Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch
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By: M. Katherine Lickteig, MA, LPC Associate Supervised by Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S Have you adopted, or are you in the process of adopting? Adoption Counseling can help your family through this process. A knowledgeable therapist can aid any couple through the steps needed to bring your new child into your life. When a couple […]
Have you adopted, or are you in the process of adopting? Adoption Counseling can help your family through this process. A knowledgeable therapist can aid any couple through the steps needed to bring your new child into your life. When a couple is
seeking a professional to help with this life-changing event, they must consider what stage of the process. The two types of counseling would be pre-adoption counseling and post-adoption counseling. Therefore, a therapist that is well versed in the process, and can make things run more smoothly for your family.
You and your spouse are considering adoption to add to your family. So, why should you consider counseling? While it is a beautiful way to add to your family, it is not without personal challenges. Whether you are adopting locally, considering a foreign adoption, or adopting from foster care, you are entering a situation that will be far different from the traditional way of adding to your family. The better prepared a parent is, the more unlikely they are to become frustrated.
As with any way you add to your family, you as a couple are excited, and you should be. You have done everything that your
agency has asked you and more. Adoption is a great thing. Many of you have prepared to fly around the world to get your new baby. You want to give your all to this child, but there are several things that you might want to consider.
First, you must believe that this adoption occurred at a significant loss for this child. Second, many of these children have been through past trauma. You have already loved this child and are ready to welcome them into your loving arms. The third thing you may want to consider is that they might return your feelings right away. Your expectations may be far more than they are ready to give. An adoption therapist can help a couple to manage their expectations.
What is pre-adoption counseling? Counseling at this stage will help you through the process. A knowledgeable therapist can help you with the struggles of the paperwork and adoptive placement. They can also help with the roller coaster ride of the placement process. The therapist can help you consider all aspects of adding another person to your family. This therapist should be able to help adoptive parents to set realistic expectations. The counseling should allow the parents to meet these kids at their emotional level so that transitions will run more smoothly. Parents will be able to discuss issues they may encounter with future children. The goal of this counseling will allow parents to prepare better for the adoption.
This type of counseling can help a family for years after the adoption and is often part of services offered to adopted children. Post-adoption counseling can involve many different areas of the new family’s life. An adoption therapist can help a family with attachment issues, grief issues, behavioral issues, trauma issues, and problems with the changing roles in the family. It can also help you resolve any issues present to the family, and it can help when you feel frustrated and question your decision.
Adoption is a great way to add to your family, but just like biological children can present issues, so will adoptive children. The better prepared you are to welcome that little one and meet their needs, the better off your family will be. Our trained therapists
at the Cinco Ranch Counseling Center will love to work with you and your child if you are considering adoption, working as a foster parent, or are struggling with issues in the post-adoption phase.
Do you want to learn how to navigate adoption or adding to your family? One of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide individual and family counseling and other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX, follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: M. Katherine Lickteig, MA, LPC Associate Supervised by Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S Are you the adult child of a late-life divorce? Have you been adversely affected by the fact that your parents recently divorced? You are not alone. Adult children are often involved negatively by the divorce of their parents. They often struggle with […]
Are you the adult child of a late-life divorce? Have you been adversely affected by the fact that your parents recently divorced? You are not alone. Adult children are often involved negatively by the divorce of their parents. They often struggle with issues of grief. Adult children often question their life’s meaning. They work to find meaning from the situation. Adversely, adult children can suffer far worse than minor children. If you are struggling with issues from your parent’s divorce, you are not alone.
Late-life divorce is a term given to a couple who split after many years of marriage. The divorce rate amongst younger people has decreased. However, the divorce rate for older adults has soared in the past few years. The unintentional consequence of the increase in late-life divorce is that adult-children face emotional issues at an unprecedented rate.
Your parents have done their job. Are you being selfish? It is ok to acknowledge that it is ok to feel that way. Try to be patient with your feelings. Typical feelings that you may experience can range from grief to anger. You may need to seek a professional to work out how you are feeling.
