The Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) is part of University of California at Berkeley’s Institute of Human Development, which has been an organized research unit of UC Berkeley since 1927. GGSC studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society. Read more ›
Adolescent Counseling Services teamed up with the Peninsula’s top mental health professionals to share their expertise on communication with teens.
Ninety-Nine Tips for Talking With Your Teenager is a free guidebook that offers practical, concrete tips written by local therapists skilled in helping parents of young people ages eleven to nineteen years old. Read more ›
What does it feel like to have a child with mental illness?
“When our daughter was diagnosed with OCD and clinical depression at age 12, we discussed treatment options with the psychiatrist. At first, we were wary of medication, as most parents are. “If your child had type 1 diabetes, wouldn’t you give her insulin?” the doctor asked. “This is a disease—in fact it’s a life threatening disease. Medication is required. And so is regular therapy.”
And that was the beginning of our journey to understanding that our daughter has an illness, it needs to be treated, and she requires ongoing special care.” Read more ›
Palo Alto psychiatrist Dr. Adam Strassberg provides suggestions to help us all “Keep Calm and Parent On” in an article published in Palo Alto Online. Read more ›
Common Sense Media is a non-profit organization that helps families make smart media choices. Free resources include a library of independent age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music. Common Sense Media also provides research, tips, and tools to keep kids safe. Read more ›
Have you heard about the A-B-Cs of behavior?
Dr. Coloma discusses some of the causes of problem behavior, including neurological and emotional disorders and the link between problem behavior and anger. She also outlines strategies you can implement to foster new behaviors and options for help. Read more ›
“Changing the Narrative” is a new section added in 2015 to Palo Alto’s Gunn High School student newpaper, The Oracle.
“Changing the Narrative” features students’ essays of their fears and anxieties and the ways in which they found strength, hope, healing and growth. These inspirational student stories are available here or on their Facebook page. Read more ›
In her book How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success. Read more ›
All children need love, encouragement, and support, and for kids with learning disabilities, such positive reinforcement can help ensure that they emerge with a strong sense of self-worth, confidence, and the determination to keep going even when things are tough. Read more ›
The main predictor of how well your child will do in school and in life is the strength of the relationship he or she has with you, the parent or primary caretaker. This relationship impacts your child’s future mental, physical, social, and emotional health. It is not founded on quality of care or parental love, but on the nonverbal emotional communication between child and parent known as the attachment bond. While it’s easiest to form this secure attachment bond with an infant, it can be formed at any time or at any age. Read more ›
