PTSD

Supporting a Child Through Depression: What Parents Need to Know

Depression in children and adolescents is often quieter than people expect. It doesn’t always look like sadness, and it rarely presents in a way that makes it easy to recognize right away. Many parents find themselves noticing gradual changes, small shifts that, over time, begin to feel more concerning. A child who once seemed engaged…
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Why Relationships Feel So Hard: Understanding BPD & Narcissistic Personality Disorder

If you’ve found yourself searching things like “Do I have borderline personality disorder?,” “Is my partner a narcissist?,” or “Why does my teen react so intensely?,” you’re not alone. These questions often come from a place of confusion, frustration, and a genuine desire to understand what’s going on, either within yourself or in someone you…
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Understanding Trauma in Kids & How TF-CBT Helps

When children experience trauma, the impact is not always obvious. Some children become quieter or more withdrawn, while others may show increased irritability, anxiety, or behavioral changes. What can be especially confusing for caregivers is that these responses may not appear immediately—they can develop gradually over time. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) was specifically developed…
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Is My Child Struggling with Trauma? Understanding PTSD in Children & Teens

by Nicole Garcia, PhD After a frightening, stressful, or overwhelming experience, many children don’t have the language to explain what they’re feeling. Instead, trauma often shows up through changes in behavior, emotions, or physical symptoms that can be confusing or concerning for parents. You might notice your child becoming more irritable or emotionally reactive, having…
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Extreme Hardship, Asylum, and VAWA Cases: How Psychological Evaluations Support Immigration Petitions

By Nicole Garcia, PhD Immigration cases are often filled with uncertainty, fear, and incredibly high stakes. For many families, the outcome of a case can determine whether loved ones remain together or face separation across countries. In many immigration proceedings, psychological evaluations play a powerful role in documenting trauma, hardship, and emotional impact, providing professional…
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Immigration Psychological Evaluations in NJ, NY & PsyPact States

by Nicole Garcia, PhD Navigating the U.S. immigration system can be overwhelming, emotionally taxing, and deeply personal. For individuals and families, they often involve prolonged uncertainty, fear of separation, past trauma, and profound emotional strain. In many cases, courts and adjudicators need more than legal documentation to understand what is truly at stake, they need…
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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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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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Five Moves to Try When You’re Feeling Frazzled

by Danielle Taylor, PsyD The holidays can be a wonderful and stressful time for many people. All of the merriment, especially for those creating the magic can take a toll on the mind and body! Thanks to the work of many mental health professionals such as Deb Dana, Peter Levine, and Bessel van der Kolk,…
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10 Green Flags in a Healthy Relationship: Signs of Emotional Safety & Compatibility

by Jennifer Pitman, LCSW In today’s world of “red flags” and dating advice on social media, many people are asking: what actually makes a relationship healthy? While it’s important to recognize warning signs, it’s just as important to identify the green flags, the positive signs of emotional safety, respect, and connection in a relationship. As…
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Toxic Positivity: What It Is & What to Say Instead

by Danielle Taylor, PsyD We’ve all had our loved ones share their stressful experiences with us. For many of us those moments can feel uncomfortable and challenging because we want to help them feel better. Maybe we aren’t sure what to say or to do so we might throw something rote out there like-”focus on…
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