Dr. Joel's Blog
Last month I ran a free workshop for parents of middle school, high school, and college students. When I asked what their biggest concern was for their child right now, every single parent said the same thing:
Executive functioning.
Every spring, families focus on grades, applications, and next st...
Winter break gives parents a rare opportunity:
Your college student is finally home long enough for you to see how they’re really doing.
For many families, this reveals things like:
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A student who is emotionally drained
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Avoidance or irritation when school comes up
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A reluctance to disc
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Deer in Headlights Monday on Campus!Â
Here’s what last week revealed—and how to help your student turn things around before spring semester.
Thanksgiving break is over, and for many parents, it was the wake-up call they didn’t expect.
Your student walked in the door looking exhausted, emotionally...
Thanksgiving break is here, and for many parents, it's the first real opportunity to see how their college student is actually doing — beyond the short texts, vague updates, or “I’m fine” messages.
After working with thousands of students across more than 200 colleges and universities, I can tell y...
Parent & Family Weekend is officially over.
You’ve hugged goodbye in the dining hall parking lot, stopped at the campus bookstore for a sweatshirt you didn’t need, and driven home feeling proud, relieved… and maybe a little worried.
It’s common to leave that weekend with mixed emotions:
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“They...
Hello Parents,
Cars are unloaded on campuses, classes have started, and college football season is upon us —and behind the excitement of move-in comes something every parent and student will recognize: anxiety.
Whether your student is a first-year, a transfer, or returning for another semester, th...
As the fall semester approaches, many families are consumed with the logistics of move-in: packing, shopping, and last-minute planning. But while dorm essentials and course schedules are important, there’s a skill far more critical to your student’s success than a perfectly stocked desk drawer:  Sel...
Hello Parents,
August is here—and while the summer heat is peaking, so is the anticipation (and, let’s be honest, a touch of anxiety) as you prepare to launch your student into college life.
Between multiple trips to Target, last-minute Amazon orders, and maybe a few sentimental family dinners, yo...
The 5 Most Important Things to Pack for College (That You Won’t Find at Target)
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Don’t look now, but summer is halfway over!
As fun winds down and reality kicks in, there’s a rush of college-bound students and parents hitting the aisles of Target, Walmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond—loading up carts ...
As July winds down, orientation invites are going out, college move-in plans are forming, and first-year students are beginning to picture life on campus.
But one key factor is often missing from the prep list—and it might just be the most important:
Sleep.
Of all the performance-enhancing tools av...
Did you know that less than half of college students engage in regular, moderate to vigorous exercise during the week?
Even more surprising—just 7–10 minutes of daily physical activity can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
As we enter the final stretch of summer before the f...
Transitions from High School to College for Students and Athletes
“Who am I?” a question that nearly all contemplate, yet may never be fully answered. We often think we know the answer to this by providing generic answers such as a profession, sport, hobby, or interest, but these answers do not ful...