May 6-12 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week organized by the Child Mind Institute and supported by a number of adolescent health and substance abuse organizations. The following is a message from the president of the Child Mind institute, Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D., a leading child and adolescent psychiatrist. Why is it important to [...]
Read more
TeenSphere-A Teen Self-help App
Have you heard the phrase, “There’s an App for that.” Well apparently that is true in the case of teen mental health, as well. Its called TeenSphere. The app is designed by a licensed psychotherapist who worked with kids for years. The topics it covers are all from teens’ real life concerns and worries. There are [...]
Read more
From the Inside-Life As An ACS Intern
By: Ildiko Ran On-Campus Counseling Program Intern at Menlo-Atherton High School “I feel so much better that I got all that off my chest. I can go back to class now” – said one of my clients after a session when she unloaded the overwhelming stress that surrounds her everyday life. She keeps up the [...]
Read more
Some Tips for Getting Through the Holidays With a Troubled Teen
By Ronni J. Gillenson ACS Program Director, On-Campus Counseling Progra Just because there is ‘holiday cheer’ in the air doesn’t mean that life for a teen has changed all that much. In fact, the holidays can be a trying time for them. During the season that everyone is to be happy and giving, this could [...]
Read more
Palo Alto Mayor Discusses Teen Mental Health
Teen mental health has gone beyond school walls and its importance is being emphasized by local city officials to the rest of the community. On August 29th, Palo Alto Mayor Sid Espinosa, spoke with The Campanile about the academic pressures Palo Alto teens face. Mayor Espinosa stressed the importance of Project Safety Net (which ACS is actively [...]
Read more
Back To School Tips: Information You Can Use Now!
Back To School Tips by Roni Gillenson, LMFT, Program Director ACS’ On-Campus Counseling Program As teens reluctantly head back to school and leave the lazy days of summer behind, we are reminded of the stress that lies ahead for our youth. While returning to school can be an exciting time to get reacquainted with friends [...]
Read more
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
Since 1949, May has been recognized as “Mental Health Awareness Month.” One theme for this year is Live Well! It’s Essential for Your Potential. This them focuses on the importance of mental wellness and the steps everyone – children, teens and adults – can take to improve their well-being and resiliency in the face of difficult [...]
Read more
Breaking the Stigma: Teen Stress – video and recap
On Tuesday, March 22, 2011, Adolescent Counseling Services hosted an intimate presentation and discussion on teen stress at the Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto. A presentation on teen stress was given by ACS’ Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program Director, Enrique Flores, MA and ACS’ On-Campus Counseling Program Director, Roni Gillenson, LMFT. Other panelists included Ursula [...]
Read more
Mental Health Alert: “Emotional Health at a 25-Year Low” for College Freshmen
Freshmen Report: Students are Stressed and Depressed “The survey, “The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2010,” was conducted by UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute and included 200,000 students. The number of freshmen who said their emotional health was “below average” has risen steadily, according to the report. Only 52 percent rated themselves as “above average” in emotional [...]
Read more

May 7, 2012

