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There are moments when I look at my teenage daughter and think: "Who is this person, and what happened to the sweet little girl who used to think I was the funniest person on Earth?" There are days when she is thoughtful, funny, affectionate and genuinely wonderful to be around....And then there are other days. Days when I ask a completely reasonable question and receive a look that suggests I have committed a serious international crime.

Few decisions are more frightening for a parent than deciding whether a child needs psychiatric hospitalization. In Florida alone, around 160,000 children and teens were hospitalized due to fear that they might hurt themselves or someone else last year. Personally, I've had to evaluate the risk of a child or teen in order to ensure their safety and proper treatment planning to promote mental wellness, long-term growth all while trying to reduce the negative impacts that hospi

Children are highly sensitive to the emotional climate at home. When parents argue, children may feel unsafe, confused, or responsible for the conflict. These feelings can trigger anxiety, which might show up as: Sleep disturbances such as nightmares or difficulty falling asleep; Physical symptoms like stomachaches or headaches without clear medical causes; Behavioral changes including withdrawal, irritability, or aggression; Difficulty concentrating at school or during activ