Blog
There is truth to the phrase that knowledge is power. And one of our goals with the work we do at Ensemble Therapy is to equip as many caregivers as possible with the resources they need to raise well-adjusted kids.
Even if you never join us for a therapy session, or you live outside of the Austin area, we hope you will find some solace, perhaps a little inspiration, and practical tools to take with you in the blogs we've curated over the years.
In addition to our Bibliotherapy Guide, we hope these resources are ones you feel comfortable sharing widely and returning to as you need.
Newest Blog Posts
Our childhood experiences can play a powerful role in shaping who we become. Early events impact the way we think, what we believe about ourselves and others, how we manage stress, and how we form relationships. Researchers have identified both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) that impact adult mental health.
Every so often, a parent will pull me aside before a session and say something like, “Hey, just so you know, we don’t allow pretend guns in our house, so if you could steer my child away from that kind of play, that’d be great.”
As children grow, the adults in their lives naturally have expectations about their evolving social and emotional needs. We recognize that babies require more consistent care and attention. We expect toddlers to assert their independence. We anticipate that elementary school children will begin to develop their self-confidence. We understand that teenagers strive to establish their identity.
As children grow, the adults in their lives naturally have expectations about their evolving social and emotional needs. We recognize that babies require more consistent care and attention. We expect toddlers to assert their independence. We anticipate that elementary school children will begin to develop their self-confidence. We understand that teenagers strive to establish their identity.
Many of us have been called lazy at some point in our lives; some of us have never been accused of it. Generally, I get upset when a child is called lazy, but it isn’t for the reason you think. Adults usually call a child lazy when the child isn’t motivated to “do something that needs to be done.” Plenty of parents and caregivers find frustration when their child refuses to do something required of them (see also “applying to oneself”), and that feeling is understandable. All the parents and caregivers that I know want their kid to be able to perform their responsibilities, but when you call a child “lazy,” that’s sometimes where parenting stops.
A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a parent when they casually said, "I'm just so glad I don't have a son right now. It's so hard for boys these days." At first, I was taken aback. The comment seemed to contradict what we often hear about men in society—after all, men still hold the majority of leadership positions, tend to earn more on average, and historically have had significant societal advantages. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much truth there was to that sentiment.
If your child is in therapy, you might have wondered what you can be doing at home to support their growth. While every child is unique in the support systems that are best for them, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can be beneficial to guide caregivers in building a strong foundation from which specific supports can be built. This foundation can lay the groundwork for emotional healing and growth.
Caregiving is an act of love, strength, and dedication — but it can come with its fair share of shame and judgment. Whether it’s from unsolicited advice, societal expectations, or personal doubts, these feelings can weigh heavily and leave you wondering if you’re doing enough or doing it “right.”
Progress is irregular and messy. Progress is not immediate or easy or fun or perfect. It does not demand our validation. It is not always expected, and we must keep a record of its rise and fall. It doesn’t rejoice in mistakes, but rejoices in the little wins. Progress never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures in every circumstance.
Blog Posts on ADHD
The holiday season is upon us and with it brings excitement as well as many schedule changes and opportunities for meltdowns. One great (and free) way to support your child during this hectic time of year is to support their nonverbal working memory. This is the part of the executive functioning (or EF) system that helps us visualize or imagine ourselves in the future as well as think about the past.
Exercise is good for everyone. In a world racked with uncertainty, this statement holds truer than most. Exercise looks different for everyone; you could be training for a marathon, or training to walk a 5k. You could play a few holes of golf on the weekend, or you could be doing a mile run followed by 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 200 squats, followed by another mile run. But no matter what and how much you are doing, you will very likely benefit from it.
If you are a parent staring down the barrel of the decision on whether or not to medicate your child for ADHD, it is very likely that you are feeling overwhelmed. I have found that many of the articles and studies we research do not include what families can really expect when they embark on that journey, or what they can expect if they don’t. Many studies and statistics that state medication treatment in addition to therapy for ADHD is very beneficial. I, too, am a believer in this idea, but that was not always the case, and of course every child, family, and situation is different; this is really important to keep in mind as you read this post. I want to share with you some information about ADHD and treatment thereof, as well as my personal journey of growing up while trying to figure out how to manage my diagnosis.
