Question: I’ve had an extremely difficult time during the pandemic, and I am still struggling. However, I hear other people talking about using this experience as a time for growth. What do they mean? How can I do that? A: Having a hard time under these trying circumstances is entirely natural, however research does offer strategies that will help us cope better. The best way to deal with stressful situations is by having a deep and meaningful connection to other people. Eati

Coping with stress through Humor During these times of uncertainty and fear many people have incorporated humor into their lives as a way of coping with stress. Humor has become a life preserver for many of us who are making every effort to remain afloat until the Corona storm passes. There is nothing funny about the Coronavirus or the restrictions and quarantine that keep us protected. One way for maintaining balance is by looking at things from several perspectives. Humor c

When fear takes over Adele’s mother was very clear on the phone about why she wanted help for her daughter. “I don’t care about her grades- they don’t matter. I don’t need her to be the social queen. I just want her to stop being so frightened of everything!” Adele had always been timid, but since making aliyah from France four years ago, things had gotten worse. Adele didn’t like leaving the house and particularly hated to travel on buses. Even though bus attacks have become

Shimmy was bullied in school for over a year. The bullying only got worse after his father passed away. Children began taunting him for crying so often and missing school to spend time with his family. The bullying went largely unnoticed by the school and, subsequently, went on, unimpeded for many months. After losing the closest relationships in his life and associating that with being verbally and emotionally abused by his peers he has a hard time trusting or connecting wit

On January 16, 2019 Rona Novick, Dean of the Azriele Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration of Yeshiva University in New York, addressed our therapy staff at Kav L’Noar.  Dr. Novick is an internationally recognized expert on bully prevention and treatment for bullying victims.  She spoke with the therapy staff about individual characteristics that make it more likely a child will be bullied.  Dr. Novick discussed how family, educators and therapists can work o

Rebellion In today’s world it can be challenging to raise our teens to become strong adults. Even the best-behaved and well-adjusted children can take the wrong path at some point. Rebellion should be viewed as  a healthy and an integral part of the maturation process.  Teens who are rebelling have a natural desire to grow. They are seeking the freedom to make their own decisions and form their own personal beliefs.  The mistakes they may make along the way are an important p

Henry Ward Beecher: “There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children. One of these is roots . . . the other, wings.” In what ways do we establish roots for our children and at the same time allow them the freedom to fly? What lasting message do we want to convey to our children?  How do we deal with the struggle between keeping our kids attached to us, following our paths and letting them go to find their own path?  Do we or do we not follow the path of our own p

The phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” may have its origins in African proverbs which addresses the community’s role in raising children. Roseto, Pa, was a town entirely made up of citizens who immigrated from the village of Roseto Valfortore, Italy. In the 1950’s, it was discovered that its residents rarely got sick. Medical researchers studied this phenomenon and were shocked to find no differences in diet, exercise, weight, smoking, or genetic predisposition (in

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Helping our Children Build Resilience Rivkah Weiss, Family Therapist If your child comes home from school looking sad or distracted, most parents would react with concern and ask, “What happened today?”  Your child might respond as follows: “I failed my math test. I stink at math and I’m giving up. I don’t care about school anymore.” A typical parental response would be to tell him he doesn’t stink at math, that he shouldn’t give up, that h