A guide for parents, educators, and helping professionals I walked into my 11-year-old’s room to find him using an electronic device in a way that went against our family agreement. I can’t remember if he had been on it too long or downloaded an app he wasn’t supposed to, but I know I felt a […]

A Parent’s Guide to Tiger Moments Angry outbursts can do serious harm. Hitting, breaking a sibling’s toy, yelling at the teacher…these behaviors do more than just hurt people in the moment. Explosive behavior can cause lasting damage in relationships and perpetuate even more feelings of anger (and shame). So it makes sense that parents, teachers, […]

A note to all who feel empty inside There’s a lot of talk in the mental health community about holding space. To “hold space” for someone involves listening or being present in a nonjudgmental way. The goal is to help someone feel seen and heard.  The term is appealing with its imagery. When I am […]

Sadness is a complicated, vulnerable emotion.  Feeling sad is uncomfortable for most people, it seems, even though it is an integral part of the human experience. When sadness is related to the deep, confusing grief of childhood trauma or other ambiguous losses–all the things Hallmark doesn’t make cards for–it can be even more difficult to […]