What Should I Do When I Grow Up?

Written By: Chandler Cole, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program It’s a big question,and a lot of young people have the same worries about what they should do as a future career path, what they should study in college, or if they even want to go to college. “What if I don’t like what […]

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How to Recognize a Child in Crisis and Intervene Appropriately

Written By: Andrew Cecil, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Adolescent Substance Addiction Treatment Program IT IS COMMONfor parents to feel concerned about their child’s well-being when they notice things like poor academic performance, substance use, and unhealthy relationships. However, few parents are as familiar with the behavioral signs of a crisis. A crisis refers to a […]

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Irritated or Debilitated: Helping your Teen Identify their Depression

Written By: Brett Trace, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Outlet Program If You’rea parent of a teen or someone who works with teens, odds are you’ve encountered teenage irritability. What may have felt like an easygoing, straightforward comment might cause your teen to become angry or withdraw from the conversation. Friends that they’ve had for a […]

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The Psychological Benefits of Exercise

Written By: Madeline Lee, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program EXERCISEhas many benefits beyond the improvement and maintenance of one’s physical health. Exercise can also act as a mental health tool or healthy coping method in that it can help improve mood, self-esteem, and work performance (Kunce & Wilfley, 1986) among other benefits. There […]

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First-Generation American Teens

Written By: Patricia H. Scherer, MS, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program Growing up the child of immigrants can have numerous advantages for some individuals. Immigrant parents from many cultures, including LatinX, Asian, and Eastern European backgrounds, emphasize the importance of family, collectivistic values, and cultural and religious heritage, all of which can buffer […]

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Sleep Hygiene

Written By: Andrea Delariyala, Program Coordinator at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program A good night’s sleep is important for all of us, but can be particularly crucial for teens since their bodies and brains are going through significant development. Teens typically need between 8-10 hours of sleep a night, and for most teens, 9 hours is […]

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Being Mindful of Depressing Thoughts

Written By: Alonzo Howard, BS, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program negative thoughtsare the leading cause of future episodes of depression. Depressive episodes may occur at any point of the year. However, findings show higher rates of major depressive episodes during November and December. During this season there is an increase in conflict between […]

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Cultural Stressors in Youth

Written By: Kyara Mendez-Serrano, Clinical Intern at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program life as a teenagercan be a confusing time to navigate. It is a period in which folks no longer identify with being children, but they are not yet considered adults. In the midst of this journey, some adolescents might be experiencing the added pressure […]

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Practicing Compassion to Balance Masculinity

Written By: Cristian Lemus, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program TRADITIONAL MASCULINITYis a social construct that presents itself in many different forms across the world. In the U.S., masculinity typically embodies winning, hyper-sexuality, controlling one’s emotions, risk-taking, violence, dominance, and dislike of being perceived as gay (Mahalik et al., 2003). When masculinity […]

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An Athlete’s Toughest Competitor…

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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