The lazy days of summer are finally here, but you might be finding it difficult to relax if your relationship with your teen daughter feels like an ongoing power struggle....How much screen time? Why can't I seem to get her to follow through on anything I ask her to do? I want to listen and support her, but I also have to be a parent...Where do I begin?It may seem like you're losing ground...but have hope.One of the most important developmental tasks of adolescence is to learn how to form meaningful friendships with peers and renegotiate relationships with parents, all while trying to establish key aspects of developing identity during those crucial teen years. This has never been an easy task, but it's particularly complicated now with the sheer volume of social expectations and … [Read more...] about She’s Just Not That Into You: Surviving Summer With Your Teenage Daughter
Overcoming Perfectionism: A Work in Progress
While many of us develop the belief that perfectionism is something to strive for in order to achieve success, I teach my clients that this belief is actually a dangerous myth. Perfectionism is a particular form of unhappiness – a steady state of discontent - as well as a self-destructive and addictive belief system that can fuel stress, depression, anxiety, and low self-worth.Striving for perfection is the epitome of setting unrealistic and unattainable expectations. It fuels self-criticism and leaves no room for mistakes. When we role-model perfectionistic behavior to our children, they implicitly learn that failure is not an option, that it's something to be avoided at all costs. Living life in the grips of a perfectionistic mindset may offer an illusion of control in an otherwise … [Read more...] about Overcoming Perfectionism: A Work in Progress