Uncategorized

Emotional distress and crises don’t take holidays. They don’t take the weekends off or pause for the evening after the work or school day is done. Fortunately, neither do the trained counselors at the National Parent & Youth Helpline™. Whether someone is in the midst of a personal or mental health crisis, or they just need someone to talk to, the Helpline’s counselors are ready to help, 24/7 every day of the year, via phone or text at 855-427-2736, via live chat at www.nationalparentyouthhelpline.org, and via email at help@nationalparentyouthhelpline.org.

“Our compassionate and trained Helpline counselors provide evidence-based support for any parent, caregiver, child or youth up to age 25, even if they do not live under the same roof,” said Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, ACSW, ACHT, President and CEO, Parents Anonymous, which operates the Helpline. “We can help with both emotional issues and practical ones. For example, we recently counseled people living through the Los Angeles wildfires about everything from the mental anguish of losing their homes, jobs and schools, to how to find a shelter. We provide resources and referrals and encourage those reaching out to call or connect with us as often as they need to get their issue resolved.”

Read more at HealthWell Foundation

Taking care of the children of the world is a daunting task. Taking care of their parents as well takes inordinate energy and dedication. That’s Dr. Lisa Pion Berlin’s mission.

Throughout my career as a social worker, clinical hypnotherapist and CEO of Parents Anonymous Inc., I’ve always viewed advocacy as central to who I am and what my contribution is as a caring, participating citizen of the world. My passion is to support the empowerment journey of diverse parents, children and youth.

Before becoming CEO at Parents Anonymous, I managed a state-level foundation dedicated to strengthening families to prevent child abuse and neglect. I witnessed parents and young people being pushed aside and not fully understood, which motivated me to stand up for change. My experience in that position not only enhanced my abilities as a leader, but it amplified my sense of determination to help both parents and youth, which has continued to guide me in my career journey.

Read more on BizWomen

Research suggests the challenges of parenting may strengthen brain networks and potentially guard against age-related decline.

Parenthood reshapes priorities, schedules, and, indeed, the brain itself. While short-term brain changes in parents are well-documented, it’s unclear if they last. Now, a study suggests that parenthood may give you a younger brain due to brain restructuring that safeguards against age-related cognitive decline.

Researchers of the study published in  PNAS found that parents have better brain connections in areas that typically weaken with age. Compared to adults who are not parents, these different parts of their brain work more smoothly together.

“Yes, parenting is stressful and demanding, but it is also the most transformative experience because of the personal growth and changes over a lifetime of raising children and benefiting as a parent,” said Lisa Pion Berlin, president and CEO of Parents Anonymous®, a nonprofit that helps parents and communities thrive.

Read more on Parenthood Linked to Lower Cognitive Decline With Age

Maybe you’re feeling anxious about discussing your spouse’s recent overspending, addressing your teenager’s slipping grades or letting a friend know that their actions hurt you. Major talks like these can be daunting, so you’re not alone if you’ve ever wished there was a way to make them less stressful.

Another perk of going on a walk: It allows people to engage with their environment — not just the conversation — while still staying in the present moment, Lisa Pion-Berlin, social worker and chief executive officer of Parents Anonymous, tells Yahoo Life. Taking a walk can provide “a simple, mindless and repetitive distraction from the discussion,” which makes people feel calmer and less stressed. Research shows that walking in nature can be particularly beneficial for our well-being, which can also help bring our nervous system into a relaxed state.

Read more on why experts say you should walk and talk

Are your kids starting to get bored with making their beds and taking out the trash? The good news is that there is so much more they can do! All kidding aside, there are plenty of household responsibilities that your kids can help with, beyond cleaning their room and taking the trash out. 

“So many parents think of household chores as things that need to be done by the adults, especially when kids are little,” says  Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, a licensed hypnotherapist and CEO of Parents Anonymous®, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and providing support to parents and families. “However, assigning children age-appropriate tasks not only helps lighten the load for parents, but also teaches valuable life skills, such as independence, responsibility and self-confidence.”

Read more on Chores and Responsibilities at Greenlight

If your teen is anything like the average teen, they’re probably always on a FaceTime call, gaming with friends online while chatting through a headset, or getting notification after notification from Snapchat. You’d think with so many opportunities for conversation and connection, the word “lonely” wouldn’t even exist in their vocabulary. But surprisingly, research shows that Gen Z is the loneliest age group – even more so than older people, who don’t get out often and lack the social opportunities they had when they were younger.

Another big factor contributing to teen loneliness? The culture of comparison – and the fear of missing out. Anyone who’s ever used social media, even adults, can relate; it’s a landscape of glossy, carefully curated and edited content that makes aspects of other people’s lives seem … well, a lot better than yours.

“Social media creates a platform for comparison – teens view idealized representations of others’ lives, which makes them feel isolated and inadequate despite having numerous virtual connections,” Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, ACSW, ACHT and CEO of Parents Anonymous, tells SheKnows. “The expectation for teens to appear flawless in their digital profiles creates barriers to developing authentic and open emotional connections.”  

Read more on The Lonely Reality of Being Connected

Have you ever been tempted by that “Buy Now” button for something you never even knew you needed? Or found yourself watching just one more episode, even when you promised you’d stop? In a world where everything happens instantly, learning how to get better at delaying gratification is more important than ever. Today, teens (and parents, too!) aren’t exactly set up for success when everything is built for instant gratification.

In this post, we’ll explore useful strategies, daily habits, and expert-backed insights to help teens strengthen their impulse control and build patience.

Long-term benefits for teens

Patience isn’t just about waiting; it’s about building a foundation for future success. “Research shows that people who acquire this ability tend to choose healthier lifestyles while achieving better academic performance and building more authentic relationships,” says Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, a licensed hypnotherapist and CEO of Parents Anonymous®, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and providing emotional support to parents and families.

Read more on delaying gratification

Mental health groups are stepping up to help victims of the Los Angeles area wildfires deal with the extreme stress brought on by the disaster.

The California Parent and Youth Helpline is beginning to work at evacuation centers and is looking to partner with community or government entities to provide victims with emotional support.

Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of Parents Anonymous, which runs the helpline, said people can call, text or live chat with a trained counselor.

Read more on why more support is needed

Entire neighborhoods in Southern California have been destroyed by deadly wildfires, displacing communities that don’t know what — if anything — they’ll have to return to.

The big picture: Researchers have linked wildfires to long-lasting anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors, in addition to the well-documented physical toll.

Los Angeles families calling into Parents Anonymous’ California Parent & Youth Helpline have been expressing extreme overwhelm this week, said Lisa Pion-Berlin, CEO of Parents Anonymous.

For those whose houses were destroyed, “it’s not just the things in the building you lost, you lost a home,” she said. “And that’s a safe place where you’re raising a family, where you go to relax, where you go to cry, where you go to celebrate, where you have birthday parties.”
“A home is much more than a building, a home is part of your heart, and that’s been totally cut out.”

Read more on the psychological toll on Axios

Read more on the psychological toll on MSN