Parenting comes with plenty of “Is this normal?” moments. Mood swings, occasional meltdowns, or changes in behavior can be part of growing up. But sometimes, the challenges your child is facing may be more than just a passing phase and getting extra support could make all the difference.

Therapy isn’t just for a crisis. It’s a space where children can learn tools for coping, communicating, and understanding themselves better and where parents get guidance, too.

As parents, teachers, and caregivers, we want the best for our children and that includes supporting their mental health. But sometimes it’s hard to know when typical childhood ups and downs become something more serious that requires professional help.

In recent years, there’s been growing awareness of childhood mental health, which is great. But that awareness also brings a risk: over-pathologizing normal behavior. In other words, labeling normal mood swings, fears, or energy as a “disorder” when they’re really part of growing up.

Middle school is a big transition for kids and parents alike. It’s a time of new teachers, changing social circles, increased academic demands, and a rollercoaster of emotions. For tweens (roughly ages 10-13), adjusting to this new world can be exciting, overwhelming, and sometimes downright stressful.

If your child is gearing up for middle school or just starting, here’s what to expect and how you can support them through this important phase.

Starting high school is a big deal; a milestone full of new opportunities, challenges, and changes. For many teens, it brings excitement about new classes, friends, and independence. But it can also come with stress, pressure, and uncertainty.

As a parent, you want to support your teen through this transition, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s what you need to know about how teens experience this change, and how you can help them navigate it with confidence.

Starting college is a huge step — it’s exciting, full of new opportunities, but it can also feel overwhelming. You’re stepping into a new world with different routines, expectations, and people. Whether you’re moving away from home for the first time or staying close by, adjusting takes time and effort.

The good news? With some helpful strategies and a bit of patience, you can navigate this transition and create a college experience that works for you.

The start of a new school year can be exciting — fresh supplies, new clothes, and the promise of new friends. But it can also bring a mix of nerves and stress for both kids and parents.

Whether it’s a kindergartner’s first day or a teenager facing AP classes, change can feel overwhelming. The good news? With a little preparation and emotional support, you can help make the transition smoother for everyone.

As parents, we usually know when something’s “off” with our kids. But it’s not always easy to tell the difference between a bad day and something deeper, like anxiety or depression.

Here’s a quick guide to help you notice the signs early — and know what to expect if you reach out for help.

Many of us carry stories about who we are based on where we’ve been—painful memories, past mistakes, or labels given to us by others. As a therapist, I often hear clients say things like, “This is just who I am,” or “I can’t change because of what happened to me.” That’s why the recent episode of the Modern Wisdom podcast featuring psychologist and author Scott Barry Kaufman felt like such a powerful and compassionate invitation to think differently.

In “How to Not Let Your Past Define You,” Kaufman shares both research and personal wisdom about the human capacity for growth. It’s a conversation rooted in science but delivered with heart—a reminder that while our past shapes us, it doesn’t have to imprison us.

When we hear words like “manifestation,” many of us picture vision boards, positive affirmations, or vague promises from self-help gurus. But what happens when a neuroscientist steps into the conversation? In a compelling episode of The Daily Motivation Podcast, Dr. Tara Swart Bieber—a medical doctor, neuroscientist, and author—offers a grounded, research-based perspective on how we can actually rewire our brains to move toward our deepest goals.

As a therapist, I’m always interested in the intersection of science and personal growth. This episode is a meaningful reminder that change isn’t about magic—it’s about neuroplasticity, intentional focus, and the courage to believe we’re worthy of more.

There are moments in therapy when a client describes a relationship that’s deeply painful—filled with manipulation, deceit, or emotional neglect—yet they speak of it with confusion, even loyalty. “I don’t know why I didn’t see it sooner,” they might say. Or, “Part of me still doesn’t want to believe it.”

This phenomenon has a name: betrayal blindness. In a powerful episode of the Navigating Narcissism podcast, psychologist and researcher Dr. Jennifer Freyd unpacks this concept, which she originally coined. Her explanation offers both clarity and compassion for those who’ve been hurt in ways that were hard—or even impossible—to recognize at the time.

As a therapist, I often sit with people who carry the weight of saying “yes” when they mean “no,” of overextending themselves to avoid conflict, or of feeling consumed by the fear of letting others down. This is the quiet and exhausting world of people-pleasing—and it’s more common than you might think.

