<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[TWINDOM.org]]></title><description><![CDATA[Compassionate counseling, play therapy, and family-centered mental health care in Albertville and throughout Sand Mountain. Also all of Alabama and Georgia via telehealth. ]]></description><link>https://www.twindom.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:03:47 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.twindom.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[My Teen Is Questioning Their Gender: How Can I Respond Without Pushing Them Away?]]></title><description><![CDATA[When a teenager says, “I think I might be transgender,” “I don’t feel like a boy or a girl,” or “I want to use a different name,” parents may feel surprised, worried, confused, or unsure what to say. You do not need to have every answer in that moment. The most important first step is usually keeping the relationship safe enough that your teenager continues talking to you. Start by listening Adolescence is already a major period of identity development. Teenagers are trying to understand who...]]></description><link>https://www.twindom.org/post/my-teen-is-questioning-their-gender-how-can-i-respond-without-pushing-them-away</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a8c781a8c800d51388c834e</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:59:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68c47f_c7ec360823b44ab1853c2b01113d27af~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dennis Ploof</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Is My Child So Angry? Understanding Big Emotions, Meltdowns, and What Behavior May Be Communicating]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the most common concerns parents bring to child therapists sounds something like this: “My child gets angry over everything.” A simple request to put on shoes becomes a meltdown. Homework ends in yelling. A sibling touches the wrong toy and suddenly someone is screaming, throwing things, or slamming a door. Parents may begin wondering: Is this normal? Is my child being defiant? Am I doing something wrong? Could this be anxiety, ADHD, trauma, or something else? Anger in children can be...]]></description><link>https://www.twindom.org/post/why-is-my-child-so-angry-understanding-big-emotions-meltdowns-and-what-behavior-may-be-communicat</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a8c76a84e12adafbf7fc894</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:53:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68c47f_1c57988cc19747d791dd5892728b55fc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dennis Ploof</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Your Child Says, “I Don’t Want to Go to School”: Understanding Anxiety and School Avoidance]]></title><description><![CDATA[For many families, mornings can become the hardest part of the day. A child complains of a stomachache before school. Another cries when it is time to get dressed. A teenager repeatedly asks to stay home, visits the school nurse, or says they simply “can’t do it.” Parents are often left wondering whether their child is being defiant, avoiding responsibility, experiencing bullying, struggling academically, or dealing with something more serious. In many cases, persistent difficulty attending...]]></description><link>https://www.twindom.org/post/when-your-child-says-i-don-t-want-to-go-to-school-understanding-anxiety-and-school-avoidance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a8c759a1da41d051600c7db</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:49:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68c47f_6cc9ab807e734f5a8dea23dae11f1adc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dennis Ploof</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Screens, Big Feelings, and Your Child: When Is Technology Affecting Mental Health?]]></title><description><![CDATA[For many parents, screens have become one of the most difficult parts of raising children. Phones, tablets, gaming systems, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and other digital platforms are now part of everyday childhood. Technology can help children learn, stay connected, relax, and have fun. At the same time, many parents are asking increasingly difficult questions: How much screen time is too much? Is social media affecting my child's mental health? Why does my child become so upset...]]></description><link>https://www.twindom.org/post/screens-big-feelings-and-your-child-when-is-technology-affecting-mental-health</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a8c6f41fe6fd82d1509d439</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:26:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68c47f_4b41b40de7cd4c08ba873f2b1832eac9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dennis Ploof</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>