This October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. It is a month where we honor the lives lost and the families who are grieving. It is estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss. Therefore, it is likely that you have either experienced this unique type of grief yourself or have a loved one going through this experience.
August means just one thing for children and teenagers: back to school. While for many kids and teens, going back to school is an exciting and fun experience, it is not that way for all students. Here at Embark, we want to help out those students who may struggle with academics a bit due to ADHD or social skills due to anxiety. There are many different reasons that children may find returning to school difficult, and Embark is here to help.
What is the goal of discipline? Most people associate the term "discipline" with punishment or consequences. However, it derives from the Latin word disciplina, which means to teach or to learn. Overall, the primary goal of discipline is to teach our children, not to punish them. So, how can we approach discipline with our children in a way that effectively teaches them how to build long-term skills that will lead them to make good choices? Let's discuss the connect first, redirect next approach to discipline.
The adolescent years are full of confusion in terms of finding who you are. Adolescents not only face internal challenges of assessing their own values and interests but also have the pressure of fitting in with their peers and feeling accepted. One area that an increasing number of adolescents are exploring today is their sexual and gender identity. As a parent, this can stir up an array of different emotions, and you may not know how best to help your child through this time in their life.
The holiday season can be a time filled with joy, kinship, fellowship, and tradition. It can also be a time accompanied by stress, grief, conflict, and financial insecurity. How do we manage the latter so we can be more present with each other and truly enjoy this holiday season? As a couple, feeling like a team and creating a sense of “we-ness” during this time is valuable in managing those harder feelings that may accompany the holiday season.
Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities! Each year, on December 3rd, the United Nations and the World Health Organization come together to celebrate and discuss how far we have come in supporting and advocating for individuals with all kinds of disabilities. This topic is a conversation that needs to happen all year round.
It can be SO hard to navigate your relationship after bringing a child into the equation. The transition to parenthood can be both an exciting and scary experience, from choosing your child’s name to creating your birth plan. After bringing a child home, it is easy to become so wrapped up in the excitement and planning that we often forget to have conversations about creating an environment that nurtures the relationship with our partner and keeps the connection strong.
If you are a parent who spends much time on social media, you’ve likely seen the many posts about supporting teachers through their Amazon wish list. This is where teachers create a registry of items that they would love to have in their classrooms for the coming school year. Many family members, friends, and even strangers go to this list to make a purchase and support the teacher. It gets sent directly to their doorstep and is a very convenient way to show teachers appreciation and encouragement, which is well deserved.
When it comes to working with, and interacting with young people, understanding identity and providing a supportive environment is crucial. According to The Trevor Project, LGBTQ teens are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers. In the same article, The Trevor Project indicates that a youth who is LGBTQ+ who has at least one supporting adult in their life is about 40% less likely to attempt suicide.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) has been well researched for over 30 years, and its impact on our children and teens is becoming more and more evident. As a mental health professional serving children and families, I have sat across from many anxious parents seeking support for their child who recently experienced a potentially traumatic event. Abuse or neglect, violence, a loved one dying by suicide, and growing up in a home with substance abuse, mental health issues, or parental separation, otherwise known as ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), come to mind.