It is natural to want to live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life. With the ending of one year, and the beginning of a new one, now is the perfect time to make these life-affirming changes. But making meaningful changes in your life is difficult. If you are like most people who find themselves consistently making and breaking New Year’s resolutions, you know the frustration and the feeling of hopelessness this can cause. Break the cycle of broken New Year’s resolutions, and make 2018 the year of personal growth by following these tips:

• Take ownership of your resolutions. Make sure your resolutions are actually what you want. Many well-meaning friends and family members may suggest parts of your life which they think need to be different. Changing yourself is hard enough; it’s even more challenging to change just to please another person.
• Avoid making your resolutions about sacrifice. Instead of concentrating on what you’re losing, think about what you’ll be gaining if you are able to stick to your resolutions. Keeping your thoughts positive will give you the motivation you need to succeed.
• Choose a New Year’s resolution with a clear actionable goal. Instead of vague resolutions, such as vowing to eat healthier or being more open to new experiences, create concrete goals you can measure. Promise yourself you will bring a homemade meal to the office three times a week, or you will finally sign up for the pottery class you always wanted to try.
• Go slow. Making a major life change takes time. There is no need to put additional pressure on yourself by expecting changes to happen overnight. When you create your New Year’s resolution you should not set a deadline for success. When reversing a lifelong habit, every small step in the right direction is a win.
• Be kind to yourself. Avoid creating a penalty if you are unable to meet your resolution. Setting a punishment for failure reinforces negativity, and it only makes it harder to achieve your goals. Never allow someone to tie your inability to keep a New Year’s resolution to ending a personal relationship.
• Seek out assistance. You don’t have to do it alone. Tell others your plans, and develop a supportive group of individuals who will help you succeed. Building your support network as early as you can, will increase your chance of staying on track.

Making a New Year’s resolution is a great first step to change your life for the better. Many people find speaking with a professional, supportive therapist can play an essential part in helping them make the life changes they desire. If you live in the Las Vegas area and would like to speak with a therapist, contact Kayenta Therapy at 702-438-7800.

An absolutely symmetrical tree adorned with elegant decorations and twinkling lights. Gifts–each perfect for its recipient–wrapped with precision. Smiling family members breaking bread, sharing hugs and happy to see one another. A light dusting of snow on Christmas morning followed by New Year’s resolutions.

For many, these are the elements of an ideal holiday season. Sadly, their expectations are likely too high. No tree is symmetrical, decorations break, lights burn out, sometimes you get the wrong gift, families fight and it almost never snows in Las Vegas–even in December.

But sometimes New Year’s resolutions are realized, and this year you should resolve to adjust your expectations. From setting budgets to accepting flaws to seeking family therapy in Las Vegas, here’s a look at how you can adjust your expectations for the holidays:

Begin with a budget

Money–or a lack of it–can cause stress, anxiety and even feelings of inadequacy. Gifts, food, travel and holiday incidentals add up quickly–especially if you are focused on making everything perfect. Instead, set a holiday budget and let it guide your expectations.

Knowing how much you can spend will automatically set your financial expectations.

Ignore the ideals

It’s easy to fall in love with a “Hallmark holiday,” especially when every commercial features a picture-perfect family enjoying another ideal holiday. In reality, however, perfection is not obtainable–especially when it includes three inches of fluffy white snow on Christmas day in Las Vegas.

Ignore the idealistic notions of what holidays are supposed to be and focus instead on staying true to your family traditions.

Accept your family’s flaws

You know how your Mom is always an hour late? Yeah, that’s not going to change this year–and that’s OK. Identifying and accepting your family members’ lifelong habits, predispositions and, flaws, is a lot easier and less stressful than expecting them to change–even if the family dinner is at your house this year.

Communicate clearly

Sometimes it’s not your expectations that lead to stress and anxiety. Sometimes it’s your assumptions about what others expect from you.

You want to get the perfect gift for a loved one but have no idea what the perfect gift might be. You assume everyone expects a formal dinner. You think friends flying in from out of state expect to stay with you.

