Creative Insight Counseling

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Garry Landreth, whose contributions forever shaped the field of play therapy and the lives of countless children, families, and clinicians.

As the founder of the Center for Play Therapy and author of Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship, Dr. Landreth taught us that healing begins with connection, acceptance, and presence. His wisdom, humility, and unwavering belief in children continue to inspire our work every day.

At Playful EMDR, we are deeply grateful for the foundation he built and the lasting impact of his vision.

“When I am with children, the person I am is much more important than anything I know how to do in my mind.” — Garry L. Landreth

Thank you, Dr. Landreth. Your legacy lives on.

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When our teen messes up, it’s tempting to pull away — to get quiet, cancel plans, or withhold affection so they feel our disappointment. But here’s what we often miss 👇 When we pull away, their brain doesn’t think, “I really shouldn’t have done that.” It thinks, “I’ve lost my parent’s love.” That triggers shame — and shame shuts down the very parts of the brain that help them learn, reflect, and do better. What they need most in that moment isn’t punishment — it’s presence. Instead of withdrawing: “I don’t even want to look at you right now.” 💬 Try: “I’m upset about what happened, but I still love you. Let’s grab a coffee and figure out how to resolve this together.” Stay calm. Stay curious. Stay connected. Because when teens feel seen, safe, and loved — their brains stay open to growth, learning, and change. 💛 ✨ Double-tap if you’re working on staying connected even when it’s hard. 👉 Follow @drcamcaswell for more insights on raising emotionally healthy, connected teens. #parentingtips #parentingteens #drcam #theteentranslator #consciousparenting #teenpsychology #connectionovercorrection #parentcoach #mindfulparenting #teendynamics #raisingteens

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Hi👋 I’m a pediatric occupational therapist and mom of two. There’s a huge misconception that when a child shuts down, melts down, avoids work, or lashes out, they’re being defiant, lazy, disrespectful, or even stupid. But what if I told you these behaviors are actually signs of a nervous system in overload? 🧠 From a brain-based perspective, when a child is overstimulated (by noise, lights, demands, movement, or social stress) their nervous system shifts into survival mode. That means their “thinking brain” (prefrontal cortex) goes offline, and their fight, flight, or freeze response kicks in. They’re not choosing to misbehave, they’re trying to cope. The more we understand what overstimulation looks like, the better we can support kids with empathy, regulation tools, and realistic expectations. ✨Let’s change the narrative from “what’s wrong with this kid?” to “what’s happening in their brain?”✨ 💡Follow along for tips on how to help children when they are overstimulated! #school #sensory #brain #kid #learn #mom #dad #ot

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Credit: @thepositiveparenting 👉Share this post with another parent who needs to see it 💛 Words matter. What we say to our children becomes their inner voice. These simple phrases build confidence, trust, and emotional safety—something every child deserves to feel, every single day. Which one do you say the most? Which one will you start saying today? 👇💬✨ Save this to remind yourself on the tough days.✨ Share it with another parent who needs this gentle nudge. #PositiveParenting #GentleParenting #RespectfulParenting#ParentingTips #ParentingTools #PeacefulParenting#ConsciousParenting #ParentWithLove #AttachmentParenting #MindfulParenting #EmotionalSafety#ParentingQuotes #ParentingSupport #WordsMatter#ParentingJourney #RaisingKidsWithLove #ConnectedParenting#ChildDevelopment #ParentingAffirmations

