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LiveWell Psychology PLLC Jessica Tomasula, PhD. - Health Psychologist. Dynamic Speaker. Engaging Trainer. Strategic Consultant.

For many BIPOC individuals, therapy with someone who shares their racial or cultural background can offer relief, safety...
23/07/2025

For many BIPOC individuals, therapy with someone who shares their racial or cultural background can offer relief, safety, and affirmation.

As a non-BIPOC provider, I know I can’t offer lived experience — but I can:

🔹 Practice cultural humility
🔹 Validate experiences of racism and oppression
🔹 Refer to BIPOC therapists, when preferred
🔹 Continuously and consciously unlearn biases

Representation matters. And so does reflection.

04/07/2025

🌱 SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL MILESTONES MATTER TOO

We often celebrate a child’s first steps or first words — and those are exciting!

But equally important (and often overlooked) are the social-emotional milestones:

💛 Learning to name emotions
💬 Practicing empathy
🌀 Managing frustration
🤝 Building connection

These skills may not come with a photo-worthy “first,” but they are the foundation of lifelong mental health, resilience, and healthy relationships.

Just like walking and talking, they need time, support, and nurturing environments to grow.

👥 If you’re wondering whether your child’s emotional development is on track — or if they need support building these skills — we’re here to help.
📞 Reach out to LiveWell Psychology, Dr. Jessica Tomasula is a caring professional who understands childhood from the inside out.

—

Across tantrums, tears, emotional wins, and confusing regressions — one truth remains:Children are always learning.Not j...
03/07/2025

Across tantrums, tears, emotional wins, and confusing regressions — one truth remains:

Children are always learning.
Not just their ABCs, but how to be in the world. How to feel hard things. How to be close.
How to calm down — and come back.

And you, as their caregiver, are growing too.

You’re learning to pause before reacting. To choose connection over correction. To stay steady when things feel messy. That is the work.

💛 If you’ve been following along with us lately, thank you for being here. Every small step you take toward understanding your child — and yourself — matters more than you know.

If you’re feeling the weight of it all or simply want to explore new ways to support your child emotionally — we’re here when you’re ready.

Connect with LiveWell Psychology to learn more about how Dr. Jessica Tomasula can support you and your family’s journey.

💡 NOT EVERY BEHAVIOR NEEDS A CONSEQUENCEWhen a child is acting out, our first instinct is often to correct — to give a c...
02/07/2025

💡 NOT EVERY BEHAVIOR NEEDS A CONSEQUENCE

When a child is acting out, our first instinct is often to correct — to give a consequence, redirect, or stop the behavior.

But sometimes, the most helpful response isn’t correction.
It’s connection.

🧠 Before asking: “How do I fix this?”
Try asking: “What does my child need right now?”

Maybe it’s comfort.
Maybe it’s rest.
Maybe it’s someone who sees the overwhelmed little human underneath the behavior.

📖 Behavior is communication. It’s our job to get curious, not reactive.

👥 Every family faces challenging moments — and you don’t have to navigate them alone.
🌿 If you’re looking for support, tools, or simply a safe space to talk it through, LiveWell Psychology is here for you. Dr. Jessica Tomasula would be happy to work together with your family to understand what’s underneath the behavior.

🧠 “Self-regulation is taught through co-regulation.”Children aren’t born knowing how to calm down.They learn to regulate...
30/06/2025

🧠 “Self-regulation is taught through co-regulation.”

Children aren’t born knowing how to calm down.
They learn to regulate by experiencing our calm presence — again and again.

When a child is overwhelmed, our job isn’t to fix the feeling or make it go away. It’s to be with them in it, offering safety, attunement, and emotional grounding.

🌱 Over time, this becomes their inner voice:
“I can feel this and still be okay.”

💬 Regulate with them, not for them. Your calm is a powerful teaching tool.

👥 If you're looking for support in building co-regulation skills with your child, we’re here to help. Reach out to LiveWell Psychology — we’re here to walk alongside you and your family.

Kids grow emotionally the same way they grow physically:🌱 Unevenly🌀 With setbacks📈 And lots of repetitionOne moment they...
29/06/2025

Kids grow emotionally the same way they grow physically:
🌱 Unevenly
🌀 With setbacks
📈 And lots of repetition

One moment they’re managing big feelings with surprising maturity — and the next, they’re melting down over the wrong color cup. That’s normal.

Growth isn’t linear. Emotional development is full of trial, error, and do-overs. It’s learning, not failing.

💛 Be patient with the process — theirs and yours. You’re both doing the work.

👂 If this resonates, and you’re wondering how to support your child’s emotional growth in real life — we’d love to help.
📬 Message or connect with Dr. Jessica Tomasula at LiveWell Psychology to explore tools and support tailored to your family’s needs.