These assumptions go hand in hand with high expectations–expectations that might not even be in line with what others want, need or expect.

So why not communicate with your friends and family? Ask what people would like for gifts. Include your guests in the dinner planning. Find out what accommodations your friends want and need. Communicating clearly will help you keep expectations in line with reality.

Seek out a helping hand with family therapy in Las Vegas

Sometimes people need a little professional help in the form of family therapy in Las Vegas to make it through the holidays. Kayenta Therapy Centers offers low cost family therapy in Las Vegas. Contact Kayenta Therapy Centers today at 702-438-7800 for help with holiday expectations and stress.

Divorce can be confusing, frustrating and frightening for adults. The uncertainty created when a marriage comes to an end often leads to tears, anger and emotional outbursts.

And it can be worse for children.

Children often can’t understand what’s happening during a divorce. All they know is the two most important people in their lives are going in opposite directions. To make matters worse for kids, they often don’t have the right coping skills to effectively express themselves–and this can lead to behavior problems. While there are certain tips you can do on your own, it’s advised to make an appointment for a divorce parenting class in Las Vegas.

Here’s a look at how divorcing parents can help their children understand what’s happening and express themselves in productive ways:

Manage your emotions

Children are incredibly perceptive. If you are struggling emotionally with the divorce, it is likely your children know. They sense the stress, feel the frustration and carry your burden with them throughout the day. That’s why it’s important you manage your emotions and model positive behavior. It’s normal to struggle with divorce, but it’s important to show your kids you know you’ll be OK.

Concentrate on consistency

Consistency is one thing your children will need more than ever after a divorce. The world they once new will change dramatically, and structure will help them make it through the change.

Set expectations. Establish new routines. Be consistent with rules and discipline.

You may feel tempted to be lax and fall prey to the “Disneyland parent” syndrome, but this doesn’t do your children any favors. They want and need consistency so they know their world is not falling apart.

Create communication

Many kids create emotional shells after their parents go through a divorce. They don’t talk; they let anger build up inside of themselves and act like everything is OK.

In most instances, everything isn’t OK. Over time, pent up questions and anger is sure to come to the surface–and it often manifests itself in behavioral problems.

Children want and need communication, so create opportunities to talk to your kids without pushing or demanding. Instead, do something fun together (like coloring with younger kids and cooking with older kids) and talk as naturally as possible about the divorce.

Be patient

It can take a long time for children to come out of their shells. But don’t lose faith. Be patient and keep trying. Over time, it’s likely your children will come around and want to talk to you about what they are feeling and thinking.

Ask for help through a divorce parenting class in Las Vegas

If you have modeled good behavior, set up structure and communicated with your kids and you’re still dealing with behavioral problems, it may be time to ask for help.

A divorce parenting class in Las Vegas might be a good place to start. Kayenta Therapy Centers offers divorce parenting classes that are affordable and effective. You’ll learn to communicate, co-parent and help your children cope with the new world in which they live.

Contact Kayenta Therapy Centers today at 702-438-7800 for more information about divorce parenting classes in Las Vegas.

For most people, the holiday season represents happy times spent with loved ones. However, for the children (young and adult) of newly separated parents, and for the parents themselves, this first big holiday with a fractured family can feel like a nightmare.

If you are undergoing stress and anxiety due to separation, it’s important to remember you are not alone and seeking counseling in Las Vegas may be an important step for your well-being. To help you go beyond simply surviving the holidays, consider the following tips for an enjoyable holiday season:

• Create new traditions. As sad and as hard as it might be, it’s important to let some traditions go or fade a bit. It is important to create new holiday rituals both with your new household and with your friends. Facilitating the change-up of tradition will help you and your family spend the time together creating new memories to alleviate the stress that inherently comes with a shift away from the family norm.
• Set emotional boundaries. You do not have to play referee. Remember, the holidays are a time of celebration and togetherness. Keep this time uplifting, positive, and full of cheer by insisting on emotional boundaries before visiting with anyone. Examples include no bashing of the other parent. If you have a sibling or are visiting with a friend, ask them to help you in asserting these boundaries.
• Be present. Do not dwell on the changed and potentially upsetting dynamics of your separated family. Instead, focus on the new blessings and opportunities this change brings, such as the new traditions. Focus on ways to spend time implementing self care. Turn off the Internet and spend time doing yard work, reading a favorite book, or even going out to serve a meal at your local soup kitchen. Being present and doing, making, giving, or creating something will go a long way in improving your mental health.

