Family Therapy
Advice Column: Coping with Guilt and Caregiving in Dementia
Q: My mother has early-stage dementia, and I’m struggling. I get annoyed more often than I’d like, especially when she repeats herself or asks about her car, which we sold months ago. Sometimes I snap and say, “Yes, Mom, you already told me,” and then I feel awful. I’ve also had to make painful choices—like…
When Your Caregiver Is Also Your Captor
What Serena and June Teach Us About Attachment Trauma We don’t need to be trapped in a dystopia to feel trapped by someone we once depended on. In The Handmaid’s Tale, June and Serena’s relationship is often framed as a political or moral battleground. But beneath the drama of Gilead’s theocracy, there’s something more intimate…
Navigating Severe Oppositional Defiance in Teens
When oppositional defiance in teens escalates beyond what parents consider acceptable, it can be concerning and challenging. Here’s a guide to effectively address and manage such situations: 1. Seek Professional Guidance Consult a Therapist: Engage with a licensed child psychologist or counselor who specializes in adolescent behavior. They can offer insights into underlying issues and…
Supporting Your College Freshman Using EFFT
Q: My daughter just started college and calls me every night, upset because she hasn’t made friends yet. I love supporting her, but it’s taking up all my evenings. My husband thinks I’m enabling her. How can we help her adjust while balancing our own needs? A: It’s common for parents to feel torn…
Respecting Rules and Fostering Independence During Summer Break
Question: Our daughter is home from Cornell University, and we are struggling. She says she doesn’t need to follow our rules because she’s an “adult,” but she’s still under our roof. Plus, it’s rude to come home at 3 AM when we will be worried and sleeping poorly while waiting for her. What can we…
Not Fair! Pool Guest Pass Negotiations
Question: We’re organizing a pool party for my daughter’s birthday, and I’m stuck in a family debate over the guest list. I’d prefer a small gathering of five kids, but my daughter wants to use our entire pool punch card to invite more friends. Her siblings feel this is unfair, arguing they won’t get to…
Camp, I’m not going back!
Q: My child came home from camp declaring, “I’m bored and have no friends!” Now she’s begging to stay home, but I’ve paid for the entire session and need camp for childcare. Help!” A: Our parenting psychologist, Dr. Jill Jacobson, recommends the following: First acknowledge your feelings so you can support your child most effectively….
Less Yelling in 2023: Steps for Better Communication With Your Kids.
Q: As I am thinking about New Year’s Resolutions, my goal is to not yell at my kids as frequently. As a working mother, it has been challenging to give my kids attention. By the end of the day, I lose my temper and yell at them. I later felt guilty and eventually apologized to…
Am I being a Scrooge to my over-giving in-laws?
Q: My values during the holidays are to focus on my family and gratitude, but my in-laws want to shower my kids with an obscene number of gifts. I don’t want to offend them, but it makes me uncomfortable, and it is not the sort of value I want to convey to my kids. What…
Homework Help! 6 Tips for Parents Facing Homework Pushback
Is your elementary school child struggling with homework? You’re not alone! Homework is designed to provide extra practice of skills learned at school and to help your child develop good study habits. However, homework time can become a battle, and it can test your patience and persistence! Try these six tips to make homework go…
It's not an easy time to be a kid. Perhaps it never is, but now it's especially true. Let us help you understand and support your child's needs.
Is your teen struggling with school, in their relationships with friends, with you? Do they seem irritable, withdrawn, unmotivated, sad? Our therapist know how to help.
Are you looking to make some aspect of your otherwise good relationship better? Maybe you’ve tried all the strategies that make sense to you.