January 25, 2021 Practicing Gratitude The practice of gratitude provides us with perspective, appreciation, and guides us toward hope. It has positive effects on our physical and emptional health and costs nothing to do and takes little to no. Taking stock in the positive and good that surrounds you can be grounding, making it possible to move and find joy. 2020 was a year like no other in our lifetime. We experienced a global pandemic, lockdowns, and civil and political unrest. Lives were upended by school closures, job loss, financial strain, and toilet paper shortages. How do we move forward with hope and gratitude when much of the issues of 2020 have followed us into the new year? Some days the good is easy to find, other days it takes some work to see. Many can find gratitude by looking toward their families, their surroundings when their basic needs are met, or toward their spirituality. Keeping a journal or photos of the things that you are grateful for can help you on the days you are having difficulty finding the good. Keep these lists and photos closeby to keep them top of mind. Try practicing gratitude with your friends and family by sharing the things you appreciate about one another. It can help uplift everyone and can bring you closer together. The practice of gratitude is a great thing to teach children and teens as well. It helps boost their mood and teaches them to stay positive and appreciative. It’s a skill that will serve them throughout their lives. Ways to find gratitude: List the things that went well today. Think about the people you love. Find a feel good news story. Identify positive characteristics about yourself. Spend time in nature and appreciate the beauty you find there. Think about what lessons may come of your current challenges. Give back and volunteer. Disconnect from social media. Surround yourself with positive people. Enjoy time with your pets. Be present. 2020 By The Numbers Employee Spotlight Angelina is a full time therapist at Innerspace. She has been a star on our team and we are so happy to have her! Angelina is a Licensed Associate Counselor and a National Certified Counselor who works with children, teens, and adults across our programs. Angelina specializes in working with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, mood changes, adjustment difficulties, and family stressors. Her approach to counseling draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with evidence-based techniques. She takes a person-centered, collaborative relationship approach to therapy to formulate realistic goals with accessible strategies that her individual clients can apply in their life. Angelina strives to provide a therapeutic setting in which clients feel comfortable sharing thoughts and feelings, while also developing a sense of empowerment. “Angelina was always helpful and there for me, I always felt comfortable and safe.” “Angelina was wonderful. She advocated for me and I felt like I could be honest with her.” -Anonymous Client Surveys

February 16, 2021 Self Care is Knowing Who You Are & Your Limits Written by Angelina Colon, MS, LAC, NCC What is self-care? Self-care in essence is the mindful taking of time to pay attention to you, but in a way that ensures that you are being cared for by you. Self-care means knowing who you are and your limits. Self-care means recognizing when you are doing more than you are used to handling and trying to figure out what can be done to slow down. Try to find a way to decompress throughout your day. Ask yourself, what helps you tune out the noise of your day, how can you rest your mind during and after a stressful day. Trying to integrate mini breaks throughout your day helps to refresh the mind and body. For example, try stretching or taking a walk, drinking some water, and talking to a friend. Self-care means identifying what you enjoy doing and what's fun for you and make a serious effort to integrate it into your day or, at the very least, your week. Make it a habit to plan something to look forward to everyday and that doesn't have to be complicated. It can be as simple as planning to read a good book at night or planning to have dinner with someone whose company you enjoy. Remember that self-care is not only about taking care of your mind, but also taking care of your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Take the time to pause and reflect on what you need to make sure you are the best version of yourself! Examples of self-care activities to engage in:

