Talya Ressel
 
 

Parenting a teenager is notoriously complicated – there’s a lot of physical, emotional and social development that is happening in a relativ

While experiencing anxiety at this time is an understandable response, it is also very overwhelming to the child when that wave hits. It is

It is unlikely that any child has not heard of Coronavirus. While we have been somewhat sheltered from the direct implications in SA, there

There is no one specific reason, rather it is a combination of factors, and understandably it will differ from person to person. While self

We can talk about our childhood experiences until we are blue in the face, the past has been. What’s more important is what we do about it

Have you ever tried to think rationally while an alarm is ringing in your ears, when all you want to do is shut it off as quickly as possibl

This desire for more independence brings about a lot of questions such as how much freedom to give, when to say no, how much is too much and

One of the most noticeable issues that children and families appear to be dealing with is the frantic pace at which life seems to be going a

We know that anxiety can be difficult for the teenager to manage alone –it often overflows and affects those closest to them, so don’t be su

It’s important to remember that bullies are not ‘born’ and it is not a case of ‘once a bully, always a bully’. Children are still trying to

Many of these themes continue into the new season –while some handled more successfully than the first season, others less so. They continu

Conversations around suicide need to be had! Sadly in Cape Town we have experienced far too many in the recent few months and your child wi

In my work it’s a privilege to have a glimpse of the adolescent’s world, because they can become quite reluctant to share with the adults ar

With anxiety in children, there is often a heightened sensitivity through which that child experiences the world. Other times, the sensitiv

Typically I talk about how anxiety is an emotion and does not need a logical explanation to affect young people – but what about when there

School is not only vital for the development and expansion of young people’s educational and social skills but also for their emotional deve

We need to remember that transitions are a prime time where anxiety likes to grow, and, considering all that goes on in this time period, in

We know we cannot make anxiety disappear, but rather we learn how to better manage the effects. As much as I am so passionate about the val

It can be difficult to know what is stalling, manipulation or distress, but it’s important for parents to look at the overall picture of the

In South Africa 75% of our youth experiencing anxiety will not be able to access treatment for their anxiety, so it is vital that parents, c