by Meredith White, M.S., Developmental Therapist

‘Tis the season for after-school playdates and fall weekend outings with friends.  The backdrop of cooler temperatures and falling leaves seems perfect for a myriad of play-date successes.  But what if you find hosting (or even attending) these playdates to be a daunting occasion for both you AND your child?  Well, you’re in good company.  Many families with typically developing children or children with social-skill deficits often find playdates to be a challenge.

Abraham Lincoln. Gandhi. Winston Churchill.

All of these great leaders in history suffered from mental health issues at some point during their life. In America, nearly 30 million adults seek therapy a year for a mental health issue.   For the last 23 years, the first week of October has been designated by Congress and the National Alliance on Mental Health as “Mental Health Awareness Week.” People are encouraged to get screened for depression, learn about recovery and understanding and most importantly, increase awareness of the mental health issues in our community and erase any negative stigma attached to it.

The Jewish New Year has just begun.  Jews around the world have experiencedthe High Holy Day process of tshuvah/spiritual return.  This can also be a time to celebrate the return to a life free of addiction.  If you are Jewish and actively engaged in addictive behavior, or find yourself embroiled in the chaos that a loved one’s addiction creates, how can you return to a life of sanity this year?  In this article are some suggestions to make the most of this opportunity to return to the life you were intended to live.

It’s been almost a month. Your child or loved one has been off at  college, making new friends, acclimating themselves to the campus and hitting the books hard (hopefully). Maybe they’ve already found a job and moved out.

As the old adage goes, the only constant in life is change.   Whether it’s trying something new, going to a new school, or adapting to life changes, change can be both feared and welcomed, anxiety producing and exhilarating.  As summer ends and the seasons change from summer to fall, JCFS Chicago clinicians share insights on change at different stages of life.

Parents of 9 to 12 year-old girls know “Tween Girl Drama” even if they cannot define it.  They see it in the struggles their daughters have negotiating friendships, their changing bodies, and their growing desire for independence.  They experience it in the moodiness and seeming over-reactions to the littlest of things. Here are 7 tips for supporting your daughter (or even your son) as she navigates these challenging years:  

Sarah, a 44 year old mother of two, is finding herself back in the job market after 15 years, as she and her husband begin the divorce process.  The prospect of finding a full time job in a very different job market than the one she knew, and concern for how the children will cope with the changes, has her feeling anxious and overwhelmed.   And, with 53 percent of marriages ending in divorce in 2012 according to the Centers for Disease Control, Sarah is not alone.

By Hannah Withers

“Just before her first birthday we started noticing that Zoe wasn’t reaching the milestones,” said Mike Prask of his daughter, Zoe. “We have an older daughter, and we weren’t comparing the two because every child is different… but we knew at some point that Zoe wasn’t where she needed to be in terms of crawling or talking. If we held out our fingers for her, she would reach out but couldn’t grab them. She wasn’t attempting to pull herself up to stand. We knew something was going on.”

By Julia Wall, MSW, LCSW, Clinician at Response

Graduating from high school is a momentous occasion for both teens and parents.  I would like to first address the parents who are reading this blog.  I want you to give yourself a pat on the back and breathe a sigh of relief!  You have successfully gotten your teen to the age of 18 and graduating with a high school degree!  While your teen may brush this off and say you didn’t help with much, you and I both know that you played a large role in where your teen is today!  Someday down the road, probably when they’re 30, they will thank you for all your hard work!

We have all been there.    A family member, friend or close work colleague experiences the death of a loved one.  Now what? What do we say or do?  We may attend the funeral or Shiva and assume we have done our part in being a support, but the mourning process takes longer than most people think.  We may feel overwhelmed with our own feelings and be confused with what to do.  How can we be there for someone who is bereaved?  Although the grief and mourning process is unique to each individual, there are some ways you can be of help.