teenage counselor

Please also see Boys, Body Image, and A Better Story.

See also:

Summertime Blues: Sibling Love- or Lack Thereof by Katie Polski

Sanctification By Sibling: Seven Encouragements for the Parent Who Love Them by Anna Meade Harris

A Gospel Vision for Helping Your Students Love Their Siblings by Chelsea Kingston Erickson

War. Cancer. Kidnapping. Terrorism. Pandemic. Our world is scary and unsure at best. The ongoing list of fears can be never-ending, and with the rates of childhood anxiety increasing rapidly, its proof that our kids are not immune to fear either. In this episode, Alice hears from a parent whose child is struggling with the fear of death following Kobe Bryant’s passing. She discusses the mindset of a fearful child and their natural tendency to avoid talking about it, which unfortunately leads to additional fear and anxiety. Alice provides practical advice on approaching difficult circumstances with a child, as well as how to convey the peace and comfort that comes from the solid foundation of the Gospel.

Questions for Youth Groups:

1. What are the fearful events that affect you the most – globally and locally?
2. What are ways that you respond to these potentially uncertain circumstances?
3. If you could visibly see God in these events, would it change how you reacted? If so, how?
4. In Philippians 4, Paul speaks of the “peace of God which surpasses all understanding” – what does that mean for how we can live our lives and help those who may be overwhelmed with fears?

In this episode of Ask Alice, licensed professional counselor Alice Churnock speaks with veteran pediatrician Stacey Gilbert, who answers questions from parents who are exploring medication as an option for their children. Dr. Gilbert dispels myths and encourages a balanced perspective on meds. With so many confusing and conflicting reports about medication, this episode of Ask Alice allows parents to hear the truth directly from a professional.

Dr. Gilbert addresses the following questions:

How young is too young to put a child on medication?

What would cause you to start a child on meds ? What symptoms are you looking for?

How long do most kids take meds and are they addictive?

What is a black box warning and should that deter us from starting a kid on meds?

How do medications work – what do they do for the brain?

As a Christian, how can I justify placing my child on medication?

On the Rooted blog , we work to address teen depression through the lens of the Gospel. Here are some articles and podcasts we hope you and the parents of your students will find helpful:

Only the Gospel Will Save Teens From Their Anxiety by Seth Stewart

To the Parent Struggling With a Struggling Teen by Kristen Hatton

Parenting A Child With Major Depressive Disorder by Ingram Link

Rooted Podcast: Dave Thomas on Adolescent Anxiety 

Rooted Podcast: Gospel Contextualization of Anxiety and Academic Pressure in Affluent Suburban and Asian American Contexts with Cameron Cole and Clark Fobes

In addition, check out the Special Challenges section of our Resources tab for more Rooted articles and other resources on topics such as depression, grief, and perfectionism.

This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.