As the holiday season approaches, the air becomes filled with an undeniable sense of magic and anticipation. Beyond the twinkling lights and festive decorations lies a deeper aspect that enriches this time of year: holiday traditions. These cherished customs, passed down through generations, hold profound importance in our lives, offering a sense of continuity, connection, and comfort. It is a time of joy, togetherness, and cherished traditions. For most families, it’s a time to gather, celebrate, and create lasting memories. However, for military families, the holidays can be bittersweet as t ..read more

Veterans Day, observed on November 11th each year, holds profound importance as a day dedicated to honoring and expressing gratitude to the men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States, safeguarding our freedoms, and protecting our nation.   Beyond being a federal holiday, Veterans Day represents a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to protect the values and freedoms that are at the core of our nation. While many adults participate in commemorating this important holiday, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to involve child ..read more

As an addiction counselor, I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of addiction on individuals and families. While many people associate addiction with drugs and alcohol, it’s important to recognize that addiction can take many different forms. As a foster parent, it’s crucial to understand the link between trauma, the brain and addiction in order to recognize the signs of addictive behavior that may not be immediately apparent. In this article, I will provide insight into the various forms of addiction, including technology, sugar, and hoarding, and offer recommendations for foster par ..read more

As an addictions counselor/behavior analyst and foster dad, it was important for me to step away from my professional role and simply enjoy being a dad. This was a key part of my personal growth as a person and a father. Before becoming a foster dad, I spent many years working as a behavior analyst and addiction counselor. I was used to being in a professional relationship role and providing guidance and support to others. But when my daughter came into my life, I quickly realized that being a foster dad was different. As a foster dad, I had to learn to let go of that need for control and simp ..read more

Active duty military families experience a unique set of challenges, one of which is the frequent relocation due to duty station changes. While these transitions are a part of military life, they can be particularly stressful for children. The uncertainty of leaving behind friends, schools, and familiar environments can trigger anxiety in young minds. However, there are strategies that parents can employ to help their children navigate these transitions with minimal anxiety and a positive outlook. In this blog, we’ll explore some effective ways to reduce anxiety in children during duty station ..read more

To understand how sexuality affects the lives of adolescence, it is important to understand what the term ”adolescence” means as our understanding of it has evolved.  It occurs between the onset of puberty and adulthood—both stages of development that vary greatly amongst the population.  Depending on gender, genetics, and other environmental and biological factors, some people’s adolescent stage could last 15 years, and for others, it may only last 6 or 7 years.  While the experience of this developmental stage has existed throughout human history, in psychology, adolescence wa ..read more

Just like other institutions, the military community has its own set of values, norms and language that are unique and specific to this population. Children of military families live in unique places, have unique experiences, and are exposed to much more than children raised outside of the military community. There is a significantly different way of day-to-day living, even as the military tries to offer normalcy to their troops and families. need for structure Studies have shown that children benefit from structured environments; military children are no different. Ch ..read more

For most of my childhood, my dad was in the Army Reserves. Our family wasn’t on the move as much as Active Duty families typically are – but boy did my dad deploy often. We lived in Puerto Rico, where my mom was a factory worker and my dad’s full-time job was managing the graveyard shift at our local Walmart Supercenter. Money was always tight, and deployments were a guaranteed increase in income for the time my dad was away. As hard as it was on our family, we needed the money, and so he would deploy for at least ten months at a time whenever the opportunity presented itself. I was too young ..read more

Clarity Child Guidance Center is undergoing construction to expand and improve the services we provide to our community. The project consists of the addition of 8 inpatient beds and a much-needed kitchen renovation. the kitchen is closed Please note that during construction, our campus kitchen will be closed. We have partnered with Meals on Wheels to provide nutritious and appetizing meals to our children on campus. Unfortunately, family meals will be unavailable during this time. many paths are closed Many of the sidewalks and paths around campus will be closed during construction. Please be ..read more

Like many of you, I have spent the last few weeks scouring the shelves at HEB, Target and Wal-Mart with a worn checklist in my hand.  The twins have the uniforms, the new shoes, the 24-pack of number 2 pencils, and the very specific three-prong purple folder with two pockets.  But back to school this year requires more preparation than glue sticks and colored pencils.  Are we making sure we are running down the checklist of our children’s mental wellness? To quote a May 2022 LinkedIn news story: “The children’s mental health crisis didn’t start with COVID-19. But the pandemic se ..read more