How to Help Your Teen with Test Anxiety
Fall is here and with it comes new stressors for students. Whether it be social, emotional or academic, most students face new struggles every school year – in this blog, we will be looking at academic pressure. Academic pressure is a reality for many teenagers, whether it comes from school expectations, college goals or their […]
Sleep, Physical Health, and Mental Well-Being in Adolescents
As teens navigate these changes, their mental health is deeply influenced by how well their bodies are functioning. Sleep, nutrition, movement, and technology-use all play critical roles in this mind-body connection. Understanding how these elements work together can help parents and caregivers support teens in building sustainable habits for lifelong wellness. The Mind Body Connection […]
The Importance of Diet in your Adolescent’s Mental Health
During the teenage years, the brain is undergoing significant development. Hormonal shifts, academic pressure, social dynamics, and identity formation all collide, making this stage of life uniquely challenging. While therapy, communication, and support systems are crucial, one often-overlooked tool in supporting adolescent mental well-being is diet. Research increasingly points to a strong link between gut […]
Supporting your Teen’s Mental Health – Without Overstepping
Parenting an adolescent comes with unique challenges—none more delicate than supporting their mental health. It can be tricky to strike the right balance between being there for your child and giving them the space they need to grow. As a parent, your involvement is essential, but it must be handled with sensitivity and respect to […]
Understanding Anxiety & Depression in Adolescents
Adolescence is a time of rapid change. And in looking at the mental health challenges teens face, anxiety and depression are among the most common. These mental health challenges combined with the increased social, academic and internal pressures adolescents face makes the emotions that come up all the more complicated. However, seeking to understand an […]
The Teenage Brain and Emotional Development
Parenting a teenager involves navigating a rollercoaster of emotions, impulsive decisions, and unexpected mood swings. However, understanding the science behind adolescent brain development can provide valuable insights into why teens behave the way they do; in doing so, parents can guide their children through this critical phase with patience and support. So what’s going on […]
5 Qualities to Look for in your Child’s Therapist
This week is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and according to the CDC, the percentage of adolescents with a mental health diagnosis rose 3% from 2019 to 2022. Of those adolescents, just over half received treatment from a mental health professional (CDC). Finding the right therapist for your child is important in supporting their mental […]
Prioritizing Child’s Mental Health this New Year
With the start of the new year comes new hope, new resolutions and new opportunities – what also comes is continued circumstances and mental health struggles for families. When the ball drops, our struggles don’t magically disappear. If you are tired as a parent, use the new year as a reset; an invitation to try […]
Benefits of Experiential Therapy for Children
Sometimes it’s hard for parents and their children to talk about intense emotions. The goal of experiential therapy is to provide families and their children with a safe and supportive environment where they can learn to work through real life issues physically and verbally. So what is experiential therapy? Simply put, it is a therapeutic […]
Inside EFFT: What’s Your Parenting Style?
Parenting is an individual journey, different for every family. At Decade2Connect, we support parents on a weekly basis to help them understand their parenting style through the lens of Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). Once you understand your parenting and emotional approach, you can begin to cater your parenting skills to that. To help parents […]