Have you wondered when, and how, to discuss the topic of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco with your kids? Perhaps you’ve seen the devastation of substance abuse in families close to you and hope to keep this problem from entering your own doorstep. Benjamin Franklin is known to have said, “An ounce of prevention is worth…
Do you desire to parent children or teens, but have not been able to have kids of your own? If so, foster parenting may be a good option for you. Recently, I spoke with Daniel Vaughan—a licensed therapist at The BabbCenter for Counseling in Hendersonville, Tennessee—about his past experience of working in the foster care system.…
When we consider the years of childhood, we typically think about a span of time filled with friends, laughter, and playtime with friends. Toys, bikes, and games are the primary ingredients of joy to children around the world. However, when wrongful “adult games” intersect with childhood, the innocence in children’s fun and laughter is suddenly boxed up…
When is the best time to talk with kids about sexuality? The earlier, the better! For general growth changes, it’s great to “grow” these conversations along with your child’s physical growth. Meaning—start talking with them in their preschool years about simple matters related to their bodies. Talk about the uniqueness of their body compared to that of…
If you are the parent of a teen, you’ve probably heard the word “vaping,” but do you really know what comes along with this trendy addiction? It can be tricky to sort through the myths to get to the truth behind this latest craze of teens and young adults. The new ciggie First, it’s important to…
Considering the tragic shootings we hear about daily in the news…answer this question: What will my children (or teenagers) do if crisis strikes? I don’t know if the family crisis plan you’ve prepared came to mind, but more than likely it did not. Go ahead and let the guilt move on because you are not alone. Though Isaiah…
You may or may not be traveling across the globe this summer, but even local road trips can be challenging if you have young preschoolers in tow. If you’re scrambling for a few traveling “survival” tips, we’ve got you covered! Check out this list before you hit the road: Pack it up! For younger preschoolers,…
Are you in vacation mode? After all, summertime is here and we’re finally allowed to move about more from place-to-place. If you’re traveling by car, you might be listening to the sound of your little (or not so little) ones in the back seat as you cruise toward your vacation destination. When I’m steering our vehicle down the…
Tara is a Senior Psychological Examiner, Certified EMDR Therapist, and play therapist. She provides counseling and psychological/educational assessments for children, adolescents, adults, and families. Tara’s special areas of interest include trauma, anxiety, depression, divorce, grief, abuse, behavior issues, attachment, social skills, and self-esteem. Where did you go to school? Undergraduate at Belmont University, Graduate at…