Before I get ahead of myself in this blog, I’ll answer the title question: What is Executive Functioning? Executive Functioning (or, EF, as the cool kids call it) is the “supervisor” or “conductor” in your brain. It helps control behaviors, emotions, and thoughts in order to achieve goals.
Blog Posts on Adolescents
Anxiety disorders are common mental health conditions that often manifest in childhood and adolescence. While it can be alarming to see your child struggle with anxiety, it's important to know that anxiety disorders can be well-managed with the right treatment and allow your child to live a full life. This guide is meant to be informative, answer common questions about anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, and provide resources for parents and families.
Adolescence is a period of time that consists of rapid brain growth, identity formation, emphasis on peer comparison, and exploration. Without a doubt, adolescence can be a tricky time to navigate on the parents’ end. Wondering how to communicate with your teen? Wondering why your teen spends the majority of their time alone? These are very common questions received from parents of teens because, let’s face it, this developmental period is not easy for anyone. Especially your teen.
Just like cognitive, physical, and emotional development, sexual development starts when a child is born. While we encourage you to discuss sexual development with your child at every age, we know that the language used can become trickier as your little one becomes a teenager, so today I’ll be sharing some things to consider as you prepare for these conversations with your teen.
If you are a parent staring down the barrel of the decision on whether or not to medicate your child for ADHD, it is very likely that you are feeling overwhelmed. I have found that many of the articles and studies we research do not include what families can really expect when they embark on that journey, or what they can expect if they don’t. Many studies and statistics that state medication treatment in addition to therapy for ADHD is very beneficial. I, too, am a believer in this idea, but that was not always the case, and of course every child, family, and situation is different; this is really important to keep in mind as you read this post. I want to share with you some information about ADHD and treatment thereof, as well as my personal journey of growing up while trying to figure out how to manage my diagnosis.
If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.
-Lao Tzu
The quote above is one of my absolute favorites. I often wish this quote had found its way to me sooner in my life because I think it (as any great quote does) gave me clarity on something that I had observed, but never synthesized into an actual idea. There are other quotes and references that address this same concept, but this is the only one that spells out to us that depression and anxiety are both remedied by your own actions; actions that can only be taken in the present.
Before I get ahead of myself in this blog, I’ll answer the title question: What is Executive Functioning? Executive Functioning (or, EF, as the cool kids call it) is the “supervisor” or “conductor” in your brain. It helps control behaviors, emotions, and thoughts in order to achieve goals.
For parents with children experiencing suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury, or any other mental health crisis, it can often feel like your world has been turned upside down. Every child is different, so, therefore, every crisis will be different. My hope is this blog will provide some helpful feedback to help parents keep putting one foot in front of the other in the event their child experiences a mental health crisis.
As we begin to settle into the new school year, I often find myself wondering how it's been almost two years since the start of the pandemic. In some ways, it feels like it's been an eternity whereas other days it seems as though it was just yesterday when the world came to a stop. And while more recently things are starting to feel like the “new normal,” and I feel like I’m able to navigate the world as I once did, I can’t help but acknowledge the universal grief that is all around us. Grief both in death and in the loss of what once was.
Thanks for following through this series of talking to kids about race. If you’re just joining us, we encourage you to check out some of our earlier posts about how to talk with toddlers and elementary aged children about anti-racism, equity, and inclusion.
Today, we’re talking about adolescents. Though we’ve talked about the importance of raising anti-racist humans from birth, it’s never too late to start incorporating more diversity into your family’s home, media consumption, and conversations. As Maya Angelou once said, “You do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Adolescents are experiencing a “remodel” in their brains, doing away with old, useless information, and strengthening their beliefs and ideals that are most enforced, so now is a great time to start or continue this work (1). The young brain is truly magical… even though the sometimes sour moods and slammed doors are not!
