Lisa Shetler - Clinical Psychologist

03/02/2026

Week two wobbles - the excitement of going back to school has worn off and the work begins!

In my house we’re trying to keep it light and playful in the mornings - breakfast table hair salon, blowing bubbles in our milkshake and sharing the walk to school with friends. After school we have time to decompress with a preferred activity and connection while we share a snack.

How is your family managing the adjustment of getting back into school routines?

📘 Week 2 Back at School: Finding Your Rhythm

The first week back can feel exciting — or exhausting — and by the second week, we are all starting to notice the real routines, challenges, and expectations. This is a key time to check in and offer gentle support. 💛

Here are some ways to help your child settle in:

✔ Check in on friendships – Social dynamics can shift quickly. Ask open-ended questions about friends, recess, and group activities to help them process experiences.
✔ Keep up routines – Morning, after-school, and bedtime routines help children feel secure as the novelty of the new term fades.
✔ Support independence – Encourage children to manage their homework, organise their bag, or solve small problems themselves — celebrating effort builds confidence.
✔ Notice emotional cues – Frustration, fatigue, or anxiety may surface more clearly now. Offer understanding, validation, and small strategies like breaks, movement, or quiet time.

💬 Tip for parents: The second week is a great time to reflect on what’s working and what isn’t. Adjust routines, offer gentle support, and remind your child (and yourself!) that settling in takes time.

Small check-ins, consistency, and reassurance make a huge difference. These tools will help your child feel capable, connected, and ready to thrive this term. 🌟

❤🧡💛💚🩵💜🩷

A friendly reminder that social media content is not an appropriate substitute for individual therapeutic care. If you or someone you care about needs support, please reach out.

23/12/2025

Look what’s arrived!! I can’t wait for these copies of Mastering Your Mental Health In Middle school to find their way into the hands of pre-teens that need it! The workbook is available worldwide online and will be available to purchase from the .psych clinic from Jan 5! ***en

15/12/2025

Be mindful of what little ears are hearing this week. Go gently, reach out for support if you need it and please, be kind 🩵

16/10/2025

A huge thank you to Russ Harris for your kind endorsement of my new workbook, Mastering Your Mental Health in Middle School! 🙏💛

I’m so grateful for your support and excited to share this practical guide for helping pre-teens build resilience, emotional skills, and self-awareness.

📘 Grab your copy here: https://lnkd.in/gi-Sussk



Note: Lisa is currently out of the office, but posts are scheduled so you can still keep up to date with her latest news.

14/10/2025

What’s in Your Pre-Teen’s Backpack? 🎒

At the end of the journey, the most important question is: what tools have we packed in our child’s metaphorical backpack? Do they have the skills to navigate life without us by their side?

Self-awareness, kindness, emotional regulation, flexible thinking, connection—these are the skills that help children tackle life’s challenges with confidence.

As adults, our role shifts from carrying their packs for them to coaching them on how to discover and use the tools themselves.

💡 Try This: “Skills Audit”

Sit with your pre-teen and list the strengths and skills they already have.

Identify the skills they could develop to face a current challenge.

Brainstorm where they could learn these skills or who could help.

Celebrate the tools they already carry—and the ones they’re learning to pack!

Some essential backpack items:
🧠 Emotional regulation
🫶 Self-compassion
📣 Asking for help
🌱 Growth mindset

Every skill you help them build is one they can rely on for the climb ahead. Need help? My new workbook Mastering Your Mental Health in Middle School is yours to order now: https://lnkd.in/gi-Sussk



Note: Lisa is currently out of the office, but posts are scheduled so you can still keep up to date with her latest news.

12/10/2025

When Your Child Struggles, Don’t Rush to Fix It 🌩️💛

Your instinct might be to solve it, make it go away, or fix the problem. But sometimes what your child really needs is presence.

✅ Sit beside the storm – Let them feel what they feel without judgment.
✅ Listen and validate – “I can see this is really hard for you.”
✅ Stay connected – Pain is inevitable, but shame and silence don’t have to be.

💡 Try This Activity: “Storm Journal & Pause”

Grab a notebook or piece of paper together.

Ask your child to draw or write about what they’re feeling—a “storm” in their own words.

Sit quietly beside them for 2–5 minutes while they share (or just observe if they don’t want to talk).

Gently ask: “What helps you feel a little safer in this storm?”

Brainstorm one small thing they can do right now to cope—like taking a few deep breaths, stretching, or drawing.

This activity helps children notice their emotions without shame, practice expressing themselves, and feel supported through the storm.

Remember: Emotions are temporary, but your presence is powerful. You are their safe base. 💌



Note: Lisa is currently out of the office, but posts are scheduled so you can still keep up to date with her latest news.

