Author Archives: Gretchen Derda (Woosley), MSW, LCSW
The Most Challenging Part of a Parent’s Day….Bedtime !
What is the most challenging part of your day as the parent of a young child? If you said the evening hours, you are not alone. Most parents of young children say that the hours from around 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. … Continue reading
Needing a Dose of Sunshine
The winter months can sometimes be difficult ones for folks who struggle with depression. The shorter days with reduced sunlight, imbalances in melatonin and seratonin, and decreased opportunities for social contact may all play a role along with our genetic … Continue reading
A New Year
Many of us start each new year with resolutions. Sometimes they are resolutions to do something like eat healthier, exercise more, quit smoking, or lose those last few pounds. This year how about considering what your goals are for your … Continue reading
Good Questions about Parenting Adolescents
Recently I had the opportunity to meet with a terrific, small group of parents and talkabout adolescent development. Most of these parents still had young children and were trying to “prepare” for what was ahead of them. Since I really … Continue reading
Anxious Beginnings
For most kids, this month marks the beginning of a new school year. With that new beginning usually comes a mixture of feelings-excitement, happiness, sadness that summer is over, maybe some dread of the work to come, and often some … Continue reading
My Parenting Toolbox–Regulating our own Emotions
As parents we are often concerned about helping our children regulate their emotions. That is, helping them handle frustration, anger, sadness, excitement, fear and other strong emotions in an appropriate manner, soothing themselves. This ability is so important for our … Continue reading
The Parenting Toolbox
Do you ever wish that you had a toolbox that you could reach into and find just the right tool to handle a particular issue as a parent? Most of us have wished kids came with a set of instructions. … Continue reading
More on Looking for Happiness
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been sharing some of what the research teaches us about ways to be happier. We’ve explored the importance of play, community, and having new experiences. Let’s look at two more ways to lead … Continue reading
Happiness, Part 2
Last post I mentioned that we all have an individual natural set point for happiness. That set point, determined by our genes, determines about 50% of our happiness levels. Our circumstances account for only about another 10%. (People generally overestimate … Continue reading
Gretchen Derda (Woosley), MSW, LCSW 
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