By Alyse Rose, MSW, Assistant Program Director, Woodland Hills Millions of Americans are affected by mental illnesses, and although we have made strides in increasing awareness of mental illness, stigmas and stereotypes continue to prevent many from seeking the services they need. It is important to stay updated and aware of facts and stereotypes about…
By Parviz Nafari, MFT, Woodland Hills PHP/IOP As children grow and go through a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional changes, it can become more and more difficult to distinguish between normal teenage “moodiness” and a legitimate mental health concern. Teens are often not able to articulate their thoughts and emotions easily, which makes…
By Ani Thomson, MFTi, Woodland Hills, PHP/IOP It’s normal for teens to experience symptoms of anxiety, especially when it comes to school. There is usually pressure to succeed, to get good grades, and to fit in with their peers. All of these pressures can lead to an internal worry that has the potential to grow…
By Brittany Cohen, MSW, Program Director PHP/IOP As therapists treating teen addiction, we repeatedly hear one question from parents: “How could I not have known they were using?” Parents feel that they drive their kids to school in the morning, pick them up from a friend’s house after school, and generally feel their teen is…
According to statistics from the Pew Research Center, use of social media sites has increased by more than ten times in the past decade. Nearly two thirds of American adults use at least one social networking site, and a whopping 90 percent of young adults ages 18-29 use social media. The Appeal of Social Media…
Managing anxiety is important for those in recovery. Everyone can relate to the idea of feeling anxious from time to time. It’s that unpleasant, uneasy feeling we get when we’re especially concerned or worried about something. Those occasional bouts of anxiety are part of everyday life. Nervous emotions are not the same for those who…
| CA | Destinations for TeensWhen an individual suffers from both a mental health disorder and an addiction to drugs or alcohol, the simultaneous occurrence of these disorders is known as a dual diagnosis. These conditions aggravate each other. This can severely diminish the effectiveness of treatment that addresses only a single condition, or even…
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder among youth, affecting approximately eleven percent of youth in the U.S. The disorder is marked by impulsive behavior, inability to pay attention and excessive physical activity. ADHD and substance abuse frequently occur together. ADHD is considered a chronic condition. Because it can have a negative…
Stigma, the unwarranted shame and disgrace associated with mental illness, is a serious problem affecting the estimated 61.5 million Americans who experience mental illness in any given year. Not only do these individuals struggle with the debilitating symptoms of their illness, but they also face various forms of discrimination, social prejudice, judgmental mindsets and other…
Research indicates the human brain continues to develop throughout adolescence. In particular, the area of the brain associated with complex reasoning, thinking before acting and decision-making is not fully developed until the mid-twenties. The development of mental illness during this natural process of brain growth is an unfortunate possibility. This means that there is, at…