October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. At Nexus Family Healing, we serve youth and families who have often either been victims of and/or witnessed domestic violence. For a parent/caregiver who was the victim of intimate partner violence, navigating how to handle it with your children can be extremely tough.

Timothy has a troubled past. His family often faced housing insecurity and instability, and his father absent from his upbringing. On top of it all, Timothy was a victim of physical and sexual abuse. As a result of not knowing how to cope with all of these challenges and emotions, Timothy turned to violence to process his anger and hurt.

One of the most important things I’ve learned as a mom to three sons is the oxygen mask metaphor. It’s second nature to put our children’s needs before our own. But that is a surefire path to burnout. Taking care of yourself so you have the resources (the oxygen) to be a healthy and effective parent is so important. 

The swift approach of Autumn and the ending of summer can be a brutal adjustment. Days are short and cold, evenings are dark and long, and these changes in the weather can bring on symptoms of Seasonal Depressive Disorder. Because of this, it’s important to find enjoyable ways to combat these symptoms and protect your mental health. Here are a few suggestions to help you get excited for the changing season, all while supporting your mental health.

From childhood, Tere Geckle’s life has been shaped by the power of kindness. Inspired by her father’s philanthropic spirit, Tere embraced giving back.

In many fields of work, burnout is as common as physical ailments amongst staff. This can be described as a beast – a phantom that creeps up. When feelings of burnout begin to creep in, remind yourself why you do what you do, challenge yourself to start a new hobby, take mindful breaks from work, and seek support in friends, coworkers, and supervisors.

Sara and Mike Schneider’s dream of a complete family came true with the adoption of Luke and Bella, followed by the surprise birth of Noah. From infancy, Luke exhibited unusual needs and destructive tendencies. Despite countless doctor visits and therapies, answers remained elusive until age nine when they contacted Luke’s birth mother. The devastating truth emerged: Luke had suffered brain damage in utero due to domestic violence and alcohol exposure. 

As the school year is now in full swing, the typical stressors that come up for kids and every 4 years, a new challenge is occurring in lunchrooms, hallways and even on the playgrounds - the U.S. presidential election. We expect children are hearing all sorts of spirited opinions about this presidential race, leading to a new set of emotional stressors for our kids. So, how do we help our youth navigate this newly elevated issue and learn how to handle conversations that can become uncomfortable? 

With three sons, Matthew and Ingrid weren’t planning to add anymore kids to their already busy family. But when Matthew’s biological nephew needed a forever home, Matthew and Ingrid found themselves in the position for a Kinship adoption.

Kinship adoption is a type of adoption where a relative of the youth can adopt them into their family. It’s a great option, when possible, as children tend to do best living with someone they know or have a connection with, and it’s proven to be the most successful plan for children in foster care, as it allows them to stay connected with their biological family and maintain their identity.  

As a family responder, working with youth who struggle with suicidality (deliberately hurting oneself with an intent to die) is a routine part of my job. Parents are often not provided with the same skill set as mental health professionals, yet they are the “first responders” when it comes to their child’s mental health. In my years working with suicidal youth and their families, I’ve noticed trends in the information I share with parents.