by Harper West | Feb 19, 2019 | Parenting, Shame
Not to brag — because I had nothing to do with it — but in elementary school I was considered smart enough that I skipped second grade. (This must have been based largely on my precocious ability to read, because my math skills have always been incredibly...
by Harper West | May 30, 2018 | Parenting
A new book about parenting styles asks parents: Are you a “carpenter” or a “gardener? And which style is best for raising kids? In her book “The Gardener and the Carpenter,” Alison Gopnik, a psychology and philosophy professor at University of California...
by Harper West | Dec 12, 2017 | Parenting
Heather T. Forbes, LCSW, is an expert on healthy parenting, especially after adoption or trauma, and is author of Beyond Consequences, Logic & Control: Volume 1 & Volume 2, Dare to Love, and Help for Billy. I have shared her articles before, on Love-Based...
by Harper West | Dec 10, 2017 | Parenting
I have blogged about helicopter parenting previously and continue to work with many young children and adolescents who exhibit fearful behavior that is hindering their social, emotional, and intellectual development. I often tell parents that their fears and...
by Harper West | Nov 3, 2017 | Parenting
In the first session of psychotherapy during an assessment, I ask each patient about his or her family of origin, first using a very vague question: “Tell me about who raised you and what your childhood was like.” I use this very broad, open-ended statement purposely....
by Harper West | Oct 28, 2017 | Parenting
Parents want to do the best for their children, so they try to boost “self-esteem” with positive comments. However, in their attempt to help their child avoid negative feelings, parents may actually be helping create insecurity, lack of autonomy, and low self-worth....
