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.
Different Modes of Mind Our minds tend to operate in different modes depending on the situation. Dialectical Behavior Therapy describes these modes as “rational mind,” “emotional mind,” and “wise mind.” When we lead from the rational mind, we focus on facts and logic. Asked to solve a math problem, for example, and we rely on
Amelia and Hunter hadn’t spoken to each other for a couple of days. An argument about bedtime with their son had lingered, leaving both parents irritable and emotionally distant. A few mornings later, their six-year-old, Felix, asked his father quietly, “Daddy… why aren’t you talking to Mommy?” “I’m busy with work,” his dad replied, gently
As a child and family therapist, I have often observed that the most formidable challenge for parents when interacting with their children lies in their nervous system. A person’s nervous system governs how they make sense of interactions and generate effective solutions. This system responds to internal and external cues, influenced by past experiences and
The therapeutic power of playing with your kids—and how to get started Play is children’s primary language and the foundation of adequate mental health treatments for kids. As a child and family therapist, I rely on the magic of play to treat kids with a wide range of difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, behavioral issues,
Learning to de-escalate our emotions alongside our children’s escalating feelings is the most essential parenting skill we can learn. Dysregulation calls for connection, and when kids dysregulate, we naturally correct them, thereby disconnecting. We may cultivate short-term compliance but also disrupt our relationship with them and lose the opportunity to foster self-regulation skills. When fear