Beat the System with Family Systems Therapy

By |2012-04-07T09:12:27-06:00April 7th, 2012|Tips for Families, Treatment 101|

Much to the frustration of those engaged in treatment, families are designed to resist change. Families are what scientists—and family systems therapists—call “self-regulating systems.” Since self-regulating systems prefer stability (homeostasis), the self-regulation response automatically resists change. This can be tricky during family therapy the point of which, of course, is to facilitate change!

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Your Teen is Away: Learn to Sleep Again!

By |2011-10-15T10:11:29-06:00October 15th, 2011|Tips for Families|

If your child is away in treatment, you may still be suffering from the sleep distress that was a part of being vigilant and worried. If so, now’s the time to reclaim your right to a good night’s sleep! Your child is safe and, for the time being, it’s someone else’s job to be vigilant around the clock. A huge part of every parents’ job when their child is in treatment is to prepare for their return home. You’re a better parent (and employee, and friend, and everything) when you’re taking good care of yourself. Sleep is at the core of self care; so now’s a great time to practice good sleep habits. I joke that learning to fall asleep and stay asleep has saved me thousands of dollars in carpentry, refrigerator repair, fly traps…oh and plastic surgery. So if you’re a light sleeper, an insomniac, or curfew cop on sabbatical, here are some things I’ve learned that will help you sleep like a baby.

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Exercising a Teen’s "Willpower Muscle"

By |2011-10-07T10:25:01-06:00October 7th, 2011|ADHD, Tips for Families|

We all experience lapses in self control. For a teenager who is struggling with other emotional issues, however, even a small lapse—whether in the form of procrastinating, eating something not on the diet, or engaging in a compulsive behavior—can create a sense of defeat, adding to her feelings of depression and worthlessness.

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COMING CLEAN WITH YOUR DIFFICULT TEEN

By |2024-03-05T14:25:40-06:00September 7th, 2011|Tips for Families|

Many experts agree that the negative effects of anger can be minimized by addressing the emotion in an honest, non-reactive manner. While ranting and raging tend to actually increase, rather than alleviate, anger (according to some studies), the healthy expression of anger can actually reduce its intensity and keep it from festering. In fact, the healthy communication of your full range of emotions—including anger—can be a critical part of your difficult teen’s healing process.

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When A Family Crisis Hits–Take Care of You!

By |2011-08-22T09:21:24-06:00August 22nd, 2011|Tips for Families|

Like any crisis, a mental health emergency—whether depression, violence, self-harm, psychosis or addiction—is generally symptomatic of a deeper, more pervasive dysfunction. Our tendency with family mental health emergencies, though, is to just treat the symptoms and—once those are addressed—get on with living the same life that caused those symptoms in the first place.

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FAMILY THERAPY FOR ENMESHED TEENS AND PARENTS

By |2024-03-04T16:59:24-06:00August 9th, 2011|Relationships, Tips for Families|

When we are motivated to be involved in relationships we’re being driven to something that creates some of the most joy and peace in life: connectedness. Most of us want to connect and most of us want to be accepted by others. We just need to channel our efforts to meet these needs in a healthy direction. That’s what we aim for with enmeshed relationships at Sunrise, to redirect relational energy in a direction that will bring out the most peace, connection, and growth possible.

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Enmeshed Parents and Teens

By |2024-03-06T10:04:16-06:00August 5th, 2011|Relationships, Tips for Families|

Those in enmeshed relationships are often the last to see it. But with awareness you can start to recognize some of the signs: 1. If you cannot not tell the difference between your own emotions and those of a person with whom you have a relationship. 2. If you feel like you need to rescue someone from their emotions. 3. If you feel like you need someone else to rescue you from your own emotions. 4. If you and another person do not have any personal emotional time and space.

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SELF-CARE FOR PARENTS

By |2024-03-06T10:04:26-06:00June 29th, 2011|Tips for Families|

Following are some strategies that can help you make your way through this challenging time without being overwhelmed by its seeming enormity. These four simple strategies will help you with two critical tasks: learning to take better care of yourself and embracing hope—i.e. knowing that somehow, things will get better.

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THE SAME COIN

By |2024-03-06T10:04:40-06:00June 20th, 2011|Tips for Families|

Even diagnosed emotional and behavioral disorders are often linked to personality traits that can have a very positive expression. Knowing this can help you avoid misguided attempts to quash personality traits in your adolescent that may just be temporarily misdirected. It can also help you be an encouragement to your child when he or she is struggling and can't see the other side of things.

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