Family and Friend Support

Why Isn’t My Child Succeeding?

By Beau Black It’s common to worry about your child’s future, and it can be frustrating to see them struggle in school or life. For some children, issues can arise as a result of trauma. Others may not have learned the skills that enable them to succeed. If you’re… Read More

Winter Break: Did It Create Concern for Some Parents?

By Melissa Riddle Chalos Winter break can be a beautiful thing. It offers students the opportunity to slow down, rest up, and regroup, a much-needed break from the social and academic stress of the daily routine. It gives families time to be together, create memories, and have important conversations. Read More

Abandonment Issues at the Holidays

By Anna McKenzie The holidays often bring families together. While the emphasis on close relationships results in joy for many, it can mean sadness and fear for others. If you have experienced abandonment, estrangement, or the traumatic loss of a parent or guardian, the holidays may dredge up painful memories. Even… Read More

Practical Parenting Advice to Put Into Practice Now

By Dr. Claudia Black, Meadows Senior Fellow, adapted from her book Straight Talk There is no such thing as perfect parenting, but there is good enough parenting.  As we mark another Parents Day at the end of July, may the following words support you in being that good enough parent… Read More

What Parents and Caregivers Should Know About Program Aftercare

“Aftercare” is a general term for activities and other resources that behavioral health and addiction treatment patients receive after being discharged from a primary care facility. Aftercare answers the question of “Now what?” once your child has completed a behavioral health program. This aftercare can help keep patients on… Read More

What Do I Do With My Child?

College can be an exciting time for many young adults; it is where they experience many firsts, including a new lifestyle, friends, roommates, exposure to new cultures and a wide variety of principles and thinking. Unfortunately, when many students are unable to handle these firsts, they’re more likely to struggle. Insecure and unable to manage the new environment or adjustments they can become susceptible to depression and anxiety. Read More

A Mother’s Testimonial

Here at the Claudia Black Center, we understand that recovery can take time. we work with our patients and their families to prepare them for ongoing recovery after their treatment at our facilities. It’s nice when we get updates on the recovery process. In this case, a patient’s mom reached… Read More

PTSD in Children of Alcoholics

The most important emotional attachment for a child is usually their parents. Children learn from their parents how to behave, how to function in life, and how to form other healthy relationships. When children grow up in unstable environments, it can disrupt normal development and lead to difficulties, such as mental health conditions. Read More

What I Wish I’d Known as a Teenager

I worried about grades as a teenager. I mean, I really worried. Today, I know this was not typical anxiety about school. Looking back, I struggled with obsessive-compulsive disorder and perfectionism. Among other things, I was obsessive-compulsive about never wasting time. Not. One. Second. Further, I was laser-focused on… Read More

When Parents Have a Distorted Sense of Boundaries

Excerpted from the book Changing Course by Claudia Black, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at The Meadows Many times abandonment issues are fused with distorted, confused, or undefined personal boundaries. We experience abandonment when parents have a distorted sense of boundaries, their boundaries and ours. They want us to like what they like, dress like they dress, and feel as they do. If we in any way express differences from our parents, or make different choices than they would, we know we run the risk of rejection. Read More