Melissa Morehouse LICSW, LLC.

03/04/2025

Come join the fun this summer!
Your kids will love our fun, stress free snack time while learning how to fuel their bodies

We can’t wait to see your kids!
Learn more & register: engagingnutrition.com

02/01/2025

NEW price and new group 🎉✍️ Check out this online meditative poetry group starting in March. If interested, register on my website or send me an email.

A glimpse of some poets we will be reading from are: Joy Harjo, Amanda Gorman, Mary Oliver, Lucille Clifton, Danusha Lameris , Andrea Gibson and many more.

11/12/2024

Journal Prompt 📝✍️
Take 15 minutes and sit with a journal or blank piece of paper. Write down the word or words: confusion, confused, and confusing.
Before going into word dump fashion, sit with the word(s) for a few minutes and reflect.
•Ask your teen to try to define this word without looking it up. No rush. Have them ponder the word over the course of the day or week. Having them reflect on when they use it? And what does it emotionally feel like?

•See what other emotions resonate with you towards this word.
•Now write down how you define it (without looking it up)? And when does it seem to come up the most.

•In therapy with children and teens when we are teaching about emotions, it is very common when asked about how they feel for a response to be, “I don’t know.” Along with, “I’m confused.” The term confusion can be used in academics, emotions , life and all aspects of a person specifically when something is hard to understand for that individual.

If you ask your child how they feel, and they respond with “confused.” That’s okay. One thing that’s important for you to know , they may not have the word for the feeling part and they may be feeling more than one thing . Hence, the confusion. A lot of times to help with this, we have them color out what’s happening for them. It’s okay to give them prompts to help them understand what might be happening and it’s also okay for them to be confused.
Especially as teens, they may not want you to tell them how they feel.

•What was this experience like for you?

It is necessary to consider one’s culture and family background when we use words to describe our feeling parts. As well as understanding there are times words/ dictionary definitions may shift based on translation.

Found this helpful? Then like, share, comment or save this post ❤️.

***This post does not replace a therapy session.
***Every child, family and adult will have different needs and strengths.

11/12/2024

Check this out if you are in the Beverly, Marblehead, Gloucester area.

Nov 11th through 15th from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm $10 to cover art material costs

07/16/2024

•Journal Prompt 📝✍️
Take 15 minutes and sit with a journal or blank piece of paper. Write down the word or words: disappoint, disappointed, and disappointment. Before going into word dump fashion, sit with the word(s) for a few minutes and reflect.
•Ask your child/teen to try to define this word without looking it up. No rush. Have them ponder the word over the course of the day or week. Having them reflect on when they use it and what emotions does it feel like?
•See what other emotions resonate with you towards this word. Are there parts of you connected to being told this word or saying this word yourself in conversation?
•Now write down how you define it (without looking it up)?

It is necessary to consider one’s culture and family background when we use words to describe our feeling parts. As well as understanding there are times words/ dictionary definitions may shift based on translation.

*According to Webster’s Dictionary, disappointed is defined as: defeated in expectation of hope.

As a family therapist, this word I find has been used in caregiver to child interactions. Defeated can be a heavier word alone. If we take and replace “I feel disappointed” within the definition context; how does it feel?

There will be times when, yes, disappointment and/ or defeated need to be used. They are still words and necessary descriptors of emotions.

•Now throughout the next few weeks, try to replace the word disappointed with a different word (not connected to defeated). One that you feel could fit the context of the conversation it’s being used in.
•What was this experience like for you?

Found this helpful? Then like, share, comment or save this post ❤️.

***This post does not replace a therapy session.
***Every child, family and adult will have different needs and strengths.

07/15/2024

Resource Share Time 🎊

Credit/Repost:

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Triple P- Positive Parenting Program, is a FREE program for any and ALL caregivers. They offer parenting / caregiver online resources, groups, and support with kids birth - teens.
Sometimes your child or family therapist may be limited in resources or ability to provide parenting/ caregiver support as much as you like or need. They may refer you to check out this great program.
This can be both an educational and support tool to access if your child is in therapy or not.

Topics include but not limited to:
•Ways to help your child cope with fear, anger and sadness.
•Help and ideas for bedtime routines.
•The importance of learning “No” while putting healthy limits on screen times.

Check them out on Facebook, Instagram and Online! No referral necessary.

07/01/2024

I Love the IFS model, especially as more trainings become readily available to mental health professionals. This is a wonderful model for children, teens and adults ❤️❤️
Just a reshare from their site. Made me think of the recent Inside Out 2 movie.

Who are your protectors?
Which feeling or who I wonder are your child’s protectors?

When we look it at with a lens of curiosity and compassion, so much more healing can occur.

When you focus inside, don’t be surprised if you only hear from your protectors and aren’t able to get a sense of the part it protects.This is common, especially at first, and only means that the protector doesn’t feel it is safe for you to know about the vulnerability.

Dick Schwartz’s new book No Bad Parts, available now:

https://hubs.ly/Q02CKtvD0

06/24/2024

•Caregiver Resource Time•

This book is on the recommended reading list of CHADD.org
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

This educational resource is a wonderful way to learn about self-care, mindfulness, education on ADHD, a strength based perspective and support for the whole family.

I especially love how there is an entire chapter on caregiver self-care and how that concept is woven throughout the entire book. Support for kids with ADHD starts with supporting the caregivers.

*Note: The copyright of this book is in 2015 and as such there is some research noted on nutrition and sleep contribution towards ADHD symptoms. I’m glad the author takes a whole person approach and covers what was known at the time it was written. Over the last 9 years more medical and mental health research has been done, noting further support around nutritional integration and sleep contributions towards symptoms. In addition to this book I would recommend pairing it with a consultation with a local dietician or nutritionist to support your child’s needs. *

06/19/2024

Sharing this local resource for the summer little’s ❤️🎉

Come join us for a weekly music class! Small group size and sensory friendly environment. Led by Katie and Liz! This is an active class where kids will be moving, dancing, and maybe even jumping into a ball pit. 🤩

Sign up required on our website where you can pick one date, or a few! 🎶
www.thepowerofspeech.us

06/18/2024

🚨The state operated 911 system is having a system wide outage .

Use 978-922-1212 for Police or Medical emergencies in Beverly.
Use 978-922-4000 for Fire emergencies in Beverly.

During this time , please call your local police or fire stations if in need of an emergency while the 9-1-1 system is down.

06/12/2024

Exciting news! 🎉 I have been behind the scenes learning , growing and looking at new opportunities to give you. More support on the horizon- Stay Tuned!

12/26/2023

Resource page is now LIVE on my website 🎊🎊🎊

Check out a variety of web resources based on topic of need. Information will continually be updated. Stay tuned for more agencies and support topics to help added in the coming weeks.