By Bryan Kraus The process of growing up, and what the psychologists call individuating from one’s parents, is usually not an easy one. We go from being completely dependent to independent, from being part of a whole to being individual agents in and of ourselves. I do not consider myself an expert on this topic; … More »
Blog Posts Tagged ‘families’
The Myths of Addiction and the Science of Hope
By Karen James, LCSW-C, Manager, Adult Therapy Services Both Myth and Science offer explanations of our world and our experiences in it. In ancient cultures, myths were invented stories created to explain otherwise inexplicable events and occurrences. Humans always want to know why. Listen to any three-year-old —or perhaps to adult conversations where we each … More »
Jewish Parents are Jewish Educators (Whether They Know it or Not)
By Noah Aronin, Supervisor, JOIN for Teens Many Jewish parents today don’t see themselves as Jewish educators. They aren’t fluent in Hebrew, they aren’t experts in Jewish texts, and they might not even know what contemporary educational researchers recommend. But Jewish parents are Jewish educators, whether they know it or not. Judaism isn’t an abstract … More »
Who’s in Charge?
By Wendy Hoffman, LCSW-C These days it seems as if children have the upper hand in many families. Children are making their own rules in the home, and parents are letting them get away with it. Sometimes it’s hard to exert our authority as parents. Coming into conflict with our children can feel uncomfortable, … More »
New Beginnings: Repairing Adult Sibling Relationships
By Joan Grayson Cohen, LCSW-C, Esq. One of the most quoted teachings in the Torah is: “You shall not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your fellow as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18). So if we are commanded not to take revenge or hold a … More »
Parents, Kids and Alcohol – A Good Mix?
By Susan Kurlander, Health Educator Teens who drink with adult supervision have more drinking-related problems than their peers whose parents don’t allow them to drink. Surprised? This is the finding of a University of Washington study of 1,945 teens from grades 7-9 in the state of Washington and in Australia. The researchers chose to include … More »
The Gifts of Stories
Shelly Varon, LCSW-C Once upon a time….. So begin the journeys of our imagination and our life. And who doesn’t like a good story? Whether it’s a great work of literature or the latest soap opera, stories grab our attention and connect us with others. They can be fun to tell and hear (after … More »
Enjoying Nature with Your Child
By Bracha Goetz, MA Question: How can I get my child interested in spending more time outdoors, enjoying nature? Answer: Joy is highly contagious. We don’t need to try all that hard to convince our children to appreciate what we appreciate. Our own joy speaks volumes. When we are able to focus on the … More »
Techno-Savvy Grandparents Keep in Touch
By Irene Kushner The nation marked the 65th birthday of the first Baby Boomers this year. The rate at which this age group has adapted to technology is understandably lagging behind the generations who have come after them. But the rate at which their children and grandchildren are using technology is climbing very fast. Today, … More »
Confessions of a Middle-aged Orphan
By Barbara Levy Gradet, LCSW Losing one’s parents in middle age is a very common passage but one that has only recently gotten serious attention. Conventional wisdom has been that losing our last parent is a very profound experience as it forces us to confront our mortality in new ways. Those of us who are … More »