The Bug and Bee, 6016 Southwest Boulevard. Benbrook, Fort Worth, TX (2025)

12/20/2025

3️⃣,0️⃣ 0️⃣ 0️⃣ HOURS! Done and done✔️. Ali is now officially Ali Cabral, MEd, LPC! 🎉

While under supervision of Kate Jennings, LPC-Supervisor, Ali completed all of her required hours here at The Bug & Bee. It has been such a joy to watch her grow from a graduate school intern to an officially official licensed therapist!

To Ali's Clients- Don't worry, she's not going anywhere!! Please know that with a change in licensure comes a change in fees- please talk with Ali if you have any concerns about this.

Not a client yet? Learn more about her here ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

"I am passionate about helping children, teens & college/young adult women, as well as parents who are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, and/or parenting challenges. I was a school teacher for children in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade for 14 years before spending my recent years in the counseling field. I have children/teenagers of my own so I understand the day to day difficulties life can throw at them and their families.

In therapy, I use a mixture of CBT, EMDR, Person-Centered Therapy, and IFS to help clients create a lasting change. For those who benefit from creativity, I incorporate art, sand tray, and/or play therapy when appropriate, allowing clients to explore emotions in a hands-on way. Together, we’ll find the best approach to help you heal, grow, and overcome challenges.

I understand how overwhelming life can feel with school, relationships, and personal challenges. If you’re ready to take control of your stress, build your confidence, and find balance, I’d love to help! Reach out, and together we’ll explore strategies and creative tools to support your growth and healing.

🐞 Ali sees ages 5 year olds and up
🐝 To schedule with her, you can email ali@thebugandbee.com or call (817) 578-9885

12/14/2025

The holidays often bring up big feelings about loved ones who aren't with us—whether due to distance, loss, or family changes. 💗

Children may not have the words, but they can sure feel it. Grief in children can show up as irritability, clinginess, regression, or even bursts of silliness. (Check back on my post from 11/17 to read more about kids and grief). It’s you children’s way of telling you they are needing safety, comfort, and space to be human.

When they open up, please try not to worry about saying the “perfect” thing. Remember- your goal is more to just be present.

👏🏼 Try this:
— “I miss her too. Want to tell me your favorite memory?”
— “It’s okay to feel sad and happy at the same time.”

🙅🏻‍♀️ Avoid:
— “Don’t cry—she wouldn’t want you to be sad.”
— “Let’s not talk about that right now.”

Say their names. Light a candle. Give time and space for both memories and big emotions to co-exist.

If your family needs extra support this season, therapy can help kids process grief in a way that feels safe, creative, and age-appropriate. Give us a call if The Bug & Bee can be of help! 🐞

12/13/2025

December 13th is National Cocoa Day! Here's a fun (and winter-themed) coping skill to try with your children...

☕️ Cup your hands as if you are holding a mug of hot cocoa.

☕️ Now rub your hands together to get them warm.

☕️ Then hold your pretend mug again.

☕️ Breathe in and smell how yummy and chocolatey it smells.

☕️ Then slowly breathe out and blow to cool it off.

12/09/2025

Overwhelmed kids don’t need more stuff— they need connection.

When it comes to managing holiday stress, here are a few things that help:

🎁 Try gifting some emotional regulation tools like fidgets, headphones, coloring books, etc.

📝 Let your children help make a simple schedule for the break days (this adds stability and gives a sense of control)

💛 Build in extra time between events— rushing and “Come on, hurry up!”s only increase meltdowns.

12/06/2025

Not every holiday meltdown is about the toy, the cookie, or the sibling rivalry. Sometimes it’s about the transitions that we, as adults, don't notice...

The switch from school to break.
The excitement that crashes into exhaustion.
The routine that disappears overnight.

If your child seems more reactive, clingy, or just "off," it may be their nervous system asking for stability.

What can help:
– Keep wake-up and wind-down times somewhat consistent
– Prep kids for transitions before they happen ("We’re leaving in 10 minutes- do you want to set the timer, or do you want me to?")
– Focus on connection before redirection

A little routine goes a long way. 💛

11/30/2025

Remember: giving choices is like putting little deposits in your child's "mental health bank account." Each choice leads to your child feeling more in control and, therefore, more calm and regulated.

11/27/2025

Big meals, big crowds, unfamiliar routines—Thanksgiving can be a recipe for sensory overload (for children and parents, alike!)

