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Kids Kelsey Torgerson Dunn Kids Kelsey Torgerson Dunn

Anxiety and Anger: Differences for Boys and Girls

How differently does anxiety manifest itself in girls versus boys? What accounts for such differences?

This May, I hosted a #HealthAMA ("ask me anything") allowing people to ask me any questions on temper tantrums and anger management for kids. You can find all the questions right here, and this summer I've pulled a few to expand on.

Gender differences in anger.

Based on my experience, I often see more boys with anxiety brought in for "anger management" than girls

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SMART Goals: How to Set Goals that You (or Your Teen) Can Actually Meet!

January 1st is a time for resolutions.

In fact, we originally posted this series on insta and facebook on the New Year’s Eve. But the reason we want to check in with you now, mid-Jan, is to see how those goals are going. Plus, we couldn’t resist posting on 1/20/2020!

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably dropped that resolution you made at the start of the new year. This is ok! It’s super common! But there’s a way to make sure your goals stick. And we’d love for you to pick up the mantle and give it another try.

To make your goals more attainable, and to increase your follow through, make your goals SMART - specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time sensitive. We will be talking more about each step below to really break down how to make your goals and resolutions easier to follow through on.

Great for kids, parents, and college students - especially when you have perfectionism and anxiety and a high drive to succeed (hi, is this you? If so, we’d love to work with you!)

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Kelsey Torgerson Dunn Kelsey Torgerson Dunn

TF-CBT and Trauma Therapy for Teens in St. Louis

“There are many different signs and symptoms of trauma including depression, increased anxiety, irritability, mood swings, aggression, overwhelming fear. When a child presents with increased symptoms that begin to interfere with daily living and performing basic tasks then it may be time to seek out an assessment to look into trauma therapy. “

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Helping Your Teenager Become More Independent

You don't want your teenager home and in their room every night, but you also want to be sure that they're still checking in with you and getting your support when needed. You don't want to chauffeur your teen to every meeting, friend hangout, or movie, and at the same time you want to be sure they're not out late every night or missing out on homework.

So how do you find this balance? Focus on the skills building.

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Kelsey Torgerson Dunn Kelsey Torgerson Dunn

Preparing Your Pre-Schooler for Changes

We can't always predict when there will be a change to our schedule, our plans, or our life. But it's important to recognize that pre-schoolers may have a particularly hard time with changes both expected and unexpected. Read below for a few tips on how to set your preschooler up for success. 

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Kelsey Torgerson Dunn Kelsey Torgerson Dunn

How to Help Your Angry, Anxious Child Calm Down

You can feel helpless when your child is out of control. The first step is to help them build a language for what's going on - is it nerves, anger, frustration? Then, build skills one at a time to help them manage these strong emotions - and ensure that you're being proactive, practicing skills before the freak out occurs.

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