And affordable alternatives to get your teen back on track I used to dis boarding schools. I thought sending your kid away was just plain cruel—a failure of parenting or schooling. I thought therapy could fix everything. Boy, was I wrong. When a kid has too many negative influences in her life, particularly during her […]
Personality traits that every therapist needs. For nearly 25 years, people in my office have shared their secrets, their fears, and their hopes. They’ve confessed wrongs, explored love and relationships, worked through childhood traumas, explored dreams and nightmares; some lasted a few sessions, others stayed for years. Every now and then, a person asks me, […]
New book highlights parents’ role in preparing their children to manage money Will your children know how to save money? Who will teach them to budget? How will they manage their money when you’re not doing it for them? Kimberly Palmer, author of the exciting new book SMART MOM, RICH MOM: How to Build Wealth […]
When planning your getaway, it’s not the place, but the heart that matters most The classroom clock ticks. Tongues click, feet tap, and the ever-present calendar on the wall beckons students’ wandering eyes. Soon, very soon, the two words most beloved by children and fretted by parents will be unleashed into the sun-drenched world. Two […]
Prescription med overdoses now surpass cocaine, heroin, and meth combined. For nearly 25 years I have worked with teenagers in therapy groups and asked them to identify any mood altering substances that they or their friends have tried. Year after year, the top two answers were always the same: marijuana and alcohol. Recently, I asked […]
Attitudes toward divorce are changing. When I was a kid, divorced parents were given the evil eye. Heads shook, tongues clicked; divorcees were home-wreckers, selfish and unloving, they destroyed children’s lives. Some churches banned them from services—apparently, even God wasn’t a fan. The message to married couples: Keep your marriage intact by any means necessary. Times […]
Do you long to be liked by others? Work hard on your friendships, try to be a good listener, try to be understanding and empathic — all in the hope that other people will like you more? Sadly, when all your energy goes toward pleasing others, you’re likely to get the opposite in return. How […]
A Parent Bully Learn to Bully at Home We’ve all witnessed children or teenagers disrespecting their parents: They yell at them, curse at them, and even hit them. You may shake your head, cancel playdates, or forbid your children from hanging out with such a terror, but the problem is bigger than you think: Kids […]
Freud wrote “Analysis is, in essence, a cure through love.” What did he mean? You share your dreams, fantasies, and longings; unearth your ambitions and passions, and spill your deepest, darkest secrets, while your therapist listens intently, captivated, hanging on your every sigh. After such cozy and intimate attention, many people are left wondering: “Are […]
Soul singer Bobby Harden explains why singing the blues is good for you Broke, broken-hearted, or betrayed? Don’t fret, there’s a blues song for every hardship in life. But did you know that singing the blues is actually good for you? Earlier this year I caught legendary soul singer Bobby Harden in his recent show […]