De-escalating conflict between parents and teens By Bethany Bray
It’s natural for adolescent development and parent-child conflict to go hand in hand. Le’Ann Solmonson, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who owns a private practice in Nacogdoches, Texas, has worked with children and adolescents in school and clinical settings throughout her career. Time and time again, she’s seen families fall into a pattern as children reach adolescence: The youth wants more autonomy — a normal aspect of adolescent development — and begins to push against their parent’s rules and boundaries. In response, the parents tighten their control or inflict punishment, only to have the adolescent push back harder, break more rules and chafe against their parents’ preferences. Thus begins a repeating spiral of friction, frustration and misunderstanding — on the part of both the teenager and the parents.
The Essentials of Emotional Intelligence
As Family Law practitioners, we see people at an incredibly emotional and transitional time. We need to understand what is going on with our clients, offer appropriate support, and be able to take care of ourselves as well. In the latest episode of Family Law Matters, Kate Reese and Christal Benton, both attorneys with the firm who happen to have Master’s degrees in the counseling field, engaged in a lively exchange about emotional intelligence that covered some important aspects of this important skill to develop for ourselves and in relation to others.
Holiday Hints for the Sandwich Generation
The holidays are fast approaching. While they are a time of togetherness and joy, for some family members, the responsibilities add up, which can make this time feel stressful and difficult to manage. Known as the “Sandwich Generation,” adults who have children under the age of 18 and parents over the age of 65 experience the caretaker role on both ends of the age spectrum. Planning for the holidays involves many moving pieces, and it helps to keep some of the following goals in mind.
Tackling Homework With Your Kids
With the new school year come challenges and opportunities to help your children succeed in school. Every family and every child is different, so it can be hard to know what approach to take with a perennial struggle with homework. Whether a child is in one house or two, there are some approaches that can help bring about success. In Podcast Episode 17, Kate Reese spoke with Ann K. Dolin, M. Ed., the founder and owner of Education Connections, a tutoring business that serves the Northern Virginia area. Ann shared some useful perspectives and practices that apply to all families with school-aged children.
When and how do I talk to my spouse about the Collaborative Process?
Once the thought of separation and divorce enters your mind, your second thought should be about process. It is never too soon for you and your spouse to seek information about options. When you understand your options, you are in a better position to make informed decisions about how to move forward.
How Step Parents Can Obtain Further Parental Rights
Every family is different, and often the parent of a child marries another adult who wants to play a part in the life of the child. Where both biological parents continue to be interested in maintaining their parental rights, there are limits to a step-parent’s legal right to assume a parental role for the child. However, in many instances, there are opportunities for an adult to have their relationship with a step-child recognized by the court.
Pro Bono For Fairfax County Courts
At Reese Law, we believe in giving back, which includes offering our expertise to people with limited means through pro bono volunteer work. Christine Hissong acts as a roster mediator with the Fairfax County Juvenile Court. She works with families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to mediate their cases to help achieve a resolution to their conflict. We are so proud of her good work with the courts that helps promote mediation and provides access to justice for people of limited means.
After the Separation: Tips for Making a healthy new Family Unit
When parents split up, children are forced out of the lives they know into unknown territory. No matter the level of acrimony, this transition is difficult, and often traumatic. While each family is different, and many factors can impact how children survive and thrive this major change, parents can take some specific steps to ease the kids into a new normal.
Launching a Business as a Women Business Owner
In Episode 15, of our Podcast, Kate talks with Kelly McLaughlan. Kelly is the owner and originator of KME Digital that is a digital marketing agency in Fairfax, Virginia. They discussed what it is like launching a business as a women for Women History Month, sharing their knowledge on creating and growing a business as a women.
Giving Back in Northern Virginia
Reese Law has been located in Fairfax, VA, for 18 years. In that time, we have grown to know and love the many communities that make their homes in Northern Virginia. Through our work with our clients, and from personal encounters, we often learn about causes that urgently need our support. Whether volunteering or donating, we look for organizations that make the most of our contribution.