Cultivating compassion Towards us and others You Did not Choose your Brain or Complex Environment. We need compassion, because life can be hard sometimes… Compassion begins with a reality check.Evolution has shaped us – we are an emergent, species in the ‘flow of life’ so our brains, with their motives, emotions and competencies are products…
High Sensitivity Adolescents What is a highly sensitive adolescent? A highly sensitive adolescent or highly sensitive person (HSP) processes information very deeply. High sensitivity processing is a genetic trait which is shared by 20-30% of the general population, and in most classrooms around 20% of children are HSP’s. High sensitivity affects all sensory input, both…
9 survival tips for a summer holiday with teenagers We know the holidays are just around the corner, and unless you’re Dutch and already have a perfect summer plan, you’re probably still thinking about how to have a great holiday with your emotionally changeable teenager. We know that activities that are fun for you will…
What to expect when you have a teenager at home Do you remember arguing with your mum, throwing tantrums and condemning your parents and siblings with the words “I hate you all!”? As if these traumas weren’t enough, you also had to deal with acne and unwanted body hair. Guess what? Nothing’s changed. Well… almost…
Building a Network of Parents around Teenagers As we all know, parents have duties and responsibilities from when their child is born, but everything changes when their child begins adolescence. A transformation of the parental role is necessary, and parents adopt the role of advisors instead of the person in charge (1). Adolescence affects the…
Updates & Announcements Dear readers, March has been a long, intense and very fruitful month. But before sharing my good news, let me give you some background.Last November I embarked on the exciting and challenging adventure of building up my own company, STELD. As some of you know, I’m a psychologist, I work with people…
It’s time to let it RAIN It’s been almost a year since the first lockdown, and what a long and intense year it’s been! We’ve been cohabiting with our loved ones 24/7, trying to combine work and homeschooling with a stable and balanced routine; preferably with healthy food and exercise. We have all tried 100%,…
How to help your teenager develop a healthy and safe relationship with technology When I was a teenager, the telephone was in the living room. When I used it, my mother was aware. When I used it for too long; stayed up late, avoided my homework or my chores, she took note and asked me…
How to be more involved in your teenager’s education Between parental involvement to parental engagement The active and regular participation of parents in the education of their teenagers is essential for the teenagers’ integral development and good academic performance. Parents should accompany their teenagers in their day-to-day life and know how their teen feels about…
Kind and firm parenting for teenagers Positive Discipline Has your child’s behaviour ever left you feeling challenged, threatened, provoked or defeated? If your child is a teenager, the answer will probably be YES! I know, raising adolescents is a task that involves infinite challenges and the biggest one might be how to discipline them in…