Here's a Quick Tip:
💡 Create a quiet corner with books, fidgets, headphones, or coloring for kids. Let your children know in advance it’s okay to take a break from the action, even if it means asking to be excused mid-Thanksgiving Dinner.

And a reminder to the grandparents- a child may present as being “rude” or “disrespectful” when they truly are just dysregulated. QTIP (Quit Taking It Personally)- it’s not about you, its about your grandchildren trying to do the best they can in a stressful situation.

11/23/2025

Let's use this break to create a Safe Space for your children! National Personal Space Day is a week from today (11/30) but I want to share this early, and here's why...

The holidays can be a whirlwind—schedules change, there’s more noise, and sometimes, it feels like everything is out of control. During times like these, it’s important to create a calm space at home where our kids can go to center themselves and take a moment to breathe.

For Bug, that space is a little corner with her favorite blanket, some cozy pillows, and a stack of books. Right there between the couch and the wall. When the hustle and bustle of the season get overwhelming, she knows that’s her place to reset. It’s not just about quiet—it’s about giving her the opportunity to tune into her feelings and find a sense of calm when everything else feels chaotic.

As parents, we can guide our kids to create their own calm space. It’s a simple but powerful way to help them process the changes happening around them and remind them that they have control over how they respond to the world.

This holiday season, let's give our kids the gift of peace with a designated spot to find their balance when they need it most.

11/20/2025

Did you know I’m available to speak to parent groups, schools, and community organizations?

If you’re looking for someone who can talk about real-life parenting, mental health in kids and teens, or emotional safety without judgment—I’d love to connect.

✨ Topics I speak on include:
👏🏼 Emotional regulation
👏🏼 Anxiety in kids
👏🏼 Body autonomy & consent
👏🏼 Sensory needs
👏🏼 Gentle parenting strategies
👏🏼 The brain/gut connection

Looking for something more specific? Let's chat! Help me bring these conversations beyond the therapy office!

11/15/2025

Have you ever heard of a "Helper's High?" And no, I'm not referring to a Beatles' song 😜 But, I AM referring to today being National Philanthropy Day, so here you go:

A "Helper's High" is named as such because acts of giving release endorphins (our bodies' natural painkillers & mood boosters) and the results include:

⭐️ Increased pleasure & well-being
⭐️ Increased happiness & satisfaction
⭐️ A sense of belonging
⭐️ A purpose for living
⭐️ A decrease in loneliness
⭐️ and even greater life satisfaction and longevity (living a long & healthy life)

➡️ Scroll for some pics of a few of my favorite philanthropies- and if you know me, you'll know I've included a donation link in my stories for each one 💰👏🏼😘

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11/11/2025

Did you know being thankful and showing gratitude can help your mental health? It’s true! Gratitude releases feel good chemicals in our brains called “neurotransmitters,” and these help us feel happy, content, and see the bright side of things. Gratitude can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and increase empathy, compassion, and even healthy sleep!

The fall and winter months are full of fun and full of emotional curveballs:
– Changes in routines
– Big family gatherings with new faces, new smells, and new houses
– Changes in sleep, structure, and expectations

For anxious, sensitive, grieving or neurodivergent kids, the holiday season can feel like too much, too fast.

Grounding activities like these Gratitude Pumpkins can help kids slow down, express what they’re thankful for, and build emotional awareness along the way.

🧡 For TODAY ONLY (11/11!), comment “THANKFUL” below, and I’ll send you the Gratitude Pumpkin download to use at home or in session for FREE!

Oh no! Did you come across this post later than November 11th? No big deal! You can still find it over on my website under "Resources for Home."

Be sure to tag in your finished Gratitude Pumpkin Pics!

11/09/2025

"I HATE SCHOOL! I'M NEVER GOING BACK!"...

When your children say they hate school, they’re likely overwhelmed—not ungrateful or angry. Those four words—“I hate school”—can feel heavy for parents to hear, especially when we want so badly for our kids to feel safe and successful.

But behind that phrase might be:
– Anxiety about separating from you in the morning
– Fear of not keeping up or being picked last
– Sensory overload in the classroom or cafeteria
– Exhaustion from trying to hold it all together all day

Validating their experience opens the door to understanding what’s really going on underneath the surface. 💛

You don’t have to fix it immediately. Start with:
✔️ “That sounds really hard. I’m here.”
✔️ “Tell me more about what makes school feel tough.”
✔️ “Let’s figure it out together.”
✔️ "Do you want to vent, or do you want advice?"

Your presence matters more than your solutions.

The Bug and Bee

12/20/2025

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11/30/2025

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