Michael Vallejo, LCSW

Processing emotions can make people more confident in their decisions. Learn how to manage emotions productively.

Understanding why self-care is important helps kids and teens become well-rounded individuals. Discover ways to instill this practice in their lives.

Knowing the difference between emotions, feelings, and moods provides a valuable perspective for parents and children.

Self-worth and self-esteem are often used interchangeably. Here’s what makes them different.

Reading social skills books can improve an individual’s ability to communicate clearly. Discover our top picks for 2024!

If someone in your family is feeling anxious, these 60 calming quotes for stress can provide some relief.

Cognitive distortions are inaccurate, negative thinking patterns that can disrupt daily life. Learn more about cognitive distortions and how to challenge them.

Try these social skills activities for preschoolers at home and in the classroom to promote fun and cooperation.

Social skills activities for teens are necessary to foster relationships and avoid conflicts. Find out which activities and games hone these abilities.

Social-emotional skills are essential for children learning to communicate and collaborate with others. Learn what they encompass.

Academic pressure is typically experienced by students. Read on to learn more about it as well as ways to cope.

Research indicates that social media contributes to low self-esteem. How so? Learn about the link between social media and self-esteem in this article.

These 20 best self-esteem activities for kindergarteners are easy, accessible, and guaranteed to foster positive thoughts.

Self-concept vs self-esteem are often confused with each other but they aren’t one and the same. Find out their differences for better understanding.

Adolescence can be a period filled with interpersonal conflict due to the many changes that occur in a teenager’s life. Read on to learn different skills of conflict resolution for teens.

Self-esteem books are excellent tools for improving one’s opinion of themselves. Discover the best self-esteem books in 2023.

Substance abuse in teens can be harmful and lead to negative consequences. Read on to learn more.

Cultivating self-esteem in kids and teens requires practice. Find out how Branden’s Six Pillars of Self-Esteem can guide you in developing strategies.

Knowing the differences between self-esteem vs. self-confidence can help set your child up for successful learning experiences.

Learning how to build confidence in kids can make them better decision-makers. Find out our top 12 tips.

The teenage years are an especially stressful time in life. Here are some ways that teens can manage their stress a little better.

Peer pressure can be challenging to deal with. Here are some examples and coping strategies.

Time management for teens is imperative to a child’s academic success. Learn how to improve discipline and find motivation!

Changing negative thinking patterns into more realistic and objective ones can be challenging. Learn more about how cognitive restructuring can do just that.

Mental paralysis is a common experience among people with ADHD. Read on about the signs and triggers of this condition and the impact it has on daily life.

How does social media affect teens? Learn the social and internal consequences of chronic online use and how to alleviate them.

Social skills for kids are imperative to friendship-building and communication. Learn examples of social skills and how to reinforce them.

Our brain is responsible for all the feelings we experience, but which parts of the brain control our emotions? Read on to learn more.

Choice paralysis is common in adolescents with ADHD. Learn how it manifests and how you can adequately support your child.

We have all heard of the fight-or-flight response, but what exactly is it and how does it help us survive? Read on to learn more.

Recognizing and identifying feelings and emotions can be challenging for kids. Learn how feelings charts can help children understand and manage their emotions more effectively.

Expressing gratitude is one way to highlight positive experiences in your daily life. Read about some gratitude affirmations to improve your well-being.

Positive affirmations can play a significant part in shaping teens’ resilience. Learn more about positive affirmations for teens here.

Negative thinking patterns can cause anxiety and depression in children. Learn how to help them reframe negative thinking.

Understanding the causes of task paralysis can empower kids and teens to feel motivated and productive.

Building confidence and self-reliance can be challenging. One way to start believing in our confident selves is through practicing positive affirmations. Learn more about the best affirmations for confidence in this article.

Depression affects millions, and it is an illness that can last for as short as a few days and as long as a few years. Read on to learn more about how long different types of depression last and how you can seek treatment.

Affirmations for anxiety can help challenge negative self-talk. Here are 100 positive affirmations for relieving anxious thoughts.

Self-love can be difficult for some of us to learn and practice. Here are some of the best self-love affirmations to help you form a positive self-image.

Anxiety in teens can lead to serious problems, such as depression, substance abuse, and suicide. Learn how to navigate anxiety symptoms in teens to prevent these consequences.

Positive affirmations are becoming more popular for improving well-being. Learn more about the best positive affirmations for kids in this article.

Dealing with depression can be challenging, but there are many ways to cope. Read on to learn more about the most effective coping skills for depression.

Sometimes, you might feel paralyzed and unable to get tasks done. Read on to learn more about ADHD paralysis, what it means, and how to overcome it.

Children and adolescents may have trouble managing anxiety. Learn the best coping skills for anxiety to keep symptoms at bay.

Unhealthy relationships can develop through trauma bonding. Learn more about what it is, its effects, and how to break free.

Trauma can lead to psychological and physical distress. Learn how to heal from trauma and provide support for kids and teens in our guide.

Healing PTSD takes a lot of effort, both in the therapist’s office and outside of it. Learn more about the best PTSD worksheets that you can use for your healing.

Having a low self-esteem is ordinary during teenage years. Here are 20 worksheets that can help your teen build their confidence and self-esteem up.

Validation is an important part of our relationships. Learn more about validation in DBT and how it is applied to make clients feel understood and accepted.

The wise mind helps us find balance between reason and emotion. Learn more about the wise mind in this article.