Teen Development

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 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 […]

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The Power of Your Personal Narrative: Shine Your Light Wisely

in Identity Formation / Identity Formation / Parenting / Teen Self-Image  by Adolescent Counseling Services 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 […]

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Helping Parents Understand Different Relationship Structures

in Dating / Parenting / Relationships / Relationships / Sexuality / Society Norms  by Adolescent Counseling Services 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 […]

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Double the Culture, Double the Opportunities: Helping Bicultural Adolescents

in Cultural Stressors / Identity Formation / Parenting  by Adolescent Counseling Services 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 […]

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Slaying Inner Demons: What K-Pop Demon Hunters Teaches Us About Mental Health

in Friendships / Mental Health / Parent Support / Parent Tips / Parenting / Teen Development / Teens and Technology  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Juanita Ibarra, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program UNLESS YOU’VE LIVED UNDER A ROCKthis past year, you’ve probably heard about K-Pop Demon Hunters from your kids, your co-workers, social media, new outlets, and even your neighbor’s dog. It’s not only Netflix’s most watched movie ever and dominating music charts, it’s also a […]

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What’s Really Going On With Your Teen? A Lot More Than You Think

in Emotional Intelligence / Emotional Regulation / Friendships / Identity Formation / Identity Formation / Relationships / Teen Development / Teen Self-Image  by Adolescent Counseling Services 0 comments

Written By: Edelya Silva, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program THE TEENAGE YEARSare often referred to as the most trying years for a parent and their child. Lots of books and blogs love to capitalize on this “chaos” with catchy titles like Feeding the Mouth that Bites You or Surviving Your Child’s Adolescence. The […]

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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 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, […]

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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 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 […]

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The Mental Health Boost of Getting Involved in Your Community

in Friendships / Identity Formation / Mental Health / Relationships / Teen Development  by Adolescent Counseling Services 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 […]

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The Importance of School-Based Counseling

in Academic Stress / Emotional Regulation / Mental Health / Middle School Behavior / Perfectionism / Teen Development  by Adolescent Counseling Services 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 […]

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