Parenting an Anxious Child by Melissa Maranzano, MA Parenting a child with anxiety is challenging. When our children are anxious, we often become anxious ourselves. Our minds race with questions like, “Do I let my child stop doing everything that makes them feel anxious? Do I push them to keep going and just get over it? Is this my fault? At what point should I seek professional help?” First, you should take a deep breath and try to be a calm presence for yourself and for your child. An anxious parent will not calm an anxious child. Next, here are some things you should know: It is not your fault. According to the CDC, over 7% of children ages 3-17 have a diagnosis of anxiety. That is 4.4 million kids. There is help and advice available from school counselors, pediatricians, and mental health professionals. Reach out and ask for help. Professionals can provide children with skills to help them manage their symptoms and improve their lives. A diagnosis of anxiety in childhood, does not necessarily mean a lifelong battle with anxiety. But if they do have anxiety later in life, the sooner they learn the skills needed to manage it, the easier their life will be. Now for the good stuff. What can parents do when they are in the trenches of the day-to-day anxiety battles with their child? Here are some helpful tips: Be the calm in the room. Keep your own feelings in check when speaking to your anxious child. This is easier said than done but remaining a calm and steady presence will help them regulate their own emotions. Model healthy ways of dealing with your own feelings and anxiety and tell your child about it. For example, tell your child, “I am going for a walk because fresh air and exercise help me relax after a stressful day.” Do not punish your child for feelings and behaviors that stem from their anxiety. Punishment will not teach them how to manage their anxiety, it will teach them to hide it from you and cause increased anxiety. Validate your child’s feelings and be understanding, but do not give power to those feelings. Encourage them to face their fears and express your confidence in them. Encourage them to face their anxieties and teach them that the more they face them, the less power they will have. Have a plan for things that cause anxiety in your child. How can they tell you they are feeling anxious in a public place (try a code word or text)? What things will they do to calm down (draw, play with a fidget spinner, etc.)? Just as our children with anxiety must learn skills to manage and cope, so must we to help them. The programs at Innerspace Counseling provide solution focused treatment from an elite team of clinicians that care for and encourage your child to gain the skills they need to move forward. Family sessions are included to provide you with the support and tools that you need to care for your child. If you need help for your child contact Innerspace Counseling for a consultation. Employee Spotlight: Lindsay Sowder, LPC, NCC Lindsay has been a valued part of our clinical team since 2018. Lindsay earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Caldwell University, following a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology also from Caldwell University. She is currently a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She currently runs many of our Partial Care groups. Lindsay feels privileged to be a trusted part of each person’s personal healing process, and notices that every person’s process will be unique. She enjoys working with people throughout their therapeutic journey, and encourages people to find the strength to grow, develop, and achieve their personal goals. We appreciate all that Lindsay brings to our team and our clients. Mental Health Topic: April is Alcohol Awareness Month Alcohol is the third leading cause of death in the United States and reported use has spiked since the pandemic began in 2020. It is the one drug that is socially acceptable to use and people often have to explain themselves if they do not drink. While most people can partake in alcohol responsibly and with control, some people can not. Alcohol is often used as a crutch to help with other problems such as depression, anxiety, stress, and pain. Here are a few tips on alcohol use: Delaying the first use of alcohol results in a reduced risk of abuse. In other words, the later you begin drinking, the less likely you are to become dependent. This is important information for teens and parents. It is ok to not drink. You don’t have to be an alcoholic to choose sobriety. If you think drinking may be becoming problematic try keeping track of how many drinks you have over the course of a week or month and work on spacing out how often you drink. If you drink to deal with certain feelings or situations, avoid those triggers when possible. If you or someone you love is concerned about their alcohol use, please reach out to a mental health or treatment provider.

Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Partial Care Programs (PHP) provide short term, intensive treatment for various mental health conditions. Anyone suffering from moderate to severe anxiety or depression, mood disorders, OCD, bipolar, behavioral issues etc. may want to consider a program. Most programs such as those at Innerspace Counseling include several components, creating an all-inclusive mental health treatment experience. These programs are designed to provide strong support in reducing symptoms, to ease the burden of going to multiple providers for different services, as well as to simplify billing and insurance issues. Let’s walk through the process of getting started. When you call for yourself or a loved one you provide general information about the patient and the reason you are seeking treatment. You will be asked for your insurance information so that we can find out what amount will be covered and what patient responsibility you have, if any. We explain our programs and if you decide to proceed, a licensed clinician will conduct a 10-15 minute “screening” call. A screening is simply a gathering of information such as medical and mental health history and information about your current concerns. This information is used to determine if our programs are a good fit for you. If so, we schedule your initial appointment which we refer to as an “intake”. At the intake appointment you meet with both a board-certified psychiatrist and licensed therapist. We recommend that you allow up to 2 hours for this appointment to ensure enough time for assessments and paperwork to be thoroughly completed. For children and teens, we include the child and parents. For adults, we encourage a parent, spouse/partner, or other support to be involved when possible. At intake, a level of care determination will be made and discussed with you. This means our team will assess whether you need to begin in our 5-day PHP program or our 3-day IOP program. You would begin program the very next day. After the intake our treatment team will process the information and assign you to a therapist who will be your main point of contact throughout your treatment at Innerspace. They will schedule an orientation with you to review program rules and protocols as well as schedule your first family session, schedule your group therapy, and plan your individual sessions. Our administrative team will schedule your appointments with our psychiatrist and handle your insurance claims. What treatment looks like from here on out will vary based on each person's progress and needs. Throughout your treatment, you will learn skills that will help you manage your emotions, behaviors, and thoughts so that when you are ready to leave Innerspace and follow up with an outpatient therapist and/or psychiatrist, you will feel stable and secure in your ability to manage your mental health between sessions. It is our goal to help each of our clients get on a road toward long term health and wellbeing through a caring and empowering approach to mental health treatment. If you are ready to start your mental wellness journey, call Innerspace Counseling today.

