Mental Health | Adolescent Counseling Services

Communication Tools for Adults and Teens: IFAB’s and OFNR’s

in Emotional Intelligence / Emotional Regulation / Emotional Regulation / Parent Tips / Parent-Child Communication / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Relationships by Adolescent Counseling Services November 19, 2025November 14, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Mariana Trejo, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program COMMUNICATIONcan be one of the most challenging aspects to our relationships, but one of the most crucial. During adolescence, most teens seek independence from parents or other adults in their lives, while many adults try to stay connected and provide guidance to them. Similarly, […]

Parenting Stress in Immigrant Families: Challenges and Strengths

in Cultural Stressors / Family therapy / Identity Formation / Identity Formation / Mental Health / Parent Support / Parenting / Parenting Stress by Adolescent Counseling Services November 13, 2025November 10, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Anjana Srinivasaprasad, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Adolescent Substance Addiction Treatment Program FOR MANY IMMIGRANT PARENTS, raising children in a new country comes with both pride and pressure. They carry the responsibility of preserving cultural traditions while helping their children adapt to an unfamiliar environment. This balancing act can create unique forms of parenting […]

The Mental Health Boost of Getting Involved in Your Community

in Friendships / Identity Formation / Mental Health / Relationships / Teen Development by Adolescent Counseling Services October 29, 2025October 28, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Stephanie Arias, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program IN TODAY’S BUSY WORLD, many teens juggle school, activities, and social lives that often take place online or in their individual worlds. After a few years of online interactions, in-person interactions may have become more limited, leading to feelings of isolation for many teenagers […]

The Importance of School-Based Counseling

in Academic Stress / Emotional Regulation / Mental Health / Middle School Behavior / Perfectionism / Teen Development by Adolescent Counseling Services October 22, 2025October 20, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Kendall Keller, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program ADDRESSING the Growing Mental Health Crisis in California’s Schools Recent data from the 2022 State of Student Mental Wellness Report highlights an urgent and concerning trend in California’s youth mental health. According to the report, 63% of students experienced emotional meltdowns, 43% reported panic […]

Understanding Adolescent Grief

in Emotional Intelligence / Grief / Mental Health / Parent Tips / Parent-Child Communication / Parent-Teen Communication / Parenting / Play Therapy by Adolescent Counseling Services October 15, 2025October 13, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Allison Thigpen, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program GRIEF AND LOSSare universal experiences, but they can look very different in young children. While adults may express grief through words or rituals, children often process their emotions in ways that are less obvious—through behavior, play, or even silence. As parents, caregivers, or educators, […]

Creativity as a Tool for Healing

in Emotional Intelligence / Emotional Regulation / Expressive Arts Therapy / Mental Health / Play Therapy / Self care / Stress Management / Teaching Mindfulness by Adolescent Counseling Services October 8, 2025October 7, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Gavriella Silverman, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program AS CHILDREN,creativity comes naturally–we sing songs made-up on the spot, turn doodles into masterpieces, and dance without fear of being watched. Yet as we grow older, this tender and wondrous part of ourselves often slips away. Without the encouragement of supportive adults and peers, […]

How to Support Someone who has Suicidal Thoughts

in Depression / Mental Health / Self-Harm / Suicide / Suicide Prevention by Adolescent Counseling Services October 7, 2025October 7, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Aaron Starr, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program SUICIDAL THOUGHTSare almost always about one thing: how to escape from suffering at a reasonable price. Whenever any of us suffer, we look for a way out. When we touch a hot pan, the pain motivates us to pull our hand away. In that […]

Supporting Teen Victims of Cyberbullying

in Cyberbullying / Mental Health / Monitoring Media / Parent Tips / Parenting / Teen Development / Teen Peer Groups / Teens and Technology by Adolescent Counseling Services June 11, 2025June 10, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Nathan Gennaro, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program AS TEENAGERSfrequently engage with technology and social media, it is important to consider how the use of these tools may affect their mental health. Social media offers teens access to education, opportunities to connect with others, and ways to explore new hobbies. While these […]

Heterosexual Privilege Awareness: Active Allyship

in Gender identity / LGBTQ Issues / LGBTQ rights / Mental Health / Pride Month / Sexuality / Society Norms by Adolescent Counseling Services June 4, 2025May 30, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Anny Bae, Clinical Trainee at ACS, Outlet Program WHAT IS PRIVILEGE?The concept of privilege refers to any automatic, unearned benefits and advantages awarded to members of dominant social groups, such as racial, gender, or sexual orientation identities (Case et al., 2012a; McIntosh, 1998). These privileges then operate on further intersecting identities (i.e., gay […]

Finding Community Can Improve Mental Health

in Academic Stress / Cultural Stressors / Gender / Gender identity / Identity Formation / Identity Formation / Mental Health / Mental Health / Self care / Stress by Adolescent Counseling Services May 28, 2025May 27, 2025 0 comments

Written By: Leslee Dominguez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program ADOLESCENTS FACElife stressors like academics, relationships, food instability, economic instability, and many more stressful events. Additionally, youth who have marginalized identities have additional stressors that many might notice but do not discuss. These marginalized identities include being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, being […]