Recent Trends | Adolescent Counseling Services

Parental Control Apps: Ensuring Online Safety or Eroding Trust?

in Helicopter Parenting / Monitoring Media / Online Monitoring / Online Privacy / Online Safety / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Teen Apps / Teen Privacy / Teens and Technology by Adolescent Counseling Services October 9, 2024October 8, 2024 0 comments

Written By: Noosha Nafarzadegan, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program WITH THE EVER-INCREASINGprevalence of smartphones among teens and pre-teens, parents often turn to parental control mobile applications (apps) to protect their children from online risks. These apps can block, filter, and monitor a wide range of online activities, providing parents with the tools to […]

Creative Arts in Therapy: How Drawing, Music, and Drama, Can Help Kids Express Themselves

in Art Therapy / Emotional Regulation / Expressive Arts Therapy / Mental Health / Mental Health / Play Therapy by Adolescent Counseling Services October 2, 2024September 30, 2024 0 comments

Written By: Faith S. MacDonald, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF THERAPY, they may think it consists of sitting in a room talking about their feelings, or perhaps not talking at all. But typically when they think of therapy, they don’t usually think of children. Maybe because there’s […]

Supporting Teens on Social Media

in Cultural Stressors / Facebook / Mental Health / Middle School Behavior / Monitoring Media / Online Monitoring / Online Privacy / Online Safety / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Self care / Social Media Abuse / Stress / Teen Apps / Teen Peer Groups / Teen Privacy / Teens and Technology / Twitter by Adolescent Counseling Services September 28, 2022September 22, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Michael Burks, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program TECHNOLOGYand social media play complex roles in the lives of teenagers. Teens are at a developmental stage where social relationships have foremost importance in their lives. Social relationships and group memberships contribute to identity formation and self-esteem. Social media has tremendous value to teens. […]

Supporting Adolescents Through Grief

in Anxiety / Depression / Grief / Mental Health / Mental Health / Pandemic / Parent Tips / Parenting / Risky Behaviour by Adolescent Counseling Services November 10, 2021January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Melissa Boutsy, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program adolescentsexperiencing grief may be at their most vulnerable point in their lives as they work through adolescent challenges and bereavement challenges. The grieving process in adolescents is similar to adults, but we must be mindful of the difference of expression that may show through […]

Video Games: Harmful or Helpful?

in Gaming Addiction / Internet gaming disorder / Mental Health / Mental Health / Online Monitoring / Pandemic / Parent Tips / Parenting / Risky Behaviour / Self care / Teens and Technology by Adolescent Counseling Services October 13, 2021January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Kayla Hernandez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program more and moreAmericans are playing video games every year, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. About two thirds of adults and three quarters of children and teens reported regularly gaming, with reported use going up by six percent within the past year, according […]

Finding Strength: An ACS Newsletter – Issue 3

in ACS Institute of Psychotherapy & Training / Anger Management / Anxiety / Mental Health / Mental Health / Mental Health Apps / Parent Tips / Stress / Stress Management / Teaching Mindfulness by Adolescent Counseling Services May 22, 2020January 27, 2022 0 comments

Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) has started a new weekly newsletter as a resource for young people and parents through shelter-in-place. Articles include content written by our clinicians and young clients. Please click below to view or print!

Parenting Teens: Some Secrets to Staying (Somewhat) Sane

in Anxiety / Excercise / Mental Health / Mental Health / Parent Role Models / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Perfectionism / Setting Boundaries / Sleep / Stress / Stress Management / Teaching Mindfulness by Adolescent Counseling Services April 18, 2017January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Charlotte Villemoes, LMFT, Site Supervisor, ACS On-Campus Counseling Program The cuteness is gone, and so is the desire to hold your hand on the way to school and cuddle up at bedtime. The kid who used to look to you for answers for anything from “Why does the earth spin?” to “Why do […]

Tech-Positive Parenting

in Behavioral Norms / Facebook / Mental Health / Middle School Behavior / Monitoring Media / Online Monitoring / Online Privacy / Online Safety / Parent Role Models / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Relationships / Risky Behaviour / Setting Boundaries / Social Media Abuse / Society Norms / Teaching Mindfulness / Teen Apps / Teen Motivation / Teen Privacy / Teen Therapy / Teens and Technology / Tumblr / Twitter by Adolescent Counseling Services February 13, 2017January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Deborah Sloss, LCSW, ACS Site Supervisor, On-Campus Counseling Program Teenagers today are constantly “plugged in”– gaming, texting, tweeting, or posting on Snapchat and Instagram. As parents, we worry that our kids are addicted, detached, and distracted by their digital devices. We struggle with how to set appropriate limits and how to keep […]

Technology and Teen Dating

in Dating Violence / E-News / Parent Tips / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Setting Boundaries / Sexual Assault / Teen Apps / Teen Peer Groups / Teen self-esteem / Teen Sexting / Teens and Technology by Adolescent Counseling Services January 24, 2017January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Sarah McLaughlin, LMFT, Site Supervisor, ACS On-Campus Counseling Program Teen relationships can often seem mysterious in this digital age. It’s not always easy for a parent to ascertain the nature of their child’s relationships or to keep track of the ups and downs that take place during these romantic relationships. How are teens […]

Nature and Mental Health

in Anxiety / E-News / Mental Health / On-Campus Counseling / Parent Tips / Parenting / Recent Trends / Stress / Stress Management / Teaching Mindfulness by Adolescent Counseling Services November 9, 2016January 27, 2022 0 comments

Written By: Marlina Selva, LMFT, ACS Site Supervisor, On-Campus Counseling Program The demands of school and daily routines can be a source of mental fatigue for students as well as for parents. Fortunately, there are ways of alleviating mental stress. One such way is through encounters with nature. Outdoor activities can help relax and restore […]