Articles containing: family

Using the Power of Narrative to #StopSuicide

Increasing public awareness of suicide is not an easy task. To truly grapple with the issue, we have to face some difficult and painful feelings. For these reasons, when we at the Clay Center collaborated to tell the true story of a young sophomore at Harvard named Luke, who tragically took his own life, we decided to turn to film.

An Encounter With The Unknown – From A Mother’s Lens

This blog post is part of a series entitled Real Lives, Real Stories: Personal Experiences With Mental Illness.

Mending A House Divided: Bringing Peace And Good Will To The Holidays

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” I believe the government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.

What If My Family Doesn’t Celebrate The Holidays?

I can’t believe I’m going to begin (another) post by noting that the holidays are upon us.

I know that I’ve written a similar beginning for a seemingly similar article for all sorts of publications over the past few years. The holidays are wonderful, and frenzied, and stressful, and compact, and often overwhelming.

Let’s Talk Turkey

The expression, ‘talking turkey,’ has two opposite original meanings—to speak pleasantly around the dinner table, or to skip the niceties, and get right to what’s important.  It is, of course, this second meaning that persists in everyday conversation, as when we say, “Let’s talk turkey about why you don’t eat your vegetables.

Making The Most Of Summer Vacation

Summer vacation might not seem like the most likely topic for a blog that focuses on demystifying psychiatric challenges in kids. Sure, we write about families, children, and parenting, but what in the world could we have to say about that blessed time off that is integral in American tradition?

We might start by asking where it went.

Parents’ Untreated Mental Illnesses Affect Their Children

We wrote earlier this month about the growing acceptance of psychiatric illness among the general population. A number of studies demonstrate that more and more Americans are accepting psychiatric illnesses as equal to other illnesses, and therefore actively seeking treatment.

Talking To Children About A Sibling’s Mental Illness – 8 Tips for Parents

It seemed like just another Wednesday evening. After the routine disagreements and struggles over homework, everyone sat down together to eat dinner and talk about their day. Afterwards, the twins (a boy and girl, age 9) settled in for a game of Uno while their 14-year-old sister went upstairs to finish her homework.

Raising Moral Children: Parental Strategies That Last A Lifetime

Intro music written and performed by Dr. Gene Beresin.
Outro music arranged and performed by Dr. Gene Beresin.

We want our kids to know right from wrong. We want them to care about the welfare of others. We want them to be kind, empathetic, and responsible. We want them to own their actions.

What Sitcoms Like “Full House” Tell Us About Family

Let’s play a game.

Are you ready?

I’m going to say a word, and you’re going to say the first thing that comes to mind. And yes, I know I didn’t invent this game. But just humor me. I’m a shrink.

If, from 1987 to 1995 you lived in the U.S.