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Recently Tamara Ancona partnered up with other mental health and educational professionals to host a showing of the film “Screenagers, Growing up in the Digital Age” for other community professionals. After the showing Tamara and four additional mental health and educational professionals led a panel discussion and provided additional resources to the attendees. “Screenagers” is the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids and to offer parents proven solutions that work. Physician and filmmaker [...]

Teens and screens get a bad rap. Too much screen time has negative consequences, and often times teens get into trouble by misusing their time online. But what if we could turn that around? Instead of banning all screen time this summer encourage your teen to make good use of their time. NetSmartz is a program of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that helps educate children and teens about smart online activity. Parents can go here [...]

Sober living can pose challenges to young people looking for activities to do at night, especially when the things they used to participate in revolved around using substances. Passing up chances to spend time with old friends for the sake of sobriety can be overwhelming. To get you started, here is a list of 11 sober things to do at night, published by  Turnbridge Addiction Recovery Center, that will not put your hard-earned recovery at risk. For sports fans [...]

Recognizing and admitting a loved one struggles with addiction is the first step on a long journey of recovery. But how do you recognize if a habit has turned into something more worrisome or potentially life-threatening? Caring for someone who struggles with addictive behaviors can be frustrating, scary and disheartening. And communicating with them – and getting them to recognize the problem – is challenging. The Ranch at Dove Tree wrote an article this January, published on their website, [...]

Recently Brandon Hall School hosted a showing of the film “Screenagers” for their students’ parents and local community. “Screenagers” is the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids and to offer parents proven solutions that work. Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston decided to make “Screenagers” when she found herself constantly struggling with her two kids about screen time. Ruston felt guilty and confused, not sure what limits were best, especially around mobile phones, social [...]

What makes technology so irresistible? As it becomes more prevalent in our society it is vital to look at long term consequences, and how we can positively control the effect on future generations? The following is an article written by the New York Times featuring a new book titled, “Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked,” by Dr. Adam Alter, which focuses on these issues. Why We Can’t Look Away From Our Screens [...]

If someone challenged you to a day without technology how do you think you’d do? The morning of March 3rd through the morning of March 4th is National Unplugged Day – and your chance to put yourself to the test! The idea behind the challenge is to rest, reconnect with those around you face-to-face, and to recognize the ways our lives are immersed in technology. At TAG Counseling we challenge you to participate and unplug for 24 hours. After [...]

Valentine’s day and the month of February are usually thought of as a time to celebrate romantic love. But are we teaching our young people that love isn’t just a feeling – it’s an action that we can demonstrate in both small and big ways daily? As part of a month-long celebration of love we want to give some suggestions on how to show love to those around you and turn love into a verb at your house. Compliment [...]