Blog Posts on Anti-Racism
I have been a member and a club sponsor for gender and sexuality alliances support groups for LGBTQIA+ folks for over 20 years, and every pride month people ask me the same question: “Why have pride month? What’s the point?” Simply put, pride is the opposite of shame. Pride month is our time to come together and say to each other that there is NO SHAME in being your authentic self. You are lovable and wonderful and you can be proud of your identity! The reality is that a lot of shame is placed on our LGBTQIA+ kids and families, (and there are a lot of serious statistics about their experiences) so that is why pride month continues to be necessary– we need to stand up against the shame, together.
In so many ways, high school and the teenage years are the culmination of the work you have done as a parent. It is the finale, the moment in which you can take pride in all the late nights, the early mornings, the dinners eaten in the car on the way to practice, the fights, and the disagreements. It’s the moment you’ve waited for since your child first came to your home—your child no longer being seen as a child in the eyes of the world, but as an adult.
Thanks for following through this series of talking to kids about race. If you’re just joining us, we encourage you to check out some of our earlier posts about how to talk with toddlers and elementary aged children about anti-racism, equity, and inclusion.
Today, we’re talking about adolescents. Though we’ve talked about the importance of raising anti-racist humans from birth, it’s never too late to start incorporating more diversity into your family’s home, media consumption, and conversations. As Maya Angelou once said, “You do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Adolescents are experiencing a “remodel” in their brains, doing away with old, useless information, and strengthening their beliefs and ideals that are most enforced, so now is a great time to start or continue this work (1). The young brain is truly magical… even though the sometimes sour moods and slammed doors are not!
This blog is the second in a series designed for parents to more easily approach the topic of race, bias, and racism with their children. Much of the language and resources in the Birth to Pre-K blog is also appropriate for Kinder and 1st graders and is generally foundational to this post. Please check it out!
Here you are, the parent of a preschooler or an even younger child. Maybe you are a first-time parent. Maybe you are a parenting pro. No matter, you are questioning how you’re going to begin a conversation, one that you know you should have and might not know how to start, or what is appropriate for the developmental level of your child. A conversation about race.
Blog Posts on Anxiety
You’re darn right it is! How do I know? Because I am a rock climber. I have been actively climbing rocks and rock-like features since 1999. I consider myself a lifetime beneficiary of the therapeutic properties of rock climbing. Through the sport of rock-climbing, I have developed self-confidence, mindfulness, resilience, and an ability to conquer many of my fears on the wall and off. All of which are tools that I use daily, to ensure a lifetime of positive growth, stability, and intrapersonal success.
Anxiety disorders are common mental health conditions that often manifest in childhood and adolescence. While it can be alarming to see your child struggle with anxiety, it's important to know that anxiety disorders can be well-managed with the right treatment and allow your child to live a full life. This guide is meant to be informative, answer common questions about anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, and provide resources for parents and families.
“Human beings are not born with self-control. We have to learn what to do with the mad that we feel. Learning to control ourselves is a long, hard process. It happens little by little. In fact, it is something we work on all through our lives.” - Mr Rogers
Children do not enter this world with bad intentions. Children offer us information, and if we’re courageous enough to listen to the information, we can attune to their inner experiences. We can perceive their behavior as communication, not as manipulation. Children, like all human beings, feel more cooperative when they are treated with respect and kindness. As adults, we do not respond well to people who speak to us harshly or treat us with disrespect - but this can sometimes be our default reaction when faced with our children’s big feelings.
“Good Job!” is so entrenched in our brains as a parenting phrase. Many parents (myself included) use it all the time. I would go so far to say that the only parents who don’t say “good job” to their children are the ones deliberately trying to avoid saying it. As ridiculous as it may sound, this blog is going to tell you why you should do just that, and the types of phrases you can try replacing it with.
August means back-to-school season for many of us! Shopping for school supplies, new clothes, new shoes, and backpacks can all feel very exciting, and this season may also be filled with lots of complicated, challenging emotions. While parents may be excited for a return to more structure, routine, and possibly even the occasional peace and quiet, many kiddos (and maybe parents too) can experience a very different response.
Summer is finally here and heating up! This can often mean summer day and sleep away camps. While for some kids and teens these activities can bring bounds of excitement, between catching up with friends from previous years, activities, and adventure, they can also bring up feelings of nervousness and anxiety. The idea of being away from the safety and predictability of home can cause homesickness and sleepless nights in some children. To help navigate these feelings, we have come up with some helpful tips and tricks to prepare your kid for a fun-filled summer!
