A recent New York Times article states that teen anxiety is at a record high and attributes this to: perfectionism, the constant pressure to achieve even more, and teens comparing themselves to their peers. Thanks to smart phones and social media, peer comparisons and the desire to be validated by others can be constant. Social media, academic stress, and emotional stressors can trigger anxious thoughts and behaviors. Teens may find themselves in automatic negative thought pa

Keeping up with our teen’s social media usage can be overwhelming to think about and trying to monitor their electronic devices can be time-consuming and stressful. There are new apps popping up every day and there are even apps designed to hide other apps. Most teens have multiple social media accounts and some even have a few different profiles on apps such as Instagram and Snapchat. Staying involved in their lives is important but checking their phone and online activity c

Heather Elson, MA, CMHC, LAPC demonstrates how to use alcohol ink technique in therapy. To create this technique: add drops of alcohol ink onto a glass (we recommend using a picture frame); add rubbing alcohol then move the glass around to swirl the colors. Light the glass on fire (with supervision of course!) As you watch the flame, practice deep breathing and relaxation techniques. Then talk about the intense feeling of the fire and relate this to events in your life. Watch

Encouragement plays such a huge role throughout our lives. Think about it! Whether we are learning to walk, graduating from preschool, competing in a sport, or working on an important project in our jobs, encouragement has given us strength and pushed us through some of the most challenging times. Most importantly, though, encouragement has tremendous power in our formative years. Why is encouragement so important? Experts believe that it has the power to mold us-----our vi