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You are all familiar with the famous quote: “That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.” It originated from the existential philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, and the meaning behind this simple phrase had a powerful impact on Viktor Frankl—in his endurance as a prisoner in concentrations camps and in his analysis of survival and the …

As many parents with teens know, staying close to a child during those formative years can be quite the feat. No matter what you do, your behavior seems to annoy, embarrass or even anger them to the point of no return. Understanding the teenage psyche can be daunting to the point of hopelessness. When it …

Life has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute you’re carefree, and the next your life is being shaped by the pressures of reality. This is true for our teens, as well. After all, they face a great deal of stress (daily!) from social and academic pressures to worrying about things like school …

The “nature of the family” or family life, can feel like its own ecosystem sometimes, rife with all the flora and fauna, predators and prey one would find in nature, and in this way, family counseling can be an equally confusing and intimidating venture. In his defining work challenging the modern understanding of family dynamics, …

For many of us, winter means snow-covered walkways, freezing temperatures and commutes lengthened by the presence of puddles and slush. However, winter in Hawaii is idyllic, with sunny days and average daily temperatures often hovering around 75°F. These pristine weather conditions mean that outdoor activities continue unabated during the Hawaiian winter. Specifically, winter is a …

The holiday season is a time of warm-hearted cheer and jovial social engagements. It’s a magical time, where we gather often with friends, family, peers and co-workers to celebrate the season. With all this merriment, however, comes the need for greater care and responsibility. The holiday season provides teens greater exposure to alcohol and events …

Parenting teens is never easy, and when your teenager is diagnosed with clinical depression, it can become overwhelming. You may feel exhausted from lying awake at night worrying about your child. The despair over failed attempts to communicate is tough to bear. Endless fights and open defiance create chaos that affects the entire household. Parenting …

Parenting a teenager is no small feat. As children work their way through adolescence, they struggle with issues of identity, independence, peer pressure, and anxiety about the future. For adopted teens, these issues are often compounded with thoughts about their birth families and why they were given up for adoption. That combination of stressors can …

Ah, the holidays. A time of warm fuzzy feelings, family togetherness…and stress. The latter can be especially true if your family is braving a recent divorce. Parenting during divorce is difficult at any time of the year, but the holiday season brings a new set of challenges. The holiday season can also amplify your teen’s …

“The great human adventure…is the adventure of traveling toward the unknown,” Paulo Coelho writes at the start of The Pilgrimage. He is about to embark on the Strange Road to Santiago in search of his sacred sword. Ultimately, he knows that even if he does not find his sword, the pilgrimage will enable him to …