Employee Spotlight: Innerspace Counseling’s Mental Healthcare Heroes Each edition of Innerspace Insights highlights an employee who we thank and acknowledge for their hard work and dedication. For this edition, choosing one feels impossible. Over the last 16 months we have witnessed an unprecedented need for mental health services through the COVID 19 pandemic. The pandemic was also compounded by political and social unrest that further increased the need for services. The impact of that need and the high level of acuity in patients had implications agency wide. In March of 2020 the agency had to put together a telehealth model for Mental Health Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs within a week. From then, our administrative staff experienced an increase in call volume, new patients to process, and an increase of active patients needing appointments, refills, and more. Our clinicians went through the unique experience of treating patients who are experiencing a once in a lifetime pandemic while simultaneously going through it themselves. The needs of our patients and families were heightened during this time and so the demands on our team were as well. Thank you to our Innerspace Counseling Healthcare Heroes for all you have contributed to our agency and clients over this past year. We are appreciative to each and every one of you for showing up everyday and putting the needs of our clients first and working as a team to provide high quality care through what will certainly be one of the most challenging times in our history: Dr. Arthur Platt, Dr. Jennifer Platt, Courtney Zambrano, Melissa Maranzano, Jodi Ster, Martha Wolfe, Carmela Veniero, Lynne Rutstein, Raechel Mercado, Christine Circello, Caitlyn Moran, Sara Brinkerhoff, Amanda Pallitto, Michelle Gove, Lisa Ruiz, Tunisha Holmes, Daniela Gallardo, Shavonne Hogan, Anthony Zazzarino, Lindsay Sowder, Kellen Polito, Vernee Brooks, & Sue Robertiello-Manley. Mental Health Topic: Grounding Techniques for Anxiety & Panic Grounding techniques are a proven way of taking control during an anxiety or panic attack. They can also be useful for those experiencing PTSD. They are helpful in pulling you out of your thoughts and emotions and into the present moment. Grounding activities that you can try are putting your hands into cold water and focus on the feeling, think and name as many things as you can in categories such as “reptiles” or “desserts”, or taking deep breaths. Another technique is the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique where you name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. You should practice this technique in moments of calm so that it becomes a mastered skill that you can utilize when you are feeling anxious or panicked.

