Girls, Women, and Wellness

Health

Our National Mental Health Crisis: How to Help Teen Girls

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on December 14, 2021

What can parents do to help address adolescent mental health problems?

What can parents do to help address adolescent mental health problems?

Adolescence

Instagram in the News: Mental Health Risks for Teen Girls

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on October 25, 2021

Haven't read the news about Instagram and teen girls' body image? Here's what you need to know and how you can help.

Haven't read the news about Instagram and teen girls' body image? Here's what you need to know and how you can help.

Body Image

Body Image and Eating Problems: How to Help Today's Teens

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on July 13, 2021

Concerned about changes in your teen's body image and eating behaviors during and after the pandemic? You are not alone. Consider these recommendations.

Concerned about changes in your teen's body image and eating behaviors during and after the pandemic? You are not alone. Consider these recommendations.

Concerned about the pressure your daughter feels to measure up to today's skinny, sculpted, and sexy beauty ideals? Helping her understand her social media use can help.

Motivation

Feeling Blah in 2021? How to Boost Your Mood This Year

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on January 11, 2021

Disappointed that you lack motivation this new year? Keep reading for strategies you can use today to get out of that “blah” space and to ignite a spark in your life for 2021.

Disappointed that you lack motivation this new year? Keep reading for strategies you can use today to get out of that “blah” space and to ignite a spark in your life for 2021.

Depression

Do I Have PMDD? Here’s How to Tell and How to Get Help

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on August 26, 2020

How do I know if I have PMDD? What can I do to get help? A few strategies for increasing your knowledge and self-compassion.

How do I know if I have PMDD? What can I do to get help? A few strategies for increasing your knowledge and self-compassion.

Health

“Does This Meal Make Me Look Fat?”

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on August 12, 2020

Why do many girls and young women believe that all eating leads to appearing "fat" and that feeling "full" always results in weight gain?

Why do many girls and young women believe that all eating leads to appearing "fat" and that feeling "full" always results in weight gain?

Friends

The Irresistible Lure of TikTok: Why Is the App So Popular?

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on August 6, 2020

Why is TikTok so appealing to teens and tweens? And how can parents promote more balanced ways of using the app?

Why is TikTok so appealing to teens and tweens? And how can parents promote more balanced ways of using the app?

Media

Is TikTok Harmful For My Daughter?

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on August 3, 2020

Why is TikTok so popular with girls and why are parents so concerned about it? Here are some strategies to help parents guide their daughters regarding their TikTok use.

Why is TikTok so popular with girls and why are parents so concerned about it? Here are some strategies to help parents guide their daughters regarding their TikTok use.

Media

Instagram #Body Challenges: Does Your Daughter Measure Up?

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on July 17, 2020

Is your daughter striving to meet current Instagram body ideals? A brief introduction to #body challenges and how parents can help to curb their impact.

Is your daughter striving to meet current Instagram body ideals? A brief introduction to #body challenges and how parents can help to curb their impact.

Depression

Teen Girls' Risk for Depression During the COVID-19 Crisis

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on May 23, 2020

Girls are at significantly increased risk for depression as they enter adolescence. Given the current COVID-19 crisis, they are even more vulnerable. What can parents do to help?

Girls are at significantly increased risk for depression as they enter adolescence. Given the current COVID-19 crisis, they are even more vulnerable. What can parents do to help?

Depression

Girls' Friendships and Depression: A Double-Edged Sword?

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on January 24, 2020

Depression rates in girls continue to increase. Friendships can contribute to resilience or increase vulnerability to depression. A few strategies can keep friendships in balance.

Depression rates in girls continue to increase. Friendships can contribute to resilience or increase vulnerability to depression. A few strategies can keep friendships in balance.

Media

The Waist Trainer Trend: The Quest for the Hourglass Figure

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on January 21, 2020

What are waist trainers? Do they deliver on their promise of an hourglass figure? And why are they so harmful to today's girls?

What are waist trainers? Do they deliver on their promise of an hourglass figure? And why are they so harmful to today's girls?

Diet

Why Are We Already Failing at Our New Year's Diets?

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on January 14, 2020

Why does dieting make us crave "forbidden foods" so much? And what can we do to become free of the diet trap?

Why does dieting make us crave "forbidden foods" so much? And what can we do to become free of the diet trap?

Media

My Daughter Is Back at School, but Her Mind Is on Snapchat

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on September 4, 2019

Is your daughter's mind still in summer Snapchat mode? Here are 7 strategies that can help.

Is your daughter's mind still in summer Snapchat mode? Here are 7 strategies that can help.

Parenting

A Stab to the Heart: Mothering Middle Schoolers

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on June 19, 2019

Does parenting a middle-schooler sometimes feel like a stab to the heart? A few strategies for helping parents cope.

Does parenting a middle-schooler sometimes feel like a stab to the heart? A few strategies for helping parents cope.

Friends

Mean Girls Turns 15: The Perpetuation of Mean Girl Culture

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on June 14, 2019

The "Mean Girls" movie is 15 years old this year. Why does it seem as relevant as ever? And what can parents do to help their daughters to navigate "mean girl culture?"

The "Mean Girls" movie is 15 years old this year. Why does it seem as relevant as ever? And what can parents do to help their daughters to navigate "mean girl culture?"

Media

Social Media: Why Does it Make Us Feel More Lonely?

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on November 28, 2018

Can too much social media use lead to depression and loneliness? A new study says yes, but here's what you can do to increase your resilience.

Can too much social media use lead to depression and loneliness? A new study says yes, but here's what you can do to increase your resilience.

Depression

13 and Depressed: Why Young Teen Girls Are at Risk

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on April 25, 2018

By age 13, girls are twice as likely as boys to be diagnosed with depression. Why is this the case? What can parents do to help their daughters cope during this difficult time?

By age 13, girls are twice as likely as boys to be diagnosed with depression. Why is this the case? What can parents do to help their daughters cope during this difficult time?

Body Image

Caution, Moms: Your Daughters Are Listening

Laura Choate Ed.D., LPC on June 20, 2017

It’s summer. For millions of women, wearing a bathing suit in public is agonizing. Do we keep beating ourselves up or try something new this year for the sake of our daughters?

It’s summer. For millions of women, wearing a bathing suit in public is agonizing. Do we keep beating ourselves up or try something new this year for the sake of our daughters?