Phyllis was a guest on the podcast Thirdspace, which covers issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. In this episode, Phyllis talks to the show’s host, Jen Cort, about identity development, affinity groups and mental health.…
When it comes to mental health, tweens’ emotions and behavior can baffle parents, educators — and even themselves. On top of that, there’s plenty of confusion and disagreement over where a parent’s role ends and…
The eighth-grade girl approached Principal Tom Adams in the cafeteria. “Dylan just asked out Samantha as a joke,” she said. “Now he’s laughing about it with his friends, and Samantha is sitting at our table…
Is it wise, advisable or effective to hide the negative emotions educators feel when they are in school? What are the unintended consequences? Phyllis spoke to Teachers Aid podcasters Jon Harper and Mandy Froehlich on…
Lisa Damour, Ph.D. includes Phyllis’s thoughts in this The New York Times article on tween and teen social conflict. “Social discord rarely involves bullying,” explains Fagell, a counselor at the Sheridan School and the author…
We can’t afford to overlook kids who resort to bullying. Their behavior wreaks havoc with their moral compass, lowers their empathy and hardens them to the consequences of their actions. But the greatest reason aggressors…
We’ve all experienced setbacks—times when we feel like we got a raw deal. In this blog for PsychReg in the UK, Phyllis shares a personal story and offers five strategies that help restore confidence and…
Phyllis talks about teen jealousy, FOMO, and teaching girls to support one another in this Facetime Live with Roy Petitfils, the host of Today’s Teenager podcast. Click here to watch.
Girls who perceive that it’s a zero-sum game are less likely to support one another and more likely to view each other as threats, but this is short-sighted. When girls band together, they expand their…
I had fun doing a Facebook Live episode with the hilarious Deva Dalporto of My Life Suckers. We talked about how parents can teach kids to make good, safe and smart choices—whether it involves drinking…
