Adolescence can be a time during which young people may experiment with substance use. For some adolescents, experimentation can turn into dependence. For a parent or guardian of a teen, this can introduce feelings of fear, frustration, shame and guilt and navigating such a situation can be extremely challenging. To address teen substance abuse, there…
Created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Recovery Month is designed to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover. To honor this month, The Lovett Center clinicians took the time to reflect on…
As a new school year gets underway, it is not uncommon for parents and students to experience anxiety about a number of issues. Some common concerns are academic performance, fitting in at a new school, adjusting to a higher educational level such as moving from middle school to high school and dealing with bullies, the…
Proactive substance use prevention, as opposed to reactive substance use treatment, can save families time, emotional stress, and energy. Research supports the notion that approaching difficult topics with children and teens non-confrontationally and with support as opposed to using intimidation and threats can be one of the most effective ways to prevent your child from…
When a disturbing experience happens, memories are stored in the brain with sights, sounds, thoughts and feelings. Through upsetting or traumatizing experiences, the brain seems to be unable to process the happening as it does normally. Rather, the event seems to become frozen in time and remembering it feels as bad as the initial experience.…
Famously, Freud—when asked as to the purpose of psychotherapy—responded that the goals of therapy are the same as the goals of living: to love and to work[1]. Indeed most people enter into therapy due to some disturbance in their basic functioning in their profession and/or relationships. How Can Therapy Help? Therapy can help you:…
When a people experience a traumatic event, it is very common for them to isolate that event within their mind and body, as a way of protecting themselves from feelings that can be frightening and overwhelming. Even after efforts to isolate an event, trauma can remain a powerful presence within your system, and a seemingly…
It is particularly difficult for high-achieving professionals to seek help in the area of mental health. Their achievements and the attainment of success in their careers can often become a barrier in accepting help from external sources. When professionals struggle with depression, anxiety, grief, loneliness, trauma, relationship issues, addiction, or other life stressors, they believe…
The transition into adulthood brings excitement, freedom and a whole set of baggage stuffed with responsibility, change and uncertainty. In 1997, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics began a study with nearly 9,000 young adults. As the study progressed, the data revealed that 9.7% of the participants moved out at 17 whereas 33.7 moved…
When there is a lot at stake in situations such as testing-taking to get into college or business, law or med school, stress can mount and impair your ability to focus, concentrate and remember information. This can lead to diminishing test performance, decreased confidence and a feeling of helplessness to overcome it. Like any pressured…