Nest Counseling Blog
Why Traditional Parenting Advice Often Doesn’t Work for Foster and Adoptive Families
Traditional parenting advice often falls short for foster and adoptive families. Children impacted by foster care or adoption may respond to stress through behavior shaped by trauma, loss, and nervous system dysregulation. This article explores why common strategies do not always work and how trauma informed, attachment focused support can help foster and adoptive families thrive.
Helping Kids With Bedtime Anxiety Without Reinforcing Fear
Bedtime anxiety is one of the most common challenges parents face, especially with sensitive or anxious kids. When the house gets quiet and the day slows down, worries often feel louder and harder to manage. This article explores why anxiety increases at night and how parents can support their child’s nervous system at bedtime without reinforcing fear, pressure, or avoidance.
Does my child need play therapy?
As parents, we all want our children to thrive emotionally and socially. But young kids often struggle to put their big feelings into words: tantrums, withdrawal, or acting out can be their way of signaling something deeper. That's where play therapy comes in. It's a specialized form of psychotherapy designed specifically for children, typically ages 3 to 12, where play becomes the primary tool for expression and healing.
Selective Mutism and Play Therapy
Play therapy supports children with selective mutism by reducing anxiety and building confidence without pressure to talk.
When Grief Feels Complicated
Grief doesn’t follow a straight line. Sometimes it feels like sadness, but other times it’s numbness, anger, anxiety, or even guilt. You might be going through the motions and wondering why this loss still hurts so deeply—long after others expect you to be “okay.”
Grief During the Holidays
Grief during the holidays isn’t just about sadness. Sure, there might be tears when a favorite song plays or when you pull out that one ornament. But grief can also look like anger when someone says the wrong thing or a deep ache when everyone else seems so joyful. Sometimes it’s just plain exhaustion from pretending you’re okay when you’re not.
Parting After Childhood Trauma
Parenting is never easy, but when you’ve experienced childhood trauma, it can feel like navigating a minefield of emotional triggers. You might find yourself reacting in ways that surprise even you—feeling disproportionately angry, shutting down, or becoming hypervigilant about your child’s safety. Your past has shaped you, and when parenting stirs up old wounds, it can feel overwhelming.
Postpartum Depression: Beyond the Baby Blues
After giving birth, it’s natural to experience a mix of emotions—joy, exhaustion, and sometimes even sadness. For many new mothers, these mood swings are part of the “baby blues,” a temporary adjustment period in the first two weeks postpartum. The baby blues often involve mild mood changes, tearfulness, and feelings of overwhelm, but they typically ease on their own. Postpartum Depression (PPD) is different.
Therapy for Therapists
As therapists, we know the value of mental health care—but when it comes to seeking help ourselves, shame can creep in. Many of us feel we should be able to manage our struggles on our own, and admitting we need support can trigger feelings of failure. But therapists are human, too. We face our own challenges, including burnout, vicarious trauma, stress, and unresolved childhood issues.
Healing from Sexual Assault: Support is Available When You’re Ready
Experiencing sexual assault is a deeply painful and traumatic event. It can affect your body, mind, and emotions in ways you might not even realize. Trauma from assault can show up in many forms—nightmares, anxiety, difficulty trusting others, or even physical symptoms like chronic pain or tension. Shame often accompanies this trauma, and reaching out for help can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to go through it alone.
Birth Trauma
Birth is supposed to be one of the most transformative moments of your life—but what if it didn’t go the way you hoped? What if you’re left feeling shaken, scared, or haunted by what happened? This is the reality of birth trauma, and you’re far from alone. Studies show that up to 45% of women report their birth as traumatic, and 1 in 3 experience some form of PTSD symptoms after childbirth.