Hardly a day goes by without another warning that Artificial Intelligence is undermining our students' ability to learn. Yet AI may have become the newest scapegoat for a deeper, more uncomfortable truth:

As parents, we love our kids and would do anything for them, even when they push us to our limit. Nevertheless, many of us have found ourselves thinking, “I’d like to strangle them.” If you've felt that, you're not alone.

Parents and professionals alike are always searching for approaches that truly help kids and adolescents grow, heal, and make meaningful changes. Increasingly, experiential therapy is a foundational aspect to many programs and schools. An umbrella term that includes art, music, fitness and gym-based interventions, equine or animal-assisted therapy, dance and movement therapies, volunteering, outdoor programs, and more—is proving to be one of the most effective ways to reach young people. Instead of relying only on conversation, experiential therapy invites students to learn through action, engagement, and real-world experiences. For youth who struggle to sit still, articulate emotions, or connect traditional talk therapy to their daily lives, these active methods can open doors where other approaches fall short.

Parents often prioritize their children’s physical health—scheduling annual check-ups, staying on top of vaccinations, and remembering their regular eye exams and dental cleanings. But when it comes to our kids’ mental health, we don’t always offer the same level of attention, even though a child’s mental well-being is just as crucial to their overall development.

No one knows your child better than you. This understanding is invaluable for discovering systems that align with their brain, especially when they struggle with executive functioning. Once we identify these unique patterns, we can provide the proper support, empowering us to be their most effective advocates.

Executive functioning determines how we strategize, organize, and manage time. A child’s divergence from ‘neurotypical’ executive functioning can impact every aspect of their life, from problem-solving skills to maintaining personal relationships. Working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility are the key components of executive functioning that form the foundation for children’s daily cognitive and behavioral tasks. Adaptability is essential for kids’ growth and resilience.

There has been a considerable amount of media attention given recently to students who were terribly mistreated while residents of various therapeutic treatment programs.  The reports that kids were abused in any way are chilling. 

All of us, including our children, have brain constructs that, along with our various past experiences, influence how we think, manage various situations, and conduct ourselves.

Summer is here, and it seems that many of our kids will soon be heading off to summer camp.

For many years, I have had the opportunity to partner with parents in understanding their children as they work toward planning their present and future.

This blog is for all you high school seniors stuck in limbo, waiting to see if you’ll ever get off your first-choice college’s waiting list.

With Dartmouth and Yale recently announcing they will no longer be test-optional and the number of other colleges and universities following suit still unknown, it is more important than ever to pay close attention to the changes being made to the SAT. In case you haven’t heard, the SAT has gone digital; no more paper, no more sharpened No. 2 pencils.