Real perspectives from parents, caregivers, providers, and educators who support children and teens every day. These articles share lived experience, professional insight, and practical observations to help families better understand what care, school support, and collaboration can look like in real life.
Meet Beach Cities Gateway, founded by Debbie Murad, LCSW — a facility helping older teens and young adults build confidence, independence, and real-world life skills. With over 30 years of clinical experience and a deeply personal understanding of neurodivergence, Debbie leads a team offering an integrated model of therapy, coaching, and family support for the transition into adulthood.
Read MoreJUL 7, 2026 | 3 MIN READ
Meet Hannah Ly, LMFT — a child and teen therapist at Your Therapy Nook in San Jose. From international work with children who'd lost parents to a decade in foster care, Hannah brings deep experience to families navigating adoption, anxiety, and big transitions. Her goal for every family: helping them find their way back to joy.
Read MoreJUL 6, 2026 | 3 MIN READ
Navigating school support for your child can feel overwhelming — especially when families are unsure what type of help is needed or how to begin the process of getting it. We spoke with David Floeck, Assistant Principal and Supervisor of Attendance at Whitman Hanson Regional High School, to share insight into the challenges families face when seeking support and how schools and parents can work together to help students succeed. From David’s perspective, one of the biggest challenges families face is not a lack of caring — it’s uncertainty. Many parents know something is not quite right, whether it’s declining grades, school avoidance, or changes in social interactions. But identifying what type of support is needed and where to find it can feel time-consuming and confusing, especially when families are unsure how to begin. The process of determining whether a student needs school-based accommodations, outside therapy, attendance intervention, or another type of service can quickly become overwhelming. When families feel unsure where to begin, they may delay action and hope things improve on their own. Unfortunately, as David notes, concerns often do not resolve without intervention. In many cases, challenges continue to decline and begin significantly impacting school attendance, academic performance, and peer relationships. When early concerns are not addressed, small challenges can grow into larger ones. Attendance may start to slip. Grades may decline. Social withdrawal may increase. Over time, students can feel more disconnected from school and from their sense of competence. Early action does not mean overreacting. It means responding before patterns become harder to reverse. David emphasizes one core message: parents and schools share the same goal — the health and success of the child. When families approach schools as partners rather than adversaries, communication becomes more productive and solutions become clearer. Creating a partnership means: When families and schools collaborate, students benefit from a unified approach rather than mixed messaging. According to David, open and honest communication is what allows appropriate supports to be put in place — both inside and outside the school setting. Schools can help families: At the same time, parents can help schools: A collaborative approach reduces misunderstandings and helps everyone stay aligned. It is common for families to feel unsure about what steps to take next. When the process feels confusing, it can be tempting to pause and hope for improvement without intervention. David’s advice is to lean into partnership early. Schools are equipped to help guide families through available resources, explain processes, and identify practical next steps. No parent is expected to navigate the system alone. A collaborative approach is not just helpful — it is often the key to growth and long-term success. When communication is consistent and goals are shared, students experience greater stability and clearer expectations. Parents feel more supported. Schools can respond more effectively. Partnership does not eliminate challenges, but it creates a framework for progress.
Read MoreAPR 21, 2026 | 4 MIN READ
Meet Beach Cities Gateway, founded by Debbie Murad, LCSW — a facility helping older teens and young adults build confidence, independence, and real-world life skills. With over 30 years of clinical experience and a deeply personal understanding of neurodivergence, Debbie leads a team offering an integrated model of therapy, coaching, and family support for the transition into adulthood.
Read MoreJul 7, 2026 | 3 min read
Meet Hannah Ly, LMFT — a child and teen therapist at Your Therapy Nook in San Jose. From international work with children who'd lost parents to a decade in foster care, Hannah brings deep experience to families navigating adoption, anxiety, and big transitions. Her goal for every family: helping them find their way back to joy.
Read MoreJul 6, 2026 | 3 min read
Apr 21, 2026 | 4 min read