When family stress is high, communication between spouses is difficult, and their relationship has an impact on their children. It can be especially complex for families who contend with trauma, a tragedy or a serious illness. How can parents work through challenges and come out stronger? What are some of the habits that will help them and foster a stronger and more peaceful family?

In this important conversation with Andrea Tristan, LPC, you will learn:

• How family stress, trauma or serious illness impacts couples
• To identify areas of miscommunications
• The idea behind collaborative problem solving
• Bringing meaning with a nurturing approach
• How to get started

While self-harm can be scary and must be treated, it is very different from suicidal ideation and attempts. Parents need to understand the difference so that they can help their children more effectively.

In this session with Carol Carver, you will learn:

• What are the forms of self-injury
• How self-injury is different from suicidal thoughts
• What drives kids to self-injury
• How can you detect self-injury
• Hot to help a child in this situation

As a parent, how do you know when your child experiences a mental illness? Can you use a screening tool and find out on your own? Dr. Geoff Gentry will review some important warning signs and provide information on different assessment options.

In this important conversation with Dr. Gentry you will:

• What are some of the key warning signs parents need to look for
• What are the different kinds of professional assessments available
• What are the benefits and limitations of digital screening tools

Coaches have a unique relationship with their athletes. They are in a great position to gauge how a child is doing and redirect students who are struggling with their mental health.

Former ESPN reporter Kate Fagan wrote her New York Times best-selling book What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teenager because she experienced the stress first-hand as an athlete, and she witnessed the tragic consequence for a young student.

Fagan has made it her mission to help coaches understand and protect vulnerable students.

Prior to giving her Claritycon Reimagined presentation, Fagan addressed area school coaches in an exclusive virtual interview.

Listen to this conversation to learn:

• How to reduce risk of mental health crisis among student athletes
• How to tell when a student is at risk
• How to engage a student to get help

Because of COVID-19 precautions, most visits to psychiatrists have become virtual. Dr. Lizmare Gonzalez-Vega, Medical Director at Clarity Child Guidance Center, discusses the topic of virtual psychiatric care for children and how parents can get the best help possible for their children.

In this important conversation with Dr. Gonzalez-Vega you will learn:

• What can parents expect at their first appointment?
• How can parents prepare for an appointment?
• What is the difference between outpatient and inpatient care?
• What advice parents can do to help to optimize the patient-doctor relationship?

Technology is an integral part of families and children's life. It has it's advantages, but can also create new challenges, and the impact of technology on children and their brain development is starting to be documented.

This chat with Dr. Joshua Essery, PsyD explores some of these challenges and how parents can navigate them to keep their children safe and healthy.

Dr. Essery, the director of Outpatient Clinical Services at Clarity Child Guidance Center, hosts a discussion on the impact COVID-19 has had on children's mental health with professionals from across San Antonio.

Thank you to Dr. Jacqueline Herrera from Clarity CGC, Lisa Ranallo from ESC Region 20, and Dr. Dina Tom from the University of Texas Health Science Center for sharing their insights with us!