Children Archives - Wallace Family Psychotherapy

Teen Suicide: Always Take a Cry for Help Seriously

September 21, 2023 by Robin Wallace

Teenage Girl Praying

There has been a sharp increase in the number of adolescent suicides. According to the CDC, the suicide rate among adolescents and young adults from ages 10 to 24 has jumped 60% since 2011. Teens have reported struggling with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, loneliness, and persistent thoughts of suicide. More than 20% of teens have seriously contemplated taking their own life according to the American Psychological Association. That’s why supporting the well-being of our children is more important than ever. September is Suicide Awareness Month. Here are a few important signs you should be aware of and things you can do to mitigate suicidal behavior. [Read more…]

Let’s Talk About Barbie and Body Image

August 14, 2023 by Robin Wallace

Plastic Barbie doll heads and torso pieces

When I was a girl, I played with Barbies and had many different types of Barbie dolls. I had it all: the Malibu house, the car, and the clothes. With the Barbie movie out now and the doll’s popularity again soaring, it got me to thinking about the connection between this iconic doll and body image. [Read more…]

Why It’s Important to Talk to Your Kids About Sex

June 1, 2023 by Robin Wallace

It’s Easier Than You Might Think

Mother talking with teenage daughter

Many parents nowadays think that it’s okay to be friends with their child. In fact, trying to be your child’s friend can be confusing. Kids need boundaries and rules. They look to you for guidance. Your child sees the choices you make in life, and they get a good sense of what is right and wrong. They may not always show it, but those lessons become a part of their moral compass. Your kids are navigating the choppy waters of adolescence—that includes sex. That’s why it’s important to talk to them about sex, and that conversation needs to come from you. [Read more…]

When Kids Think They’re Sick and They’re Really Not

February 1, 2023 by Robin Wallace

It’s not as bad as you think

Teen girl curled up with anxiety

The whole world has been through a lot these last couple of years. Those of us who made it through the pandemic now have to look at the world in a whole new way. That includes kids. They spent the better part of a year or more in lockdown away from their teachers and their friends. They are back in school, but instead of transitioning to the way things were pre-pandemic, what we see now is that being in lockdown has negatively affected many children who now show signs of physical and social underdevelopment and a marked increase in levels of stress, anxiety, fighting, and self-harm. [Read more…]

Prescription drugs and our patients

September 6, 2022 by Robin Wallace

Why having a team approach is the key to successful treatment

Five people holding arms to form circle

We have a drug problem.

But the fastest-growing drug problem in this country isn’t pot, meth, heroin, or cocaine. It’s prescription drugs, and it’s profoundly affecting the health of our teens. There has been an alarming increase in the number of children who have been prescribed multiple psychiatric medications. Researchers have seen an increase in antipsychotic use in children and teens since 1999 despite not knowing if the drugs actually work or if they could lead to long-term effects. In fact, there has been very little evidence that prescribing multiple medications for children is safe or effective. [Read more…]