Oct. 5-11 is Mental Illness Awareness Week This is an opportunity for conversations about mental health care ending the silence that often surrounds it and getting early treatment for those who need it. Howie Mandel, a long-time suffer of mental illness is an...
Your Teen is Motivated Many parents tell me their adolescent is not motivated. My usual response is that teens are very motivated, but only when they believe it is benefitting them. How we use this developmental stage to benefit everyone is an art form that is not...
SCHS Vol Drug testing Dowload I encourage you to sign up for the voluntary drug testing program (the red flyer). Your teen may suggest otherwise and may even ask “don’t you trust me?” but, as parents, we know it’s not about trust. It’s about giving our child a...
While most San Clemente youth make the choice to not use alcohol or illegal substances, there is problematic substance use among youth and adults in San Clemente. Of course, the substance abuse epidemic is not unique to San Clemente but we should all be aware that our...
If your child goes to a party where alcohol and drugs are being used and one of their friends begins to seizure or show other signs of distress, what would your child do? What would you want them to do?” Because drug and alcohol overdoses are devastating California’s...
Dear Parents and Community Members, If you have any questions or concerns please email or call me – 949-680-0516 About 5% of children and adolescents suffer from depression at any given point in time. “The behavior of depressed children and teenagers may differ from...
Dear Parents and Community Members, Since it was Spring Break week – I thought I too would take a vacation and let someone else write this week’s email. I believe in all of the parenting tips below and use them when I teach parenting groups. Parenting Teens: 5...
Dear Parents and Community Members, Most important tool against addiction is you. Please keep talking to your kids. Two resources below give tips for communicating with your kids at various ages. Most experts agree that discussing your own experimentation or use is...
As my children entered the teen years they became very focused on their diet. My husband and I secretly hoped this would be a passing phase, much like their obsession with recycling in 4th grade. But, it seems to be a new way of life for our family. Over the...
Dear Parents and Community Members, I hear a lot of confusing statements about eCigs. Below are the facts from and ABC news report. What I took away from this is and other research They are a nicotine delivery system – and though there may be less none carcinogens in...