5 Tips to Help You Motivate Your Teen Between Spring Break and Summer Break:

It’s likely your teen’s motivation was nosediving before spring break. And now that Spring Break is over, and school is back in session there is soon to be no remnant of any academic focus until Summer break.

As parents, it’s tough to watch your kid hit ‘cruise control’ through the remaining trimester of school. You try to encourage them to stay focused and on-task, as you continue to struggle to find your own motivation. These last few months between Spring Break and Summer Break are brutal for all of us- students, teachers, and parents alike.

Here are our 5 tips to Help You Motivate Your Teen Between Spring Break and Summer Break:

Tina ShraderMarch 30, 2019Comment

What Your Teen Wants to Know About Suicide & What You, as a Parent, Should Say

If you have a middle or high school student in Oak Park or nearby schools, chances are that they have had suicide prevention training at school. But there is a hole in the training that is often missed, and our youth are asking for answers.

family, parenting, teens, therapyTina ShraderFebruary 11, 2019teens, suicide, family, schools, parents, advocacy, suicide preventionComment

What to Expect from Your First Call & First Therapy Session

Has the big scary 'Unknown' of what to expect from therapy held you back from reaching out to a therapist? This family therapy video details the basics of what to expect from your first call and your first therapy session. It's not as scary as you think - Promise!

parenting, therapyTina ShraderJanuary 7, 2019family therapy, family therapy videosComment

5 Tips for Making a New Year's Resolution That Will Last

The sting of failure is hard and heavy, and we do not need more things adding shame.

New Years is the time of brand new beginnings and renewed hope in change. It’s also the beginning of the age-old saga of setting New Year’s Resolutions that you’ll stay on track with through mid-February and will have completely forgotten about by mid March. But, if you have a teeny tiny part of you still hopeful for change and have some things you’d like to achieve in 2019, then we’ve got 5 ways to make sure your Resolution is on track for success.

Tina ShraderDecember 28, 2018Comment

3 Reasons Why Giving a Hug is the Least You Can Do This Holiday Season

If you’re not looking forward to seeing a certain family member (or all your family members, no shame here) this holiday season, you’re not alone.

When standing toe to toe with a task that feels much too big - like enjoying everyone’s company this holiday season- it is always powerful to start with one small change. There is one, scientifically proven, small change that you can make this year to benefit those you come in contact with and yourself.

Here are 3 reasons why you should be extra generous with the hugs this holiday season, even to those you’re not the most thankful for:

familyTina ShraderNovember 15, 2018holidays, family, hugs, science, research, family counseling, family therapy, youth, teens, parentsComment

5 Ways You're Allowing Your Kids to Beat You at Your Own Consequences

Parenting is hard enough without your kids making their consequence a punishment for you.

Have you ever given your kid a consequence that didn’t get executed as planned?

You end up feeling frustrated and foolish that they were able to pull one over on you. Now you’re dreading giving consequences in the future because it always turns into a power struggle.

Here are the top 5 ways you’re allowing your kids to beat you at your own consequences:

Tina ShraderNovember 11, 2018Comment

Negotiating Consequences

Negotiating consequences WITH your kid is an easy tweak to make, that results in more ‘buy in,’ and compliance from your kid as they are actively engaged and participating in the process of determining a consequence. It offers autonomy to your youth in a time when they may feel powerless to the consequence of not meeting and expectation

consequences, parentingTina ShraderOctober 12, 2018family therapy, consequences, kids, youth, parenting, negotiation, family counselingComment

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