Dr. Elayne Tanner Individual, Family & Marriage Psychological Services
11084 Nassagaweya 5th Line, Milton, ON N0B, Canada N0B2K0 Milton, ON, Canada

ELAYNE M. TANNER, PH.D, MSW, RSW 11084 5th Line , Milton, ON N0B 2K0 Hey, congratulations! You are now listed as one of the Top 3 Marriage counselors in Milton, ON. We would like to Thank You for providing consistent high-quality service in your area of business. Our review team either approved or updated your business listing using our rigorous 50-Point Inspection which includes everything from checking reputation, history, complaints, ratings, nearness, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence.

I want to talk to parents and caregivers of teens. I believe this to be an urgent message. I am a counsellor-psychotherapist. I am a doctor of social work. I meet with teens, preteens, adults and families. I have been doing this for over 30 years. I know what I am talking about. Summer time is notoriously a time of carefree behaviour for our young people. They end up in more MVAs; more sexual experimentation and more alcohol and drug use. Teens think they are invincible. Bu...t this summer, I suspect because of COVID19, it seems to be far worse. Because of COVID 19, kids have been isolated and away from friends. They are hearing about the anxiety the virus is generating and the the fear families are experiencing because of the floundering economy. They may have experienced death of a family member or friend’s family member. School was largely a lost semester and for sure, even if academics were maintained, friendships and social skills suffered. They are experiencing anxiety and depression with a fatalistic attitude. And now, suddenly, the stress of school is gone. Summer jobs are largely non existent so there are no responsibilities or obligations and isolation restrictions have been lifted. It is as if they have been locked in solitary confinement and have been suddenly let loose with a renewed velocity. Most teens are new drivers. They have not been able to maintain driving skills as the stores are closed and they are socially distancing. I am hearing of kids speeding; driving drunk; wreckless; spinning out. Rolling the car. Not remembering any of it. It’s as if all the craziness of youth is magnified. I’m seeing overdoses of hard drugs. Serious car accidents. Indiscriminate sexual activity with no protection against pregnancy or disease and no discretion. Bullying. Discrimination. Racism. It’s all there. It’s as if they no longer feel the certainty of a tomorrow, so they might as well throw caution to the wind today. Please parents, be aware. Talk directly and bluntly to your kids. Don’t let them have more freedom because it’s summertimethey don’t know how to handle it. Give them firm guidelines and boundaries and consequences. Keep them close. It’s not easy being a parent, especially of teens but this year, it appears to be especially difficult. Don’t be your kids’ friend. Your job is to guide and protect. If they could already be adults, they wouldn’t need you. Remember that they are still children and don’t give them more freedom than they can manage.

COVID 19 Updates (June 15) from the Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers: Ongoing Impact of COVID-19 With summer on the horizon, the College continues to monitor and respond to the significant impact of COVID-19. We recognize that this continues to be an extremely challenging time both personally and professionally.... As noted in our May 29, 2020 eBulletin as well as our follow-up June 2, 2020 eBulletin for members in private practice, the College continues to strongly advise members to suspend all non-essential social work and social service work services and to continue wherever reasonably possible to provide services by electronic means. I continue to provide services through virtual means and while it is not my preference, and I can’t wait to see you all again in person, it is working well and will continue for the foreseeable future. Dr. Elayne Tanner

Maybe I shouldn’t speak to this because I’m neither a parent of young kids, nor a teacher. But I am a mental health practitioner and have worked with parents, teachers and kids for many years. I don’t want to pontificate or fear monger but please, give some thought to what I am about to say. I am hearing more and more cases of all ages suiciding. Front line workers facing the daily horror; kids thinking they are behind in school and have no friends. Whatever. Please, don’t w...orry about the academics. Firstly, everyone is in the same boat and secondly, if it takes another school year to catch up, so what? Focus on finding the positives of the whole world shutting down for a year, and not in time of war. Appreciate all we do have and learn to breathe. Stressing yourself and your kids about school work or accomplishing something is not worth it. Teachers feeling incompetent; kids feeling bored; parents feeling panicwe will get through this pandemic and life will return to normal. But please, don’t add to the casualties of this brief time in history by ignoring mental health. Instead of a trauma, make this time into an adventure. Live like the pioneers or like astronauts. Whatever works for you. Have picnics in your living room. Family sleepovers in the basement. Anything. But please don’t make yourselves so stressed that you lose sight of the positives. We are alive. Many are not. As best you can, teach your kids to be grateful for that and all the other positives in their life. And don’t stress the small stuff. Suicide is a permanent result of a temporary problem. See more

I am a volunteer therapist supporting front line health care workers dealing with the Covid 19 pandemic and resultant trauma. If you are aware of anyone who could benefit from this service here is the link that will connect them to this service. https://covid19therapists.com.