ACA Counseling Corner Blog

It's not uncommon for people to feel that they are doing better and are more successful than they really deserve. We might feel we've just been lucky when good things happen, without taking credit for the talent and work that has made the accomplishment possible. It's called "impostor syndrome" and it's feelings that can sometimes keep us from enjoying our successes and even limit our future accomplishments.

Summer is the busiest time for car trips with the family. Travel agencies estimate that more than 50 million families will be driving off on vacation this summer. That can mean a lot of hot, unhappy kids sitting in the back seat and asking over and over, "Are we there yet?!?". With a little planning, however, it's possible to make that drive an enjoyable one for the kids, and, most importantly, for their parents.

Children tend to sometimes pick on one another. It happens at virtually every age and may often seem to be a simple, normal part of childhood and growing up. But the reality is that repeated incidences of teasing or bullying can do real harm to a child, eroding self-esteem and self-confidence, and in some cases leading to tragic outcomes.

We all would like to feel confident and outgoing all the time, but the reality is most of us find ourselves in situations where we feel uncomfortable or like we don't belong. For some people that can be an everyday experience that limits their lives in numerous ways. But there are ways to overcome shyness and to build one's self-esteem and confidence.

Summer is a season that seems to inspire laziness in most of us. It can be a time of the year when it's hard to get motivated about too many things, but then we suddenly look up and realize that most of our summer opportunities have already slipped by. Our advice is to do a little planning, get motivated and really enjoy the season and all it has to offer this year.

Parents today often find it's really difficult to get their children's attention or to get them to contribute much around the house. We can thank video games, cell phones and a variety of social apps for helping kidnap our children's time and interests. But it's not totally a lost cause. We have some tips on ways to help get your children at least slightly more involved in the home again.

When faced with a difficult challenge in life we often start out full of enthusiasm about overcoming the problem. But far too often as we get discouraged by not achieving success in a short time our enthusiasm begins to wane and eventually we may find ourselves admitting defeat. It doesn't have to be that way. Challenges we face may be difficult, but when faced in the right way are usually also surmountable.

Teens have a reputation, honestly earned in many cases, for living in notoriously messy rooms. Such messes are usually a constant source of disagreement between parents and teen. But should that teen's messy space be the reason for arguing and fighting? With a few simple rules, and an understanding of why a messy room doesn't bother that teenager, parents may find it easier to live with that lack of neatness.

Modern life seems to bring with a lot of stress for most of us. Our jobs, our families, even that daily commute, can all be sources of stress that leave us tired and cranky. And, when stress builds up and seems constant, it can have a negative effect on our health. While there's no way to make the sources of our stress just disappear, there are things we can do to limit our individual stress and to minimize its impact on our lives.

It's estimated that about 45 million children across the country participate in at least one organized sport. That's often a good thing as it helps our kids stay active, teaches them various skills, and helps promote cooperation and fair play. But there are times when parents put too much emphasis on a child's participation in a sport, and the result can be a negative effect on confidence and self-esteem.