Articles by Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Gene Beresin, MD, MA is executive director of The MGH Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and a staff child and adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also a full professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. To learn more about Gene, or to contact him directly, please see Our Team.

Jade’s Journey From Homeless Child To Lesley University Student: A Story Of Resilience

June 18, 2015

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Jade’s Journey From Homeless Child To Lesley University Student: A Story Of Resilience

This is the second blog post of a series in collaboration with the Lesley University Child Homelessness Initiative (CHI). For more information about the CHI curriculum, and the ways in which it seeks to empower the next generation of teachers and caregivers to understand and advocate for homeless children, visit http://www.lesley.edu/child-homelessness-initiative/. To view the first blog post, […]

Military Sexual Trauma (MST): My Experience of the Challenges Facing Female Soldiers and Veterans

June 4, 2015

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Military Sexual Trauma (MST): My Experience of the Challenges Facing Female Soldiers and Veterans

This blog post is part of a series entitled Real Lives, Real Stories: Personal Experiences With Mental Illness. Note: The following person’s account of his/her personal experience has been published with his/her consent to support the mission of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and let others in similar situations not feel so alone.  Introduction […]

When Your Dog Dies: Reflections On Losing Your Best Friend

May 29, 2015

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When Your Dog Dies: Reflections On Losing Your Best Friend

Today we had to put down Toby. He was a 15-year-old Australian Shepherd, and probably one of the best dogs we ever had. And we’ve had plenty. It seems trite to say that losing a pet is like losing a member of the family. The fact is, though, it’s actually a gross understatement. Pets are […]

A Closer Look at Separation Anxiety

April 22, 2015

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A Closer Look at Separation Anxiety

 Sarah sits on the couch, clutching her stuffed bear. Her finger nails are visibly torn; they’ve been bleeding again. Her mom, meanwhile, is calling into work again. She’ll have to explain for what feels like the zillionth time that she’ll be late. It’s not clear her boss will understand this awful situation much longer. […]

Raising Secure Children In An Insecure World

April 14, 2015

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Raising Secure Children In An Insecure World

Authors’ Note: As we as a nation remember the tragic events that took place at the 2013 Boston Marathon, we wish to share again the blog below, written in collaboration with the Marjorie E. Korff Parenting At a Challenging Time (PACT) Program for the Boston Marathon bombing’s one-year anniversary. The integral message of the blog […]

The Plight Of Child Homelessness In The United States

February 27, 2015

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The Plight Of Child Homelessness In The United States

This is the first blog post of a series in collaboration with the Lesley University Child Homelessness Initiative (CHI). For more information about the CHI curriculum, and the ways in which it seeks to empower the next generation of teachers and caregivers to understand and advocate for homeless children, visit their website. Intro music written […]

Choosing Not To Vaccinate

February 9, 2015

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Choosing Not To Vaccinate

I grew up before the oral polio vaccine; my mother wouldn’t let me go to swim parties for fear of my contracting the awful disease. Her brother had polio as a child, and for many years was partially paralyzed. So, it shocks me to think that some parents would choose not to vaccinate their kids. […]

Beyond Sexual Assault

January 9, 2015

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Beyond Sexual Assault

This blog post is part of a series entitled Real Lives, Real Stories: Personal Experiences With Mental Illness. Note: The following person’s account of his/her personal experience has been published with his/her consent to support the mission of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and let others in similar situations not feel so alone. […]

How to Talk With Your Kids About the Ferguson Unrest

December 2, 2014

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How to Talk With Your Kids About the Ferguson Unrest

On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African-American man, was shot to death by on-duty police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri.  The case immediately drew national and even international attention. Just after the shooting, many commentators sought to view the tragedy as part of a larger narrative. The U.K.’s The Guardian ran a […]

The Developmental Challenges Of Middle School: It’s Not So Much Who You Are, But Whom You’re With

September 25, 2014

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The Developmental Challenges Of Middle School: It’s Not So Much Who You Are, But Whom You’re With

Let’s talk about middle school. When does adolescence begin?  What is it about, and why is it for some an exhilarating time of new thinking, positive exploration of the world and emotional self-discovery, and for others, dismal, crisis-oriented and dangerous?  Why is it that taking risks proceeds with caution for some, while utter recklessness for […]

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