Get Counseling in Las Vegas at Kayenta

Finally, remember to take care of yourself. Learning how to put your mental and emotional health first is a large part of counseling in Las Vegas. It is easy for the stress of holidays and the anticipation of dealing with a separation to cause anxiety and bouts of depression. Stay healthy and happy with exercise and the above tips for a more easy-going and less stressful holiday.

To learn more about navigating a changing family dynamic, and make an appointment for counseling in Las Vegas, contact Kayenta at 702-438-7800.

Maybe this sounds like you – or someone close to you: You would like to talk with a therapist but aren’t sure how to get started and worry about how much the counseling sessions will cost. So instead of reaching out for help, you remain stuck.

In fact, these two fears prevent many people from pursuing counseling, according to the mental health experts at Psych Central: “Therapy may seem like a strange, foreign land to someone who’s never been,” the source quotes Ryan Howes, a professor and clinical psychologist in Pasadena, in its “World of Psychology” series. While admitting therapy can be costly, Howes says people can find affordable treatment options if they look in the right places.

Kayenta Therapy is one of those places. As the largest private practice Las Vegas counseling center, Kayenta Therapy does far more than anticipate such fears; it addresses them head-on by offering a convenient and straightforward therapist search function and $40 sessions with graduate student therapists.

The therapists at Kayenta understand there are few things in life more frustrating than wanting (and needing) counseling but not pursuing it. And this is precisely why they make it so easy to reach out.

Search among the best from our Las Vegas counseling center

Our premier Las Vegas counseling center demystifies the process of finding a therapist with its quick and easy search option. All you have to do is fill in three data fields to come up with a potential therapist (or therapists):

• The issue you wish to address in counseling – including, but not limited to, addictions, anxiety, couples’ issues, depression, family/parenting issues, grief/loss, stress management and substance abuse.
• The age of the client. Kayenta counselors treat people of all ages: toddlers, children, adolescents, adults and senior adults.
• The preferred payment option, which includes a range of insurance carriers. (Still, if your insurer isn’t listed, don’t hesitate to contact Kayenta as we offer low cost counseling.)

If you’ve been referred to Kayenta and already know a therapist’s name, you can click on that name and be directed to the therapist’s bio. More than 100 therapists have their practice at Kayenta – virtually assuring you will find a therapist who is a good fit for you.

Consider graduate student therapists at our Las Vegas counseling center

The Kayenta Legacy Program underscores our commitment to graduate student education and affordable counseling services. Graduate students from five universities work under the direction of a licensed and experienced supervisor to offer therapy sessions for only $40.

In the world of graduate school, this is known as the “capstone experience” – a culminating clinical experience that rounds out graduate students’ classroom education right before they graduate and embark on a career in counseling. It is similar to a residency that future physicians fulfill at a hospital before graduating from medical school.

The graduate students’ schooling has prepared them well to address a variety of issues in counseling sessions, including anger management, anxiety, career decisions, child behavior problems, communication problems, coping skills, depression, divorce adjustment, grief, parenting skills, relationships issues and many more.

The licensed and graduate student therapists at Kayenta Therapy are united in purpose: They believe people possess the power to change. The therapists offer sensitive and compassionate guidance so that people can find the tools to foster such change – and, in the process, change their lives for the better.

To reach out for the guidance you want and need, call our Las Vegas counseling center today at 702-438-7800 to schedule an appointment.

Often when a parent gets a call from a school counselor they go into panic mode straight away. Parental brains go to thinking “What is wrong with my child?” or “What did my child do?”. One thing to note is school counselors can call for many reasons, including academic issues, social development, and personal issues.

