Featured Resources
Talking to Your Teen
You heard this would happen. Your little snuggler, your helper, your “mini-me” has become a teen. Attempting to engage with them now may elicit a series of grunts and groans, or seemingly thoughtless one-word answers. Try these techniques to help you reconnect with your teen and keep the lines of communication open.
How To Love Through Hard Times
If you or someone you know experiences painful memories this time of year, check out some of our blogs below to read different perspectives on relationships, learn ways to move past those difficult times, and learn how to continue to give and accept love from others.
Making Time for Family Fun
Often the fun activities in life get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. When this happens, I encourage caregivers to take a few minutes to complete the following activity adapted from the “Together Facing the Challenge” curriculum.Additional Resources
End of Summer – Slump or Frenzy?
Summer is slowly coming to an end. Many families are experiencing a mixture of feelings, both positive and negative. Some of the positives are a desire for normalcy while some of the negatives include the pressures to finish summer projects. No matter how you are feeling as summer draws to an end, remember, your most important job is to teach your children how to be successful adults.
Creating Healthy Relationships
As teenagers and young adults grow up, they may begin to explore romantic relationships. While these are normal milestones for a young adult, it’s important to talk with youth about boundaries and consent, and how they are important in any relationship, platonic or romantic.
How to Support Your Loved One in Their Gender Expression
It’s important to understand that someone’s gender identity and sexual identity are two different concepts. Gender identity is the personal sense of one’s own gender, while sexual identity is a person’s conception of their sexuality and who they are attracted to. You may feel uncomfortable about the way your loved one is choosing to express their gender, or maybe you don’t understand it. You may worry about the struggles they will face or worry about them being bullied or harassed by others. Here’s some tips on how you can support your loved one.
The Best-of Dear Dr. Michelle
We started the Dear Dr. Michelle advice column at the height of COVID as an additional way to provide free, accessible help to those who may need it while navigating our new environment. As we transition back to pre-pandemic days, our Dear Dr. Michelle column is coming to a close. As a final hurrah, we wanted to share a list of our top ten most visited advice articles over the past two and half years.
What Should I Do After Breaking Up With a Friend?
I have had to break up with my best friend. She was not able to listen to my feelings about things in the friendship. She also stopped spending time with me like we used to and would never tell me why. I feel sad and hurt and am in a deep depression I am struggling to get out of. I blame myself. I will still have to see her on occasion. How can I get out of this deep depression and deal with times I may have to see her?
Making Friends as an Adult Can Be Tough: Here Are Some Tips to Help
Making new friends is hard, especially as an adult with the added layer of living in a new city. But finding those connections are so important for our mental health and well-being, as friendships help us find a sense of belonging, boost our happiness, and can help build our self-esteem. Here are a few tips on how to create new relationships in a new community.
My Adult Daughter Came Out to Me as a Lesbian. What Do I Do?
My daughter is 22. She has graduated, got a job offer, and moved out of the house. Last week she called me and told me she is lesbian. She told me it is ok if I don’t accept her, and she will go away from the family. I really don’t know how to handle it. Please help me to accept this. Is it my fault?
Pressure During the Holidays
Luke Spiegelhoff, LICSW, Clinical Director at Nexus-FACTS, joined KSTP-TV's Minnesota Live to talk about the pressure of the holidays. Take a look at his advice to relieve the holiday stress here!