Dawn Gaden

Typically, the place to start is child protective services. Sometimes they investigate right away, and sometimes you need more proof. Can you get more information from your daughter? Was she given details or just, "my friend said she is being abused?" It's definitely a difficult position to be in. You could also call CPS and ask them what is needed in order to place a complaint. You may also ask at your daughter's school to speak with the school social worker, maybe they are aware already and are handling it.

I would recommend getting therapy to uncover the cause of the fear. I don't believe anyone should have to stay stuck in fear. We often have an experience as a child that gets imprinted in our minds, deep in the subconscious, and until we resolve it, it stays hidden and reeks havoc on our lives. The healing journey is a challenge, but I would guess so is living in fear. You deserve to be free from the fear.

Your wife may need some guidance. If she is the one that has experienced a change, she may be dealing with something that needs to be resolved. You could encourage her to seek support. There may be lots of reasons for her dis-interest, she would have to decide to discover the reason.

As a therapist, this is what I tell clients. But when considering medication, it is important to also consult with a psychiatrist as they are the ones that prescribe. When a client is in conflict with whether or not to take a medication we explore these areas: can you function in your daily tasks? work, feeding yourself, caring for those you are responsible for, enjoying your life. If you are unable to perform basic tasks, if you are consumed with negative thinking that you are unable to learn new behaviors, healthy habits, then consult with a psychiatrist. Otherwise, it may be the commitment to change hat is the problem, the willingness to do the hard work, confidence in your ability, or the negative beliefs that keep you stuck. All questions to ponder. And of course then weighing the risks and benefits of medications.

Finding a good therapist that works with kids and with stage fright, confidence, etc. Find an expert in the area you are looking for. I do believe it could be helpful if your son is willing of course. Any work, exploring and education we can do to learn and evolve from our fears is helpful and can lead us to success and self acceptance.

All you can do is feed his confidence. Focus on his strengths, what is good about him. Don't focus on what you perceive a bad or a problem. What we focus on is magnified. Be a model for health and confidence, if you treat the birth defect as a problem, he will feel that from you, even if no words are spoken. Praise him, love him and celebrate all the great things that he is.

Hi there. I practice CBT, which is about understanding our thoughts, how they impact or create our feelings (feed our feelings) which affect how we act. Therapy is very helpful if you have an active therapist ready to teach you new ways of thinking, and of course determine the thought patterns that feed the depression. Active therapy, work that is done to create the life you want which includes less depression, more happiness, is very helpful.

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. If you are to get help on your own due to finances, there are resources. Look for support groups - grief and loss. Many are free. Read about loss but also on how to rebuild yourself. Understanding the process of grief is important so that you don't become critical of your thoughts and feelings. And also continuing to nurture yourself to heal.

Your therapist may be able to help you understand - should be able to guide you to some insights. Sometimes we don't give our dreams a chance. We judge them, criticize, question. Often we just have to own them with an open heart, ask yourself how do you want to feel once you have reached that dream. Once you determine the core feeling you want, then you understand your dreams better.

I’m sorry to hear about your difficult situation. I recommend first affirming with your daughter that this is sad and difficult to understand, even for adults. Then ask her if she has any questions. Often children are thinking and wanting answers much different than we think. Be there for her, let her talk and ask questions. Remember, as adults we don’t have all the answers, and that’s ok. We don’t know why the brain does what it does, and it’s ok to feel sad, confused and frustrated about that.

Hi there. That is a very good question. I would first seek a counselor for yourself, not just for your loss but to learn how to parent your 6 year old through this time. Learning the tools to answer questions, have conversation, and discuss the feelings are so important as a parent to guide their child through this challenging time. Therapists for children are so important and having a therapist for your child and yourself may also be a good idea.

Hi there, the first step is to seek help for yourself in order to learn how to take care of yourself first and learn determine how and if you can help someone else. People have to want the help more than you want to help them.

Hi there. Anxiety is normal for teens. Going through puberty can be challenging for most teens. Most likely a family doctor has the ability to medicate for anxiety. Although that may be an immediate fix, a therapist can help your brother learn the skills to manage anxiety, develop strength to get through the difficult and challenging times. There's a wonderful quote "You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it." An anxious mind must learn the skills to calm and bring peace, that takes knowledge, and that is empowering!