Articles by Heidi R. Webb, Ed.M, J.D. and Gene Beresin

August 11, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

The Impact Of Divorce: All Children Only Get One Childhood

Listen to a conversation about the impact of divorce on children on our podcast. Tune in below or search for “Shrinking It Down” wherever you get your podcasts. Navigating divorce is an adult problem and responsibility. However, too often children find themselves caught in the crossfire of their parents’ marital conflict. During a divorce, adults […]

July 28, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

The Crisis In Pediatric Psychiatric Emergency Rooms

Psychiatric emergency rooms are busier than you can imagine—unless you’ve been stuck in one.  In fact, there’s only one emergency room setting that’s even more so: pediatric psychiatric emergency rooms. In both urban and rural locations, on both coasts as well as in the middle of the country—literally throughout the land—psychiatric emergency rooms are bursting […]

June 18, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Jade’s Journey From Homeless Child To Lesley University Student: A Story Of Resilience

This is the second blog post of a series in collaboration with the Lesley University Child Homelessness Initiative (CHI). For more information about the CHI curriculum, and the ways in which it seeks to empower the next generation of teachers and caregivers to understand and advocate for homeless children, visit http://www.lesley.edu/child-homelessness-initiative/. To view the first blog post, […]

June 4, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Military Sexual Trauma (MST): My Experience of the Challenges Facing Female Soldiers and Veterans

This blog post is part of a series entitled Real Lives, Real Stories: Personal Experiences With Mental Illness. Note: The following person’s account of his/her personal experience has been published with his/her consent to support the mission of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and let others in similar situations not feel so alone.  Introduction […]

May 29, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

When Your Dog Dies: Reflections On Losing Your Best Friend

Today we had to put down Toby. He was a 15-year-old Australian Shepherd, and probably one of the best dogs we ever had. And we’ve had plenty. It seems trite to say that losing a pet is like losing a member of the family. The fact is, though, it’s actually a gross understatement. Pets are […]

April 22, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

A Closer Look at Separation Anxiety

 Sarah sits on the couch, clutching her stuffed bear. Her finger nails are visibly torn; they’ve been bleeding again. Her mom, meanwhile, is calling into work again. She’ll have to explain for what feels like the zillionth time that she’ll be late. It’s not clear her boss will understand this awful situation much longer. […]

April 14, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Raising Secure Children In An Insecure World

Authors’ Note: As we as a nation remember the tragic events that took place at the 2013 Boston Marathon, we wish to share again the blog below, written in collaboration with the Marjorie E. Korff Parenting At a Challenging Time (PACT) Program for the Boston Marathon bombing’s one-year anniversary. The integral message of the blog […]

February 27, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

The Plight Of Child Homelessness In The United States

This is the first blog post of a series in collaboration with the Lesley University Child Homelessness Initiative (CHI). For more information about the CHI curriculum, and the ways in which it seeks to empower the next generation of teachers and caregivers to understand and advocate for homeless children, visit their website. Intro music written […]

February 9, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Choosing Not To Vaccinate

I grew up before the oral polio vaccine; my mother wouldn’t let me go to swim parties for fear of my contracting the awful disease. Her brother had polio as a child, and for many years was partially paralyzed. So, it shocks me to think that some parents would choose not to vaccinate their kids. […]

January 9, 2015

By Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Beyond Sexual Assault

This blog post is part of a series entitled Real Lives, Real Stories: Personal Experiences With Mental Illness. Note: The following person’s account of his/her personal experience has been published with his/her consent to support the mission of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and let others in similar situations not feel so alone. […]