If a school counselor does call you about personal or social issues, the best thing you can do is listen. You will want to find out what is happening at school that has triggered the call. Is this a problem that has stemmed from something that is happening at school or is it something happening outside of school?

If the problem is not school or education related, then your school counselor may suggest resources outside of the school. They may suggest your child visit a child therapist in Las Vegas.

Contact a Therapist at Kayenta Directly

What to Do When the School Counselor Suggest Outside Help

It is hard not to panic when the school counselor calls and suggests getting outside help. It is better to view this as an opportunity, though. An opportunity to get your child help before issues become bigger.

Another advantage to getting help outside of school is your child is more likely to open up without the added pressure of thinking everyone in the school knows they are seeing a counselor.

You can be assured the school counselor has not made this call on a whim, something has triggered the call and it is likely something to take note of and get help for.

Why A School Counselor May Refer You to a Child Therapist in Las Vegas

There are many reasons a school counselor may call you about getting further help for your child, including:

• Your child becoming over emotional in school without being able to calm down.
• For evaluation, medication or testing.
• When your child’s problem needs individualized or specific help or treatment.
• When something is affecting your child’s school work that doesn’t seem to be related to school or learning disabilities.
• When your child has tried to harm themselves or others while at school.

The school counselor may suggest the names of outside counseling groups; however, as the parent you get to make the final decision on who you choose as your child’s counselor.

You will want to find someone that can connect with your child. You will also want a convenient location so it is easier to be there for scheduled appointments.

Child Therapist in Las Vegas

If you are in need of a group of independent therapists, Kayenta Therapy Center provides a range of therapy services. We have a large staff base making it easier for you to find the right fit for your child. For over 10 years our therapy centers have provided help to the residents of Las Vegas at 702-438-7800.

If your school counselor calls and suggests therapy for your child, contact the team at Kayenta Therapy Center.

“What are we going to tell the kids?”

For couples going through a divorce, no question is more important to answer. Unfortunately, answers aren’t always easy to find.

Children are often more affected by divorce than their parents. It can be incredibly stressful, confusing and heartbreaking for kids. It can cause detachment from friends and family, and the affects can last a lifetime-unless children get help and support from a therapist in Las Vegas.

Here’s a look at how you can help your children cope with divorce:

Communicate With Your Kids

Open, honest and measured communication will be critical to your kids’ ability to understand and cope with the divorce. This means:

• Telling your children why you’re getting divorced in age-appropriate ways.
• Telling your kids you love them and the divorce is not their fault.
• Telling your kids exactly what they can expect with regards to changes in their lives.

Cooperate With One Another

Your kids are going to feel like their world is spinning out of control. This can escalate if their parents aren’t cooperating with one another. You can help your kids feel secure by:

• Committing to having both parents stay engaged and involved in your kids’ lives.
• Speaking directly to one another so your kids don’t have to serve as messengers.
• Refraining from arguing or fighting in front of your kids.

Listen and Reassure

Even if you communicate and cooperate, your children are likely to have questions, concerns and comments of their own-and you might not always like what they have to say. Encourage your children to share their feelings and emotions by:

• Actively listening and accepting the fact you might not always like what you’re hearing.
• Encouraging them to express themselves through their words, music choices and artwork.
• Accepting their honesty for what it is-the cathartic words of kids who are trying to make sense of something they likely view as senseless.

Care for Yourself

When you are physically healthy and emotionally present, you are better positioned to help your kids cope with the divorce. Make sure to care for yourself by:

• Exercising and eating healthy, both of which help you sleep better and feel better physically and mentally.
• Take time for yourself to make sure you don’t become overwhelmed, anxious or panicked about your future.
• Seek help and support from yourself through counseling or therapy from those experienced professionals such as those at Kayenta Therapy.

Contact a Therapist in Las Vegas

If you are going through a divorce and wonder what you are going to tell the kids, contact a therapist at Kayenta Therapy directly to set up an appointment, and discuss your options with him or her.