In a compassionate and insightful episode of his podcast On Purpose, Jay Shetty explores the roots and consequences of people-pleasing with both depth and practicality. If you’ve ever felt like your needs come second to everyone else’s—or you don’t even know what your needs are anymore—this episode offers not just validation, but a path toward emotional freedom.

Many of us have been there: looking back on a relationship—romantic, professional, or even familial—and realizing that the signs were there all along. The discomfort, the gut instinct, the small voice saying “this doesn’t feel right.” And yet, we stayed. We minimized. We hoped.

In a compelling episode of On Purpose, Jay Shetty sits down with psychologist and relationship expert Sadia Khan to talk about one of the most important—and often overlooked—topics in relationship health: red flags. Their conversation is a direct, honest, and deeply validating look at why we ignore red flags, how it impacts our emotional well-being, and what we can do to start paying closer attention to ourselves.

As a therapist, I found this conversation not only insightful but necessary. Too many people blame themselves for not noticing sooner, when in truth, they were never taught how to trust their inner wisdom.

Growing up comes with a lot of invisible milestones. Beyond the degrees, jobs, and relationships lies something more elusive—and often more overwhelming: the process of becoming an adult. Or as it’s commonly known today, “adulting.”

As a therapist, I often work with young adults navigating this complex life stage. The transition from adolescence to adulthood isn’t just about gaining independence—it’s about managing responsibilities, building emotional resilience, and shaping your own identity in a world that often feels confusing or uncertain.

If you’re in your 20s or early 30s and feeling like everyone else “has it figured out” while you’re still trying to keep your plants alive, please know: you are not alone. Adulting is a process, not a destination. And no one gets it perfect.

In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, it’s easy to feel both awe and unease. As a therapist, I often hear clients express anxiety about the future—jobs, relationships, and even their sense of identity in the face of rapidly advancing technology. That’s why Simon Sinek’s recent conversation on the DOAC podcast, titled “You’re Being Lied To About AI’s Real Purpose,” struck a chord with me. It offered not just insight, but an opportunity for meaningful reflection on how we engage with technology as human beings.

If you’ve ever said things like:

• “I don’t know what I’m feeling — I just feel off.”

• “I’m either fine or totally falling apart.”

• “I wish I knew how to explain what’s going on inside me.”

You’re not alone. Most of us weren’t taught how to truly understand our emotions. We were taught how to be polite, stay calm, or push through. But not how to pause, notice, and name what’s happening beneath the surface.

If you’ve ever wished you could make sense of what you were feeling, or struggled to find the right words to explain what’s happening inside you, Atlas of the Heart is a beautiful place to start.

If you’ve ever wished you could navigate hard conversations with more grace, lead with confidence, or stop people-pleasing and start being braver about your needs — Dare to Lead by Brené Brown is one of those books that gently but firmly teaches you how.

While it’s technically a leadership book, it’s really about learning to lead yourself first. It’s about courage, clarity, vulnerability, and the hard, necessary work of growing into the person you want to be.

Breakups are one of the universal human experiences that no one quite prepares you for. Whether it was a months-long situationship or a decade-long relationship, the ending hurts — and it hurts in layers: grief, anger, relief, nostalgia, loneliness, and self-doubt.

In It’s Called a Breakup Because It’s Broken, Greg Behrendt (of He’s Just Not That Into You fame) and Amiira Ruotola deliver a refreshingly blunt, often hilarious, and surprisingly tender guide to surviving heartbreak without losing yourself in the process.

If dating has ever felt like a confusing, frustrating, or exhausting experience — you are so not alone. In Love Life, relationship coach Matthew Hussey offers a refreshingly kind and practical guide for navigating modern dating with both courage and self-respect.

This isn’t about games or gimmicks. It’s about getting clear on what you deserve, showing up authentically, and building connections that feel good for your soul, not just your relationship status.

If you’ve ever felt stuck blaming circumstances, other people, or bad timing for your frustrations, Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin offers a bold but surprisingly freeing idea: take ownership of everything in your life. Everything.

At first, that might sound intense (and it is — Jocko is a Navy SEAL, after all). But beneath the tough-love exterior is a powerful, practical guide to reclaiming your sense of agency, whether you’re leading a business, a family, a relationship, or just yourself.

Here’s what makes this book more than just a leadership manual — and why its lessons apply far beyond the battlefield.