Grief is a struggle that many adult children experience. Therefore, when adult children learn of their parent’s impending divorce, they will often go through the stages of grief. These children are shocked that what they knew as their childhood has died. The person is grieving the loss of their childhood. Occasionally, extreme levels of grief may also cause this person to question their life.
Adult children of divorce tend to question everything in their lives. They often doubt themselves and their relationships, and they often suffer from trust issues within their relationships. Sometimes, individuals will challenge themselves about the reality of their family. This will happen significantly if one spouse has rewritten the history of the marriage. They would ask themselves if they were part of the happy family they thought they were. They will question their ability to discern the truth from their lives.
Children of late-life divorce will have to deal with a change in the dynamics of the family. You may have other people to consider. Relationships may strain to the point they can never be repaired. You may no longer have a relationship with one or both parents.
Divorce is never easy. Sometimes it is unavoidable. As a result, it is important that all family members affected become involved if you are experiencing such issues due to the divorce. A trusted therapist can help. If you have any questions, please get in touch with one of our therapists at Cinco Ranch Counseling to aid you in getting through this difficult time.
If you are ready to talk about late-life divorce or inquire about personal therapy, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! To begin personal counseling in Katy, TX you can follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, Counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. To learn more about our therapists and counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Julie Sekachev, M.Ed, LPC Associate Supervised by Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S Would you like to know how to be more assertive? Do you struggle to say what you mean to others? Do you struggle to make decisions and find yourself saying “yes” when you want to say “no?” Maybe you find yourself putting your […]
Would you like to know how to be more assertive? Do you struggle to say what you mean to others? Do you struggle to make decisions and find yourself saying “yes” when you want to say “no?” Maybe you find yourself putting your needs and wants last to
avoid conflict, but later find yourself overwhelmed, resentful, and stressed. If you identify with any of these
examples, you may have a passive communication style that is not serving you in getting your needs met. This blog will look at five ways to increase your assertive communication skills and meet your needs!
An assertive communication style means that you are direct and respectful when you communicate with others. Your tone of voice is firm but not aggressive. You speak your needs clearly and maintain eye contact. You take the needs of yourself and others when speaking and expressing your needs.
For example, let’s say that your co-worker expects you to do her part of a team project at work. You find yourself saying yes to avoid conflict but end up missing time with your family and your spouse due to
picking up her slack after work. Later, you find yourself burned out, exhausted, missing your family, and feeling restful towards your co-worker.
Here you state your needs clearly and offer a team to help if your friend needs it. If you were to practice assertive communication, you could say, “unfortunately, I cannot take any more time on helping you with your part of the project. If you have any questions or need any help, we could set up a team meeting to discuss it together.”
When you have a specific request from others, break down what you want to say first. You can brainstorm your needs and then state your needs or desires out loud. You can role-play with your therapist or friend and ask for feedback.
This style of communication will help you sound less accusatory and more respectful. For example, you can say, “I would like your help with this project,” instead of “you need to do this.”
If you find yourself saying yes to requests and then blaming yourself or canceling plans after agreeing when you did not want to, you may need to practice saying no. Some ways to say no can be “no, I cannot do that right now,” or “no, I have another commitment.” No need to apologize or give a detailed explanation.
Keep it brief and to the point. Remember why you are declining in the first place. If you are at capacity
with engagements, you are doing yourself a service to not take any more things on. Or, if you want to be polite, you can offer a different activity or different time. If you do not want to spend time with this person or people, reconsider your relationship.
Assertive communication is not only about how you communicate with others, but it is also about how you receive the messages that are communicated to you. Active listening is listening without interruption, listening for the meaning behind another person’s message. After you hear the news, summarize and paraphrase the message back to ensure a clear understanding.
Practice your assertive skills in situations that require you to take small risks first—maybe letting a barista know if your order was wrong or ask your friend not to call you after 9 PM. Later, once you start to build your confidence, you can challenge yourself to speak up more at work or ask your boss for a raise.
Remember that learning assertive communication takes time. Just as with any social skill, the more you practice, the better and more natural you will become.
If you would like to talk more about improving your communication skills, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help!
