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Managing Meltdowns in Children: Practical Tips and Resources for Parents
Children, especially those dealing with emotional regulation challenges, can sometimes experience meltdowns—intense emotional outbursts triggered by frustration, overstimulation, or unmet needs. As a parent, managing meltdowns at home and in public can be a challenging experience, but with the right strategies and support, you can help your child learn to manage their emotions in healthier…
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Understanding Signs of Unresolved Trauma in Children: How to Support and When to Seek Help
Children, like adults, experience stress and trauma. However, the signs may not always be as clear, making it difficult for parents and caregivers to identify when a child’s behavior is a result of unresolved trauma. While every child responds to adversity differently, there are some common signs to look for, along with strategies for helping…
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From Caterpillar to Butterfly: Healing Trauma and Strengthening Families Across Generations
Trauma has the power to shape our lives in profound ways, much like the life cycle of a caterpillar. Though adversity can feel like a cocoon keeping us trapped in darkness, the journey through healing can lead to transformation—emerging as a stronger, more resilient version of ourselves. Generational trauma is a unique challenge that impacts…
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Healthy Co-Parenting: Focusing on the Child and Managing Emotional Triggers
Co-parenting is rarely simple. It requires two individuals with their own histories, emotions, and differences to collaborate for the well-being of their child. Whether the relationship is amicable or fraught with conflict, healthy co-parenting is possible when both parents prioritize the child’s needs and commit to managing their own emotions. Recognizing and Managing Emotional Triggers…
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Navigating Family Relationships: Recognizing Toxicity and Building Healthier Connections
Family relationships are often described as a baby mobile—each piece interconnected, constantly influencing and adjusting to the others. When one piece shifts, the entire system seeks balance, known as homeostasis. While this interconnectedness can be a source of strength, it can also perpetuate unhealthy patterns or amplify toxic behaviors. Recognizing these dynamics and responding healthily…
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Turning Mistakes into Milestones: Embracing Imperfection Through Perspective-Taking
Mistakes are a natural part of life. Yet, many of us treat them as proof of failure, something to hide or feel ashamed about. What if we flipped the script? What if we saw mistakes not as setbacks, but as vital stepping stones that shape us, teach us, and lead us to where we need…
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Seeing the Beauty in Brokenness: How Perspective-Taking Transforms Challenges
Life’s challenges often leave us feeling broken. Whether it’s the pain of abuse, the trauma of divorce, or the weight of mental illness, these experiences can strip away our sense of wholeness and control. But what if brokenness isn’t the end? What if, instead, it’s an opportunity for growth, healing, and a new perspective? Perspective-taking—the…
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Boiling Points: Will Adversity Harden or Soften You?
We all experience stressful moments, and times of upheaval in our lives. Our natural responses to these instances are, to a great extent, based on our previous life experiences, our beliefs, and our personalities. In other words, we are likely to respond differently to stress than someone else, even someone in our own family. Some…
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Seasonal Depression: How Changing Weather Impacts Mental Health and Tips to Cope
Seasonal changes, particularly the shift into colder, darker months, can significantly impact our mental health. This phenomenon, often referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression, is more than just the “winter blues.” It’s a real, diagnosable condition that can affect your energy, mood, and overall well-being. Additionally, unpredictable weather patterns due to…
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Rising Above Challenges: The Parable of the Divers
How do you handle when someone else wins or gets something YOU want? What are the challenges faced in life and how do you face them with fortitude and perseverance? When life gives you struggles, how can you build resilience instead of resistance? There are so many hard things we face in life, from childhood…