By Ariel Cohen-Mendelson, LPCC Somewhere along the way, our culture decided that dads deserve applause for “helping” — packing a lunch, changing a diaper, or “babysitting” their own kids — while moms quietly do it all. The bar for fatherhood remains shockingly low, even as modern moms work full-time, carry the mental load, and run the household. It’s easy to joke about, but in my clinical practice, I see the emotional consequences every day: burnout, resentment, and growing d

By Ariel Cohen-Mendelson, LPCC If your sweet, gentle toddler suddenly insists on being the “bad guy” during play — growling, stealing toys in pretend games, or declaring “I’m the monster!” — don’t worry. This phase is not only common, it’s developmentally healthy. Around ages two to five, children are discovering complex emotions: power, fear, fairness, and control. Pretending to be the “villain” lets them safely explore these big feelings in a world they can manage. When you

By Ariel Cohen-Mendelson, LPCC Let’s bust one of the biggest parenting myths: responding to your baby’s needs will “spoil” them. Neuroscience tells us the opposite — your warmth, responsiveness, and touch are literally building your baby’s brain. Myth #1: “If I hold my baby too much, they’ll become dependent.” Truth: When you hold your baby, their brain releases oxytocin — the “connection hormone” — which lowers stress and strengthens neural pathways for trust and safety. You

As a therapist, I often remind my clients that self-love isn’t indulgent — it’s essential. Yet, I learned that lesson the hard way. When my son was a baby, I spent so much time behind the camera, snapping photos of his chubby hands, his gummy smile, his little milestones. But when I look back now, there are very few pictures of us together. I avoided them — convinced I didn’t look good enough. I skipped getting in the pool because I didn’t feel confident in a swimsuit. I didn

Strong marriages aren’t built on avoiding conflict—they’re built on how we repair after it. Every couple has moments where emotions run...

The other day in Costco, my toddler was sitting in the cart, counting toothbrush heads and asking my husband if he got the number right....

Have you ever had your child come up to you, ready to share something exciting, and you catch yourself half-listening while scrolling...

This isn’t a political blog — it’s a reflection from a therapist who studies brain development and parenting. From a human.  Last week,...

How to Get Your Teen Thinking “I Need to Call My Parents”, Instead of “My Parents are Going to Kill Me” After helping countless parents...

After becoming a new parent, and talking to new moms in both a personal and professional setting, I am revealing insider information on...