THE ROAD MAP

In this newsletter, you’ll find:

• 🚦 First Stop (When the Child is the Source of Trauma)

• 🛤️ Site-seeing at mylemarks.com (NEW: Check-in for Teens)

• 📣 A Word from Headway

• 📡 On the Radar (Mirror, ‘The Littlest Drop’, and more)

• 📅 Mark Your Calendars

• 🤗 Sharing is Caring (spread the mylemarker love and earn)

Let’s go!

FIRST STOP

🧨 When the Child Is the Source of Trauma

In this eye-opening article, the author examines an often-overlooked form of trauma—parental trauma caused by their child’s extreme behaviors. Parents doing their best to raise and protect their children may find themselves physically assaulted, verbally berated, manipulated, or emotionally blackmailed by their child. This trauma can be compounded when the child engages in self-harm, suicide threats, or destruction of property, creating an ongoing state of fear and helplessness for the parent.

Over time, repeated exposure to these high-stress behaviors can cause parents to shut down, lose confidence in their ability to set boundaries, and surrender authority altogether. This can result in parental inversion, a dynamic where the child assumes control of the household and the family operates in a state of constant hypervigilance—walking on eggshells to avoid triggering another episode. The psychological toll is profound: many of these parents present with symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and somatic distress.

The article outlines possible solutions, including trauma-informed treatment focused on re-empowering the parent, using tools like de-escalation strategies, temporary separation, or residential support programs. It emphasizes that healing requires halting the destructive behaviors while simultaneously helping the parent regain a sense of competence and safety.

Why it matters for therapists:
This article challenges clinicians to expand their view: not all treatment should focus solely on the child. When children’s behaviors traumatize their caregivers, the entire family system must be addressed. Therapists may need to support the parent’s trauma directly, provide education on setting boundaries without guilt, and advocate for services that address both safety and emotional regulation. Restoring parental functioning isn’t just about discipline—it’s about healing.

SITE-SEEING at mylemarks.com

NEW WORKSHEET: How’s It Going?

The How’s It Going? worksheet helps teens take a step back and check in with themselves across important areas of their life—like school, family, relationships, health, and future goals. By rating each category from 1–10 and reflecting on their answers, teens build self-awareness and begin identifying what’s going well and what might need attention. It’s simple, visual, and a great conversation starter.

Put It in Action!

Here are a few ways you can use this worksheet with clients:

• 📊 Session Opener – Use it as a quick check-in at the start of a session to gauge how the teen is doing overall.

• 💬 Guide the Conversation – Let the lowest-rated area lead the discussion or goal-setting for the session.

• ✍️ Track Over Time – Revisit the worksheet monthly to help teens see progress or shifts in how they’re feeling.

• 🧠 Insight Builder – Ask teens to compare their ratings to past weeks and reflect on what’s helped or hurt their scores.

A WORD FROM HEADWAY

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ON THE RADAR

📱 Child Mind Institute Unveils Journaling App for Teens

The Child Mind Institute, in collaboration with the California Department of Healthcare Services, has launched Mirror, a free journaling app designed to support teen mental health. Available in both English and Spanish, Mirror empowers teens to express themselves and track their emotional well-being through text, video, voice, or image entries. It includes daily mood check-ins, guided prompts to foster self-reflection and emotional processing, insights to visualize patterns over time, and quick access to crisis support. Dr. Harold Koplewicz, the Institute’s president, notes that journaling can be a powerful tool for self-regulation and self-awareness, particularly when paired with mood tracking.

Download it here!

❌ Federal Funding Halted for School Mental Health Programs

The Trump administration has announced it will end $1 billion in federal mental health grants initially authorized by the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a law passed in response to the Uvalde school shooting. These grants have been critical for districts across the U.S. to hire school-based mental health professionals. The Department of Education claims the funds were misused to promote “race-based actions” and DEI-related practices, which it argues violate federal civil rights laws.

The cuts affect around 260 districts nationwide, and the move has reignited debate around federal control, DEI, and the role of schools in supporting student wellness. A recent poll by the American Psychiatric Association shows 84% of Americans believe school staff play a crucial role in identifying mental health issues in students.

💧 A New Kids' Book Shows How Even 'The Littlest Drop' Helps

The Littlest Drop, a new children’s book by Sascha Alper, delivers a powerful message: even small actions matter. Inspired by a Quechua parable, the story follows a brave hummingbird who carries one drop of water at a time to help put out a raging forest fire while larger animals stand by. Her message? “I am doing what I can.”

Illustrated by Brian Pinkney, the book holds additional significance as it was one of the final projects begun by his father, legendary Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney, before his passing. While the book’s environmental themes are central, Alper emphasizes that The Littlest Drop is also about perseverance and hope in a difficult world. It offers a poignant lesson for young readers: courage and impact aren’t about size — they’re about effort and heart.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Here are some upcoming dates you should know!

MAY

Mental Health Awareness Week (May 12–18) – An annual campaign to raise awareness about mental health issues and promote mental well-being.

Kids Mental Health Day (May 17) – A day dedicated to promoting children's mental health and wellness through activities and programs designed to boost well-being.

World Schizophrenia Day (May 24) – Aims to increase awareness about schizophrenia and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.