When Helping Hurts- For Family Members of those with OCD

We hear all the time “I’m so OCD” when someone is being particular or super tidy and while they are often saying this in humor, OCD is not just being super tidy or neat.  To show you a quick example of the differences between OCD and being “picky”, we’ve included a chart below.

Big baffling behaviors book​ review 

All behavior makes sense! If your kiddo continues to do things you don’t understand, then this is the book for you!

This book provides quick and simple ways to understand your children’s reactions through understanding the brain, attachment, and temperaments. Robyn offers ways to connect with your children while helping them​ learn to regulate​ their emotions. This book is helpful for you​ as a parent​ to learn your own tools to help you stay calm​ even when your child is not!

This is your postpartum brain

You’ve probably heard that becoming a mother changes you. You know it changes your priorities, your family, your schedule, your free time, but did you know it physically changes your brain? Along with hormones pulsing through your body, your brain changes during pregnancy and postpartum in order to better accommodate keeping a new life safe and protected. When we understand what this means and how fully it affects a mom, we can have more compassion for ourselves during this vulnerable time.

The book that I have found helpful as a parent and in my work with parents, is The Power of Showing Up. Authors Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson say "It’s not about saying or doing the perfect thing to get your child to behave. Parenting is about showing up consistently and offering your child the Four S’s—helping them feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure. This is what builds a strong foundation for their emotional and relational development."
In their book, they share how these 4 simple words can tame the emotional pain of the moment for our children and also create a healthy and stable relationship that can last a lifetime.

As we enter Black History Month, it's crucial to understand how our inherited ways of coping, while born from strength and survival, might need gentle reimagining for our present-day mental wellness. In a previous post, I discussed the barriers many people of color face when seeking therapy, from finding culturally competent care to overcoming stigma in our communities. Today, I want to explore a deeper aspect of mental health in the Black community – one that I frequently encounter in my counseling practice: the complex legacy of intergenerational patterns.

Parenting is really hard.  There are so many aspects of parenthood that demand so much of us, that the most challenging part can sometimes be the question of, "Am I doing the right thing for my kid?" We may find ourselves asking that question when we feed our child chicken nuggets for dinner. It may show up for you when you are wondering if changing schools would be best for your teen. Perhaps you feel it gnawing at you when you decide to let them go or not go hang out with friends on a school night. Now, with the rise in teen mental health awareness, we are flooded with books, articles, and videos about what a parent should do in regards to their teen's anxiety and mental health. It can be so difficult to cut through the noise and answer the question, "Am I doing the right thing?" In an effort to simplify that question, here is a list of warning signs to be on the lookout for in regards to your teen's anxiety and something you can do about it.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is widely recognized as one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and various mental health challenges. Developed by Dr. Aaron Beck in the 1960s, CBT has been extensively researched and proven to help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns, promoting healthier mental and emotional responses. As we step into 2025, using CBT techniques for mental health improvement can help you navigate daily stressors and anxiety while enhancing your overall well-being.

As children grow and develop, it's natural for them to face various challenges. However, when those struggles interfere with their happiness, social skills, or academic performance, it can concerning for parents and caregivers. Fortunately, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers a proven and effective solution to help children navigate the complexities of their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.