Many people struggle to validate effectively because they believe it means agreeing with the other person. If a friend is upset over something that seems minor, if a partner interprets a situation differently than we do, or if a child is having a big reaction to a small disappointment, we may worry that validation reinforces irrational thinking or inappropriate behavior. In reality, validation and agreement are not the same thing. Validation is the act of communicating that a

As the school year is coming to an end, and the transition to summer is beginning, perhaps both feelings of excitement and nervousness are creeping in. When schedules change, feeling excitement about the possibility of rejuvenation, and nervous about the lack of routine, both make a lot of sense. While you are still in that transition phase, thinking about the reality of your summer, and places that you might get caught up in, is critical to a successful and relaxing vacation

As parents, we like to think that we love all our children fully and equally. But let’s be real, every parent has one child (and sometimes more than one!) that just seems to be more difficult. There are many reasons why one child may be more difficult to parent than another. Often, the child will exhibit behaviors that the parent finds difficult to manage (such as angry outbursts, physical aggression, or tantrums). And as is normal, we start to look for ways to change and man

Few things are harder than watching your child feel scared. Whether it’s fear of the dark, sleeping alone, or being away from you, your instinct is to help them feel better as quickly as possible. Many parents find themselves responding by letting their child sleep in their bed, staying with them until they fall asleep, or avoiding situations that trigger anxiety altogether. These responses come from a place of care and protection. In the moment, they often do help. The child

Every behavior serves a purpose or function. As human beings with free choice, we act purposefully and to fill a need whether or not we are fully aware of it. Understanding the function of a behavior will help us understand the reason behind the action and how we can handle unhelpful behaviors in ourselves and those around us. Most functions of behavior fall into four categories, with the acronym EATS: Function #1 - E scape Sometimes things feel so overwhelming that we just