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  • How we help teens get healthy in a healthy and enjoyable way

    The Teen Xpress program is part of the Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families. We offer health care, mental health counseling, case management, and nutrition and dietary services to teens at select schools in Orange County. As the Teen Xpress mental health therapist, I meet with adolescents every day that are interested in changing their lives. Usually, the teens I work with want to make changes behaviorally or emotionally, but they often also express interest in making physical changes as well. It is not unusual to hear teens say that they want to lose weight. Teen Xpress Bus

  • How you can protect your teen from substance abuse?

    Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of teens who are not only experimenting with drugs, but who have developed an addiction problem. According to statistics, about 2 million children between the ages of 12 and 17 are in need of treatment every year. Most teens do not experiment with drugs with the intention to become addicted to them. In fact, most teens experiment with drugs because of curiosity, peer pressure, or to feel good and have a good time. Unfortunately, many continue and many die because of it. As caregivers, it can be challenging to know what to do because addiction is brooded in secrecy and we might not find out until the substance use has become a substance abuse problem.

  • Living with Gastroparesis: Step into one patient's shoes as she lives with a chronic illness

    I’m 18 years old, and I have a disease known as Gastroparesis, which means that my digestive tract is paralyzed and unable to digest food. I have been managing this disease for about 3 years and while I do sometimes have to stay in the hospital, I have learned how to take care of many of my medical needs at home. Stay tuned throughout the day for more pictures of me as I manage my daily routine.

  • Why (and how) you should get your child involved in music

    As a music therapist, I am a fierce advocate for using music to enact positive change in peoples’ lives. Music can do amazing things, and being exposed to music at an early age can have significant advantages. I believe my parents’ decision to enroll me in piano lessons as a kid was something that helped enrich my life and guide me to my current career. Music is something many of us are exposed to daily, but we don’t always engage in music with the purpose of fully understanding it. Of course, it is important to be well informed about how you are exposing your child to music throughout their development in order to ensure the most benefit.

  • Through the Eyes of a Childhood Cancer Survivor: 5 Ways Life Changes after Cancer

    “Pray for me, it’s cancer.” This was my first Facebook status update following my official diagnosis with liver cancer at 16 years old. Looking through my Facebook now, there’s photos of my beautiful bride and I celebrating with our closest friends and family - including my former oncologist, Dr. Eslin. While the journey was anything but easy, I am so thankful to have gone through it with my medical team/family at Arnold Palmer Hospital. As a childhood cancer survivor who just celebrated the five-year cancer-free mark, here are the biggest changes I’ve come across as an adult:

  • Getting to Know Dr. Celine Cattier, Pediatric Palliative Care Specialist

    Today we’ll get to know Dr. Celine Cattier, a pediatric palliative care specialist, who has recently joined the Pediatric Palliative Care Team alongside Dr. Blaine Pitts to offer services to patients from newborn to young adult at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Winnie Palmer Hospital.

  • What every parent should know about teens and tanning

    As the weather continues to warm and school draws to a close, teens will be heading outdoors for fun in the sun. Whether it’s a day by the pool, sunbathing at the beach, playing sports or surfing the waves, we encourage our kids to enjoy those fleeting moments of adolescent summer freedom that we adults remember fondly. 

  • A simple change you can make if you're concerned about your child's weight

    Here are some ways to prevent portion distortion and keep portions in check.  

  • What every parent should know about teens and tanning

    Most adults don’t fully understand the risks of sun damage, so it’s hardly reasonable to expect our kids to grasp this without help. 

  • Healthy Snacks Can Help You Manage Your Family’s Hectic Lifestyle

    This blog was written in conjunction with pediatric medical resident, Sanila Sarkar, MD.