“Help!” The cry of parents can be heard across the country as summer approaches. First everyone has to calm down and get a grip. Yes, your kids are out of school for a break, but that doesn’t mean they must be lying around your house watching TV, playing computer games, or using their cell phone’s entire data plan. Actually this fear can be turned into a very good question: “What can my teen do this summer?” The key to this question is the word “can”. There are a l...
As a high school counselor, there was one day, many years ago, in which everything lined up, fell into place, and worked. This one day clicked exactly like you wish every day could. The day began with the chemistry teacher leaving me a message about a good student who was falling behind. In fact, it was so out of character for the student that the teacher was convinced something big was happening. Based on what other students were saying and the student’s behavior she had observed the teacher ...
Recently the adult son of a well-known evangelist committed suicide. I know of this family, and let me assure you they are a family of love and support. Likewise, I have a cousin who chose to take his own life, and to this day his absence is a huge void in our family. Marie Osmond has been open and public about the suicide of one of her sons. All of these young men were young adults from healthy, loving families, so know that no family is secure or immune from such tragedy and sorrow. Teens and ...
There is a fairly new phenomenon that kids refer to as “cutting”. Cutting is an act of purposefully hurting oneself or self injury. It is not a suicide attempt, but rather an unhealthy response to stress, emotional pain, frustration, or anger. Students tell me that it helps them feel better, like an emotional release. It is usually followed with guilt and shame. The most dangerous thing of cutting is that the person can truly hurt themselves accidentally. Girls are the most often cutters and...
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