Social media is a powerful tool that has changed the way we communicate and engage with each other. For teens, social networking helps broaden their connections while also giving them a sense of independence. In some cases, recent studies conducted by social media platforms report teens having both positive and negative experiences with social media. That being said, many parents are more concerned about the negative effects social media is having on their children — and with good reason. The reality is, all of us are affected by social media in some way or another, but in recent months especially, there has been a strong correlation found between an increased use of social media and decreased moods for teens. Today, our teen mental health specialists at Innerspace Counseling in Old Bridge will explore four ways your teen's mood may be affected by too much time spent on social media. Difficulty Communicating or Expressing Themselves The first way that social media may be affecting your teen's mood is by decreasing their overall communication skills. When we're constantly communicating through a screen, we're not learning how to effectively have face-to-face conversations. This can lead to problems when your teen has to communicate with people in the real world. They may struggle with making eye contact, carrying on a conversation, or even understanding body language, all of which may lead to low self-esteem and anxiety. Constantly Comparing Themselves To Others Social media may also be affecting your teen's mood by causing them to compare themselves to others, and to even become envious of their peers. Teens often see photos or highlight reels of other people's lives and start to feel like they're not good enough. While jealousy and envy are completely normal emotions, they can also negatively affect a teenager’s brain when they are constantly comparing themselves to others. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy, depression, and low self-esteem. Additionally, teens may start to feel like they need to have the perfect life in order to be accepted by their peers. Separation and Isolation Another way social media may be affecting your teen's mood is by causing them to isolate themselves and separate from others. When we're constantly online, we're not spending time with our friends and family. This can create a wedge between your teen and the people they care about most, which may only make them feel worse and more alone in the long run. Reduced Focus and Productivity Social media may also be affecting your teen's mood by causing them to lose track of time. Most of us have experienced the never-ending scroll and the sudden realization that an hour or more has passed since we opened up Facebook. When we're on our phones or devices constantly without setting boundaries, it's hard for us to tell how much time we're spending online. This can lead to trouble focusing and decreased productivity throughout the day. All of us are affected by social media in some way or another, but too much time spent online can be bad for your teen. It's important for parents to be aware of the ways that social media can affect their children so they can take steps to counteract any negative effects. When it comes to your teen and social media, vigilance is key, as is fostering healthy lines of communication with them. If you're concerned about how social media is affecting your teen, talk to them about it. Let them know you're there to listen and help them out. Additionally, set some ground rules for how much time they can spend online each day. Finally, learn about all the resources and options available to you and your child to help them live a happy, healthy life. Connect with our team of teen mental health specialists today to learn more about our adolescent IOP/PHP services and counseling programs for parents in Old Bridge. At Innerspace Counseling, we’re here to support you and your child to help you both thrive. Schedule a consultation today.

New Jersey's Premiere Intensive Mental Health Program Specialist At Innerspace Counseling in Old Bridge, our goal is to provide our patients with the care and compassion they need to improve their mental health and live a happier life. We do this by utilizing a technique called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This technique has been shown to help treat a wide variety of mental health and substance-related issues. If you are interested in learning more about this technique, continue reading below or explore our website to learn more about our unique counseling center. What Is DBT? Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a therapy technique that was developed in the 1970s to treat Borderline Personality Disorder. It has since been used to treat a variety of mental health and substance-related disorders, which is how we use it at Innerspace Counseling. This approach helps individuals focus on increasing their awareness by noticing thoughts, feelings, and body sensations, then strengthening their attention back to the present moment. By improving their level of awareness, individuals are better able to take control of their intense emotions and focus on what is important to them. Learn New Skills to Improve Mental Health In addition to learning how to focus their awareness of their surroundings and work through intense emotions, there are many other skills that we help individuals learn through our programs. These skills include: Distress tolerance – This refers to a person’s ability to manage perceived or actual emotional distress. This can also be used to help someone make it through an emotional incident without making it worse. Emotion regulation – This skill helps someone learn how to respond to situations in an emotional way that is socially acceptable, as opposed to reacting in a way that is more intense than necessary. How to walk the middle path – Walking the middle path is a way to view life and situations without resorting to all-or-nothing thinking. Instead of life being black or white, walking the middle path allows someone to understand that there is more than one way to view something. Interpersonal effectiveness – Interpersonal effectiveness helps individuals learn and understand how their behavior and emotions affect their relationships. Once they understand the impact, it allows them to make positive changes. Mindfulness – Mindfulness is a commonly known skill, and it is the ability to be aware of your feelings, behaviors, thoughts, and behavioral urges. If you are interested in learning more about the skills we teach at Innerspace Counseling, don’t hesitate to reach out to a friendly member of our staff today! How We Care About and Empower Our Patients As mentioned earlier, our goal is to assist our patients to the best of our abilities, and we highly value the work we do to ensure that our patients can live a happy and healthy life. For this reason, the main values we live and work by are care and empowerment: Caring Attentive Respectful Empathetic Empowering Motivating Positive Observant Welcoming Encouraging Responsive These two acronyms are the values that we hold ourselves to every day, and we work hard to ensure that we care for and empower our patients through every phase of their treatment. Our Mission and Vision Our team at Innerspace Counseling in Old Bridge is dedicated to providing our patients with the tools they need to manage and improve their mental health. Our programs are designed to provide patients with a variety of methods that teach them new skills and improve old ones so that they can thrive. For this reason, we’ve dedicated our mission to unlocking the balance within the mind by providing high levels of care to those needing intensive support. To help realize that mission, we’ve dedicated our vision to providing holistic wellness for all so that everyone can live their best lives. Why Choose Innerspace Counseling? Therapy is a great way to help improve mental health, but for many people, it isn’t enough. At Innerspace Counseling, we’ve created a unique program where individuals can receive a more intense approach to therapy and have the hands-on care that they need. When you choose to work with us, you can experience group therapy, individual therapy, family sessions, medication management, and so much more from caring, compassionate people who want to see you heal and thrive. Getting the help you need doesn’t have to be difficult. At Innerspace Counseling, our counseling approach uses DBT to help our patients learn to recognize their feelings and manage them more effectively. If you are interested in learning more about our approach, or you believe that you or a loved one would be a good fit for one of our programs, reach out to our team at Innerspace Counseling today! We look forward to working with you.

