Adolescent Counseling Services

You Don’t Need to Have Everything Figured Out: Identity and LGBTQ+ Teens

in Gender / Gender identity / Identity Formation / Identity Formation / Parent Tips / Parenting / Sexuality / Teen Development by Adolescent Counseling Services June 3, 2026May 28, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Samantha Sicairos, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program TO TEENS: Adolescence is a time of exploring who you are and teens are often exploring their sexual orientation and gender identities. Some may know exactly how they identify and some may question and change their labels over time (during adolescence and beyond at […]

Helping Teens Navigate Social Media in Healthy Ways

in Identity Formation / Monitoring Media / Online Monitoring / Online Safety / Parent-Child Communication / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Setting Boundaries / Social Media / Teens and Technology by Adolescent Counseling Services May 27, 2026May 21, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Joyce Cannon, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program RAISING TEENShas never been simple. Parents have always worried about friendships, activities, and emotional well-being. However, today’s parents also face the challenge of helping their adolescents navigate the world of social media. Recent studies from Pew Research show how central social media has become […]

The Power of Your Personal Narrative: Shine Your Light Wisely

in Identity Formation / Identity Formation / Parenting / Teen Self-Image by Adolescent Counseling Services May 20, 2026May 14, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Francis J. Santora, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program EACH OF US LIVES BY A STORY-a personal narrative we tell ourselves about who we are, where we’ve been, and what’s possible for us. This story isn’t only about the facts and events of our past experiences. It’s also about meaning. The story […]

Helping Parents Understand Different Relationship Structures

in Dating / Parenting / Relationships / Relationships / Sexuality / Society Norms by Adolescent Counseling Services May 13, 2026May 7, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Seren Moran, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program IN EVERY GENERATION,parents encounter new topics and behaviors from their children that may feel unfamiliar or challenging. Many of us can remember moments when we tried to explain our perspective to our parents, hoping to be understood. And yet, when we step into the […]

Double the Culture, Double the Opportunities: Helping Bicultural Adolescents

in Cultural Stressors / Identity Formation / Parenting by Adolescent Counseling Services May 6, 2026April 30, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Nancy Lavinghousez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program BICULTURAL IDENTITYrefers to those who belong to two distinct cultural groups, requiring them to both navigate and integrate both cultures’ values, customs, languages, and social norms into one’s sense of self. The process, though enriching at times, can pose unique challenges to bicultural adolescents […]

Supporting Children through Grief

in Art Therapy / Expressive Arts Therapy / Grief / Mental Health by Adolescent Counseling Services April 29, 2026April 23, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Sam Bellusci, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program EVERY CLASSROOMis a place where learning and life intersect, and sometimes, life brings heartbreak and loss. When a child loses a family member, their grief shapes how they show up at school and engage in their learning. Supporting them isn’t just about academics; it’s […]

Understanding Psychological Trauma and Healing Approaches

in Art Therapy / Mental Health / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Adolescent Counseling Services April 22, 2026April 15, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Isaiah Curiel-Gomez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGICALTrauma? Psychological trauma can be defined as “a deeply disturbing experience that impacts a person’s physical or psychological safety and well-being to the degree that it impedes their ability to function in the world. It involves an overwhelming level of stress that […]

The Importance of Mental Health (in Spanish & English)

in Mental Health / Self care by Adolescent Counseling Services April 15, 2026April 9, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Lissette Lopez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program ¿SABES QUE TAN IMPORTANTE es la salud mental? La salud mental a menudo ha sido un tema rodeado de silencio, estigma y falta de información. Sin embargo, cuidar de nuestra mente es tan esencial como cuidar de nuestro cuerpo. Hablar de salud mental no […]

CBT for Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

in Anxiety / Stress Management by Adolescent Counseling Services April 8, 2026April 3, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Bradley Chamberlin, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY(CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for mental illness that has risen in popularity since it was first developed in the 1960s (Chand et al., 2023). Since then, CBT has been used to treat a variety of mental disorders, including anxiety disorders. Furthermore, […]

Trauma and Child Neglect: The Silent but Lasting Wound

in Emotional Regulation / Emotional Regulation / Identity Formation / Mental Health / Parenting by Adolescent Counseling Services April 1, 2026March 25, 2026 0 comments

Written By: Jennifer Molina, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program WHEN PEOPLEthink of child abuse, they often picture bruises, harsh words, or sexual violation. These forms of abuse are deeply harmful and life-altering. But what many don’t realize is that neglect can sometimes leave even deeper scars on the brain than physical, sexual, or […]