Collaborative Minds Blog

Education to empower your mental health journey.

7 Body-Positive Tips to Help You Survive & Thrive this Thanksgiving
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

7 Body-Positive Tips to Help You Survive & Thrive this Thanksgiving

Navigating Thanksgiving can be challenging for anyone, especially if you struggle with poor body image or disordered eating. With an obvious emphasis on food and eating, the holiday can trigger anxiety, negative thoughts, or even some unhealthy behaviors. Keep reading for tips to help you find balance, support, and self-compassion during this holiday season.

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7 Tips for a Successful School Year
Ahuvah Fried & Max Kirshblum Ahuvah Fried & Max Kirshblum

7 Tips for a Successful School Year

Between the various holidays, Election Day, Daylight Savings, and more, the inconsistency of the Fall/Winter school schedules can stir up many emotions and thoughts for students and parents alike. Figuring out how to balance homework schedules, extracurriculars, dinner time and more can be a huge stressor for families. Keep reading for 7 tips to help make this your most successful school year yet!

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Stressed Out? Try These Tips to Support Hormonal Balance
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

Stressed Out? Try These Tips to Support Hormonal Balance

Managing stress is crucial for overall well-being, but did you know that your hormones play a major role in how your body responds to stress? Understanding the connection between stress and hormones can empower you to better manage both.

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How Your Child Learns Might Be Impacting Their Self-Esteem (And What You Can Do to Help!) 
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

How Your Child Learns Might Be Impacting Their Self-Esteem (And What You Can Do to Help!) 

Adolescence is a challenging time, marked by rapid physical, emotional, and social changes. For kids and teens with learning disabilities (LD) and deficits in executive functioning (EF), these challenges can become even more complex, affecting their self-esteem in profound ways. Keep reading to learn more about how your child's learning challenges can impact their confidence and what you can do to support them.

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Fight, Flight, or Freeze: A Deep Dive into our Stress Responses
Shira Somerstein Shira Somerstein

Fight, Flight, or Freeze: A Deep Dive into our Stress Responses

Fight, flight, and freeze are three primary responses to perceived danger, each representing a different way our bodies and minds react to stress or threat. Keep reading to learn more about how identifying your typical stress response can help you to manage anxiety more effectively.

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You Graduated College and Moved Back in with your Parents: Now What?!
Sara Schreiber Sara Schreiber

You Graduated College and Moved Back in with your Parents: Now What?!

Graduating from college is a monumental achievement, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. But what happens when the next chapter starts with you moving back in with your parents? Keep reading to explore some strategies and tips for both young adults and their parents to navigate this new phase, making it a positive experience for everyone involved.

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Embracing a More Deliberate Life
Max Kirshblum Max Kirshblum

Embracing a More Deliberate Life

A theme that often comes up in the therapy room is ideas and thoughts of what the future will hold. It doesn’t matter whether they are rooted in hope and excitement or in anxiety and stress, the theme remains consistent which is a lack of focus on the here and now. Keep reading to learn more about the importance and benefits of being present.

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How Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills Can Help Your Teen
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

How Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills Can Help Your Teen

Navigating the teenage years can be challenging, marked by rapid changes, evolving relationships, and the quest for independence. During this time, effective communication and relationship skills are crucial. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers a set of interpersonal effectiveness skills that can significantly benefit teens, helping them manage conflicts, build healthy relationships, and maintain self-respect. Keep reading to learn more about what interpersonal effectiveness skills are and why they are important for teens.

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Virtual Teen Girls Group: The First Session
Sara Schreiber Sara Schreiber

Virtual Teen Girls Group: The First Session

Our teen groups are process oriented with a strong focus on the ‘here and now’ and learning more about how we behave in the world, and noticing how those patterns may come up in the group itself. Keep reading to take an inside look into what the first session of group might look like!

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8 Tips to Help Your Socially Anxious Teen Stay Busy Over the Summer
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

8 Tips to Help Your Socially Anxious Teen Stay Busy Over the Summer

Summer break can be a challenging time for teens with social anxiety. The lack of structured school routines and social interactions might exacerbate their anxiety, making it difficult for them to stay engaged and productive. However, with thoughtful planning and supportive strategies, you can help your teen navigate these months with confidence and enjoyment. Keep reading for tips to help your socially anxious teen stay busy over the summer.

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Maternal Mental Health Matters, Too
Gabrielle Moskovitz, LSW Gabrielle Moskovitz, LSW

Maternal Mental Health Matters, Too

Being a mother is one of the hardest jobs in the world. We are told to care for our children, spouses and the household, all while working, cooking, cleaning, shopping and running errands. Rarely do we get the opportunity to stop and reflect on what we need from ourselves or others. Keep reading for helpful tips on how to make time for you.

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Home Sweet Home: When College Kids Return for Summer
Shira Somerstein Shira Somerstein

Home Sweet Home: When College Kids Return for Summer

“My daughter was so independent in college! She organized a blood drive, resolved conflict between her friends, and followed through on a healthy and fulfilling schedule. I was so proud and amazed at all that she accomplished. Now that she’s home, we never see her and she’s fighting with her 15-year-old brother like she never left! What happened?” Keep reading for five important things that your newly young adult wishes you knew as she adjusts back home for the summer.

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7 Effective Ways to Improve Body Image in Time for Summer
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

7 Effective Ways to Improve Body Image in Time for Summer

With summer around the corner, many of us start to think more about our bodies and how we feel about them. With the temperatures rising, many of us start to feel more self-conscious and exposed (especially when doing things like going to the beach or having a pool day). The desire to feel confident in our summer clothes is natural, but it's important to approach this with a healthy mindset. Keep reading for 7 effective ways to improve your body image and embrace summer fun with confidence and joy.

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From High School to Seminary/Yeshiva:  Groups to Help Seniors Prepare for What’s to Come
Ahuvah Fried & Max Kirshblum Ahuvah Fried & Max Kirshblum

From High School to Seminary/Yeshiva: Groups to Help Seniors Prepare for What’s to Come

Like so many 12th graders, there are many mixed emotions that come with the reality of graduation and closing their high school chapter. Happiness, sadness, excitement, fear, or all of the above, even at the same time, are common feelings that may come up for some. Keep reading to learn more about how group therapy can help your teen with this exciting transition.

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Redefining Self-Care
Gabrielle Moskovitz, LSW Gabrielle Moskovitz, LSW

Redefining Self-Care

Self-care is the new “buzzword” term that we read about all over social media. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), self-care is defined as “taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health” (NIMH, 2024). But, what really is self-care? Keep reading to learn more.

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My Teen Thinks They Have Autism–But Are They Right? 
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

My Teen Thinks They Have Autism–But Are They Right? 

Social media plays a huge role in influencing trends, especially amongst adolescents. But there’s one trend in particular that has caught the attention of healthcare providers and researchers all over the country; it’s become increasingly popular for teens to “self-diagnose” mental health conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Keep reading to learn more about the signs and symptoms of ASD in teens, how to go about getting a formal diagnosis, and ways to support your teen’s needs.

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Motherhood in a Nutshell: Invisible Labor
Gabrielle Moskovitz, LSW Gabrielle Moskovitz, LSW

Motherhood in a Nutshell: Invisible Labor

Motherhood is exhausting, thrilling, rewarding, challenging, frustrating and, at times, undervalued or unrecognized. Keep reading to learn strategies to help manage your responsibilities and improve your quality of life.

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