Articles by Gene Beresin

November 12, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Q+A: Once You Have Discovered Your Teen Is Using Pot, What’s the Next Step?

Question: Once you have discovered your teen is using pot and confronted the teenager about it, what’s your recommended next step?– Lori W., Facebook Tune in for more on what parents should know about teen drug use. Dr. Beresin’s Answer: It’s not unusual to find out one way or another that your teenager is using […]

November 8, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Gaming Disorder – Shrinking It Down

You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and most podcast apps. “I couldn’t get off the computer ‘cause I was about to kill that final thing in ‘Call of Duty’ and if I didn’t kill it I’d have to fight it all over again and it just isn’t worth my time!” Who doesn’t […]

October 25, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Our Greatest Strengths, Part 2 – Shrinking It Down

You can also subscribe to this podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, and most podcast apps. *** At the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, we think a lot about helping kids as they’re growing up with all sorts of challenges. Most families will experience some kind of challenge along the road of life, whether behavioral, psychiatric, […]

October 11, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Shrinking It Down: The Death of a Pet

You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn. *** Last season, we talked about the benefits of pets for our kids’ mental health. That unconditional love helps our children to build skills and navigate important life lessons. What we don’t tend to think about, though, is that one day our pets will […]

September 28, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Sexual Assault: How to Talk With Your Kids

As a father of four children and grandfather of four, I was personally shaken by the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford yesterday. I thought about my kids growing up, and what they might have experienced or observed and never told me, my wife, or anyone. Last night I had a hard time sleeping. As […]

September 11, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

How to Talk to Your Little Ones About Terrorism

After September 11, 2001, lots of little kids across the nation asked some variation of the same question: “Mommy, why did the bad guys attack us?” Kids tend to look for patterns, especially when they’re frightened, so some kids likely took this inquiry even a step further: “Daddy, why do the bad guys hate us?” […]

August 31, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

What Families Should Know About Suicide

Many families are growing more concerned about suicide, especially among young people. Yet, suicide is often preventable when family members, friends, and communities learn how to recognize warning signs and connect those who are struggling with help. What should families know about suicide? Watch the video above for more on: Suicidal Thinking: What You Need […]

August 20, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Building Mental Wellness in Children: What Parents Can Do

Este artículo está disponible en español. Parents are the true experts when it comes to knowing their children, and often the first to notice any changes in their kids’ behavior: Colin was a happy youngster. He had friends, did well in school, and got along with his siblings and parents at home. But in recent months, […]

August 11, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Teaching for the Test or Teaching for Real Life?

I have never been good at standardized tests. In fact, I’m horrible. The problem is that in standardized tests, as opposed to general knowledge or understanding of a particular problem, you need to know what the specific question is looking for. But I just don’t think that way. I overthink every question. While many folks […]

June 22, 2018

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Shrinking It Down: When Nightmares Become Reality in the U.S. (Special Episode)

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for “Shrinking It Down.” *** In research that’s been done about kids’ fears, the most frightening thing is losing or being left without a parent. Through the events at the U.S. southern border in the last weeks, we have watched migrant […]