Screens today are an integral part of our children’s lives, offering entertainment, education, and connection. Many children get computers in kindergarten. Lots of parents choose to get cell phones for elementary-age children to monitor location and safety. Kids today are “digital natives,” meaning they are born into a time of technology. Screens are all around […]
Author: Megan Vogels
What We Learn From “Inside Out 2”
Pixar just released “Inside Out 2,” a funny, touching, and sophisticated look at how our emotions and experiences shape us. In the sequel, we once again join main character Riley’s five primary emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. However, now Riley is 13 and heading to a hockey summer camp when the “puberty alarm” […]
Continuing Education in Private Practice
One of my favorite things to do in private practice, besides working with my lovely clients, is continuing education. Even though I’ve been in the field for over 20 years, I’m always striving to get better. My clients come to me with a range of concerns and treatment preferences, so keeping up with research and […]
Helping Your Child Get a Better Night’s Sleep
As a therapist, I understand the importance of a good night’s sleep on mental health. Problems falling asleep or staying asleep are common issues my clients share with me. Children and teens talk about having a hard time falling asleep because of overthinking, worrying, or difficulty relaxing. Parents share concerns about their child’s moods, school […]
8 Ideas to Help Your Child Feel Comfortable with Therapy
These days, a lot of children and teens are asking for therapy. This is usually easy for parents. You find a good therapist and get started. Other times parents might be concerned about their child’s mental health, behavior, or substance use and know that they need more help… but the child does not want to […]
What is EMDR and Can it Help Me?
A lot of people have recently asked me about EMDR. As a Licensed Professional Counselor with 15 years of experience providing EMDR to kids and adults, I’ve learned so much about this treatment. But just what is EMDR? If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR, how it works, and if it could potentially help […]
Tips for Talking with Your Teen (Part 2)
Part 1 of Tips for Talking with Your Teen covered ways to create opportunities for connection with your teen. Finding times for talking with your teen can be a challenge. But what do you do or say once you have them in a chatty mood? Read on for some of my favorite tips for talking with […]
Tips for Talking with Your Teen (Part 1)
Recent research shared by the Pew Research Center is that two-thirds of parents in the U.S. believe that parenting today is harder than it was 20 years ago. The majority of parents surveyed reported they believed this was due to the increase in technology, primarily screens and social media. With busy and technology-filled modern lives, many parents […]
10 of My Favorite Books For Parents
As the days get shorter and cooler, it’s perfect weather to curl up with a new book. Enjoy some time for yourself to learn, grow, and reflect. Here’s a list of some of my favorite books for parents and families. Trauma 1. What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. […]
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a form of counseling that uses play as a tool for helping people, typically children, work through difficulties. Often play therapy is used to support children with things like learning healthy expression or problem-solving. A play therapist uses toys, games, and play to assist a child in exploring and expressing their emotions, […]