Blog
Building Self-Responsibility in Your Child
A common question I get from parents is, “How do I get my child to do things on their own?” Many parents feel stuck in a cycle of constant reminders and frustration. They repeat themselves over and over, only to give in and do the task themselves because it feels...
5 Steps to Successfully Taking a Break from Conflict
Step 1: Mutually understand the benefits of a break and the cost of not taking one when it is necessary. Despite our very best efforts, sometimes conflict is going to get heated. Being able to shift gears in the heat of an argument and take a break is one of the most...
Social Media & Mental Health
If I were to have 20, 50, or even 100 people in a room and asked them all if they had a social media account, chances are all (or most everyone) would say “yes”. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc., (you get the point), social media has...
How to Talk to Your Children About the News
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” – Mr. Rogers The news is everywhere, and children are becoming consumers of the news at younger and younger...
Anxiety in Children: When Should You Seek Help? (Part 2 of 2)
For a reminder about anxiety in children and what is or is not normal, check out part 1 of 2 of this series. Hopefully, this will give you as a parent, some better ideas on how your child is doing and how to differentiate normal & abnormal anxiety and stress...
EMDR 101
Maybe you have heard about EMDR and you are curious about what it is or if it may be a good fit for you? EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. It essentially mimics the processing that occurs during REM sleep to help your brain reorganize and...
Anxiety in Children: What is Normal? (Part 1 of 2)
It can be difficult to know as a parent when your child’s anxiety is reaching a point where they need help. What is considered normal nervousness and stress, and what are some red flags that could clue parents in that it’s time to get help? In this two-part article, I...
Instead of New Year’s Resolutions, Try Intentions.
We made it! The year is wrapping up and we are looking onward to the clean slate and potential of a brand new year! No matter what the past year held, many are ready for a fresh start. We are in a season of optimism, hope, and commitment to change. With the new year...
The Practice of Gratitude
With December marking the end of the year, it is natural to reflect on what kind of a year you’ve had. I encourage having reflections that include gratitude’s and appreciations; it is imperative reflect on the positive things that have occurred over the past year....
Why is Sleep Important?
This question deserves much more time and energy than I can give it. I cannot stress enough the idea that sleeping is the elixir of life. It is the most important pillar of a healthy and prosperous life. Every single system in the body is affected by sleep. EVERY...
Animal-Assisted Counseling with Rio
If you’ve stopped by Austin Family Counseling lately, you may have noticed a new four-legged friend walking around the office with one of our therapists. This sweet pup is named Rio, and he is a therapy dog at AFC. Rio is a 2-year-old border collie with one blue eye...