Healing Psych

Dr. Katrina Wood's psychotherapy blog

The good news about ‘good enough’

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What if there were no epiphanies! What if healing were a slow, steady little train. What if this slow, steady journey to mental health proved good enough. British pediatrician Donald Winnicott coined the phrase “good-enough mothering” back in the 1950s, urging moms to recognize that what they were providing for their children probably was sufficient. He posited that, in general, children would … [Read more...]

Wrangling the birds and the bees

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Much has changed since the days of the good-old-fashioned "talk" about the birds and the bees.Youngsters still come to The Talk knowing the basics. That hasn't changed. Yet today's children are much more savvy than their counterparts of the past when it comes to the practical applications of the sex act. This is virtually unavoidable in the Internet age. Discussing sexuality is often an … [Read more...]

Mothers and teen sons: Finding a way

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One of the toughest aspects of parenthood is dealing with the anger, rage and withdrawal that teenage boys direct toward their mothers. These turbulent emotions are unsettling, often leaving mothers confused and helpless. Understanding the challenges that boys face during these years can help mothers maintain their own stability while supporting their sons’ development. Boys need time alone … [Read more...]

Coming home: the LGBTQ teen

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Some of the biggest challenges parents face are with LGBTQ teens. Despite significant progress made in society regarding sexual preferences and alternative genders, there continue to exist stigmas and judgments. Most are based on fear, ignorance and outright discrimination. If your teen grows to become part of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community, you need to be … [Read more...]

Boys and girls: A different way of thinking

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Science tells us that boys and girls have marked distinctions and differences. Neither better nor worse. Neither good nor bad. Nonetheless these distinctions have significant impacts on how they walk in the world. For example, it often seems girls are more adept than boys at thoughtful communication. There are good reasons for this: Scientists and psychologists long have known that girls’ … [Read more...]