The Lighthouse Counseling Center

03/14/2026

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03/10/2026

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03/06/2026

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03/05/2026

03/04/2026

Happy women’s history month!

02/28/2026

Some children are not being difficult on purpose. Their behaviour is being driven by emotion.

When a child has experienced trauma, loss, disrupted attachment or ongoing stress, their nervous system can stay on high alert. Small things can feel overwhelming. What looks like defiance, aggression or shutdown is often anxiety, fear, shame or unmet emotional need.

Telling a distressed child to calm down rarely works. Consequences alone do not teach emotional regulation. Children borrow the calm of the adult. They need safety before they can learn.
This is why trauma-informed and attachment-based approaches matter. When adults respond with empathy, curiosity and clear boundaries, children are more likely to feel secure, regulate their emotions and improve behaviour over time.

Challenging behaviour is often communication. If we only react to what we see on the surface, we miss what is happening underneath.
Children need both connection and boundaries. Safety first. Change second.

Free PACE APPROACH FOR TRAUMA AND ATTACHMENT POSTER

Like the photo and comment "PACE" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

02/27/2026

When a child shouts, swears, lies or refuses school, it is easy to jump straight to words like lazy, rude, manipulative or attention seeking.

But what if the behaviour is not the real problem?

Many children and teenagers struggle with anxiety, emotional dysregulation, overwhelm and shame. Some feel unsafe. Some are dealing with trauma. Some have ASD or ADHD and find everyday demands exhausting. What looks like defiance is often distress.

This does not mean behaviour should be ignored. Hitting, aggression, swearing and refusing reasonable boundaries still need clear limits. But punishment without understanding rarely changes behaviour long term. It often increases anger, fear and disconnection.

Children do better when they feel safe. When adults stay calm. When boundaries are firm but the relationship stays intact.

Behaviour is communication. If we only react to what we see on the surface, we miss the message underneath.

Connection is not being soft. It is being effective.

LIKE the photo and comment "LENS" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

02/27/2026

A child doesn’t need to be in a war zone to experience combat-level stress. They just need to be in the wrong living room.
Brain imaging studies found that children exposed to frequent family conflict show threatprocessing patterns in the brain identical to soldiers exposed to combat.
The amygdala doesn’t know the difference between a bomb and a screaming parent.
This isn’t about being “too sensitive.” It’s neuroscience. Their brains are literally being rewired by conflict.
Shared for informational purposes only. Source: Development and Psychopathology / University College London

02/22/2026

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Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be hugely debilitating.

But with the right support and treatment, you can either fully recover or put steps in place to manage the symptoms.

You can find out everything you need to know about PTSD on our website 👉 rethink.org/ptsd