If your child comes home from school or daycare and immediately dissolves into tears, tantrums, or meltdowns, you’re not alone. Many parents notice that their kids seem to “hold it together” all day, only to completely fall apart once they’re back in the comfort of home. This phenomenon is called restraint collapse, and understanding it can make those tough afternoons a little easier to navigate. What Is Restraint Collapse? Restraint collapse happens when children, after exerting self-control in structured or demanding environments (like school, daycare, or even playdates), reach their emotional limit. They’ve spent the day following rules, managing impulses, sitting still, sharing, listening, and doing their best to cope…
Child Therapy
-
-
Children of Divorce are Not Doomed
This article was written by Brittany LaFleur, LCPC-S, RPT. Brittany is a child & adolescent therapist, parent-coach, divorce coach and mediator & child specialist in collaborative divorce cases. Links to some of the research: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15374424jccp1901_4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2300522/ https://www.jstor.org/stable/24576133 https://www.apa.org/topics/divorce-child-custody/healthy#:~:text=When%20kids%20are%20involved,marriages%20instead%20of%20splitting%20up. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-divorce-bad-for-children/
-
Getting a Divorce? Don’t Rush to Put Your Child in Therapy.
A parent’s number one worry is their child(ren). In the case of separation or divorce, the worries about their child(ren) are often exacerbated as they face a big change. They agonize over how it will affect them and if they are doing the right thing. They lose sleep over the fear mongering statistics telling them that their child(ren) are doomed for mental health, behavioral and relationship issues in the future. As proactive and loving parents, what do they do? They sign their kids up for therapy. In a shocking twist, as a therapist, I’m here to tell you two things: Divorce does not necessarily mean your child needs or will…
-
Nurturing Sports Performance: Addressing Anxiety & Perfectionism in High School Teenagers
Understanding Sports Performance Anxiety Sports performance anxiety is common among high school athletes, as they face numerous pressures to perform at their best. This anxiety can stem from fear of failure, the desire to meet expectations, or the pressure to gain recognition from peers, coaches, or colleges. Therapeutically addressing this anxiety involves helping teenagers understand its origin, develop coping strategies, and cultivate a healthy mindset. The Perfectionism Trap Perfectionism is another common issue among high school athletes. These young individuals may set excessively high standards for themselves, believing that anything short of perfection is a failure. While striving for excellence can be motivating, perfectionism can lead to unrealistic expectations, self-criticism,…
-
Black Youth Mental Health: A Resource Guide to Instill Knowledge on Black Mental Health & Recommendations for Change

