This blog is written by the clinicians at Jonah Green and Associates, a mental health practice based in Kensington, MD that provides quality services for children, teens, families, and adults. It is intended as a resource for families who are seeking to expand their knowledge about mental health and mental health services, and also as a resource for families who are seeking quality mental health services, especially in the mid-Atlantic region.
Therapists, workshops, and “how-to” guides offer plenty of sound advice for improving communication: use I rather than you statements (“I feel hurt” instead of “You’re so mean”), empathize with the other’s perspective, mirror their words, be specific rather than global (“I wish you’d call when you’re late” instead of “You never think of me”), and
“Never lose a holy curiosity.” — Albert Einstein Families often come to therapy caught in cycles of repetition. A parent says, “He never listens.” A teen mutters, “You don’t understand.” A couple circles the same argument, both sure they know how it ends. The missing ingredient in so many of these moments is the willingness
“The space between The tears we cry Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more.” —Dave Matthews Band, The Space Between It takes immense courage to come to therapy. Individuals reveal thoughts and feelings that may make them feel embarrassed and confront realities they have long avoided. For families, barriers may be even higher.
Slipping through my fingers all the time Do I really see what’s in her mind? Each time I think I’m close to knowing. She keeps on growing. — ABBA, Slipping Through My Fingers Many parents and adult children find that their once-close relationships can become distant or even severed—sometimes gradually, and sometimes after a crisis.
“I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be.” —Brad Paisley, He Didn’t Have to Be Stepfamilies are often born in transition and pain, arriving after divorce, separation, or loss. Blending a new family means juggling a swirl of tasks: establishing routines, balancing loyalties, negotiating boundaries, and developing traditions. As