Goal Setting Over the past few weeks more and more people that I work with are sharing that they are ready for 2021 to be over yet they are dreading that 2022 will bring more pandemic uncertainty. With so much feeling out of our control, I think this year, maybe more than ever, is a

Impactful Ways To Practice Gratitude This Holiday Season This holiday season is a great time to teach children how to be thankful. There are simple, daily practices that you can show and share in your home that can model for your children traits of gratitude, empathy and kindness. The research shows that children who are

How Do I Help My Perfectionist Child? Over the past month there are two age categories of kids that I have been seeing that are on stress overload…eighth and twelfth graders! Some 8th graders are applying to schools of choice. That may be public schools of choice out of their district, charter schools, performing arts

How To Teach Kids To Learn To Listen If I had to share one of the most common questions that I get about parenting it is, “How do I get my kids to listen?” That is followed by struggles around creating consequences outside of taking screen time away. This week I was inspired by reviewing

What is FOMO? Over the past week many parents have been paying attention to the testimony on Capitol Hill that accuses Facebook and Instagram leaders of knowing that their social media platforms were detrimental to the mental health and wellbeing of children and teens but concealed their own research findings. This is something that for

The last time I wrote a session note for this blog/newsletter was in May so I am happy to be back and sharing with you what I am seeing on my private practice couch so that we can all learn together. This month I am seeing lots of teens under pressure! Whether it’s because of

Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe is a multi-award-winning psychology and education instructor who specializes in resiliency, navigating stress and change, leadership, and personal wellness in the workplace. Described as transformational, engaging, and thought-provoking, Robyne’s keynotes provide practical strategies grounded in global research and case studies that help foster resiliency within others and ourselves. Robyne is available for

As the past two weeks have unfolded our country has endured two mass shootings. In the latest shooting in Boulder, Colorado, there were children and parents simply grocery shopping in the middle of the day. Just doing what we all do on a weekly basis. Doing the one thing we can still do while in

Ideas & Interventions That Work It has been a while since I have written. I have been very busy treating kids and teens, working with families and speaking to groups all over the world. When I thought to write I would feel a sense of overwhelm as I questioned where I would even begin. This

Kindness Counts Last week I was being interviewed by the great Eve Rodsky on pandemic parenting. Toward the end of our conversation Eve asked, “To you, what is the opposite of fear?” I thought about it for a second and then just said what came to mind which was “taking action.” When we are in fear, it

The Elephant In The Room I often hear parents struggle with how to explain what is happening with their child to grandparents, neighbors, teachers and friends. October is ADHD awareness month so this month I decided I would discuss a different angle of ADHD- explaining it to others. I also had the pleasure to interview

It Starts With Community The last month has been filled with reminders to vote, the grief around of the passing of Justice Ginsberg, activism around racial injustice, the ongoing pandemic, wildfires and of course the impending presidential election. Some people believe this upcoming election is one of the most important in history. I have been