Many teens struggle with maintaining a regular sleep schedule. With early morning wake-ups and frequent late nights it is difficult to get enough rest. According to the Sleep Foundation, teenagers should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night. The unfortunate reality is that with sports practices, extracurricular activities, studying, and homework, teens rarely meet this requirement. Sleep is critical for proper development, daily functioning, and maintaining mental health. Something that can help teens work towards repairing their sleep is something called sleep hygiene.  There are 5 ..read more

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is becoming a more and more common comorbidity with Autism Spectrum Disorder. At one point it was thought that having one of these diagnoses would disqualify you for the other, but that manner of thinking has drastically shifted over the past decade as our understanding of developmental disorders has shifted.  Developmental disorders were previously thought of as categories within themselves, which is how the assumption that ADHD and ASD couldn’t exist in one brain developed. The idea was that since these disorders can often present in t ..read more

Life can be a rollercoaster, with ups, downs, and unexpected twists. Wouldn't it be great if your teen had a toolkit to help you face challenges with a clear mind and positive energy? Well, buckle up because we're introducing you to a powerful Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skill: REST! It stands for Relax, Evaluate, Set an Intention, and Take Action. Let's dive in and discover how REST can be your secret weapon for navigating the teen journey. Relax: Unwind Your Mind Life can get pretty hectic, right? From school pressures to social dynamics, it's important to take a breather. The "R" in ..read more

Discovering your teen is engaging in self-harm can be a terrifying experience. It can often leave parents feeling helpless, and unsure how to address such a sensitive and serious topic. It can be overwhelming to try and approach the issue, or to know where to start, and a lot of this overwhelm comes from not understanding the purpose behind the behavior. Often the concern is that self-harm automatically indicates suicidal tendencies or ideations, but this is not the case.  Self harm, like many maladaptive behaviors, is a coping mechanism gone awry. When faced with difficult situations, o ..read more

Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTS) are an unavoidable part of the human experience. While they are extremely common, and typically not too distressing, when we let them rule our brains they can have a severe impact on our emotions, behaviors, and overall mental well being.  What are Automatic Negative Thoughts? Automatic Negative Thoughts, or ANTS, are the quick, reflexive, and often distorted, patterns of thinking that have an influence on our feelings and behaviors. These thoughts arise spontaneously and can be triggered by a variety of situations, events, or internal cognitive process ..read more

While it is important to be able to encourage your child to work through the discomfort of their anxiety when they have a difficult time getting to school, it is okay, now and then, to give them a ‘rest’ day. The problem for a lot of parents is that a rest day is interpreted by the teen as permission to stay home and do nothing, nothing that is, but stay on the phone, or computer or watch t.v.  The rest day should be a day of productive rest, not avoidance. Boundaries and expectations as part of a family policy need to be set in place before the concept of a “rest” day is even discussed ..read more

As we at Mindful Healing observe Self-Harm Awareness Month, I'd like to share with you how therapy can offer support and hope to teenagers facing the challenges of self-harm. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based apporach to providing your teen with a structured and data-driven framework to navigate their emotions and build resilience.  Understanding Self-Harm in Teens Self-harm, also known as self-injury or self-mutilation, is the intentional act of causing injury to oneself as a way of coping with emotional pain, distress, or overwhelming feelings. It is an unhea ..read more

The increase in social media use is no surprise to families with teens and young adults. Plus, there’s growing concern about social media’s effects on developing minds. That view is expressed by both public health and pediatric professionals, such as the Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  “The current body of evidence indicates that while social media may have benefits for some children and adolescents, there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.” Surgeon General ..read more

When trying to help their Neurodivergent teen, many parents seek out resources that can help them help their teens. One of the hardest parts of knowing your child is struggling is feeling like you don’t know how to best help. However, there are resources that can help with this.  One of the best resources for parents of neurodivergent teens who are struggling is the DBT Skills Workbook for Parents of Teens by the Mentor Bucket. This book explores the different skills reviewed and taught in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. DBT is the best, evidence-supported therapy resource for a vast maj ..read more

During the teen years, dating and romantic relationships can be a challenge…both for your teen and for you as a parent. Valentine’s Day in particular can be stressful if your teen does not have a romantic partner when their friends do, if they are having problems with their romantic partner, or if they have been rejected by a crush. All the reminders of romance can trigger intense feelings of envy, anger, disappointment, or even worthlessness. Alternatively, your teen might have a romantic partner but are challenged by expectations—spending money on a date, how much time they can have togethe ..read more