Category Archive: Alumni & Family

Adolescence is a vulnerable time of life. Teens are developing physically, mentally, and emotionally. They are learning new behaviors that will often carry over into adulthood. This can be very positive, a time for adolescents to build healthy habits and […]

Building a healthy community is often challenging for teens who struggle with addiction and mental health disorders. However, friendships and community are essential in supporting teens’ mental health and helping them learn how to build healthy relationships as an adult. […]

As a parent of an adolescent, you are in a position to help them develop communication skills that will impact the rest of their lives. This is particularly important if you have a teen who is returning home from treatment. […]

When your teen returns home from treatment, they will need to change many things about their lives. This includes the people they spend time with. By building a healthier community that supports their mental health and sobriety, your teen can […]

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 […]