If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.
-Lao Tzu
The quote above is one of my absolute favorites. I often wish this quote had found its way to me sooner in my life because I think it (as any great quote does) gave me clarity on something that I had observed, but never synthesized into an actual idea. There are other quotes and references that address this same concept, but this is the only one that spells out to us that depression and anxiety are both remedied by your own actions; actions that can only be taken in the present.
Divorce can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life, and adding in the stress of learning how to successfully co-parent can make the situation even more overwhelming. However, understanding ways you can support your child, and knowing when your child might need professional help, can take away some of those worries.
Blog Posts on Depression
Grief is one of those things we feel before we ever have words for it. It lives in our bodies, in the quiet spaces, in the ache that tells us something important is missing. And if you’ve ever watched a child grieve, whether over a pet, a grandparent, or a move across town, you’ve probably felt how deep and bewildering those feelings can be.
You’re darn right it is! How do I know? Because I am a rock climber. I have been actively climbing rocks and rock-like features since 1999. I consider myself a lifetime beneficiary of the therapeutic properties of rock climbing. Through the sport of rock-climbing, I have developed self-confidence, mindfulness, resilience, and an ability to conquer many of my fears on the wall and off. All of which are tools that I use daily, to ensure a lifetime of positive growth, stability, and intrapersonal success.
If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.
-Lao Tzu
The quote above is one of my absolute favorites. I often wish this quote had found its way to me sooner in my life because I think it (as any great quote does) gave me clarity on something that I had observed, but never synthesized into an actual idea. There are other quotes and references that address this same concept, but this is the only one that spells out to us that depression and anxiety are both remedied by your own actions; actions that can only be taken in the present.
As we begin to settle into the new school year, I often find myself wondering how it's been almost two years since the start of the pandemic. In some ways, it feels like it's been an eternity whereas other days it seems as though it was just yesterday when the world came to a stop. And while more recently things are starting to feel like the “new normal,” and I feel like I’m able to navigate the world as I once did, I can’t help but acknowledge the universal grief that is all around us. Grief both in death and in the loss of what once was.
Blog Posts From the Therapist Chair
At Ensemble Therapy, we care deeply about the “why” behind our practice of counseling. We believe there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to counseling; each therapist views the counseling process and their clients through a unique lens formed from years of education and experience. This means that as a client, you can choose the counselor who is the best fit for you or your child. While this freedom to choose the best-fit may sound nice at first, it can be difficult to know how to choose when there seem to be so many ways to do therapy. Not only are there lots of theories on how to practice counseling, often the language behind counseling theories is difficult to understand and apply without any previous background knowledge.
At Ensemble Therapy, we care deeply about the “why” behind our practice of counseling. We believe there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to counseling; each therapist views the counseling process and their clients through a unique lens formed from years of education and experience. This means that as a client, you can choose the counselor who is the best fit for you or your child. While this freedom to choose the best-fit may sound nice at first, it can be difficult to know how to choose when there seem to be so many ways to do therapy. Not only are there lots of theories on how to practice counseling, often the language behind counseling theories is difficult to understand and apply without any previous background knowledge.
At Ensemble Therapy, we care deeply about the “why” behind our practice of counseling. We believe there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to counseling; each therapist views the counseling process and their clients through a unique lens formed from years of education and experience. This means that as a client, you can choose the counselor who is the best fit for you or your child. While this freedom to choose the best-fit may sound nice at first, it can be difficult to know how to choose when there seem to be so many ways to do therapy. Not only are there lots of theories on how to practice counseling, often the language behind counseling theories is difficult to understand and apply without any previous background knowledge.
At Ensemble Therapy, we care deeply about the “why” behind our practice of counseling. We believe there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to counseling; each therapist views the counseling process and their clients through a unique lens formed from years of education and experience. This means that as a client, you can choose the counselor who is the best fit for you or your child. While this freedom to choose the best-fit may sound nice at first, it can be difficult to know how to choose when there seem to be so many ways to do therapy. Not only are there lots of theories on how to practice counseling, often the language behind counseling theories is difficult to understand and apply without any previous background knowledge.
