Back-to-School - 5 Ways to Save Your Sanity and Support Your Millennial When They Head to College or Grad School.

/ Thrive Therapy/
Back-to-School - 5 Ways to Save Your Sanity and Support Your Millennial When They Head to College or Grad School.

I just spent the past 10 days driving across the country and setting up my second-born in her apartment in Connecticut as she gets ready to begin grad school. Hayley is one of four kids, so this is not my first rodeo. Nonetheless, as we said our tearful good-byes, I was reminded of how parenting is a job that remains complicated long after the kids leave home.

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Should I Let My Teenager Watch the Movie About Anorexia, To The Bone?

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Should I Let My Teenager Watch the Movie About Anorexia, To The Bone?

Once again, a Netflix release sparks intense discussion about its depiction of a mental health issue. The feature film To The Bone, released July 14, is the story of Ellen, a 20-year-old girl who suffers from an eating disorder (ED) called Anorexia Nervosa.

This film, though far from perfect, does give some good information and also offers a message of hope for recovery. If you, your teenager, or someone you or your teenager knows struggles with issues around eating or excessive exercise, you might be interested in watching this movie.

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What’s Wrong With the Media Response to Logic’s Powerful Anthem to Suicide Prevention, “1-800-273-8255”?

/ Thrive Therapy/
What’s Wrong With the Media Response to Logic’s Powerful Anthem to Suicide Prevention, “1-800-273-8255”?

The subject of suicide is again a hot topic in the media and in our high schools.

Sunday night featured the MTV Video Music Awards, and the song called “1-800-273-8255”, by the rapper Logic, blew up the show. The song is about someone who is having thoughts about suicide, and calls the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.This song sends a vital message about suicide, and its tremendous popularity is testament to the fact that it strikes a chord with many people.

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Back-To-School Part 4 – Is Instagram Bad For My Teenager?

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Back-To-School Part 4 – Is Instagram Bad For My Teenager?

When your teenager hears the ping of an incoming message, they are metaphorically “salivating” for the social connection that is their deepest desire.

Given that our teenagers are undoubtedly going to use social media, what can we do to teach them about the healthiest ways to use Instagram and other media and apps on their phones?

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Back-To School Part 3 – How Do I Get My Teenager To Talk To Me? – 50 Conversation Starters for Parents of Teens

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Back-To School Part 3 – How Do I Get My Teenager To Talk To Me? – 50 Conversation Starters for Parents of Teens

Getting a teenager to talk to you can be tough! “What did you do today, Honey?” “Nothing”. “How did your day go?” “Fine”. Sometimes teen conversation can just sound like a series of grunts! And yet…they talk and text to their friends practically all night long…

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Back To School Part 2 – How Do I Get My Teenager To Get Up In The Morning?

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Back To School Part 2 – How Do I Get My Teenager To Get Up In The Morning?

Making sure your teenager gets enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do to help them succeed.

Teenagers typically get far too little sleep during the school year. If your teenager is like most, they only get about 7 hours of sleep a night. This is typical, but not healthy!

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How To Get Enough Sleep This Holiday Season

/ Thrive Therapy/
How To Get Enough Sleep This Holiday Season

The weather is getting cooler, holiday music is playing everywhere, and Christmas decorations are up in all the stores. Most people are beginning to worry about (umm, cough, prepare for) all the celebrating and family togetherness that comes along this time of year.

One thing you can do to make sure the next two months go as smoothly as possible is to get enough sleep.

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How Can We "Arm" Teachers to Best Help Our Children?

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How Can We "Arm" Teachers to Best Help Our Children?

As a therapist married to a teacher, I have been asked about, and certainly been thinking about, the issue of arming our teachers. Every way you turn right now there is angry debate about guns. Many children and parents feel both helpless and afraid.

One way to combat this feeling of helplessness is to get involved with your child’s school and advocate for programs that provide Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

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How To Keep Your New Year's Resolutions in 2019

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How To Keep Your New Year's Resolutions in 2019

Part of you is excited about a new year, and having a fresh start. But part of you is bummed that 2018 didn’t go the way you’d planned, and it’s discouraging to think about making New Year’s Resolutions that will once more be long forgotten by February.

 Read on to learn what the experts tell us about how to stick to your New Year’s Resolutions in 2019.

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Are You Dreading Heading Home For The Holidays?

/ Thrive Therapy/
Are You Dreading Heading Home For The Holidays?

hen you go home for the holidays, will you have to deal with someone who tries to manipulate and shame you? Many of us have people in our families who have an automatic way of interacting with the world that involves trying to manipulate those around them— they shame us, put us down, or just ignore us as if we don’t matter. They learned these patterns of behavior when they were very young, and now it’s automatic. It’s not meant to be malicious, but it can destroy your self-confidence nonetheless.

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How to CTFD (um… Calm Down)

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How to CTFD (um… Calm Down)

Going home to spend time with our family is generally a mixed bag—we look forward to it, and we dread it. No one can trigger us like Mom. Or our siblings. Or Uncle Joe. Hell, even our partner can drive us crazy when we’re trying to hold it all together until New Year’s. We can all benefit from some advance planning about how to manage our emotions in the middle of the holiday frenzy.

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Winning the Breakup Over the Holidays

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Winning the Breakup Over the Holidays

You broke up a while ago, and it’s been rough. You get through the weekdays okay, but the weekends seem to last forever. You go to yoga, do your laundry, go out with friends, but it’s still a struggle. Now the holidays are upon us, and everywhere you go the atmosphere is cheery and romantic. You wonder— how are you going to get through the holidays at home without a partner to be the buffer between you and your family? And what about New Year’s Eve???

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How To Apologize - Part One

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How To Apologize - Part One

 After attending a lecture by one of my favorite psychologists, Harriet Lerner, I decided that I’d better buy the book and learn some more about how to get people to apologize to me… um, cough, I mean how to give a good apology.

Here are some of the gems from Dr. Harriet Lerner’s book, Why Won’t You Aplogize?:

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