Category: The Parent Journey
When the Crisis is Over, but Your Body Doesn’t Get the Memo
After your child has been through a mental health crisis, it can be hard to stop waiting for the next one. A late-night text, a breakup, exams, or even a change in tone can put you right back on alert. Here’s what I’ve learned about staying available without treating every hard moment like a crisis.
School Refusal: The Year My Child Couldn’t Go to School
Seventh grade was the year my child stopped being able to go to school. We spent months feeling scared, confused, and unsure what to do next. Looking back, there are things I wish I had known about school refusal, small steps, and finding a way forward.
Is My Teen Overreacting if They Ask for Therapy?
When a teen asks for therapy and hears no, everyone loses something. The teen stops believing it’s safe to ask for help, and the parent loses a kid who still opens up to them. I’ve watched it happen more than once, and it’s stayed with me.
When Everyone Has an Opinion When Your Child is Struggling
When your child is struggling, the fear and exhaustion inside your home are hard enough. But the judgment from those on the outside adds another layer of worry for many families. Real or imagined, it shows up almost everywhere, and most parents carry it alone.
The Blame Game: Why Parents Turn on Themselves When Their Child Struggles (And How to Find Your Way Back)
When your child is struggling with their mental health, your mind does something almost automatic: it starts looking for a reason. And the easiest place to start? Yourself. Here’s what parents need to hear instead.
Your Child Is in Therapy. Now What? How to Coordinate Care Without Losing Yourself
You found help for your child. Now you’re realizing this is a longer road than you expected, and nobody handed you a map for this part. This post is for parents learning to coordinate care, manage the long haul, and take care of themselves in the middle of it all.
When to Get Help for Your Child’s Mental Health: Signs It’s Time to Act
It’s rarely one moment. It’s a slow accumulation of concerns that pile up until you can’t explain them away anymore. Here’s how to recognize when it’s time to get your child a therapist, and how to take that first step.
How to Tell If Your Child Needs Mental Health Help
If you’ve been wondering whether your child’s mood changes are just a phase or something more, you’re not alone. Learn the early signs of anxiety and depression, when therapy may help, and what thoughtful next steps look like.
Why Every Decision Feels High-Stakes When Your Child is Struggling with Their Mental Health
When your child is struggling with their mental health, whether that is anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, or other conditions that affect their well-being, every decision feels high-stakes. Learn how to recognize decision fatigue and manage it without burning out.
Why Does Managing My Child’s Mental Health Feel Like a Full-Time Job?
Yes, it really is a full-time job. From the late-night research to the constant coordination, the invisible workload of managing your child’s mental health is real.
