Facing Life's Challenges

Career

Making a Plan for Your Child's Summer: Some Do's to Follow

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on July 21, 2024

Summer brings parents and children an opportunity for new challenges, family time, and the freedom to do whatever. It also brings out differing opinions that need to be resolved.

Summer brings parents and children an opportunity for new challenges, family time, and the freedom to do whatever. It also brings out differing opinions that need to be resolved.

Parenting

Why Is It So Hard to Talk With Someone Who Is Grieving?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on June 6, 2024

Being with someone who is grieving is an inevitable part of life and it is a gift to your child to guide them in navigating this experience.

Being with someone who is grieving is an inevitable part of life and it is a gift to your child to guide them in navigating this experience.

Parenting

Why Is It So Hard to Hear That Your Child Has Difficulty?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on May 13, 2024

You might struggle when school says your child should see a therapist. Here are ways to understand yourself and make the most of the consultation process for you and your child.

You might struggle when school says your child should see a therapist. Here are ways to understand yourself and make the most of the consultation process for you and your child.

Parenting

2 Key Sayings to Help a Child in Challenging Times

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on April 4, 2024

When a child has painful times, you can help them find strength and resilience by being with them in their hard feelings and helping them find hope for the future.

When a child has painful times, you can help them find strength and resilience by being with them in their hard feelings and helping them find hope for the future.

Parenting

How Do You Tell a Child That Someone Close Is Very Ill?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on March 4, 2024

Almost inevitably, you may face having to tell a child that someone they care about is very ill. Here are ways to understand yourself and be truthful, yet empathic and gentle.

Almost inevitably, you may face having to tell a child that someone they care about is very ill. Here are ways to understand yourself and be truthful, yet empathic and gentle.

Parenting

What to Do When You Aren't Sure What Your Child Is Feeling

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on February 6, 2024

It's upsetting for parents when they don't understand what their child is feeling. Here are some ways to figure it out and connect with your child.

It's upsetting for parents when they don't understand what their child is feeling. Here are some ways to figure it out and connect with your child.

Bullying

Victim or Bully: Talking With Your Child About Prejudice

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on January 11, 2024

Your child may witness, participate in, or be the victim of peer mistreatment. There are ways to talk with them and involve their teacher to create a supportive plan.

Your child may witness, participate in, or be the victim of peer mistreatment. There are ways to talk with them and involve their teacher to create a supportive plan.

Grief

What You Can Do When Your Family Is Not in the Holiday Mood

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on December 11, 2023

If you and your child are not feeling festive this year, you are not alone. Here are six tips to help you identify your family's needs and manage others' expectations.

If you and your child are not feeling festive this year, you are not alone. Here are six tips to help you identify your family's needs and manage others' expectations.

Parenting

Tips for the Challenges of Parenting During the Holidays

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on November 21, 2023

We all have expectations of the holidays, yet sometimes, our children do not want to participate. Here are ways to talk with your child and help them to find ease.

We all have expectations of the holidays, yet sometimes, our children do not want to participate. Here are ways to talk with your child and help them to find ease.

Parenting

How to Talk With a Child About War

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on October 13, 2023

It's hard to talk to a child about war. Here are tips on taking care of your own feelings and providing a sense of safety for your child.

It's hard to talk to a child about war. Here are tips on taking care of your own feelings and providing a sense of safety for your child.

Parenting

What to Do When Your Child Has Difficulty at School

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on October 2, 2023

The school year has started and some children are having new or ongoing difficulties. Here are six tips for how to handle it with your partner, your child and the school.

The school year has started and some children are having new or ongoing difficulties. Here are six tips for how to handle it with your partner, your child and the school.

Anger

Helping Your Child Name Their Feelings

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on September 10, 2023

It's challenging for a parent when their child enacts feelings in a negative way.

It's challenging for a parent when their child enacts feelings in a negative way.

Parenting

Beating the Back-To-School Blues

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on August 14, 2023

Are you and your child having sad or anxious feelings about the end of summer? There are ways to understand this and approaches to help that will make the transition easier.

Are you and your child having sad or anxious feelings about the end of summer? There are ways to understand this and approaches to help that will make the transition easier.

Parenting

What Parents Can Do When a Child Isn't Who They Expected

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on August 7, 2023

What if your child is not who you envisioned they would be? Start here to understand these disappointments and welcome your child for who they are.

What if your child is not who you envisioned they would be? Start here to understand these disappointments and welcome your child for who they are.

Parenting

Graduation Time: Your Emotions May Not Be What You Expect

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on June 18, 2023

A parent may feel mixed emotions, as a child's graduation marks an ending for them as well as for their child. There are ways to understand and grapple with the changes.

A parent may feel mixed emotions, as a child's graduation marks an ending for them as well as for their child. There are ways to understand and grapple with the changes.

Memory

Mother's Day: Helping a Child at a Time Laden With Memory

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on May 4, 2023

Is a child you know facing a Mother's Day after their mother has died? There are ways to make anticipating the day and the day itself manageable for you and them.

Is a child you know facing a Mother's Day after their mother has died? There are ways to make anticipating the day and the day itself manageable for you and them.

Anxiety

What Do You Say When Your Child Asks if You Will Die?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on April 2, 2023

Not sure what to say when your child asks if you will ever die? There are ways to make that challenging moment a time of connection and comfort.

Not sure what to say when your child asks if you will ever die? There are ways to make that challenging moment a time of connection and comfort.

Anxiety

How to Tell and What to Do if Your Child Is Anxious in Grief

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on February 7, 2023

Are your child's anxious thoughts and feelings due to a loss in their lives? You can help them learn to identify their worries and tolerate difficult feelings.

Are your child's anxious thoughts and feelings due to a loss in their lives? You can help them learn to identify their worries and tolerate difficult feelings.

Depression

5 Guidelines to Help You Talk With a Child About Scary News

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on January 25, 2023

Is your child hearing about violent events in the news? There are ways to be honest with them, as well as reassuring.

Is your child hearing about violent events in the news? There are ways to be honest with them, as well as reassuring.

Friends

Helping Your Child if They Are Being Picked on

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on January 16, 2023

Is your child being picked on? They may not tell you, but you may see behavior changes, and you can then have a conversation.

Is your child being picked on? They may not tell you, but you may see behavior changes, and you can then have a conversation.