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I know my pro-tech stance can get some parents, educators, and even experts fired up. I get it. It goes against the wildly circulated message that tech is ruining our teens. But it’s simply not that simple. From my vantage point, tech isn’t the enemy. It’s just a tool. What makes it dangerous is how we use it. Yes, there are predators and bullies online. They’re also in the mall, school hallways, neighborhood parks... We don’t ban our kids from life—we teach them how to navigate it safely. We need to do the same with tech. Yes, teen anxiety is rising. But its cause is complex. Stress, academics, social dynamics, family pressures, and lack of sleep all play a role too. In fact, in my practice I see teen mental health issues spike the day school starts and plummet the day it ends—even though teens are on their phones more during summer. Yes, teens are glued to their devices. And so are we. But when we turn tech into a daily battle, dangle it as a carrot and stick, or say “Get off your phone” while scrolling on ours, it only makes it more tempting. Make it a part of everyday life and it loses some of its forbidden-fruit appeal—giving us space to teach healthier habits. And here’s why I’m most frustrated with our obsession over banning teen tech use: we often do it at the expense of the one thing that is MOST likely to keep our teens safe on and offline—our connection with them. We won’t win a war against tech. Whether you like it or not, it’s here to stay and will continue to be a core part of your teen’s life. But we can win by staying connected, guiding wisely, and keeping our kids’ trust. 👉 Want practical tools to keep your teen safe online without constant battles? Comment “SAFETY” below and I’ll send you the link to my eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Online Safety: How to Protect Your Teen from Cyberbullies, Creeps, and Controversy. 🤔 Follow me for more tips on parenting REAL teens in the REAL world! #parentingteens #teensafety #onlinesafety #parentingtips #digitalparenting #teenmentalhealth #parentingadvice #raisingteens #teenconnection #parentingsupport

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They should know better by now…” That’s the thought that trips up so many well-meaning parents. But here’s the truth: Most of the behaviors that frustrate us—mood swings, procrastination, backtalk, risky choices—aren’t signs of defiance. They’re signs of normal, healthy development. Your teen isn’t trying to make your life harder. Their brain is still under construction. When we don’t understand that, we take things personally, overreact, and fall into power struggles that push our kids away. When we do understand it? We respond smarter. We stay calmer. We connect deeper. That’s why the first step in becoming a more effective parent isn’t learning how to fix your teen... It’s learning how to understand them. 👉 That’s exactly what you’ll learn inside the Parenting Teens Academy. Comment ACADEMY and I’ll DM you the link to join. 🧠 Follow @drcamcaswell for more brain-based strategies that help you parent smarter, not harder. No fluff. No shame. Just real tools that actually work with today’s teens #ParentSmarterNotHarder #TeenBrain #ParentingTeens #AskDrCam

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When we hear stories like this, it’s natural to panic. Our instinct is to lock everything down: 📱 Take away the phone. 🚫 Delete the apps. 🫧 Wrap our teens in bubble wrap so nothing can ever hurt them. And I get it. That instinct comes from love and fear—the two strongest forces we carry as parents. But here’s the hard truth: we can’t shield our teens from every “bad influence.” Even if we successfully crush one, there will always be another ready to pop up in its place. That doesn’t mean we’re helpless. There’s something that’s been proven time and again to be the most effective protection for our teens—and it’s 100% in our control: 👉 Building a relationship where they feel safe enough to come to us even when they’re hurting. Now, you may be thinking: “Yeah right. I’ve tried, and nothing works with MY teen.” You’re not alone. And it’s not your fault. It’s not your teen’s fault either. It’s because most of us have never been taught what actually works with teenagers. But once we know, everything changes. I want that for you and for your teen. That's why I do what I do. ✨ To get you started, I’d like to send you my 30 simple, powerful phrases to spark meaningful conversations with your teen. Comment PROMPTS below and I’ll DM you the link. Or you can simply follow me 👉 @drcamcaswell for daily guidance and encouragement. 🚨 BUT BEFORE YOU DO—if your gut is telling you this is urgent, trust it. Get help right away. Call or text 988 for immediate support. You’ve got this—and I’ve got you. ❤️ Dr. Cam #parentingteens #raisingteens #theteentranslator #teenparenting #parentingtips #parentingadvice #connectionovercontrol #teenagers #drcam #chatgpt, #teenmentalhealth, #suicideprevention, #mentalhealthawareness, #parentingteens, #raisingteens, #connectionovercontrol, #openai, #theteentranslator

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Help for Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence You’re not alone. There’s help for victims and survivors of gun violence. Please use our collection of resources for coping with tragedies. Learn more.