At Ensemble Therapy, we care deeply about the “why” behind our practice of counseling. We believe there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to counseling; each therapist views the counseling process and their clients through a unique lens formed from years of education and experience. This means that as a client, you can choose the counselor who is the best fit for you or your child. While this freedom to choose the best-fit may sound nice at first, it can be difficult to know how to choose when there seem to be so many ways to do therapy. Not only are there lots of theories on how to practice counseling, often the language behind counseling theories is difficult to understand and apply without any previous background knowledge.
At Ensemble Therapy, we care deeply about the “why” behind our practice of counseling. We believe there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to counseling; each therapist views the counseling process and their clients through a unique lens formed from years of education and experience. This means that as a client, you can choose the counselor who is the best fit for you or your child. While this freedom to choose the best-fit may sound nice at first, it can be difficult to know how to choose when there seem to be so many ways to do therapy. Not only are there lots of theories on how to practice counseling, often the language behind counseling theories is difficult to understand and apply without any previous background knowledge.
Blog Posts on Neurobiology
Every so often, a parent will pull me aside before a session and say something like, “Hey, just so you know, we don’t allow pretend guns in our house, so if you could steer my child away from that kind of play, that’d be great.”
As children grow, the adults in their lives naturally have expectations about their evolving social and emotional needs. We recognize that babies require more consistent care and attention. We expect toddlers to assert their independence. We anticipate that elementary school children will begin to develop their self-confidence. We understand that teenagers strive to establish their identity.
Typically when someone thinks of therapy, images of a calm and quiet waiting room may appear in their mind. Maybe rain sounds are playing, and the office is filled with mid-century modern furniture and earth tones. As you can imagine, play therapy tends to be a bit different. Especially the sounds!
During the holiday season, we often find that children have more difficulty with emotional regulation. Excitement is abundant and routine falls to the wayside: two things that shrink the level of tolerance children have for dysregulating stimuli.
Adolescence is a period of time that consists of rapid brain growth, identity formation, emphasis on peer comparison, and exploration. Without a doubt, adolescence can be a tricky time to navigate on the parents’ end. Wondering how to communicate with your teen? Wondering why your teen spends the majority of their time alone? These are very common questions received from parents of teens because, let’s face it, this developmental period is not easy for anyone. Especially your teen.
“Human beings are not born with self-control. We have to learn what to do with the mad that we feel. Learning to control ourselves is a long, hard process. It happens little by little. In fact, it is something we work on all through our lives.” - Mr Rogers
Children do not enter this world with bad intentions. Children offer us information, and if we’re courageous enough to listen to the information, we can attune to their inner experiences. We can perceive their behavior as communication, not as manipulation. Children, like all human beings, feel more cooperative when they are treated with respect and kindness. As adults, we do not respond well to people who speak to us harshly or treat us with disrespect - but this can sometimes be our default reaction when faced with our children’s big feelings.
You may have come across the terms “attachment style” or “attachment theory” at some point in your child’s, or even your own, therapy journey. However, you may not have a thorough understanding about what attachment actually means. Attachment theory was first developed in the mid-1940s by psychologist and psychiatrist John Bowlby and was later expanded upon with research conducted by psychologist Mary Ainsworth. A simple definition of attachment is “an emotional bond with another person.” (Buescher, 2022) Simply put, “attachment style” refers to the different ways in which we connect and develop emotional bonds with other human beings. Since attachment can be a focal point of the therapeutic process, I want to dive into this topic a little deeper.
Do you want to know how to hack your brain to feel better? I’d love to tell you about one of my “brain hacks” and it has to do with my favorite cranial nerve, the vagus nerve!
Blog Posts on Parenting Resources
Grief is one of those things we feel before we ever have words for it. It lives in our bodies, in the quiet spaces, in the ache that tells us something important is missing. And if you’ve ever watched a child grieve, whether over a pet, a grandparent, or a move across town, you’ve probably felt how deep and bewildering those feelings can be.
Every so often, a parent will pull me aside before a session and say something like, “Hey, just so you know, we don’t allow pretend guns in our house, so if you could steer my child away from that kind of play, that’d be great.”
