Fountain Hill Center therapists Randy Flood and Ben Burgess recently sat down with Grand Rapids-based family law attorneys Connie Thacker and Allison Sleight to discuss parental alienation. Parental alienation is a phenomenon that can develop in cases of high-conflict divorce where one parent, either consciously… continue reading Parental Alienation: A Conversation
Tag Archives: parenting
Tips and Solutions for Homework Frustration (No Dog Required)
September 27, 2018 – 11:15 am
It’s back-to-school time, and if you’re a parent of a K-12 child, the paperwork and homework has begun! I had no idea how tedious paperwork could be until I had a school-aged child. And that’s saying a lot, since I’m in the mental health field,… continue reading Tips and Solutions for Homework Frustration (No Dog Required)
Counseling and Spirituality
August 7, 2018 – 10:06 am
Several years ago a member of a men’s therapy group at the Men’s Resource Center at Fountain Hill made a comment in a very matter of fact and memorable way. He said, “There’s more to counseling than understanding our thoughts and feelings—spirituality is also an important… continue reading Counseling and Spirituality
Developing Grit in Our Kids
May 3, 2018 – 1:43 pm
By Tracy Thompson When I work with parents and children together, I typically start out by asking them to make a list of challenges. Generally speaking, parents start by talking about the lack of motivation in kids, the disrespect, and behaviors that drive them nuts.… continue reading Developing Grit in Our Kids
Fountain Hill Works to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
May 2, 2018 – 12:35 pm
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month For the last 35 years, April has been a time for communities all across the country to work on increasing awareness of child abuse and neglect and to provide prevention resources and strategies. Over the last month, organizations… continue reading Fountain Hill Works to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
Pull-Ups Are Safe; Underwear Is Scary
April 22, 2015 – 2:59 pm
I was recently in the think tank at my house. Some people in my family call this the shower, but I prefer “think tank,” because it is the only place in my house between my two-year-old’s toddler superhero orchestras, my four-year-old’s Michael Jackson impersonations, and… continue reading Pull-Ups Are Safe; Underwear Is Scary
In Silence, In Horror: Unhealthy Approaches to Children’s Trauma
July 14, 2014 – 1:32 pm
I was 15, walking through my high school halls, when my friend Jennifer ran up to me and said, “There was a school shooting in Colorado today!” Like every one of my peers that day, I was struck with the awful realization that bad things… continue reading In Silence, In Horror: Unhealthy Approaches to Children’s Trauma
Paradoxical Father’s Day Gift
June 11, 2014 – 4:50 pm
“I am your father, and you are my teacher.” These are words that I reflect upon once again around Father’s Day, words that remind me of a gift I have continued to learn about and receive regarding the role of being a dad. Of course,… continue reading Paradoxical Father’s Day Gift
5 Ways to Guide Teens through Risk Taking
January 14, 2014 – 11:16 am
Teenagers fall in love, and they make love. They smoke pot and cigarettes. They drink alcohol. And most of this is behind their parents backs because they’ve been warned, “You better never…” When parents communicate with threats, the message translates to, “You better never get caught…” Let’s… continue reading 5 Ways to Guide Teens through Risk Taking
Children’s Feelings: Navigating Them with Acknowledgement and Choices
October 7, 2013 – 2:19 pm
When I talk with children about their emotions, it is unanimous that children’s emotions are very similar to adults. They feel their emotions. They’re uncomfortable with sadness, anger, and fear – just like adults. But when they are given permission to move through emotions uniquely, and on… continue reading Children’s Feelings: Navigating Them with Acknowledgement and Choices
