Hi, my name is Tara Donlon and I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). What an LMHC does is work with individuals and families to help them improve their relationships and their overall quality of life. For me, I’ve found myself being particularly passionate about working with children and their parents, helping them navigate difficult times in life. For parents, it can often be challenging to figure out what to do when you see your child struggling.
You’ve noticed that something is different with your child. Their behavior is changing, maybe their grades are dropping, something just feels off. They seem sad. They’re quieter, more withdrawn. They’re spending less time with friends and more time in their room. Or maybe you’ve noticed that they’re crying more, or having trouble being apart from you. It’s hurting you to watch them hurting. You just want to be able to make it stop but you don’t know how, and you just feel so helpless. Or perhaps your child is angry and lashing out. Everything seems to set them off. They’re always yelling. Yelling at you, yelling at your partner, yelling at their siblings. They’re slamming doors, throwing things. You’re exhausted, your patience has run thin and you’re at the end of your rope. Maybe you’re even starting to resent them and the chaos that they’re causing in your life. These feelings of helplessness, of frustration, are all normal things for a parent to experience when their child is going through a difficult time.
Like many other parents, I’m sure you are prepared for a lot of things when it comes to your child. Scraped knees, fevers, colds, maybe even a broken bone. All things that are stressful, but also things that you know how to handle. But now you’re faced with something that’s different. Something that feels scarier, more unfamiliar. Your child is struggling, they’re in pain. However, this pain is an emotional one and can’t be fixed by a band aid or a quick trip to the doctor. No one talked to you about this and now you don’t know what to do. That’s where I come in. I can help your child learn healthy ways to cope with the overwhelming emotions that they’re experiencing. Help them express themselves in ways that doesn’t hurt them and doesn’t damage their relationships with others.
I’ve spent my career working with children, and what I’ve found is that the best way to help them is to also help their parents. So through this process I can also help you learn how to best support your child through this difficult time. We can all work together to repair and rebuild the relationships within your family. I know that you want you and your family to be living your happiest life. Let me help you get there.