Child Development Parenting & Families Skills

Connect Redirect Approach to Discipline

August 20, 2024by Samantha Reed

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.

Child Development Miscellaneous Parenting & Families

Foolproof Guide to Supporting Teachers

August 28, 2023by Jen Lanning

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.

Group Therapy Parenting & Families Tweens & Teens

Supporting LGBTQ+ Teens At Embark

March 31, 2023by Ashley Cross

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.

Attachment Child Development Parenting & Families Trauma

Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences

March 16, 2023by Embark Counseling Services

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.