A local mental health professional offers useful tips on how to protect and prepare children in an increasingly online world. Nicole recently arrived at the youth shelter I oversee. She is 15 and in crisis. Her home life is pretty overwhelming, so she turned to social media to escape and...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) Learn some insightful tips for keeping the mind in an optimal state. There are many approaches to mental health, and finding the one that fits you is a journey. By deliberately reappraising and recalibrating our thinking, we can change the way we feel and create an...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) What are some warning signs of a mental health crisis in kids and what should I do if I see these signs? All ages In the last few years, I have responded to mental health crises in children as young as 5 years old. I recently...
(Photo Courtesy of Shutterstock) Learn how to set healthy limits for your video-gaming kids. Over the last several years, there has been a steady upward trend in the amount of time our children spend engaging in video game play. As a parent, you may find yourself questioning how to monitor...
(Photo Courtesy of Endless Sun Surf Camp) Mental health remains in view for camp directors as we head into summer camp season. In 2020, Camp James directors received emails or had parents coming in to say — often with tears in their eyes — that they had not seen their...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) I’ve heard that parents with young children need estate planning. Is this true? Adults Estate planning has evolved in ways that genuinely benefit families with minor children. The focus is more on people, and less on things. (“Who do I want to protect if something happens...
(Photo Courtesy of Heritage Oak) Orange County educators discuss how the pandemic has affected their students’ mental health and what they’re doing about it. The pandemic has left its mark on pretty much every field, including, of course, the school system. Being confined to the home without much social interaction...
(Photo Courtesy of Desiree Williams) Local physical therapist and TV personality offers seven tips to help new moms create a healthier lifestyle for the whole family. Welcome to the most impactful, exhausting, overwhelming, all-encompassing, full-time job you will ever have — motherhood! As a new mom, finding the balance between...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) With the festive season fast approaching, it’s incredibly important for parents to give themselves the time and space to prepare for the upcoming challenges. For adults, the holiday season can be incredibly overwhelming. We are exposed to a constant stream of advertising, our communities and homes...
(Photo Courtesy of Leo Rivas on Unsplash) Learn how catching some Zzzs can help you and your kids have a productive new year. There is no doubt that getting enough quality sleep is essential for overall physical and mental health. We could come up with a slogan-based sleep recommendation: “Eight...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) How mindful parenting can help develop a healthier parent-child relationship. It can be very challenging to raise a young family. If you have found yourself losing your patience and overreacting when your child says or does something unacceptable, you are not alone. Fortunately, there are ways...
(Photo Courtesy of Art Therapy) Teamwork makes the artwork: how holiday crafts build family ties. The art process allows the family to strengthen their bond through the creative art process and to appreciate each other’s different perspectives. It also empowers the family’s creative thinking and stimulates the family’s identity as...
(Photo Courtesy of Raychan/Unsplash) Why you should consider parenting mindfully. If you have ever found yourself reacting more harshly than necessary when dealing with your child only to feel remorseful later on, you are not alone. Mindful parenting is a parenting strategy that focuses on stopping a negative interaction in...
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) Learn some useful strategies to help your child cultivate strong friendships while developing social-emotional learning. So far in this series of articles about social and emotional learning, there have been three main takeaways about how healthy self-worth develops in children: through consistent observation, regular communication and...
(Q&A with Orange County Superintendent of Schools Al Mijares) The superintendent talks mental health, resources and the school year ahead. The new school year is upon us. How do you see the 2022/23 school year playing out? I think the last few years have presented us with valuable lessons about...
(Photo Courtesy of Kelly Sikkemma/Unsplash) When news of pandemics and school shootings create anxiety, and cyberbullying causes fear, artistic expression, and present-moment awareness can instill calm. If the world feels more stressful to you than ever before, you’re not alone. COVID-19 and its unending variants, school shootings, cyberbullying, threats of...
(Photo Courtesy of YMCA of OC) Learn how to help develop your children’s sense of self-worth through positive talk. I once came across a comic strip that depicted a series of cartoons of a child being told what to do throughout their school day by teachers, school staff, lunch monitors...
(Photo Courtesy of Xavier Mouton Photographie) How do I help guide my kids through the trauma of school shootings? All ages Earthquake drills. Fire drills. These types of emergency preparations have long been part of student life in Orange County schools. These days, unfortunately, many children have something else built...
