TOPIC: The Teen Guide to Self-Esteem, Body Image, and Anxiety: Tools for a Healthier You

POST BY: Lillie Bamberg, LPC - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO

WRITTEN: June 26, 2025

WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028

You’re Not Alone: Understanding Teen Self-Esteem

If you're a teen who feels insecure, anxious, or uncomfortable in your own skin, you’re not the only one. Millions of teens struggle daily with low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and body image issues—and it can feel overwhelming. Add in pressure from school, family, friends, and social media, and it’s no surprise that teen mental health is more important than ever.

But here’s something you should know: it’s okay to...

TOPIC: How to Cope with Body Changes After Being an Athlete

POST BY: Makenna Vacek, Masters Level Clinical Intern - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO

WRITTEN: June 26, 2025

WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028

From being an athlete competing regularly, working out multiple hours a week, having some meals provided and then suddenly you are done with athletics. It can be a really big jolt from being basically a full time athlete to being free from that and having to figure out your identity but also deal with a lot of change. One of the biggest changes that my athletes come to me about sometimes is their body and exercise.

As we know, bodies change all the time as we get older and grow and go through life events. ...

TOPIC: Adoption Is Lifelong: Counseling Support for Every Stage of the Journey

POST BY: Lyla Mills, LMSW - CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIO

WRITTEN: June 26, 2025

WILL BE REVIEWED: June 2028

True adoption-competent counseling is hard to find. First, understanding the different types of adoption and the nuances that are attached to them is key. Examples of some of the different types are: International adoptions, domestic adoptions which is a category that can be broken down into several more categories —> foster to adopt, open/closed adoptions, transracial adoptions, and kinship adoptions.

Then, after beginning to understand the types, comes understanding just how much adoptees hold onto and h...

Play Therapy: Speaking Your Child's Language

Childhood is a crucial time for emotional and psychological development. However, children may struggle to express their thoughts and emotions, especially when dealing with anxiety, trauma, behavioral challenges, or grief. Play therapy is a powerful, evidence-based approach that allows children to communicate, heal, and grow in a way that feels natural to them—through play.

What is Pla...

What happens when everything changes? In a recent short clip from the JCAC podcast, the hosts delve into the concept of performance-based identity and its connection to perfectionism. By exploring the building blocks of a strong identity—how we see ourselves and what we do—we can understand how to foster healthy growth in our children.