Teenagers

Being an Emotional Sponge: Supporting Young People Who Are Supporting Friends

Listen to Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Ellen Braaten talk more about supporting teens who are supporting friends on our podcast. Tune in below, or search for “Shrinking It Down” wherever you get your podcasts.

Supporting friends who are struggling can be a valuable thing.

Extra Time on Tests: Does It Work? – Shrinking It Down

The answer is, it depends.

When “extra time” on tests first began decades ago, the goal was to level the playing field for students with learning disabilities by allotting them the same amount of time that everyone else had.

New Year’s Resolutions: How To Make Them Work

New Year’s resolutions… 

Many of us have made them in the past, and I bet some folks have even followed through with them! But if we’re honest, most of us don’t follow through with the goals we set at the start of the year. One study found that less than half of those who made resolutions were still sticking them by June.

11 Self-Care Tips for Teens and Young Adults

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Stress. Teens and young adults today are more stressed, anxious, depressed and lonely than ever – at least in the United States. At first glance, it’s hard to wrap your head around this fact.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

“When you feel good, you have a much better chance to make good decisions.” – Ming Sun

The divide between mind and body has been debated for centuries. As we learn more about how our physical health influences our mental well-being, this divide becomes harder to find.

9 Ways to Know If Your Child’s Mental Health Clinician Is Right for Them

As parents, we all want the very best for our kids – the best teachers, coaches, and health professionals, among others.

About one in five of our children, teenagers, and young adults will experience a mental health issue and ideally receive mental health care.

Borderline Personality Disorder: A Case of Suffering, Drama and Hope

There’s an understandable tendency to portray Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in films. Silver Linings Playbook, Fatal Attraction, and Girl Interrupted are just a few. 

It makes sense.

Anxiety to Agency: Empowering Kids to Address Climate Change

You can also listen to this conversation with pediatrician and child psychiatrist Elizabeth Pinsky, MD on ways to support a child with climate change anxiety. Tune in below, or search for “Shrinking It Down” wherever you get your podcasts.

What Is a Personality Disorder?

I’ve always had a problem with the label “personality disorder,” and so have many of my patients. I think it’s because we typically associate “personality” with a “person,” so the term seems to suggest that there’s something wrong with the human being.

Are ER Visits the Answer to Mental Health Issues at School?

Anyone who works in a school can tell you that mental health concerns are an integral part of their job. After all, students need to be at their emotional best in order to perform at their scholastic best. There may be exceptions, but the general rule of thumb is that healthy kids are the best students.