Adjusting

More Than Blue Monday: Finding Steady Ground in a Difficult January

by Kailani Akana Murphy, LCSW January has always had a particular kind of heaviness to it for me. The holidays are over, the days are short and cold, and I’m still waiting for the ‘fresh-start’ energy to show up. This year, even more so than years past, I feel as though I’ve been waiting for…
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Parenting Under Pressure: Staying Connected When the School Year Starts

By Nicole Garcia, PhD As summer gives way to the school year, many families find themselves swept into a whirlwind of new schedules, homework demands, and the emotional ups and downs that accompany this busy season. While children adjust to classrooms and activities, parents are balancing work, household responsibilities, and never-ending to-do lists. That combination…
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When the Cap Comes Off: What Comes Next for You & Your Teen

by Allison Dickens, LPC, LCADC As the school year comes to a close, we should take the time to acknowledge the successes and progress of the students closest to us.  Whether they be our own children, or beloved family members, friends, or members of our community, it is so important to recognize the hard work…
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From Endurance to Empowerment:  Reclaiming Mental Health in AANHPI Families

by Kailani Akana Murphy, LCSW May carries many meanings. It is recognized as both Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, two important designations that are rarely spoken about in tandem. In many AANHPI households, emotional struggles are often met with silence, shaped by cultural expectations to…
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Could It Be ADHD? What to Look For & How to Get Help

by Liza Ibrahim, LPC Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects an individual’s ability to focus, regulate impulses, and manage energy levels. ADHD is more than just occasional distractibility or restlessness, it’s a condition that can significantly interfere with functioning at school, work, in relationships, and day-to-day life. Symptoms often begin in childhood…
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Creating a Safe Space: Recognizing Bullying and Helping Kids Thrive

by Allison Dickens, LPC, LCADC Happy Women’s Month!  Let this be a time to affirm, support, and recognize the important women in our lives and in our world.  Please take the time to celebrate the women in your life who uplift, inspire, and change our world every day. It’s also a time to reflect on…
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Red and Green Flags in Teen Relationships

By Kailani Akana Murphy, LCSW Adolescence comes with a sometimes overwhelming amount of changes, both for the adolescent and for their families. One of the biggest changes is in social relationships and learning how to navigate them. How an adolescent navigates this developmental stage sets up their mental health outcomes later in life and learning…
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Back to School Tips To Prepare For A Successful School Year

by Liza Ibrahim, LPC Summer is still in full swing with a few weeks left to enjoy the sun, family vacations, and the outdoors, but starting off a new school year can be stressful for both the student and parents. It can bring a mixture of emotions including anticipation, excitement, and worry. Every family can…
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Understanding Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence: ADHD, Autism & Learning Differences

by Danielle Taylor, PsyD In the 1990’s, Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist, created the term neurodiversity to capture the notion that all brains are different, these differences make the human species more versatile and flexible, and these differences should be celebrated rather than labeled as deficits. Having people with different operating systems that guide how…
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How to Identify & Cope with Negative, Intrusive Thoughts

By Liza Ibrahim, LPC Our thoughts are not always within our control, and it’s natural for our brains to skew negative from time to time. However, for some individuals, negative and intrusive thoughts can become challenging over time. If you experience intrusive thoughts, it is important to remember that a thought has no significance in…
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