Help! My preteen is super lazy and unmotivated!

Gallery

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Reader writes: How do you motivate a “lazy” tween? One who shortcuts and half assess everything, even if you hover and will lie his butt off to get out of whatever it is you want from him? My son is 11/6th … Continue reading

Mental Illness and Young Adults: Why College Campuses are in Crisis

Gallery

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Let’s talk about the mental health of young adults in the United States.  It seems to me, from what I’ve read and observed in my corner of the country, that we are headed for a crisis if something doesn’t change. … Continue reading

“My Teen Uses Depression and Self Injury to Manipulate

Gallery

From time-to-time, I hear some variation of, “My child is so manipulative.  She’s only cutting herself and saying she is depressed for attention.  She’s not really that depressed.” When manipulation is suggested, there are several points I typically make to parents: 1) … Continue reading

Reader Asks: My kid says she hates herself! What do I do?

Gallery

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Question: The other day my six year old fell riding her bike.  When I went over to her to comfort her, she was crying because she skinned her knee, but she was also saying she hates herself.  I didn’t know … Continue reading

The one habit that could improve your life. (validation.)

Gallery

This gallery contains 4 photos.

By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. Okay, so anyone who has read my blog or done therapy with me already knows that my favorite “therapy tool,” isn’t really a tool at all; It’s just a simple way of thinking: Validation. What is … Continue reading

8 simple ways to stop unwanted thoughts. By Meg Sanity.

Gallery

Recently, I was scouring the internet for a quick cheat-sheet which would describe several strategies for managing unwanted thoughts.  (Therapists search for bizarre things.  Like, in the middle of a CBT therapy session, google can help ascertain the answer to, “Can a spider break … Continue reading

For parents of kids with depression and/or anxiety. (some practical suggestions.)

Gallery

By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. I greet you in the waiting room, and ask if you need to let me know anything before I bring your child back to my office;  You usually say “no,” and likely wonder what is going … Continue reading

A SKILL that staves off depression in children

Gallery

By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. Today’s children are at a higher risk for depression than in any previous generation. Almost one in ten children will experience a major depressive episode by the time they are 14 years old, and almost one in … Continue reading

The best thing a parent can do for a highly emotional child.

Gallery

This gallery contains 4 photos.

By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. I see many kids and teens that suffer from Depression, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality traits in therapy. Many parents want to know, “What causes my child to feel so sad , lonely, depleted, apathetic, or … Continue reading