Collaborative Minds Blog

Education to empower your mental health journey.

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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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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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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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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Relax & Recharge: The Mental Health Benefits of Spring Break & How to Maximize Them
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

Relax & Recharge: The Mental Health Benefits of Spring Break & How to Maximize Them

With the days getting longer and warm weather approaching, Spring Break offers a much-needed respite from the routine hustle and bustle of daily life. But it's not just a chance to soak up some sun; it's a vital opportunity to prioritize your mental well-being. Keep reading for tips on how to make the most of your Spring Break for your mental health. 

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Raising Teens with a Healthy Body Image
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

Raising Teens with a Healthy Body Image

Parents are pretty aware of the fact that most teens struggle with insecurities; in fact, a recent study found that two-thirds of parents reported that their child is self-conscious about some aspect of their appearance. Keep reading to learn about how you can help your teen develop a positive relationship with food and their body.

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Deepening Your Relationship with Your Teens: Benefits and Tips to Foster Trust
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

Deepening Your Relationship with Your Teens: Benefits and Tips to Foster Trust

For a lot of parents, trying to get your teen to open up and talk to you about their lives can feel like pulling teeth–but it doesn’t have to be this way. Making an effort to foster your connection with your teen now can help to lay the foundation for a strong relationship even well into their adulthood. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of a strong parent-teen relationship and for tips on how to cultivate trust.

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7 Things Your Teen Wants You to Know (From a Licensed Therapist Specialized in Treating Teens)
Nicole Ivelevitch Nicole Ivelevitch

7 Things Your Teen Wants You to Know (From a Licensed Therapist Specialized in Treating Teens)

As parents, we’ve all been teens at one point…but raising teenagers can still feel like a total mystery at times. This time of their lives is crucial for exploring who they are and creating an identity of their own, but it’s equally as important to have your unconditional love and support (even if they pretend not to care). Practice owner and licensed clinical social worker Sara Schreiber shares 7 things teenagers want their parents to know but struggle to communicate themselves.

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Back to School and Overwhelmed with Assignments? Steal My Hack to Help Get Organized 
Sara Schreiber Sara Schreiber

Back to School and Overwhelmed with Assignments? Steal My Hack to Help Get Organized 

I think everyone can agree that one of the most difficult parts about being a student is keeping track of everything for all of your classes; between homework assignments, projects, exams, and more, it can start to feel really overwhelming (Raise your hand if you’ve ever walked into a class and said, “Wait, that was due TODAY?” 🙋) This can be especially daunting if you’re someone who struggles with anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, or other executive functioning disorders. Keep reading to hear what I did to help get myself organized and ultimately set myself up for academic success.

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Are Your Kids Back at School? 5 Ways for Parents to Practice Self Care During Back to School
Sara Schreiber Sara Schreiber

Are Your Kids Back at School? 5 Ways for Parents to Practice Self Care During Back to School

Are Your Kids Back to School? 5 Ways to Practice Self Care for Parents

While a lot of parents secretly (or not-so-secretly) rejoice when their kids go back to school, many still struggle to prioritize their own needs. You might be juggling after school activities, appointments, housework, your own career, and a seemingly endless to-do list…but it’s important to carve out time for yourself in the midst of all the chaos. Keep reading for tips on how to incorporate self-care into your routine now that school has started.

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5 Unexpected Ways to Help the Back-To-School Transition for Teens&nbsp;</a>
Sara Schreiber Sara Schreiber

5 Unexpected Ways to Help the Back-To-School Transition for Teens 

5 Unexpected Ways to Help the Back-To-School Transition for Teens

Going back to school after having a summer off can feel like a really big deal to a lot of kids and teens—it’s kind of like starting a new chapter, and it’s natural for new things to make us feel a little anxious. Keep reading to learn about ways that you can help to set yourself up for happiness and success this school year.

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