Twin Cities Therapy and Counseling Associates

05/19/2026

Child Therapy & Teen Therapy Insights for Summer Transitions

When school ends, the biggest change for children and teens is not freedom—it’s structure.

From a developmental and clinical perspective, school functions as a daily regulatory system. It organizes sleep, social interaction, physical activity, cognitive demands, and adult supervision into predictable cycles. When that system disappears during summer break, children and adolescents are not simply “out of school”—they are operating with significantly fewer external anchors that support behavior and emotional regulation.

This transition is often underestimated by parents.

Clinically, summer is not neutral. It is a period where existing challenges in mood, behavior, attention, and coping strategies often become more noticeable—not because problems begin in summer, but because the structure that previously supported regulation is reduced.

Click below to read more...

Twin Cities Therapy and Counseling Associates
☎️ Call Today: 612-202-8703
👋 Browse Therapist Bios: https://twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com/meet-our-therapists/
💻 Schedule Online: https://www.therapyportal.com/p/tctca5861/appointments/availability/

https://twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com/?p=4454&preview=true

How summer break affects kids & teens—sleep, behavior, screen time & mood. Child & teen therapy in the Twin Cities & virtually in MN.

05/19/2026

Summer is a great time for kids and teens to build skills, adjust to change, and continue growth.

Twin Cities Therapy and Counseling Associates is now scheduling summer child and teen therapy sessions.

Immediate availability, most insurance accepted.

Visit our website to learn more or call us at 612-202-8703

https://twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com/

05/13/2026

Minnesota Nice can make everything look fine on the outside, while emotional distance grows over time. Therapy can help couples close that distance and truly reconnect.

Reach out today: 612-202-8603
Visit our website to learn more:

https://twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com/

05/05/2026

Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a behavioral and emotional condition most commonly diagnosed in childhood, characterized by a persistent pattern of irritability, argumentativeness, defiance toward authority figures, and difficulty regulating anger. Traditionally, it has been understood as a childhood disorder tied closely to parent-child and school dynamics.

But in recent years, ODD has been discussed more broadly—particularly in clinical and online spaces—as something that may have longer developmental trajectories than once assumed, including patterns that can persist into adolescence and adulthood.

This shift in conversation doesn’t mean ODD is being “redefined,” but rather that clinicians and the public are paying closer attention to how oppositional and emotional regulation patterns evolve over time.

Click below to learn more.

Looking to schedule therapy? Sam Vagac, LAMFT is experienced in treating ODD and is accepting new child, teen, adult and family in-person and telehealth clients. Most insurance accepted.
https://twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com/therapist/sam-vagac/

https://twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com/oppositional-defiant-disorder-odd-understanding-it-across-childhood-and-into-adulthood/

Understand Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), why it’s discussed in adults, communication strategies, and how therapy improves outcomes.

05/05/2026

🎉 Huge congratulations to Bri Ball! 🎉

Bri has officially earned her LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) credential! This achievement reflects years of advanced clinical training, supervised experience, and a deep commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based care.

Since joining Twin Cities Therapy and Counseling Associates in March, Bri has made a meaningful impact supporting children (ages 6+), teens, adults, and families.

She is currently accepting new clients with immediate availability and specializes in:

✔️ OCD
✔️ Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs)
✔️ Anxiety & Depression
✔️ Eating Disorders (including ARFID)
✔️ Family Conflict
✔️ Hoarding
✔️ Life Transitions
✔️ Phobias
✔️ Stress
✔️ Self-harm thoughts

We’re excited to celebrate this well-earned milestone with Bri!

👉 Learn more and schedule online using the link below.

To learn more about Bri and to schedule online, click the link below.

Therapy for kids, teens, and adults using ERP, CBT, and DBT. Support for anxiety, OCD, depression, eating disorders, and stress.

05/05/2026

Cinco de Mayo is a time to recognize the resilience behind a pivotal moment in Mexican history at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, and to reflect on the lasting contributions of Mexican heritage.

Those contributions span many fields—agriculture, infrastructure, education, science, the arts, and innovation—shaping life in Mexico and influencing communities around the world.

One example is Guillermo González Camarena, a Mexican engineer whose early work in color television systems helped influence how images are broadcast and experienced globally today.

Cinco de Mayo is not just history—it’s an opportunity to recognize how Mexican heritage continues to shape society in Mexico and beyond, through cultural, scientific, and civic contributions that remain part of our shared world.

05/03/2026

04/30/2026

When life feels messy, complicated, or harder than it should, the right therapist can make all the difference.

Sam helps kids 10+, teens, adults, couples, and families work through everything from anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life stress to bipolar disorder, psychosis, relationship conflict, communication struggles, and family challenges.

He’s especially skilled at helping people navigate both complex mental health concerns and the everyday relationship issues that can leave people feeling stuck. Practical support, real insight, and a space where people actually feel heard.

✅ Immediate in-person availability in Robbinsdale
✅ Telehealth available throughout Minnesota
✅ Most insurance accepted

If you’ve been meaning to reach out for yourself, your child, your relationship, or your family—this is a great time to start.

☎️Call to learn more: 612-202-8703 or
💻Click below to review Sam's bio and to request an appointment online
https://twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com/therapist/sam-vagac/

Trauma-informed therapy for teens, adults, and couples. Specializing in IFS, relationships, LGBTQ+ care, and complex mental health.

04/27/2026

If you’ve been scrolling TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen phrases like “my nervous system is dysregulated,” “I’m in fight-or-flight,” or “I need to regulate.”

It can sound trendy. Almost like internet psychology slang.

But underneath the viral language is something very real—and very important.

People aren’t just being “dramatic” online. They’re trying to describe what it feels like to live in a body that’s stuck in survival mode.

This post breaks down what nervous system regulation actually means, why so many people feel dysregulated today, and how therapy can help you come back to a steadier internal baseline.

Click below to read more or contact us:
☎️612-202-8703
💻www.twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com


https://twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com/why-your-nervous-system-feels-overwhelmed-and-what-nervous-system-regulation-actually-means/

Learn what nervous system regulation means, signs of dysregulation, and practical ways therapy helps you feel calmer and less stuck.

04/21/2026

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a first-line, research-supported treatment for OCD, with studies showing about 60-70% of people experience significant symptom reduction.

Bri Ball, LGSW is passionate about helping clients navigate OCD with ERP and has immediate openings.

Learn more and schedule today:

https://twincitiestherapyandcounseling.com/therapist/brianna-ball/