Category Archive: Alumni & Family

Parenting a teen is not easy, especially if they have mental health issues or are recovering from addiction. Parents are likely to feel hurt, shocked, or angry as a reaction to a teen’s behavior and emotions. Learning to stay cool […]

The famous German physicist Albert Einstein once said, “If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” Einstein understood what many parents are still struggling to comprehend: the difference […]

With the increasing evidence that gratitude heals in recovery, it may not be long before practicing gratitude is considered an evidence-based practice. Until then, encouraging teens in recovery to practice gratitude can help sustain abstinence. How can you get teen […]

With increasingly less human interaction due to more screen time and increased social distance, empathy and compassion are at an increased deficit among teens. This is particularly true of teens with substance use and mental health disorders. The benefits of […]

Kindness, even the simplest acts of kindness, creates a chain reaction in the brains of both the giver and the receiver. Teaching teens in recovery about kindness creates powerful chain reactions of human connection. Helping them learn to both give […]

The holiday season is often a time to spend with extended family making memories. Spending time with extended family can also be a negative experience for some. For a teen in recovery, the holidays can be particularly triggering. Finding a […]

Television commercials and movies teach us that family gatherings are warm, laughter-filled experiences filled with joy. In reality, that is rare, particularly in families where there may be addiction and mental health diagnoses. For a teen in early recovery, extended […]

There are many preconceived notions about what autism looks like, but an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can actually range from the mildest impairment to more severe limitations for adolescents. Working with teens with ASD can be both rewarding and challenging. […]

The adolescent years are difficult enough for the typical teen, but for those with a sensory processing disorder (SPD), they can be literally overwhelming. Learning strategies to address issues like auditory flooding, mono-channel processing, and synesthesia can greatly help your […]

Parents sometimes claim that worrying about their child is in their job description. Even as a child gets older, they continue to worry, sometimes excessively. When parents verbalize their worries about their teen’s anxiety or otherwise make their concerns known, […]