As part of an intensive outpatient program for your therapeutic treatment, you may come across or be asked to participate in DBT, or Dialectic Behavioral Therapy. This treatment used to treat everything from bipolar disorder to anxiety and depression focuses on teaching people how to regulate their emotions and cope with stress in the moment. However, this can be harder than it seems to do. That’s why there are certain skills you need to learn in order to perform the therapy correctly. That’s why the professionals at Innerspace Counseling have made this guide on what DBT skills you will learn in our programs. If you are in New Jersey and are in need of treatment, the team at Innerspace Counseling can help you or your loved ones get back to good health. With a variety of treatment options and programs, Innerspace Counseling can find the right type of therapy and treatment for you. Contact us or visit our website to connect with a professional today. Core Mindfulness Mindfulness skills are at the heart of DBT therapy. Mindfulness focuses on the mind and helps with living “in the moment”. This helps you focus less on your emotions and impulses and more on what is happening around you. Mindfulness helps you focus on using healthy coping skills to handle problems or when you are experiencing emotional distress. Distress Tolerance Distress tolerance allows you to accept yourself and your current situation. This includes things like distraction, improving the moment, and self-soothing techniques. This can help you prepare for intense emotions and cope with them as well. Interpersonal Effectiveness Interpersonal effectiveness is about becoming more assertive in relationships, which includes practicing saying what you need and how you are feeling. This skill may help you communicate more effectively and deal with difficult people and situations. Emotion Regulation Emotional regulation helps you navigate powerful emotions more effectively. This skill may allow you to identify and change your emotions, while also helping you cope with and reduce emotional vulnerability to create better emotional experiences. If the prospect of DBT therapy sounds like something you’d like to try and could be beneficial, then enrolling in one of Innerspace Counseling’s IOP programs may be the right choice for you. In this program, we will teach you these skills and more so you can be a better communicator and better manage your emotions. To enroll today, contact us online to see how we can help you toward better mental and emotional health.

Finding quality mental health care that also works with your schedule can be challenging. At Innerspace Counseling our dedicated team of board-certified psychologists, counselors, and social workers focus on empirically based treatments like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help you achieve your mental health goals to lead a happy, productive life. Flexible options for care include a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or an intensive outpatient program (IOP). Keep reading to see if PHP or IOP treatments could be right for you. How Does PHP Treatment Work PHP is a form of treatment that is typically more intense than IOP. It requires approximately five visits per week that can last anywhere from four to eight hours depending on the patient. Within this program, you will work through issues during group therapy, meetings with counselors, and in some instances different activities such as yoga to foster cognitive strength. Benefits of PHP PHP is a great option for those who want a transitional step between a residential treatment facility and returning to everyday life. With PHP, patients receive a large amount of support from the facility, but still have access to the outside world. Going straight from a residential treatment facility to regular life can be too much for some patients causing them to fall back into old, unhealthy habits. How Does IOP Treatment Work IOP is a form of outpatient care that provides patients with medical and psychological help but does not require a large time commitment. It typically only requires around nine hours a week divided into several sessions. Patients are allowed to take part in their own choice of sessions like counseling, prevention skills, and other healing practices. Due to IOP not being continuous and ongoing, IOP therapy takes longer to be completed. Benefits of IOP IOP is a great option for those at minimal risk for relapse and who have time commitments such as children or a job. If you have a supportive environment, IOP could be the right choice for you as it provides the most freedom. No matter the decision you make, Innerspace Counseling is there to help provide you with the best resources. At Innerspace Counseling, we offer both adolescent and adult IOP/PHP treatments. Healing isn’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. Connect with us today to discuss your options.