As children grow, the adults in their lives naturally have expectations about their evolving social and emotional needs. We recognize that babies require more consistent care and attention. We expect toddlers to assert their independence. We anticipate that elementary school children will begin to develop their self-confidence. We understand that teenagers strive to establish their identity.
As children grow, the adults in their lives naturally have expectations about their evolving social and emotional needs. We recognize that babies require more consistent care and attention. We expect toddlers to assert their independence. We anticipate that elementary school children will begin to develop their self-confidence. We understand that teenagers strive to establish their identity.
Many of us have been called lazy at some point in our lives; some of us have never been accused of it. Generally, I get upset when a child is called lazy, but it isn’t for the reason you think. Adults usually call a child lazy when the child isn’t motivated to “do something that needs to be done.” Plenty of parents and caregivers find frustration when their child refuses to do something required of them (see also “applying to oneself”), and that feeling is understandable. All the parents and caregivers that I know want their kid to be able to perform their responsibilities, but when you call a child “lazy,” that’s sometimes where parenting stops.
A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a parent when they casually said, "I'm just so glad I don't have a son right now. It's so hard for boys these days." At first, I was taken aback. The comment seemed to contradict what we often hear about men in society—after all, men still hold the majority of leadership positions, tend to earn more on average, and historically have had significant societal advantages. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much truth there was to that sentiment.
If your child is in therapy, you might have wondered what you can be doing at home to support their growth. While every child is unique in the support systems that are best for them, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can be beneficial to guide caregivers in building a strong foundation from which specific supports can be built. This foundation can lay the groundwork for emotional healing and growth.
Caregiving is an act of love, strength, and dedication — but it can come with its fair share of shame and judgment. Whether it’s from unsolicited advice, societal expectations, or personal doubts, these feelings can weigh heavily and leave you wondering if you’re doing enough or doing it “right.”
Progress is irregular and messy. Progress is not immediate or easy or fun or perfect. It does not demand our validation. It is not always expected, and we must keep a record of its rise and fall. It doesn’t rejoice in mistakes, but rejoices in the little wins. Progress never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures in every circumstance.
Parents often ask me, "What’s the best way to handle chores and allowance?" On the surface, it sounds like an easy conversation about setting up a simple system—figuring out who does what around the house, how much allowance to give, and maybe sprinkling in some lessons about saving money. But the truth is, it’s so much deeper than that. This isn't just about making sure chores get done or determining how much to pay your child. It's about how we shape our children’s understanding of contribution, responsibility, and financial values.
Blog Posts on Research-Based Practices
As children grow, the adults in their lives naturally have expectations about their evolving social and emotional needs. We recognize that babies require more consistent care and attention. We expect toddlers to assert their independence. We anticipate that elementary school children will begin to develop their self-confidence. We understand that teenagers strive to establish their identity.
As children grow, the adults in their lives naturally have expectations about their evolving social and emotional needs. We recognize that babies require more consistent care and attention. We expect toddlers to assert their independence. We anticipate that elementary school children will begin to develop their self-confidence. We understand that teenagers strive to establish their identity.
If your child is in therapy, you might have wondered what you can be doing at home to support their growth. While every child is unique in the support systems that are best for them, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can be beneficial to guide caregivers in building a strong foundation from which specific supports can be built. This foundation can lay the groundwork for emotional healing and growth.
Parenting can be one of the most fulfilling yet challenging roles we undertake. There are moments of joy and connection, but there are also moments of frustration and stress, especially when a child’s behavior triggers a strong emotional reaction in us as the parent. Patty Wipfler's book, Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges, offers valuable insights and practical tools to help parents navigate these challenging moments.
"Are you breaking up with us?" This sentiment is one I've encountered numerous times as I broach the topic of termination with caregivers. While the remark may appear lighthearted, it undoubtedly speaks to the depth and significance of the therapeutic relationships we, as therapists, form not only with our clients but often with the entire family system.
