Loren O'Brien, MFT

07/11/2025

“Name It to Tame It”: Why Labeling Emotions Helps Kids Calm Down

When your child is in the middle of a meltdown, naming their emotion might be the last thing on your mind. But here’s the magic:

When we help kids name what they’re feeling (“You seem really frustrated right now” or “That was so disappointing, huh?”), we activate the thinking part of their brain — helping their overwhelmed nervous system calm down.

This is what Dr. Dan Siegel calls “Name it to tame it.”

Why it works:
• It gives kids language for what’s happening inside.
• It helps them feel seen and not alone.
• It models emotional awareness and regulation.

You don’t have to fix the feeling. You don’t even need to agree with it. Just naming it is a powerful first step toward helping your child regain control.

Want help learning how to co-regulate with your child or build emotional tools together? I specialize in supporting families with kids navigating big feelings, neurodivergence, and tough transitions.

06/09/2025

✨ Exciting news! I’m now accepting new clients for Child-Centered Therapy at Brighter Days Counseling, and I now accept insurance! 💛

We’re here to support children and families in navigating life’s challenges with compassion, creativity, and care.

Now accepting the following insurance plans:
✔ Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (Commercial)
✔ Aetna
✔ Geisinger Health Plan
✔ Mental Health Consultants
✔ Allied Trades Assistance Program

Learn more: www.brighterdays-counseling.com or call 609-678-3282.

05/27/2025

Reminder: Kids heal in ways that don’t always look like talk therapy—and that’s okay. My goal is to create spaces where they don’t have to talk to heal. ❤️

05/27/2025

Therapist truths I thought were just clichés… until I saw them come to life in the therapy room. The work is humbling, and these lessons stay with me every day. ✨

What’s something you thought was just a cliché… until it wasn’t?

05/25/2025

Creative Ways to Help Kids Process Big Feelings 🎨
As a therapist, I often hear parents ask: “How do I actually help my child work through their emotions?”

Validation doesn’t have to be complicated—or boring. Here are some playful, connection-based ideas:

🧸 Feelings Charades – Act out emotions like “frustrated” or “excited” and let your child guess. Then switch! It builds emotional vocabulary and empathy.

🎨 Art That Talks – Ask your child to draw what their anger or sadness looks like. Then “interview” the drawing together. What does it want to say?

🧁 Bake the Feeling – Naming emotions while you stir or shape dough turns conversation into comfort. “This dough feels sticky—just like today felt when things were hard.”

📚 Story Switch-Up – Read a favorite book and pause: “What do you think they were feeling here? What would you do if you felt like that?”

The key? Be curious, not corrective. Emotions are meant to be explored, not fixed. I also included some examples of what I’d call emotionally poetic parenting—phrases that make big feelings feel safe, shared, and a little magical.

📥 Want more ideas tailored to your family? Email loren@brighterdays-counseling.com or call (609) 678-3282.

05/21/2025

05/21/2025

“People do well if they can.”
It’s a simple idea with big meaning.

This isn’t just a quote I love — it’s at the heart of how I approach therapy. I believe that most of us want to do well — in our relationships, our work, our lives. If we’re not, it’s not because we’re lazy or broken — it’s because something is getting in the way. And those “somethings” are often things we can work through with the right support.

As a therapist, I help clients explore what’s standing in the way of their growth, healing, or change — with curiosity, not judgment.

If you’re struggling, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. 🩷
It means you’re human. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Email loren@brighterdays-counseling.com or call (609) 678-3282.

05/21/2025

If you struggle in relationships—feeling unseen, unsafe, or not “enough”—you’re not alone.

Many of these patterns trace back to a longing for the nurturance, protection, or guidance that may have been missing in early life.

As a therapist, I help clients explore these wounds with compassion and care, so they can build the secure, fulfilling relationships they deserve.

Healing is possible—and it starts with being heard. 🩷

05/20/2025

With the right support, kids can learn to enjoy sports again—not just perform in them.

Worried your child is struggling with sports anxiety? I’m here to help. Let’s talk.

05/15/2025

Kids are incredibly sensitive to our emotional energy—even when we haven’t said a word.

They don’t need us to be perfect. They need us to be present.

This is the heart of co-regulation:
When we slow down and center ourselves, we create the emotional safety our kids rely on to grow, cope, and connect. 💛

If this resonates, I support parents and families in building these skills with intention and care.

Call (609) 678-3282 or email loren@brighterdays-counseling.com for support today.

05/13/2025

Things I wish I could say to my younger self. 💌

Reminder: You deserve soft, kind, and unwavering love. And that starts with you. Be gentle with yourself. ❤️

For services call (609) 678-3282 or email loren@brighterdays-counseling.com.