May 2025
When Kids Say “No”
By: Justin Rivas. In Marriage and Family Therapy, we often encounter parents grappling with a common challenge: a child's resistance to therapy. It's understandable to feel frustrated, annoyed, or worried when your child refuses help, but how we respond can significantly impact their willingness to engage in the process. Firstly, acknowledging the child’s feelings promotes participation. Children, like adults, have the right to express discomfort. Instead of dismissing their resistance, try to understand the root cause. Fear, shame, and anger often arise as emotional barriers to therapy. Open, non-judgmental communication can set the stage for a meaningful discussion to begin.
December 2024
Child-Centered Co-Parenting
Navigating the world of co-parenting can be a real rollercoaster of emotions and challenges for many families, especially if you are newly separated or divorced. Effective co-parenting often starts by putting the child’s needs front and center. By focusing on what’s best for the child, parents can set aside personal differences and work together to create a supportive and loving environment for the child/children. One key piece of advice I always emphasize is never to talk badly about the other parent in front of the child/children. A child carries a blend of traits from both their mother and father, and
November 2024
6 Steps to Handling Mistakes in Parenting
Much is written about parenting, what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and so on. I know there are resources to help parents navigate their shortcomings, but they don’t seem popular or accessible. So, I thought I’d write up something on the topic and how I handle things with my kids. I tell clients all the time that I believe I am a good therapist; however, I am by no means a perfect husband or father. So what do we do when we hit our own negative defaults and wind up creating some sort of emotional