If you’re a caregiver, you have probably thought about how to support your child’s emotional intelligence. This may look like asking your child to “use their words” to name how they are feeling, or maybe your child has a big meltdown when something they want doesn’t go as planned. Whatever the scenario, equipping children with the tools to understand their emotional world is essential for their well-being and ability to maneuver through life’s ups and downs.
Play therapy can seem like magic at times. Your child comes to our office for 45 minutes once a week to play and after an average of five months, they’ve completed their therapeutic goals! Their emotional regulation has improved, their anxiety has decreased, or maybe their self-esteem is higher.
Typically when someone thinks of therapy, images of a calm and quiet waiting room may appear in their mind. Maybe rain sounds are playing, and the office is filled with mid-century modern furniture and earth tones. As you can imagine, play therapy tends to be a bit different. Especially the sounds!
I recently came across a parenting article and I love it for so many reasons. It’s The Rise of Accidentally Permissive Parents by Elizabeth Passarella in The Cut. I think it speaks to so many issues parents are having… resulting in a difficult reality of not feeling like you’re parenting well. What a hard place to be! I highly recommend the read.
If you have a strong enough “why” you can endure any “how.” This is a paraphrased idea courtesy of Friedrich Nietzche that I find to be very true in life. But man! Constructing a “why” strong enough to do something difficult can be pretty tough in our adult lives (for example, I procrastinated on writing this blog post), let alone our children’s lives.
Blog Posts on School
When your child begins therapy, you might be seeking a diagnosis for them, or you might want to go through the process without one, or you may be unsure if you want to have your child receive a diagnosis. There are ways in which a diagnosis can provide support to your child and family, and there are also ways that it can be a hindrance.
As a new school year begins, there's a palpable sense of excitement and hustle around the city. Families are busy with their final back-to-school shopping, schedules are being released, and the anticipation of a new season fills the air. While many children look forward to the fresh start, the return to friends, and a break from the monotony of long summer days, the new school year can also bring anxiety and uncertainty, accompanied by a wave of complex emotions.
Typically caregivers are thrust into this new Special Education world abruptly, carrying with them worries about their child on their shoulders. Special Education is difficult enough to navigate on its own, let alone when the well-being of someone they care about is at stake.
August means back-to-school season for many of us! Shopping for school supplies, new clothes, new shoes, and backpacks can all feel very exciting, and this season may also be filled with lots of complicated, challenging emotions. While parents may be excited for a return to more structure, routine, and possibly even the occasional peace and quiet, many kiddos (and maybe parents too) can experience a very different response.
If you are a parent staring down the barrel of the decision on whether or not to medicate your child for ADHD, it is very likely that you are feeling overwhelmed. I have found that many of the articles and studies we research do not include what families can really expect when they embark on that journey, or what they can expect if they don’t. Many studies and statistics that state medication treatment in addition to therapy for ADHD is very beneficial. I, too, am a believer in this idea, but that was not always the case, and of course every child, family, and situation is different; this is really important to keep in mind as you read this post. I want to share with you some information about ADHD and treatment thereof, as well as my personal journey of growing up while trying to figure out how to manage my diagnosis.
Choosing the “right” school for your child is a daunting task for parents. We want our children to feel safe, seen, and supported in their academic environments, but it becomes overwhelming when there are often too many options available and not any clear guidance on how to evaluate if each program will align with your child’s individual needs. This is where we come in to save the day! We hope to take a load off your shoulders by giving you a how-to guide on identifying your child’s needs (or preferences) while demystifying the educational lingo you’ll encounter when visiting a potential campus.
Blog Posts on Screen Time
It’s the morning before school, you're getting ready for work, your first grader is watching a tv show, you’ve told them at least 27 times to put their shoes on, you're ready to walk out the door… and somehow the shoes are still not on. Sound familiar? Situations like these are something that child therapists hear about regularly. We see it happen in our waiting room and in our play rooms. Luckily, some pretty great counselors have developed ways to handle these situations so that everyone involved can feel calmer. It’s called Limit Setting. I’ll walk you through how it works, why it works, and how to use it at home!