(Photo Courtesy of YMCA of OC) Creating self-worth in children in a complicated world. A mass school shooting in Texas. An ongoing war in Ukraine. An obsession with social media endlessly capturing our attention. These are just a few of the issues rising to the top of parents’ concerns about...
(Photo Courtesy of Emily Wade/Unsplash) How can I keep my kids safe from the mental health risks of social media? All ages Children’s access, reliance and relationship with technology has skyrocketed in the past two years. Online schooling, increased dependence on laptops during the pandemic and isolation have directly impacted...
(Photo Courtesy of Annie Spratt/Unsplash) Embodying kindness can offer children many benefits for themselves and others. Is the word kindness overused? The truth is that it is easy to dismiss kindness as a catchphrase in this busy world we live in. However, kindness can never be an overdone idea! The...
(Photo Courtesy of Monstera/Pexels) Help your kids develop a mindful brain with some exercise. Are you wondering how to help your child flex their mental-health muscles? The brain is the ultimate mindfulness muscle! Play is the default brain workout for children. Most children effortlessly fall into play that allows them...
(Ethan with Anneliese Schools miniature horse/ Photo Courtesy of Anneliese Schools) Anneliese Schools Animal Care Coordinator Janet O’Faolain talks about the important role animals can play in child development. Stefanie Speed A New York native, Janet O’Faolain found it therapeutic being around the horses in Central Park. She...
(Photo Courtesy of YMCA of Orange County) This year, families can change up their New Year’s resolutions by focusing on consistency. It’s a new year, and with 2022 freshly on the calendar, the challenges of 2020 are looking further away in the rearview mirror. Many of us have weathered the...
(Photos Courtesy of Diana Shabtai) Making art as a family can help encourage bonding while creating something special for the holidays. Creating art together as a family this holiday season allows a parent to possibly gain better insight into how their child is feeling or thinking by encouraging them to...
(Photo Courtesy of Kampus Productions/Pexels) How mindfulness can become a useful part of your child’s mental-health toolkit. Parents shouldn't be intimidated by conversations about how to manage childhood anxiety. It's very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that anxiety is a problem that needs to be fixed. In...
(Photo Courtesy of Any Lane/Pexels) Learn about three common mistakes parents make with adolescent mental health and how to fix them. Missing Warning Signs The saying kids will be kids is problematic. I mean, I get it: Sometimes kids will be kids. But unfortunately, where adolescent mental health is concerned,...
(Photo courtesy of Canva) Learn about all the potential benefits mindful journaling offers to students. Parents looking to make the most of their child’s educational experience may want to encourage the use of the mindfulness tool, journaling. Some of the benefits of journaling include reduction of anxiety, improved grades, students...
(Photo Courtesy of engin akyurt/Unsplash) How parents can ease back into mindfulness after many months of intense pandemic anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic has tested all of us — from the young to the old, to the sick and the healthy — no one has been un-impacted by the implications of...
(Photo Courtesy of YMCA of OC) This summer is key to continue children’s learning. Summertime in Southern California means beach trips, road trips, swimming pools and shaved ice. And after more than a year of enduring the challenges of a pandemic, many students and teachers are counting down the days...
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) Fathers can also greatly benefit from mindful communication with their children. Being present and practicing mindfulness with children is easier said than done. While new mothers are traditionally expected to be mindful, fathers are often understudied and overlooked when it comes to the relationships they form...
Practicing art as a family can offer benefits in overall well-being and self-care. The art process can help families strengthen their bond and better appreciate each other’s varied perspectives. It also encourages the family’s creative thinking skills and stimulates the family’s identity as a team. This in turn can help...
(Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Cosens Photography/Unsplash) A teen mental health expert offers parents advice on avoiding the pitfalls of bad habits. The early months of the year are usually a time for reflection, resolutions and starting anew. But with the pandemic clearly seeping into 2021, it can be more difficult...
(Photo Courtesy of Jan Kopřiva/Unsplash) Calming techniques for the chaos and anxiety of special needs life. Raising a child with special needs is a challenging task that can drain parents, especially when effective coping methods are absent. Brain development in children is a complex process that depends on several factors,...
