Leonard E. Smith, LICSW, PLLC

12/09/2024

Season's Greetings!!!

I hope this post finds you well and enjoying the holiday season. As fun and exciting as the holidays can be, it can also be a time of increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Trying to find the "perfect" gift, juggling busy schedules, and the constant reminders that this is "the most wonderful time of year" can be overwhelming to many.

The holidays can also be a season of excess (spending, eating, drinking, socializing) which can cause us to feel guilty, exhausted, and not very jovial. I've attached an article put out by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) that offers steps to ensure you navigate the holidays in a way that promotes positive mental health.

Happy Holidays and New Year,

Lenny

The holidays can be a joy-filled season, but they can be challenging for those impacted by mental illness. We have tips to help you maintain mental wellness and stay safe this holiday season.

09/09/2024

It’s that time of year again when kids return to school, new routines are introduced, and transitions run rampant. The Fall sports season is also upon us. If your child/children are trying out a sport for the first time, or if you have “seasoned” veterans, parents play a big part in their athlete’s growth, success, and most importantly, enjoyment. In a world where being the best is revered and coveted, it’s easy to lose sight of the direct and indirect pressure put on athletes of all ages. Oftentimes this pressure can lead to burnout, loss of enjoyment and athletes leaving a once loved sport for a multitude of reasons.

I’ve attached an article that outlines realistic expectations for athletes twelve and under, and older athletes. The article points out cognitive, physical, and emotional differences of athletes who are pre-pubescent, and post-pubescent. We all want our kids to be successful in whatever they pursue. Let’s do our part to make sure this development is positive and support them in the best ways we can. Realistic, unconditional support is a powerful foundation for any athlete to start from. I hope you enjoy this article.

If you or someone you know has an athlete that suffers from performance anxiety, low self-esteem or depression/anxiety, feel free to give me a call to schedule an appointment. Another focus of my practice is working with athletes who have sustained injuries preventing them from participating in their chosen sports. I look forward to hearing from you.

What to expect from a youth athlete depends in part on his age and developmental stage.

04/19/2023

Working with students in my counseling practice, and having two boys of my own, provides me with a front row seat to numerous life transitions. Elementary school to middle school, middle school to high school, high school to college/the military/trade school/employment and gap years. Many of these transitions are expected and follow a script that is considered, “the next step”. These transitions can be filled with excitement, dread, anticipation, anxiety and a lot of uncertainty.

Parents go through a similar experience as they prepare to “let go of” and “launch” their children to the next phase of their lives. Graduation day is a celebratory occasion filled with pride, remembering accomplishments, spending time with friends and family and looking forward to the future. It can also be a time of walking down memory lane and the disbelief that your child is old enough to already be at a particular milestone.

The attached article How to Cope with your Teen’s High School Graduation, does a nice job explaining the sometimes-unexpected emotions that accompany our children’s life transitions, and how they can affect parents. I hope you enjoy this article and find it helpful. The best practice when experiencing life transitions is to communicate your thoughts, feelings, and emotions in an effort to work through what you’re experiencing.

High school is a much bigger deal than some people realize-- until they're in the moment. High school graduation is the end of a lot of things, and the start of so many others. It's the end of your child's time in schools that you (the parent) know, that you have been a part of. It's the end of a ti...

01/20/2021

Perspective-
As I work with clients throughout this pandemic, I see patterns of perspective. Most of us are thinking about what we are missing because of the COVID-19 virus and because of CDC restrictions. Parents are focusing on what their kids are losing academically. Kids are focusing on who they don’t get to see and what they don’t get to do. Here is my challenge to all: Try changing your perspective. Instead of thinking about what we are missing list some things that the pandemic has brought to you.

• more family dinners?
• playing more board games?
• reconnecting with nature?
• learning how to navigate technology better?

This activity takes only a few minutes, but you might be amazed at how good you feel once you can change that negative perspective to a positive one!

10/12/2020

Dr Laurie Santos, a professor of Psychology at Yale University, shares her top five strategies for coping with difficult situations. All of her suggestions are based in scientific research. Taking care of yourself and your mental health is worth the 7 minute watch!

In honor of World Mental Health Day, Yale Professor of Psychology Dr. Laurie Santos shares her top 5 favorite coping tips according to science. Saturday, Oc...

08/07/2020

With the announcements of back to school plans, now more than ever, we need to walk through the uncertainty WITH our kids to model resilience.

07/14/2020

Its important to check in with ourselves regarding our own anxieties, so we can better help our children manage theirs. For some great information please see the link below. Lynn Lyons is a dynamic speaker with a lot of important information to share. This event is free. Check it out.

SPARK Kindness presents: A FREE PROGRAM for parents and caregivers of children of all ages.

04/13/2020

Many of the athletes I work with in my practice are unable to compete in their sport due to social distancing. As disappointing as this may be, athletes can still work on their performance through mental imagery. The attached article gives an in depth explanation of what it is, how to do it and the ongoing benefits. Enjoy!

Imagining yourself performing in your sport is almost like actually being there.

04/04/2020

The attached article is a good reminder that many of our kids are experiencing a terrible sense of loss. Our "new normal" was not what any of us anticipated. Teenagers are social by nature. They are being asked and expected to go against what is hard wired in their development. It's important for all of us to remember that social distancing does not mean emotional distancing. Encourage your teens to reach out to their friends!

Because of coronavirus, teenagers are missing out on major rites of passage. Offering compassion paves their way toward feeling better.

03/19/2020

For parents attempting to manage their kids/teenagers at home during this time of uncertainty, it is important to remind each other there are things in our control, and many that are not. This way of thinking is true even in the absence of Covid-19.

03/14/2020

12/23/2019

Have a happy holiday!