From a clinician’s perspective, the return to school after winter break is often more difficult for teens than it appears on the surface. Over the break, routines loosen, sleep schedules shift, and teens finally get a pause from the academic and social pressure they carry throughout the school year. The transition back to early mornings, expectations, and performance demands can feel sudden and overwhelming. As a result, many teens appear more irritable, withdrawn, unmotivated, or anxious in the weeks following the break. In most cases, these changes are not a cause for alarm; they are a normal response to a significant transition.

The holiday season is often filled with joy, celebration, and togetherness, but it can also bring added stress, especially for teens and their families. With academic pressure building as the midpoint of the school year approaches, shifting routines during winter break, heightened social expectations, and complex family dynamics, this time of year can quickly become overwhelming. Clinicians are seeing several common trends in teen (and college!) clients, and there are meaningful supports parents can put in place to help cultivate a less stressful holiday season for everyone.

In this inspiring episode of the WakeUpWithMarci Podcast, we explore how vulnerability, connection, and therapy can help teens and families heal and thrive. My guest, a licensed therapist and founder of Project SAFE, shares powerful insights on emotional regulation, communication, body image, and coping skills — helping kids and parents feel less alone and more empowered.

"We opened Project SAFE for individual, family and group therapy, and we really wanted to empower families and kids to solve problems instead of being viewed as their diagnosis or broken and needing to be fixed," Alexander told Patch

At Project SAFE, we recognize the importance of nurturing children’s mental health during these final weeks of summer by encouraging them to explore happiness beyond social media and technology.

Addressing the relationship between mental health and social media is crucial for the well-being of children and adolescents. At Project SAFE, we understand the importance of equipping parents with the knowledge and tools to help manage their children's social media usage effectively.

At Project SAFE, we are dedicated to empowering individuals and families to make healthy choices and improve their overall functioning through a variety of therapeutic approaches.