Ahh, the perennial allure of the dare. Kids and teens have always been known to lay down the gauntlet with a dare, or even a double-dog dare, as part and parcel of the childhood experience. This silly practice of taunting another to go through with some daring exploit has seldom led to a serious health […]
Among a group of disruptive behavior disorders is one called oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), a common mental health disorder in children and teens. ODD behavior patterns are often seen in early childhood first, with kids as young as preschool age being diagnosed with the disorder. Kids that do not outgrow the symptoms of ODD can […]
Teens are notoriously bent toward drama, with life’s ups and downs expressed in bursts of high emotional intensity. If, however, the adolescent begins to struggle managing life or maintaining friendships it may be time to seek the help of a therapist. Sometimes all a young person really needs is an objective ear—someone to listen to […]
With teens, who by nature are moody and unpredictable, it is sometimes difficult to read their emotional state correctly. There is a vast difference between an adolescent who is in a foul mood, sad about a specific social incident, or nervous about an exam and a teen experiencing serious emotional distress. When a teen begins […]
When your teenager is hurting, you hurt right along with them. All parents remember the tumultuous teen years, the drama, the hormone craziness, and bouts of the blues, making it easy to empathize. When a teen is experiencing a protracted period of depression, especially if it has begun to impact their academic and social functioning, […]
