Hillside Blog
Family involvement can improve mental health treatment outcomes by boosting attendance and helping teens complete treatment. Research finds that each family therapy session attended is associated with a 1.4-fold increase in the odds of completing treatment. Your role in your child’s treatment can create a strong foundation for their entire…
Conflict is not a sign that something is broken in your family. It is a sign that you are in a relationship. When people live closely together, perspectives clash. Emotions flare. Needs complete. Children see situations through their developmental lens. Parents see them through experience, responsibility, and stress. At times,…
Teens often feel like everyone else has friendship all figured out, but making friends at any stage of life can be tough, especially if you’re shy, anxious, or don’t know where to start. What teens don’t realize is that many of their peers struggle to build friendships, too. The truth…
I had the untimely and reluctant pleasure of allowing a dog into my home after years of neglectful comfort living with cats. When our family decided to adopt two cats, I knew I was allowing Satan into my home, but kittens are so cute, right? Kittens are small, fuzzy, and…
If you are like most people, you have likely felt stuck in one area or another of your life. Knowing which direction to take or which goal to pursue next can be hard to determine in moments when we feel stuck. To get past the first state of change and…
Loneliness in children and teens isn’t always about being physically alone — it’s about not feeling truly connected. Despite being more digitally linked than any generation before them, many young people struggle to experience the emotional closeness and sense of belonging they crave. Caregivers often emphasize in-person connection and are…
Keeping up with a child’s mood swings can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. Once you buckle in for the ride, you experience them laughing giddily, grumbling when hungry, and seconds later, they’re overwhelmed and stumbling off the ride. As guardians, it’s natural to lean towards problem-solving, which is a practical…
Kids don’t act out because they want to be difficult. More often, they act out because they don’t yet have the words or skills to explain what’s happening inside. When emotions feel confusing, intense, or overwhelming, behavior becomes a child’s language. This is why emotional literacy matters. Emotional literacy means…
The internet is a fascinating place where we can explore and learn, but it can also turn dark quickly. Parenting in this digital age is tough. Social media, screens, gaming, and online friendships are everywhere, and it can be overwhelming to keep up with what your teens are exposed to.…
When your teen is struggling with their behavioral and mental health, and weekly appointments don’t seem to be helping, it can be challenging knowing what to do next. It may seem like you’re taking all the right steps, but your teen is plateauing, or their symptoms are worsening. Many families…