Written by Susan Caso Empathy is the foundation of meaningful, healthy relationships. It’s more than simply being nice or polite—it’s the internal drive to truly understand and care about another person’s experience. At its core, empathy says: I see you. I care about how you’re feeling. I want to help. And when we act on that care, we create […]
Written by Susan Caso As parents, we’re often told to prepare for the “rebellious” teenage years — to brace ourselves for slammed doors, loud arguments, and eye rolls. But what if this view isn’t just outdated — what if it’s also deeply unhelpful? Calling teens “rebellious” frames their normal developmental drive for independence as a problem to be […]
Written by Susan Caso As a therapist and a parent of three, I’ve spent more than 20 years helping families navigate the emotional complexities of raising teenagers. One thing has become undeniably clear: adolescence today is far more demanding than it was a generation ago. Teens are growing up in a pressure cooker of academic expectations, rigorous […]
“The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt – A Must Read for Parents: Reflections by Susan Caso, MA, LPC In The Anxious Generation Haidt and his research team illuminate major contributors to teens’ mental health decline over the last two decades, particularly around smartphone and social media use. His central thesis is that two trends, “overprotection […]
May is mental health awareness month. It’s a time to pause and ask yourself, “how am I caring for myself?” Self care is important for good mental health and your mental health impacts everything from success and happiness in your relationships to the way you perform at work and school. Focusing on your mental health […]