When you’re struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors can quickly begin to disrupt your life and relationships. However, the dedicated staff at Innerspace Counseling in Old Bridge wants you to know we’re here for you. We proudly provide a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP) that can help patients throughout New Jersey manage their OCD. Read on to learn more, then contact us to schedule a consultation. Experience a Safe and Supportive Environment PHP serves as the perfect transitional step between a residential treatment facility and everyday life. You’ll have access to the outside world yet receive routine, professional support from our team. Similarly, IOP provides medical and psychological help, but it’s divided between several sessions throughout the week. No matter which treatment program you choose, you’ll be in a safe environment surrounded by clinicians who care. Learn to Take Control At Innerspace Counseling, we’re dedicated to helping patients live better, happier lives. By participating in our unique IOP and PHP treatment programs for OCD, you’ll learn how to take control over your behaviors and thoughts. Gain Tools to Manage Symptoms Whether you enroll in PHP or IOP, you’ll be given effective tools for managing your symptoms. Our board-certified psychiatrists, licensed counselors, and social workers provide one-on-one sessions, group therapy, and other activities to help you live with your OCD. Receive an Individualized Treatment Plan The Innerspace Counseling team utilizes a comprehensive approach to help our patients find a lasting solution that works for their needs. After a consultation, we’ll create a personal treatment plan tailored to meet your goals. Over time, you’ll find it’s easier to live uninterrupted by OCD. Is your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder getting in the way of your happiness? Innerspace Counseling in Old Bridge, NJ, is here for you. Our IOP and PHP treatments can help, so contact us today to request an appointment.

The coronavirus pandemic and experiencing a global lockdown have been stressful enough for adults, so can you imagine how children are feeling? More parents than ever are finding their kids need support since lockdown ended, so you’re not alone if you have as well. At Innerspace Counseling, we’re committed to providing counseling services for children throughout New Jersey to live better, happier lives. Today, we’d like to share some information about how therapy can help children regain a sense of normalcy after lockdown. Read on to learn more, then contact us to request an appointment. How to Tell if Your Child Needs Support Before we dive into ways therapy helps kids after Covid-19, you should know how to recognize whether your child is struggling. The following are common signs that our board-certified psychiatrists often notice: Difficulty falling asleep Changes in mood or appetite Sudden loss of interest in hobbies Cope With Social Anxiety Because of social distancing mandates and stay-at-home orders, it’s no surprise that many children are feeling increasingly anxious about social situations. By meeting with a therapist from Innerspace Counseling, your child will learn to talk through their anxieties and find a way to overcome them. Alleviate Back to School Stress If your child is school-aged, you may notice they’re stressed about returning to in-person classrooms after having spent time attending virtually. Our clinicians provide individual and group therapy, among other activities, where kids can find support and talk through their stress. Manage Anxious Feelings After having their entire world turned upside down by Covid-19, many kids have some anxious feelings about everything. By participating in our anxiety treatment program, we’ll help your child learn new skills to overcome those feelings and thrive. Is your child struggling to get back on track after the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown? The team at Innerspace Counseling in Old Bridge, NJ, is here to help. Schedule a consultation with us today to learn how our counseling services can benefit your child.

Melissa Maranzano, MA When a senseless act of violence such as the one that took place in a Texas elementary school this week occurs, we feel for the families affected and fear such a thing happening much closer to home. There is no easy way to have a conversation with your child about such a tragic event, but it is recommended that you talk to your child. Between heightened police presence at schools, television, social media, and peer conversations at school, most children are aware that something has occurred. Tips for the conversation: Check in with yourself and think about what you are feeling before speaking to your child. If you bring feelings of anxiety and fear to the conversation, your child will begin feeling anxious and fearful as well. Find out what they already know. You do not need to offer more details than they already know or need. Listen to what they have to say and allow them to guide the conversation. Be mindful of their age and maturity, only sharing information that they are seeking in an age-appropriate manner. Remind them that the adults in their life, both parents and teachers, strive to keep them safe. Let them know how we try to do that, such as practicing emergency drills and not allowing strangers in their school building. If your child does not want to talk about it, allow them that freedom. Simply let them know you are there if they have any questions or want to talk later. If your child is experiencing high anxiety and fear, alert their school counselor that they may need additional support.