We provide couple’s counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin
couples counseling in Katy, TX, follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Cheri Locke, MA, LPC At times parenting a child or teen with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD or ADD, can be overwhelming. As parents you may struggle to understand your child. As a couple, there may be consistent differences in how to handle situations with your child that may lead to conflict. The whole […]
At times parenting a child or teen with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD or ADD, can be overwhelming. As parents you may struggle to understand your child. As a couple, there may be consistent differences in how to handle situations with your child that may lead to conflict. The whole family can experience a disruption that leaves everyone feeling frazzled and emotionally drained. However, there are some things that you can do to provide stability and calmness in your home. These things will also help your relationship with your child and with your partner. Children with ADHD often experience just as much frustration as their parents. They want to be able to “do” all of the things that are asked of them. Remember, children with ADHD typically have deficits in some executive functioning which include the ability to organize, complete tasks, think or plan ahead. Parents can learn to manage and guide their children in positive ways, assisting in areas where their child experiences the most difficulties.
It is really important you get to know your child’s routine and understand how long she/he needs for homework, to get ready, etc. Being rushed is sure to trigger a meltdown or a fight. You can constructively allow your child time to work at their pace. For example, asking my child to get ready in 20 minutes in the morning does not work and leads to everyone feeling flustered. I know that he needs time to ease into the morning so 45 minutes to an hour works better for him and sets the tone for a better day. You can also set them up for success. Use timers and clocks around the house to alert them when their time is over. For example, if you tell them they have 15 more minutes of “play” time, set a timer to signal the end of time for an easy transition.
Structure and routines are very helpful no matter the age. Find a routine that works well for your child and try to stick to it. When they know what to expect it helps them function better. Also, the older a child becomes, the more help they need staying organized and planning, especially for school. As parents, we tend to think that because they are maturing we can step back. However, parents and kids end up more frustrated because homework is not done and/or turned in. The entire school experience can become daunting. Ask your teen what they feel will help them best. You can add simple solutions to your daily routine such as a whiteboard, a planner, daily to-do lists, or daily check-in’s. The teen years are not the time to let your kid figure it out on their own. With a little help in organization and planning, children can be successful.
Creating a space for your child can look different to every person that reads this blog. For some, it will mean creating a quiet space for your child to work. For others, it may mean carving out some positive time in your day to spend with your child. It may also mean allowing them to run at the soccer field to burn off some energy. Whatever this looks like for your family, take it. Who knows, it may even be a combination of the three!
I see many couples that often experience some issues with parenting. Recently, several couples have brought up issues related to parenting a child with ADHD. I believe it is important for couples to be united in helping their children. Here are just a few simple steps you can take today.
As parents of a child with ADHD it is important that you educate yourself. The needs of children with ADHD are different and cannot be “lumped” in or compared to those of other children. Read books or articles that are from reputable providers. Ask your child’s doctor if they have any resources. If your child is old enough, ask she/he what they feel will work best. Sometimes, our kids can offer some of the best insight on what will help them personally.
One thing I often hear from couples in session is they fight over their children and are at opposite ends of how to handle the situation. You are not going to agree on every parenting aspect, especially when it comes to parenting a child with ADHD. However, you can talk about it and come up with a solution that best serves your child. The last thing we want is to make your child feel that they are the cause of their parents fighting. Remember, this is a diagnosis. Your child is not intentionally “not listening.” Find a way to work with your partner, even if you need to compromise a bit!
If I haven’t said it yet, parenting a child with ADHD can be exhausting. If you are frustrated, the best thing you can do for yourself and your child is take a break. Let your partner take over. Repeat as often as needed. This helps keep things more calm and allows more positivity to emerge. When we are positive, children are more positive. It does not feel good to anyone involved to give or hear constant negativity or consequences. Allow yourself the space to see what your child did that day that you can give them praise.