Stress-reduction is the key to a healthy pregnancy as moms-to-be adapt to pandemic life. As beautiful and transformative as pregnancy can be, it often comes with its own unique set of anxieties. Layer the grim realities of a global pandemic on top of the normal stressors of pregnancy, and the...
As we near the end of the year, it’s a good time for going back to some mindfulness basics. Mindfulness is far more than being aware of an experience — it is also understanding why we are aware of it. Mindfulness is the human capacity to process a situation and...
The end of 2020 offers a chance to reflect and reset for the new year. As the year comes to a close, we will inevitably reflect on how this year has impacted us and our families. On a broader scale, our country experienced the threat from a global pandemic, political...
Knowing the right ways to show empathy and compassion can serve as useful emotional tools for parents. The definition of empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, while compassion is described as sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Just because...
Feeling the stress of recent world events? Art therapy may help. Art is a fantastic coping mechanism and tool for emotional healing, wellness, self-care, stress relief and therapeutic creative expression — particularly when dealing the aftermath of this pandemic. Art making aids in healthy mindful communication and expression of feelings...
Therapy Dough Let’s be honest: Parenting has gotten difficult this year. Staying at home all day with the kids can take a toll, but managing your stress doesn’t have to take a backseat. Uncommon Goods’ Therapy Dough is modeled after clay used by art therapists and is even infused with...
Parents have a lot to handle these days. Here are some methods for staying sane when things get real. Becoming a parent and having the opportunity to raise a little one of your own is one of the best gifts that life has to offer. Still, as beautiful as the...
Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash With re-openings underway, how do we mentally cope with a normal that is in transition? COVID-19 and recent societal stressors have created a deep uncertainty about our future. As a psychiatrist, I never hospitalized as many patients or seen this level of anxiety and...
By Victoria Costello Over a decade ago, at age 17, my son Alex lost his ability to finish a whole sentence, wear shoes, get even a half night’s sleep, or face the other kids at school. After getting Alex to a psychiatrist for a mental health evaluation I learned that,...
These meditation tips can help soothe our nerves during this challenging time. These times are challenging, there is no doubt. Focusing on one’s mind in the moment can bring great insight, as it allows one to think clearly about the subject matter at hand. Mindful parenting is simply an ongoing...
How to listen to our kids when they lose their icon. When a child’s hero passes away, a part of their innocence is gone forever. When we lost Kobe Bryant, it was a striking reminder that life isn’t just a game. It sometimes is tragically and inexplicably taken away, never...
Start the year off with some emergency preparedness and planning. The new year is a time for learning from the past and looking forward toward the future. Considering the recent fires and power outages that hit Southern California, it’s a good time to think about preparedness. “Orange County has multiple...
Stress is a fact of modern adult life, especially during the holidays. It can be difficult to gather the energy needed to maintain a career, home, family and social life. When your personal reserves are running low, your relationships suffer. In addition to a number of serious physical symptoms, stress...
Parents of kids with autism may face added challenges around celebrations. The holiday season is my favorite time of year. The tasty, homemade food, warm embraces from visiting relatives and lots of laughter, expand my heart. But as much as I now look forward to this time of year, I...
Learn how to transform fear into courage with these mindfulness techniques. To feel afraid at times is normal — everyone experiences fear. Learning tools to deal with fear will allow you and your child a stronger voice in life. Fear is an emotion that can help us be cautious. Parents...
Apps can be a priceless tool. Imagine your child having a coping skill in their pocket that can bring harmony and presence at home or in the classroom. Meditation apps are fostering great results, they can help young ones calm down and help improve focus and concentration. Many environments can...
Summer trips can serve to refuel the family unit by keeping actively mindful. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Trips are an ideal time to reset, reconnect and refocus the family. Cultivate joy with mindfulness on your summer vacation. Traveling provides opportunities for your child to learn patience and...
Parents continually face stressful situations with the constant demands of work and family. Uncontrolled stress makes it difficult for a parent to respond appropriately when their child acts out. Yelling, spanking and other aggressive or violent punishments can be the result of stress buildup. A moment of uncontrolled anger can...
