After 18+ months of living through the COVID-19 pandemic and its ramifications, it’s no surprise that many adolescents are struggling with negative and depressive feelings—and as parents, it can be difficult to know how to best help our children manage these emotions, especially when we may be dealing with the same challenges.
That’s where long-time friend of The Quaker School at Horsham, Mike Fogel, comes in.
An art therapist, licensed professional counselor, and child-adolescent specialist with more than two decades of experience, Mike was looking for a way to help parents manage the issues he saw children facing during the pandemic.
He decided to start a free YouTube channel called “Mike Fogel's Art of Friendship” and began creating videos that parents could use to help their children cope with negative feelings about their competence, appearance, relationships, and the loss of control created by recent events.
In his videos, Mike uses compassion, cognitive behavior techniques, empathy, “therapeutic love” and “art therapy in reverse” to help adolescents develop the cognitive skills to overcome negative feelings like “I can’t do anything right” or “I don’t look good enough.”
If you’re looking for support as you help your child navigate these difficult times, start exploring Mike’s new resource by watching some of our favorite videos:
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If your child struggles with pessimism, watch Instant Resilience: The Glass is Half Full
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If your child is easily frustrated by everyday challenges, watch The Problem-Solving Obstacle Course: Make A Move
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If you want to help your child develop social skills, watch 7 Essential Social Skills and Awareness Your Child Needs to Succeed
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If you’re struggling to effectively teach social-emotional skills, watch How to Create the Positive Cycles that Make Kids Want to Practice Social & Coping Skills
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If your child struggles to calm down, watch The Dino Trick to Calm Down and Self-Regulate
This is not the largest video library available, nor are the videos the most beautifully rendered, yet it is trustworthy and based on Mike’s decades of experience and research. There are shorter videos that parents can watch in just five minutes, as well as hour-long, in-depth trainings. New videos are added regularly, making this a wonderful resource for parents who want to learn how to help their children manage their complex challenges. Make sure to bookmark it for future reference!
IMPORTANT NOTE: All adolescents struggle with negativity and doubt to some degree, but some children are more likely to have and be vulnerable to these negative thoughts than others. When negative thoughts become overwhelming, this can be a sign of serious mental illness. Be sure to consult your pediatrician, psychologist, or psychiatrist if you are concerned.