08/10/2025

A huge thank you to for your kind endorsement of my new workbook, Mastering Your Mental Health in Middle School! 🙏💛

I’m so grateful for your support and excited to share this practical guide for helping pre-teens build resilience, emotional skills, and self-awareness.

📘 Grab your copy here: https://lnkd.in/gi-Sussk

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

Note: Lisa is currently out of the office, but posts are scheduled so you can still keep up to date with her latest news.

06/10/2025

Understanding Middle School Friendships 🤝💛

Friendships in middle school can feel exciting… and confusing. Tweens are learning who they are, and relationships can be full of ups and downs.

Here’s how to help them navigate it:

✅ Name the feelings – Teach them words for jealousy, exclusion, and loyalty. “It sounds like you felt left out today.”

✅ Focus on values – Ask, “Does this friendship make you feel respected and supported?”

✅ Encourage perspective-taking – Help them see situations from a friend’s point of view before reacting.

✅ Model problem-solving – Guide them to handle disagreements with calm and curiosity, not gossip or avoidance.

💡 Tip: Encourage quality over quantity. A few strong friendships are more protective for emotional wellbeing than many superficial ones.

Middle school friendships are a learning curve—but with guidance, kids can grow empathy, confidence, and social resilience. 🌱



Note: Lisa is currently out of the office, but posts are scheduled so you can still keep up to date with her latest news.

04/10/2025

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Daily Habits That Boost Emotional Resilience 🧠💛

Mental health and physical health are deeply connected. Sleep, nutrition, hydration, and movement all influence mood, focus, and emotional regulation.

Too often, tweens are sleep-deprived, undernourished, or overstimulated. Creating simple, predictable routines that support the body also stabilises the mind.

Here’s how to get started:
✅ Pick 2–3 daily habits – e.g., consistent bedtime, drinking enough water, or a screen-free hour before bed.
✅ Track progress together – Use a calendar or habit tracker to celebrate small wins.
✅ Make it predictable – Routines work best when they’re simple and consistent.

💡 Tip: When kids are tired or stressed, habits can slip. Gently guide them back, focusing on progress, not perfection.

Small, consistent steps for the body = big wins for emotional resilience. 🌱



Note: Lisa is currently out of the office, but posts are scheduled so you can still keep up to date with her latest news.

03/10/2025

A huge thank you to for your kind endorsement of my new workbook, Mastering Your Mental Health in Middle School! 🙏💛

I’m so grateful for your support and excited to share this practical guide for helping pre-teens build resilience, emotional skills, and self-awareness.

📘 Grab your copy here: https://lnkd.in/gi-Sussk



Note: Lisa is currently out of the office, but posts are scheduled so you can still keep up to date with her latest news.

01/10/2025

Avoidance Is Out, Acceptance Is In

It’s natural for kids to avoid tough tasks, uncomfortable conversations, or big emotions. They often feel unsafe or unprepared.

But long-term avoidance can increase anxiety and chip away at confidence. That’s why acceptance is in: noticing what’s hard and taking small, meaningful steps toward it builds resilience.

Here’s how to practice acceptance with pre-teens:
✅ Notice avoidance – Pause and ask: “Am I avoiding this? Is this helping me become the person I want to be?”
✅ Name the challenge – “This is hard, and that’s okay.”
✅ Take small, values-based steps – Break tasks into tiny, achievable actions.
✅ Model it together – Show kids how you tackle something you’ve been putting off.

💡 Try This: Pick one thing each of you has been avoiding. What’s one small step you can take today toward it?

Remember: avoidance keeps us stuck. Acceptance and action move us forward. 💪

Lisa Shetler is a clinical psychologist, foster parent, and author of "Mastering Your Mental Health in Middle School," a practical workbook to help pre-teens build resilience, emotional skills, and self-awareness. Yours to order now: https://lnkd.in/gi-Sussk



Note: Lisa is currently out of the office, but posts are scheduled so you can still keep up to date with her latest news.

29/09/2025

Anger. Sadness. Anxiety. Fear. 😟

Pre-teens experience big emotions... often without the words to explain them. When adults rush in with “stop crying” or “calm down,” kids can feel dismissed instead of supported.

We can help them:
✅ Name the feeling – Ask, “What are you feeling right now?” and offer words if they’re stuck.
✅ Understand the need behind it – “It sounds like you’re frustrated. Do you need a break or some help?”
✅ Offer ways to self-soothe – Deep breaths, drawing, journaling, or movement can help regulate big emotions.
✅ Validate before problem-solve – Let them feel first: “I can see that really upset you.”

Remember: feelings aren’t problems—they’re messengers guiding kids toward understanding themselves. 💌

***enparenting

Note: Lisa is currently out of the office, but posts are scheduled so you can still keep up to date with her latest news.