‘Harry Potter’ fanfiction may help those with autism tell their stories. A study led by UC Irvine researchers and published in January in the Journal of Literacy Research found that those with autism—along with family members, teachers and advocates—use “Harry Potter” fanfiction to cast autistic characters in their stories that...
The inspiration behind local specialty coffee brand, Portola Coffee Roasters, is rooted in parents’ love for their child. Christa Duggan never planned to become the owner of a well-respected, specialty coffeehouse brand. But when her son, Gabe, was born almost 12 years ago, everything changed as she and her husband,...
School work can present stress for some families. Tutoring may help. Laguna Hills resident Shawn Moh and his wife were spending hours a week after work and on Sundays helping their two teens with school work. They decided to sign them up for tutoring so their kids could have a...
Family volunteer vacations balance doing good with having fun. For your next family trip, how about doing some good while also having fun. Sound intriguing? It’s called a “family volunteer vacation,” and thousands of people across the country are doing it every year. The trips can last for a few...
Is meditation the wave of the future in education? Our children’s brains are where 89 billion neurons fire in an organized way. It’s their control center. But in an increasingly warp-speed, hyper-linked world where social media competes for our children’s waning attention spans, while school shootings and bullying compound their...
Q: [Kid to Teen] Is the #MeToo topic something I should address with my younger kids? A: Girls Inc. believes we all have a role to play in building a culture of respect for girls, which is one of the reasons why we launched the #GirlsToo campaign, with actions aimed...
Avoid the summer slide in learning by incorporating these fun ways to maintain and improve learning while on vacation. Learning, especially with young minds, is assisted when children see how the skills they are being taught in school are useful and can be applied in “real life.” Abstract concepts are...
Break away to a world of peace and tranquility – and still be back on time to pick the kiddies up from school. These day spas throughout OC offer everything from skin care to deep tissue massages, for the stress relief and relaxation every parent deserves. MassageLuXe Escape from carpool...
Whether you’re going by car, plane or train, traveling with children of any age isn’t always easy, but it is nearly always rewarding. 1. Plan Ahead, But Be Flexible There is no substitute for looking at your options before you go and making a plan. But, since children are involved,...
Along with trees to trim and halls to deck, it seems the holiday season brings added stress for everyone. For those suffering from even mild depression, the holidays can tip the scales from “doing okay,” to not. That’s easy to understand because the holidays have gone from being a simple...
It is Back to School season, so more likely than not the word “overwhelmed” has popped up in your mind, if not out of your mouth. The life you had before kids looks a lot different than the one you’re living now. I struggled with finding balance. Balance between who...
Explore the benefits of focusing on your own happiness. Life is busy —with families to raise, jobs to work and dishes to wash—we often forget to make time for ourselves. Yet, not taking time for ourselves can undermine our efforts to be the best we can be. “It is important...
Nearly everyone is connected to social media, whether to reach out to old friends or to stay in constant contact with new ones. For the past few years, researchers have been trying to figure out what impact that screen time is having on wellbeing, whether for our bodies or our...
Sometimes life can seem overwhelming, even in the idyllic environs we enjoy in Orange County. As reflections about the past and new year kick in, we wanted to share the inspiring stories of a few OC families. The Brown Family 100 Miles and Counting Last December, Kelly and Allen Brown...
A Colorado Family Ski Haven While Vail and Aspen have a serious reputation for exclusivity and upscale slopes with all the bells and whistles we’ve come to be spoiled by in OC, don’t discount this family-friendly Colorado option just a 90 minute transfer from Denver. Plenty of bucket list experiences...
During the holiday season, even the closest families can experience friction. If your mother-in-law can’t quit complaining about this year’s contentious election, or Uncle Bob launches into another lifestyle debate, take heart. With advanced planning and a handful of tactful responses at the ready, your holiday celebration can be enjoyable...
Years ago, I struggled through an airport with my toddler and a heap of coats and carry-ons to catch a 6 a.m. flight. After making my way through the security line, I landed by the gate with my laptop still hanging out of my briefcase and my sock-footed son trying...
To truly end the stigma surrounding mental health, it’s important to understand the truths behind the causes, symptoms, and treatments of these disorders. It’s imperative to dispel the myths surrounding these illnesses in order to eradicate the fear and misconceptions so prevalent in families. Debbie Hutchinson, Psy.D., Manager of Outpatient...