An Advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls attention to the growing concerns about the effects of social media on youth mental health, concluding that while social media offers some benefits, there are “ample indicators that social media could also harm children’s well-being.” Read more »
Mindfulness and self-compassion are now buzzwords for self-improvement. But in fact, a growing body of research shows these practices can lead to real mental health benefits. This research – ongoing, voluminous and worldwide – clearly shows how and why these two practices work. Read more »
Some teens are happy to go to therapy. They enjoy talking to an objective adult who can assist with some of their problems. But not all teens are on board with therapy, and convincing a reluctant teen to go to counseling can feel like an uphill battle. Read more »
People of all ages may benefit from seeing a mental health professional. However, children may feel afraid to talk with someone they don’t know. They may also be wary of something they don’t fully understand. You may ask yourself: How do I get my child to see a psychologist? Read more »
As with other skills and milestones, the age at which kids learn language and start talking can vary. Knowing a bit about speech and language development can help parents figure out if there’s cause for concern. Read more »
Studies indicate that Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is “the best tool we have” for self-harming and suicidal adolescents. So what is it and why is it so effective? DBT teaches important social-emotional and resilience skills for life enhancement. Read more »
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy (psychotherapy). It’s based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but it’s specially adapted for people who experience emotions very intensely. Read more »
Dialectical behavior therapy teaches people to manage their ADHD symptoms using four basic DBT skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Read more »
Executive function is the mechanism by which our brains manage and prioritize our thoughts, working memory, emotions and actions; Harvard researchers call it our brain’s air traffic control system. Given the incidence of executive function issues in youth, as a byproduct of or co-occurring factor in youth mental health, it is critical for parents and educators to place greater support to help students improve their executive functioning. Read more »
One of the most important things we can do for our children is to help them develop resilience. A common misconception is that people are either resilient or not; that we’re born one way or the other. In fact, the process of building resilience is a lifelong journey of learning to cope with challenging experiences and adapt well in the face of adversity. Read more »
