It may seem like it’s not right to forgive your teen or young adult child for their unacceptable behavior because that would mean you are condoning it. But that is far from the truth.  Forgiveness does not mean you agree with or are okay with what they said or did. Choosing to forgive your child…

Focusing all your energy on things you can’t control won’t bring about change. I know it can be frustrating when your mentally ill or addicted teen or young adult child refuses treatment.  For them to truly get better, they have to be invested in getting help, getting better, feeling better.  I know how much you…

Is your relationship with your teen or young adult deteriorating?  When you and your child are dealing with their mental illness or addiction, sometimes the relationship can suffer.  They may lash out at you in anger, blame you, say unkind words to you, argue over treatment protocols… I know this can feel very difficult.  You…

Do you determine whether your day is good or bad based on whether your child is having a good or bad day?   When you have a child who is mentally ill or is using drugs, life can feel unpredictable.  Each day filled with uncertainty.  Will they lash out at you in anger? Will they come home…

Maybe it may seem like the way to get your teen or young adult to change is to try to control them.  But this will probably not work, and here’s why… We don’t actually have control over another person. We only have the illusion of control. When we try to control another person, it is…

You can help your teen or young adult child by helping yourself.  Maybe you are thinking you need to devote all of your energy to the challenges you are going through with your child. But when you focus on your own self-love and self-care, you not only help your own emotional well-being, you also put yourself…

I was CONSUMED by fear.  Every single day… I would love to share my story, so that other parents on a similar journey don’t feel alone and can have hope.  Of how I turned the fear into a life of peace and purpose.  A life where I was able to build a loving relationship with…

When you are faced with a challenging situation with your teen or young adult, don’t get stuck because you can’t fix or change the situation. It is easy to get caught up in what you can’t do. You don’t have control over other people or situations. And in most cases, the difficult situation is already…

You CAN find inner peace – even during these turbulent times for your teen/young adult child.  I know when your child has mental illness or addiction you can become consumed by fear. And peace may be the furthest thing from your mind. Maybe there are times when your fear subsides and you feel some temporary…

Keeping the lines of communication open can be critical when your teen or young adult is suffering from mental illness or addiction.  It is important to be that safe space for them to come to, no matter what they are dealing with. Here are some tips for being that safe space for them: Be a…