Jon Gosselin is doing the right thing by stopping the filming of the new show “Kate Plus 8.” It seems like everyone other than Kate Gosselin believes it is the right thing to do. I believe part of her knows it is the correct thing for the mental and emotional well-being of her eight children, but the breadwinner of this large family is struggling with how she will pay her bills. I can empathize with that completely. I am sure the...

I have worked with many women who have been abused sexually by family members: brothers, fathers, and uncles. For some of them, the abuse started when they were little, for some when they were older. For many of them, the abuse went on for years, and for some, well into their twenties. Sexual abuse by a person who inherently has emotional power over you is simply that: abuse. There is an emotional power differential inherent in the...

While it is becoming more commonplace for gay and lesbian individuals to raise children, finding community support isn’t so easy. Here is one couple’s story. Gina Kaysen Fernandes: Vicky* remembers the moment she first held her adopted baby in her arms. “He was destined for us. There was never a doubt in my mind that he wasn’t mine,” says Vicky, who, along with her partner, Beth*, is raising a 6-year-old boy they...

When kids go off to college, some parents experience empty nest syndrome. Both mothers and fathers can experience feelings of sadness, anxiety, and grief when their kids leave the house. Many parents find they have a loss of identity as well. The helicopter or hovering parents will find themselves at a loss with no child to manage at home. When kids go off to college, it will open up downtime in a whole new way. This may also bring up feelings...

I keep hearing from clients and friends that they couldn’t imagine being Abby Rike on “The Biggest Loser” — who lost her husband, Wallace, 5-year-old daughter, Macy, and 4-week-old son, Caleb, in a car accident. Every single person said to me, “I would just kill myself. I couldn’t recover from that.” She is truly an inspiration for all of us mothers for her enormous courage of simply going on living,...

Do you scream at your kids to “stop fighting and just get along”? You may want to think again — you could be doing more harm than good. Our expert tells you why. “Just love each other!” is what my mom used to say, begging with tears in her eyes to her three little girls while they were fighting. I realize that she was only doing her best at the time. You would think this is not such a bad thing to want...