, and offer suggestions regarding what families can […]
by Martha Chan, LMFT, Site Director for Terman Middle School I recently attended a workshop for therapists and social workers, and I mentioned to the woman sitting next to me that I work with teenagers in a school-based counseling program. She looked surprised and a bit uneasy, and asked, “How do you get them to […]
With the holidays quickly approaching, many parents wonder how to survive this time of year with their troubled teens. Here are some words of advice from Adolescent Counseling Services’ experienced program directors: Roni Gillenson, LMFT On-Campus Counseling Program Director In my work with teens and families over almost 20 years, probably my favorite moments have […]
Continuation of blog post ” Cutting As Pain Relief? Understanding and Helping Teens Who Self Harm” The following tips were excerpted from The Cornell Research Program on Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents and Young Adults, www.crpsib.com, Copyright 2012. How should I talk to my child about his/her self-injury? Address the issue as soon as possible. Don’t […]
Between exams, college applications, friend drama and dating angst, you have enough to worry about as a teenager without constantly stressing out about your future. Although there are some things in high school that can be genuinely anxiety-inducing (the common app! landing a prom date!), other concerns — like a getting a credit card or […]
By: Katie Luce, LMFT Site Director at Redwood High School Family rules and boundaries can provide a sense of stability to teenagers who are struggling to decipher relationships, roles, and even their own personalities. Although they may protest loudly against structure and boundaries, when they have a hand in what is being asked of them, […]