Permission to be Human: A Message for Parents and Caregivers

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4:30 am. Jolted awake. Shoot, swim lesson signup closes tomorrow. We should have gotten on that by now. He should probably be swimming at his age. I really should have done that six months ago, but I think the QR code is in the stack of papers that I moved yesterday. The house is a mess. Gosh, why was yesterday so hard? Aren’t tantrums supposed to fade by now? I can’t believe that I yelled at him. Why did I lose it over them making that mess? Why did I freak out when I lost control? I can’t believe I said that thing my mom used to say to me. Are they going to remember that forever? This doesn’t seem to be so hard for other parents. What if I’m failing them? I’m a terrible mom. Learn More...

Men in Therapy: An Opportunity for a New Path

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Imagine that you are a child, and you are born into a family that does not make jokes. No humor allowed; if you hint at it, you are gawked at, punished, or belittled. Adults and peers alike push this idea, with bullies finding you weird or weak if they find you laughing. So you learn to bury your sense of humor. You do all that you can to not find humor in the little things or the big things; sometimes, when you’re confident you’re all alone, you let yourself laugh a little. Maybe you watch comedies on TV and wonder what it would be like to laugh like they did, but you quickly burrow those thoughts away and move on. But then you graduate from school and enter the adult world, and suddenly your adult friends are sharing jokes with you. You meet a romantic partner and all they want to do with you is laugh. You have a child, and you’re dying to just fall to the ground in giggles with them. But you’re reminded, yet again, that laughter is weak. So you don’t. You put up your walls, you refuse to engage with anyone that is laughing, because you don’t know how and you’re scared of what would happen if you did. Even as all those around you beg and beg for you to feel safe to laugh with them, you just can’t allow yourself to. And it hurts so deeply. Learn More...

Does Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria Affect Your Family?

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Both this month & last call our awareness to individuals with some form of neurodivergence. You may be seeing more of this discourse online and wondering what some of these phrases and acronyms means. Today we’re tackling RSD, or Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. What is this and what does it impact? Continue reading to find out!

WHAT IS RSD?

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) is not a medical diagnosis but a way to understand a type of emotional dysregulation. As human beings we experience a myriad of emotions – joy, fear, worry, anger, frustration, etc. Regulation is how we manage those emotions – do we react intensely, immediately, not at all? Dysregulation is when an individual does not feel in control of emotional responses. People are labeled drama queens and kings, having anger issues, or being too sensitive. When, in fact, this is not a choice but linked to executive function or a sympathetic (fight/flight/freeze/fawn) nervous system response. Learn More...

Trans Day of Visibility

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Today, March 31st, is International Trans Day of Visibility.

What is Trans Day of Visibility? This is a day when we celebrate the lives of transgender folks around the world and their important contributions. This day can be a meaningful (and fun!) opportunity to celebrate the lives of our transgender neighbors and create homes and communities that are safe and welcoming.

Why does Trans Day of Visibility matter? All of us have needs for safety, significance, and belonging- we need to know that we are important to the people around us and that we have a safe place in our families and communities. Representation helps to reinforce these needs and increase self-esteem, especially for people with identities that are marginalized in our society. In addition to the recent increase in legislation aimed at denying gender-affirming care to transgender individuals (something that goes against the ethics and standard of care of all licensed mental health professions), the American Medical Association declared in 2019 that violence against transgender individuals is an ongoing epidemic. We know that LGBTQ young people who receive support from their families around their queer identities report higher self-esteem, social support, and overall health, as well as a 50% reduction in thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts. We can make our communities more safe and accepting for our transgender neighbors by familiarizing ourselves with the stories and experiences of transgender people. We can also be inspired by the joy, creativity, and brilliance of transgender leaders whose stories are not always shared! Learn More...

Neurodiversity Week

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Celebrating Neurodiversity Week March 16-20, 2026!

March 16th through the 20th marks Neurodiversity Week! Neurodiversity Week is an initiative started in 2018 by Siena Castellon, an autistic teen who, at the time, wanted to challenge the stereotypes around neurological differences. The goals of Neurodiversity Week were to continue breaking down those misconceptions and recognize the many skills, talents, and abilities within the neurodivergent community. Learn More...

What’s the Difference Between Divorce Counseling Co-Parenting Counseling

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Creative Family Counseling is excited to announce two new specialties for clients: Divorce Counseling and Co-Parenting Counseling. Oftentimes there can be an overlap for these two services as couples navigate divorce and co-parenting dynamics at the same time but there is a clearly defined difference between these two services.

What is Divorce Counseling?

There are fewer family decisions that have such a monumental impact than deciding to divorce. This is especially so when children are included in the picture. For couples who are navigating a revision to their relationship, there are many factors involved. This can be overwhelming and difficult to discuss in a neutral and positive way with the partner in which you are un-coupling.  Learn More...

How to Talk to Your Teen about Suicide

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I recently published some articles about Depression in the Spring and How Play Therapy Helps With Depression in Children Clients.  In those articles, I shared warning signs or symptoms of Depression. Urges to self harm or use self injurious behaviors and suicidal thoughts are both symptoms of severe depression.

When you notice a difference in your teen’s mood and behaviors, it can be a warning sign that emotionally they are struggling. By familiarizing yourself with the symptoms and signs of depression in teens can give parents guidance on how to support their child. Learn More...

What is a Gap Year and Why Should I be Aware of it?

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A term you may not have heard of is “gap year.” If you have teenagers, you may want to consider putting this term on your radar for your child to consider. Taking a gap year means a high school graduate takes a year off of academic training before pursuing additional training or education. If a graduate in May of 2024 takes a gap year, they wouldn’t pursue additional education until the summer or fall of 2025. Learn More...

Does My Child Need Therapy?

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Does My Child Need Therapy?

Parents seek out our services for several reasons. Sometimes parents know that a big family change or stressor is in the child’s future and they want to proactively provide their child with a resource (a trusted therapist) which will help them through that transition. For these parents, helping and encouraging their children to manage the emotions related to that transition/change in healthy ways is their priority.  Other times, parents are concerned or worried about an event that has already happened. A traumatic event or social stressor has impacted their child and they want to provide their child with a healthy outlet to cope. Most often, parents have observed a change in their child’s behavior or the way their child is interacting with others and are seeking to understand how to help them and resolve that problem. Learn More...

Setting Boundaries During the Holiday Season

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Is this the “most” time of year for you too? While there are breaks from school (and maybe work too), many of us find our schedules BUSIER than ever with extra holiday celebrations and fun events. A friend shared with me last holiday season that their family had SEVEN family holiday gatherings to attend within a week’s time. She, her partner, and their children were all exhausted and at each other’s throats by the end of it all. It was too much. Here’s an invitation to set some proactive boundaries in your lives now, before the “most” time of year gets the best of you and your family too! Learn More...