Advice from Our Professionals

Informative articles by Youth First’s Service Team

Self-Control vs. Redirection

By Aaron Ledford, MSW, LSW - January 10, 2024 Emotions, defined as human reactions we experience in response to events or situations, are a mysterious thing and an abstract concept. Without living our emotions out, they are not “real”…

The Importance of Travel and Adventure for Mental Well-Being

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By Shannon Loehrlein, MSW, LCSW I love to travel. My parents instilled a love of travel in me from a young age. My mother was a history teacher, and we would spend some vacations visiting historic sites (not my favorite as a middle school…

Why Family Traditions are Important

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By Lisa Cossey, MSW, LCSW We’re in the midst of the holiday season. It is nice to look forward to time with family and friends and participate in ongoing family traditions. A family tradition is something that is recreated year…

Helping Your Child Cope with Loss This Holiday Season

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By Sarah Roth, MSW, LSW Although the holidays bring much joy and excitement, they are also a very difficult time for families who have experienced loss. Children are no exception. Feelings of grief may increase or present differently as…

Reframing Negative Self-Talk

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By Leah Lottes, MSW, LSW, Youth First, Inc. Many thoughts fill our brains each day. Some of those thoughts can be positive and some can be negative. This applies to children as well as adults. If children are experiencing more negative…

Do Children Experience Stress?

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By Jordyn Bryant, MSW, LSW, Youth First, Inc. Having stress or anxiety as a child can be hard. Children often hear, “You are too young to have stress” or other statements that dismiss their feelings. Recognizing that children…