How we respond to our children during emotional moments shapes how they feel about their emotions — and about themselves...
29/06/2025

How we respond to our children during emotional moments shapes how they feel about their emotions — and about themselves.

💬 Instead of:
“Calm down!”
Try:
“I see this is hard — I’m here with you.”

When we validate, we’re not encouraging the meltdown — we’re helping the brain feel safe enough to settle.
Validation doesn’t “give in.” It gives connection.

🌱 Children learn emotional regulation through the experience of being understood.

👥 If you're looking for guidance in supporting your child’s emotional development, we’re here to help.

📞 Contact LiveWell Psychology for tools, insight, and support tailored to your family.

Children often don’t have the words to say,“I’m scared.”“I need help.”“I feel out of control.”So instead, they show us t...
28/06/2025

Children often don’t have the words to say,
“I’m scared.”
“I need help.”
“I feel out of control.”

So instead, they show us through actions:
🚪 Withdrawing
😡 Meltdowns
🙈 Refusing
🌀 Acting out

These behaviors aren’t meant to frustrate us — they’re signs that a child is overwhelmed and doesn’t yet know how to express what they feel.

💬 Try asking yourself:
“What is my child trying to tell me right now?”
Connection comes before correction.

👥 If you’re navigating big emotions, tricky behaviors, or just need extra tools — we’re here for you.
📞 Reach out to LiveWell Psychology for compassionate, expert support.

To finish off June, LiveWell Psychology is going to be doing a series of posts on Childhood and Development and Emotions...
27/06/2025

To finish off June, LiveWell Psychology is going to be doing a series of posts on Childhood and Development and Emotions.

When a child has an emotional outburst — screaming, crying, or “losing it” — it’s easy to assume they’re being defiant or difficult.

But here’s the truth: Many emotional outbursts are signs of nervous system overload. Not disobedience. Not manipulation. Just a brain and body overwhelmed by too much stress, frustration, or stimulation.

Children don’t yet have the tools to regulate big emotions on their own. They rely on us — the calm, steady adults — to co-regulate and guide them back to safety.

🧸 Instead of punishment, try:
✔ Naming the emotion
✔ Offering physical comfort
✔ Slowing things down
✔ Taking a calm, grounding breath yourself

Because what looks like “misbehavior” is often a nervous system asking for help.

💬 Need guidance on how to support your child through emotional regulation? We’re here for you.📞 Contact us at LiveWell Psychology — we’re happy to help with anything you need around this.

This month we are excited to be recommending another one of Dr. Jessica Tomasula's favorite books! “Breaking Free of Ch...
23/06/2025

This month we are excited to be recommending another one of Dr. Jessica Tomasula's favorite books! “Breaking Free of Child Anxiety & OCD” by Dr. Eli Lebowitz is a game-changer for parents and mental health professionals.

Based on the SPACE program (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), this evidence-based approach doesn’t require your child to participate in therapy — instead, it empowers you as the parent to support real change.

Key Takeaways from the book are:
- Reduce accommodations that reinforce anxiety
- Replace fear-based responses with confidence and calm
- Learn tools to break OCD and anxiety cycles — without pressure or punishment

🧠 As a psychologist, Dr. Tomasula has seen firsthand how transforming parental behavior can transform the child’s experience. This book gives families hope and practical steps.

📖 Whether you’re a parent, clinician, or educator — this is a must-read.

🔗 DM us at LiveWell Psychology if you're interested in learning more about how we can work together to support your child’s mental health journey.

As a psychologist and a parent, I can confidently say this book is a game changer.Dr. Becky’s core message is simple but...
17/06/2025

As a psychologist and a parent, I can confidently say this book is a game changer.

Dr. Becky’s core message is simple but powerful: Your child is good inside. Even when their behavior is challenging, even when they push boundaries—there is a good kid in there trying to communicate big feelings.

This perspective doesn’t just shift how we respond to tantrums or defiance—it transforms how we connect with our children. Her approach blends clinical insight with deep empathy, giving us tools to set boundaries without shame and to guide without fear.

🌱 Favorite takeaway: “Our job isn’t to fix our kids’ feelings. It’s to help them feel safe enough to feel them.”

Whether you're a parent, or just someone curious about emotionally attuned relationships, Good Inside will leave you with more compassion, clarity, and confidence.

Have you read it? I'd love to hear what stuck with you. 💬👇

If you’re looking for support in navigating your child’s emotional wellbeing, we’re here to help. Please don’t hesitate ...
02/06/2025

If you’re looking for support in navigating your child’s emotional wellbeing, we’re here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to LiveWell Psychology—we’d be happy to walk alongside you and your family. Link to blog post in comments

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