As a parent, you can help your child overcome their daily challenges, help to increase calm and structure, and learn to respond in more positive ways. It is important to recognize what your child needs to be successful. For some, it is gentle reminders to raise their hands to speak, while for others, it may be reminding them to actually speak up for themselves rather than daydreaming. ADHD is not a one size fits all and it is not always the child that cannot sit quietly in his/her chair. Remember, at times we as parents do become mentally and physically drained from the daily demands of parenting a child with ADHD. If you feel that you are struggling, please reach out for help.
If you are ready to learn techniques to help your child and your relationship, the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide parenting related services as well as counseling services to all ages. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps: Contact our office to set up an appointment or to get more information about parenting therapy Meet with one of our compassionate therapists Find ways to help your child with ADHD through counseling!
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch we offer counseling services for people of all ages including: eating disorder treatment, depression treatment, women’s issues, treatment for anxiety, couples and marriage counseling, counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, family therapy, men’s issues, trauma counseling, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to regularly post blogs with helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!
By: Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S We are living in an anxiety-provoking time. There are a lot of unknowns. How long will I be working from home? When will the kids get to return to school safely? How am I going to help my kids with online school, and get my work done? When will things […]
We are living in an anxiety-provoking time. There are a lot of unknowns. How long will I be working from home? When will the kids get to return to school safely? How am I going to help my kids with online school, and get my work done? When will things go back to normal? There are so many questions with few answers. Family members of all ages are feeling the burden of the pandemic. Although children may not understand the situation fully, they are experiencing the negative effects. To keep up morale and stress levels down, families may need to get inventive.
OK. It’s Texas and it’s hot. It’s still important to get some fresh air and exercise regularly. Depending on the age of your kiddos, early mornings or just before sundown might be good times to be outside and still beat the heat (at least a little). For families with older kids, visiting a state park and taking a family bike ride on the trails is a fun option. For families with young children, going on a “nature scavenger hunt” can be interesting and educational at the same time. I have a 4-year-old son, and he thoroughly enjoyed this bug scavenger hunt that I found on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/295126581831343750/. However you choose to make it work, being outside and being together can get everyone’s minds off the stress.
This could be interpreted in many ways. Families could plan a meal, cook together, and enjoy each other’s company at the dinner table. Others may find comfort in baking cookies or sweet treats. Depending on your family’s interests and your kids’ ages, getting creative might look like painting, sewing, crocheting, coloring, crafting, or building Lego creations. Another idea would be to engage the kids in Do-It-Yourself projects around the house. This could look like creating an herb garden, rearranging a bedroom, or getting handy with things that need fixing.
What do I mean by this? I mean, talk to each other! One of the best ways to beat stress and combat anxiety is to talk about how you feel and get supported. Understanding how your kids are feeling and relating to them by sharing your own thoughts and feelings can help normalize things. The situation is not normal by any means, but feeling worried and fearful about the future in difficult times is definitely a common response.
No, not grounded in the sense of punishment. Grounded, meaning refocused away from stressful thoughts and negative feelings. Grounding exercises in the mental health field are “techniques that help an individual bring focus back to the present moment” (https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/grounding-techniques/).
These techniques can be used in many situations, and can involve one’s senses or thoughts. One useful tool to try with kids is the “5-Senses Grounding Technique.” When children are feeling anxious, a parent or trusted person, can assist by asking them to identify 5 things that they can see, 4 things they can touch, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell, and 1 thing they can taste. This exercise can help take the focus away from the negative. Other grounding techniques can include counting down from 100 together, or practicing deep breathing. There are many phone apps available that can assist families with grounding as well.
Get out the old photo albums, watch old movies, or even just scroll through your phone. Share stories about when you grew up, or tell the kids about funny things they did as toddlers. Enjoy a good laugh!
Seeking professional help from a family counselor can be beneficial. Therapists trained in working with families can guide all members to work together, communicate appropriately, and be supportive through tough times. Contact one of our counselors today.
If you and your family are ready to reduce the stress in your life, the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide treatment for anxiety as well as cater to specific needs for adults, teens, and children. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch we offer counseling services for people of all ages including: depression treatment, women’s issues, couples and marriage counseling, eating disorder treatment, counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, men’s issues, trauma counseling, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to regularly post blogs with helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!