Your freshman year of college is, for many people, one of the most drastic life transitions you have experienced up to this point. It may be your first time without your parents there to be constantly checking in and reminding you to eat or shower. It can be a whirlwind of change, new routines, new friends, new location, new classes, and new choices that can at times be so overwhelming you forget to check in with yourself and really ask: how am I doing?

Over the past several years, our culture has placed great emphasis on seeking mental health care and prioritizing wellness, whether it be relationally, emotionally, spiritually or physically. This shift has resulted in people learning how to break free of generational addictions,  how to be a better friend or supportive spouse, and how to form healthy, lifelong habits that benefit them and their families. It has brought healing and hope to so many people and situations. However, this shift has left a lot of parents scratching their heads, wondering what they need to do to ensure their child develops these skills early on.  Some may even find themselves questioning their own parenting skills if their child struggles with depression, anxiety, or behavioral issues.

As a parent, I've seen firsthand the impact of collaborative care. When my son was diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech, we initially struggled with conflicting advice from his pediatrician, private speech therapist, and school speech therapist. The lack of coordination was hindering his progress.

Everything changed when we insisted on a more integrated approach. By getting all professionals on the same page, we saw drastic improvements in my son's speech and overall confidence.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson: when it comes to a child's development, teamwork is key.

Taking the first step towards therapy can be challenging for anyone. However, for people of color, this journey often comes with additional considerations. As a therapist, I've observed that the path to mental health support can feel particularly complex when factoring in cultural backgrounds, personal experiences, and the current landscape of the mental health field.

Do you remember what it felt like to be a kid? The long, hot days of summer with the impending doom of school right around the corner. I invite you to sit back and remember the feelings during those years. Perhaps you remember the panic of talking to your crush at school. Or maybe you remember the feelings you had when your friends got a higher grade on a test than you. We remember as kids feeling the intense emotions of these moments, but as adults, we are able to recognize they are fairly insignificant in the long run.

The book try softer was extremely helpful for me as both a counselor and a person. I’m sure you all have heard the phrase, “try harder”. This is a slogan I often heard in my life during my youth specifically in sports and in the classroom. It often make me feel more overwhelmed than motivated. Don’t hear me incorrectly, I believe hard work is essential in almost every part of life. You’re probably reading this after a hard days work of school, parenting, job, sports, relationships… fill in the blank. I believe this book provides a way to work harder toward rest in your heart and soul while continuing on your daily rhythms. This book beautifully provides both practical therapeutic ways to lean into rest while also including a Christian perspective to each chapter. This book reminded to be kind to myself in the busyness of life while also resting in the God of the universe.

When a close family member experiences any kind of trauma or traumatic event, it can be very difficult for members of the family to know what to do. How do I support them? I could never imagine going through that so how can I understand? All of these questions are not only incredibly valid, but also normal. So… what can you do when a close family member or even friend experiences any type of trauma? It is my goal to help address the elephant in the room and help provide you with a few tips to help answer these difficult questions.

As a parent, have you found yourself asking, “Do I do something or do I let them figure this out on their own?” Maybe your like me, and feel the inclination to and fix it anytime something wrong happens in a child’s life, yet by doing so, we could be robbing children of the opportunity to grow and learn in emotional and social development. There are times when your child would benefit from you allowing them to navigate their own challenges, yet there are also times when your child may need some extra support.