Between exams, extracurriculars, part-time jobs, and social pressures, it’s no wonder so many teens feel stretched thin these days. When your student asks for a day off, not because they’re sick, but because they’re overwhelmed, it can be hard to know how to respond. Taking a mental health day from school isn’t about skipping responsibilities. […]

When most people think of depression, they picture obvious signs of sadness, withdrawal, or emotional distress. While these symptoms can certainly occur, depression in teen girls is often more complicated than it appears on the surface. Many adolescent girls become skilled at hiding their struggles; continuing to earn good grades, participate in activities, maintain friendships, […]

Completing residential treatment can feel like an exciting milestone, a graduation of sorts, but it’s also intimidating. For many teens and young adults, leaving a highly structured environment means facing new responsibilities, routines, and challenges. For parents, it may bring relief along with concerns about maintaining progress. Fortunately, recovery doesn’t end after residential treatment. Most […]

A relatively common misdiagnosis in mental health is mistaking a depressive episode in someone with bipolar disorder for major depressive disorder.  While depression is present, it’s not the primary condition that needs to be addressed. In some people with bipolar disorder, treatment with antidepressants can actually trigger a manic episode, rather than stabilize mood.  It’s […]

There are many reasons to be cognizant of and intentional about screen time for those in your care.  One area psychologists have been exploring with increasing urgency is the proliferation of selfie culture and appearance-focused social media, which some researchers believe may contribute to a co-existing rise in body dysmorphia among teens and young adults.  […]

Our society is rife with iPad kids and adults who aren’t connecting in person anymore. And with so many options to “connect” virtually, we’re statistically lonelier than ever. The number of American adults with no close friends has quadrupled since 1990. Unsurprisingly, this can have a range of negative effects. For example, friendship and mental […]

Parents often expect depression to look like constant sadness, crying, or obvious emotional distress. But depression in teen boys does not always appear that way. Instead, many boys struggle quietly. Some become withdrawn. Others become irritable, angry, reckless, or difficult to reach. What looks like defiance, moodiness, or “typical teenage behavior” may actually be a […]

Signs of trauma can often present differently for children and adolescents. It is not the typically expected anxiety, flashbacks, or overwhelm. It rarely, if ever, looks like the textbook Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  On top of this, most children and teenagers lack the vocabulary or emotional awareness to express their feelings. Instead, childhood trauma symptoms […]

Distracted? Overwhelmed? Forgetful? Failing to focus? The teen and young adult years can be difficult, even with generally good mental health. But when something more is at play, it can be tricky to know what’s really going on.   Are you struggling with anxiety? Or is your brain’s attention span working at a deficit? Or maybe […]

IOP. PHP. EMDR. DBT. CBT. LPC. LMHC. Before long, mental health care can start to feel like a maze of acronyms. It’s no wonder IOP vs. PHP programs often get confused. If you or a loved one is navigating the labyrinth of mental health care, overwhelmed by all the outpatient treatment options available, you’re in […]