Erin Castleberry Counseling & Educational Services, LLC

04/19/2025

Check out my latest blog post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/12KGbKauAPE/

By Erin Castleberry, MS, LCPC The world feels a topsy turvy to many people right now. Precedent and social norms are being challenged around the world leaving many people feeling unsettled or even scared. Some of the major touchstones in life are being threatened: safety, relationships, jobs, financ...

04/22/2024

We think we know what depression looks like: crying, isolation, binging or starving, lethargy, brain fog. We probably don’t picture a megastar tackling a worldwide concert tour without missing a beat. We don’t imagine she would be in such great shape that she could train for this tour by singing...

02/01/2024

“If you invite someone into your home and they start breaking things and insulting the decor, you don’t have to hate them, but you wouldn’t invite them into your home anymore. Boundaries are doing the same thing except your home is your mind. Your home is your heart. Your home is your time and your life. Univite the guests who don’t know how to treat your home with respect.” – Doe Zantamata

A personal boundary expresses where your responsibilities or space begins and other people’s end. It involves your body, emotions, and anything else that affects you. We have to love and respect ourselves enough to not let others use or abuse us.
When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated. ❤☀

12/02/2023

08/12/2023

Do you remember the popular kids from your middle or high school experience? In my Boston-area middle school, these were the fast crowd kids who were first to throw coed parties, first to experiment with substances, and often first to cut another kid down for not falling in line.   The Perks of Po...

06/12/2023

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06/12/2023

05/23/2023

ATTENTION PARENTS: Calling on legislatures to do more, US surgeon General Vivek Murthy says, “For too long, we have placed the entire burden of managing social media on the shoulders of parents and kids, despite the fact that these platforms are designed by some of the most talented engineers and designers in the world to maximize the amount of time that our kids spend on them. So that is not a fair fight. It’s time for us to have the backs of parents and kids.”

There’s not enough evidence to determine whether social media is safe enough for children and adolescents when it comes to their mental health, according to a new advisory from the US surgeon general.

05/16/2023

PARENTS: The earlier a child begins using a smart phone the worse their mental health as adults. Early smart phone ownership predicts LOWER levels of self-worth, motivation, and resilience as well as MORE sadness, anxiety and aggression...particularly for girls.

Are you looking for compelling evidence to make the hard choice of going against the crowd by NOT giving your child a smart phone? Here is an ongoing collaborative review of relevant studies to help you back up your argument.

Social Media and Mental Health: A Collaborative Review An ongoing open-source literature review posted and curated by Jonathan Haidt (NYU-Stern) and Jean Twenge (San Diego State U), with research assistance from Zach Rausch. You can cite this document as: Haidt, J., & Twenge, J. (ongoing). Soc...

05/10/2023

In honor of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, I’m doing a series of virtual presentations for the Howard County Health Department on social media & mental health. Join me for tips to help your kids make safe and healthy social media choices this summer and beyond. There will be time for Q&A at the end. Tickets are FREE. Register using the link below for access. 👇

6/9: parents of ages 3-8
6/10: parents of ages 8-12
6/11: parents of ages 13-17

Social Media for Parents - Guide to Healthy Summer Habits