Divorce isn’t easy for anyone, but children can take it particularly hard. Many children don’t understand what is happening and many more feel the divorce is somehow their fault. Here’s how you can help your child cope: Communicate Openly The divorce should be explained in simple and straightforward terms. If at all possible, both […]
What is Positive Parenting?
“Because I said so!!” How many times did your parents say this phrase to you? How often were you spanked as a child? How much yelling was there in your house growing up? It’s safe to say that parenting styles have changed over the years. While spanking may have been deemed okay years ago, most […]
3 Steps to Dealing with Toddler Tantrums
By Kristi Spence, LMFT-C Tantrums:-the good, the bad, and the ugly. Child tantrums are notoriously frustrating. Once a tantrum starts, you can feel completely helpless in trying to stop it–not to mention the behaviors (kicking, screaming, crying, thrashing, etc.) that can be very stressful to deal with! However, tantrums are a very normal part of […]
8 Coping Skills for Young Kids!
By Kristi Spence, LMFT-C At Legacy Counseling Service in Broken Arrow, we provide mental health counseling for parents who are at a loss of how to help their children deal with stress, anger, anxiety, depression, and other big emotions. Sometimes when emotions are so big, nothing seems to work to calm your child down. In […]
5 Ways to Get Your Teenager to Talk to You
It’s tough trying to get your teen to talk. Science has shown that the teenager’s brain has yet to fully develop the frontal cortex, which is the area that controls our ability to reason, and to think before we act. As your teen’s brain develops, they’re also learning new things about themselves and their surrounding […]
A Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression and Suicide
The statistics on teen suicide are staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year, an average of 8% of American teens will attempt suicide. This makes suicide the second leading cause of death for kids aged 10 to 24. In fact, it is believed that more teenagers die from suicide than from cancer, pneumonia, birth […]
Co-Parenting Strategies for Divorced Parents
Going through a divorce can bring the worst out of a couple that once promised each other forever. Your world might feel like it’s falling apart, and trying to co-parent when you’re struggling to simply keep going can be overwhelming. Learning to co-parent won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible. Use the five strategies below […]
5 Ways to Cope with Anxiety as a Parent
The hard work and unpredictability that makes parenting so rewarding can also cause a great deal of anxiety. Here are some simple ways to bring yourself to a place of calm. Make a To-Do ListRuminating on worries can cause lots of stress. Clear your mind by making a to-do list. Put down everything that needs […]