At Ensemble Therapy, we care deeply about the “why” behind our practice of counseling. We believe there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to counseling; each therapist views the counseling process and their clients through a unique lens formed from years of education and experience. This means that as a client, you can choose the counselor who is the best fit for you or your child. While this freedom to choose the best-fit may sound nice at first, it can be difficult to know how to choose when there seem to be so many ways to do therapy. Not only are there lots of theories on how to practice counseling, often the language behind counseling theories is difficult to understand and apply without any previous background knowledge.
Blog Posts on Therapy
Our childhood experiences can play a powerful role in shaping who we become. Early events impact the way we think, what we believe about ourselves and others, how we manage stress, and how we form relationships. Researchers have identified both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) that impact adult mental health.
Every so often, a parent will pull me aside before a session and say something like, “Hey, just so you know, we don’t allow pretend guns in our house, so if you could steer my child away from that kind of play, that’d be great.”
As children grow, the adults in their lives naturally have expectations about their evolving social and emotional needs. We recognize that babies require more consistent care and attention. We expect toddlers to assert their independence. We anticipate that elementary school children will begin to develop their self-confidence. We understand that teenagers strive to establish their identity.
As children grow, the adults in their lives naturally have expectations about their evolving social and emotional needs. We recognize that babies require more consistent care and attention. We expect toddlers to assert their independence. We anticipate that elementary school children will begin to develop their self-confidence. We understand that teenagers strive to establish their identity.
Progress is irregular and messy. Progress is not immediate or easy or fun or perfect. It does not demand our validation. It is not always expected, and we must keep a record of its rise and fall. It doesn’t rejoice in mistakes, but rejoices in the little wins. Progress never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures in every circumstance.
The holiday season is upon us and with it brings excitement as well as many schedule changes and opportunities for meltdowns. One great (and free) way to support your child during this hectic time of year is to support their nonverbal working memory. This is the part of the executive functioning (or EF) system that helps us visualize or imagine ourselves in the future as well as think about the past.
Imagine this: instead of sitting in an office across from your therapist, you’re strolling together through a peaceful setting, with sunlight filtering through the trees and the soft rustle of leaves underfoot. You might find yourself walking along a winding path, pausing to sit on a park bench, or laughing at a pair of squirrels chasing each other around a tree.
In today's world, where fast food chains dominate the landscape and processed snacks fill the aisles of supermarkets, instilling healthy eating habits in children is more crucial (and difficult!) than ever. However, teaching children to have a positive relationship with food goes beyond just making sure that they eat their fruits and vegetables. It's about fostering a mindset that can appreciate and understand the nourishing aspects of food while simultaneously enjoying the pleasures of eating.
A few years ago, Lynn Louise Wonders, MA, LPC, CPCS, RPT-S shared an open letter to parents going through a divorce. In this letter, she shares things that help make the divorce process go smoothly for every member of the family. One of her points is to gather your adult-helpers and know what purpose each person’s job serves. Today, I want to dive a little deeper into helping you understand each of these roles.
"Are you breaking up with us?" This sentiment is one I've encountered numerous times as I broach the topic of termination with caregivers. While the remark may appear lighthearted, it undoubtedly speaks to the depth and significance of the therapeutic relationships we, as therapists, form not only with our clients but often with the entire family system.
Blog Posts on Trauma
Grief is one of those things we feel before we ever have words for it. It lives in our bodies, in the quiet spaces, in the ache that tells us something important is missing. And if you’ve ever watched a child grieve, whether over a pet, a grandparent, or a move across town, you’ve probably felt how deep and bewildering those feelings can be.
Our childhood experiences can play a powerful role in shaping who we become. Early events impact the way we think, what we believe about ourselves and others, how we manage stress, and how we form relationships. Researchers have identified both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) that impact adult mental health.
For parents with children experiencing suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury, or any other mental health crisis, it can often feel like your world has been turned upside down. Every child is different, so, therefore, every crisis will be different. My hope is this blog will provide some helpful feedback to help parents keep putting one foot in front of the other in the event their child experiences a mental health crisis.
Grief is one of those things we feel before we ever have words for it. It lives in our bodies, in the quiet spaces, in the ache that tells us something important is missing. And if you’ve ever watched a child grieve, whether over a pet, a grandparent, or a move across town, you’ve probably felt how deep and bewildering those feelings can be.