November 28, 2017 When will they learn! When will pull their stink’n heads out of their ____________ (add your favorite body part). In calm situations, teenagers tend to reason and make decisions in shockingly similar ways to their adult counterparts. But in hot, tense, or urgent situations adolescents will lean toward high risk/high reward choices or gravitate to instant gratification over delayed gratification almost every time. This biological predisposition of the not

July 21, 2017 Einstein said that there are only two ways to live your life: as though nothing is a miracle, or as though everything is a miracle. For me, working for Real Life has been a miracle. I’ve been that adult working with teens since 2003, before I was an adult! Running around with teens, talking with them, getting to know them, working with them for so long, I’ve noticed some things: 1. Middle school boys at their BEST smell like Axe body spray. 2. The difference

May 15, 2017 Overwhelmed?! Me too. It’s safe to say that I feel overwhelmed multiple times a week. Too much to do, not enough time, guilt about not being a good enough: fill in the blank (father, husband, employee, coach, you name it). The secret is: you’re not alone. I’m not alone. Even though anxiety grips me and knocks me down multiple times a week, I keep that smile pasted on my face like a mask of protection. Nobody knows I am flipping out on the inside. And when I can’

Northern Michigan Counselor Jake Tracy is a Therapist at Real Life Counseling of Northern Michigan. To learn more visit RealLifeCounseling.com

I’m Jake Tracy (MA, LLPC), a counselor at Real Life Counseling of Northern Michigan in Petoskey. We help children, teens, families and adults thrive! Today, we’ve got some simple tips for those overwhelming days. What to do when you or someone you love is feeling overwhelmed! Identify the feeling. Try to put words to exactly what you're feeling. Don’t be afraid to name exactly what you're feeling. The monster under your bed is only scary because you don’t know what it is.

Jake Tracy is a counselor at the Petoskey practice Real Life Counseling of Northern Michigan, dedicated to helping teens and their parents thrive!

September 21, 2016 People are happy because of ONE THING: Breathing Room. Lets take a moment and break that down into 3 parts. Living life with margins is a key to success. The happiest people live life with a little bit of breathing room. They have breathing room with their time and their money. Let’s break each of those down to live a life with margin to be happier and healthier. 1. Happy built-in breathing room with their Money… If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, or

Borrowed an old video from my First Presbyterian Days, but it bears repeating! From parents, friends, pastors and YoungLife leaders, what every teenage girl cannot miss! This is content that the young ladies in our lives can’t hear enough of! Jake Tracy is a youth pastor and a counselor at the Petoskey practice Real Life Counseling of Northern Michigan, dedicated to helping teens and their parents thrive! Click on the link above to learn more or schedule an appointment tod

Learn more about Jake Tracy, therapist at RealLifeCounseling.com

Hey Northern Michigan, watch and read more from Petoskey counselor Jake Tracy at RealLifeCounseling.com Therapy Thoughts for families, teens and parents struggling with anger. This is great content for teens, students, parents, or anyone.

If you’re like most parents of teenagers, your students grades are never good enough. As parents we expect the best for our kids and hold them in the highest esteem (most of the time). We want what’s best for them and expect the best out of them. So what can you do to help your son thrive in school? Here are seven helpful tips for bringing those grades up! 1. Set boundaries. Then stick to them. A key great parenting skill with adolescents is consistency! “As soon as you g

It’s May in northern Michigan, which is mud season. May is also graduation season. And as my senior friends start to think about graduating, what’s next, who they want to become, and what they want to do in the world, an old Robert Frost poem comes to mind. And I’ll probably slaughter it and not give it the justice it deserves but I’m going to try to recite it to you anyway. It’s a poem about vocation and advocation, what you love to do and what you have to do for money, your

Originally Posted on April 8, 2016 by mrjaketracy They go straight to their phones. Basking in the neon glow of Instagram, counting Likes, wearing them like badges of honor. Comparing and contrasting their profile to the girl at the end of lunch table. Am I pretty enough? Am I skinny enough? Am I smart enough? Am I rich enough? Am I cool enough? Funny enough? Smart enough? Do I fit in? Am I an individual? Thigh gap, hard abs, max bench, the right shoes, hip style. The ri

February 6, 2016 Just fair warning, this will take time. And it will seem awkward at first, if you’ve never done it. But give it a try. Dive in head first. Take courage. Talking to your kids is hard! Avoiding coming down on them or pushing YOUR opinion on them while you do it is even harder. Fear not! You can do it! Relationships take time. Your time is valuable, and so is your teen’s. Slow down, talk with them. Consider it an investment in each other. Soon the eye r

November 16, 2015 Consider how you communicate with your audience, be it your parents, friends, spouse, coworkers, or the public. Does the message come out the way you intended it to? Do they hear your heart? Or are you adding to the noise? The fastest, most efficient way to communicate may not always be the clearest way to get your point across. How might you need to change the ways you have your most important conversations? Of all the way we connect with the world, h

November 12, 2015 You can do this! You earning respect is not as complicated as you think it is. People are people are people. Your kids need you! Even if you’re already in a hole and have some digging out to do, these simple tips are a great start! 7. Lavish Them With Compliments. Seriously, it works! Make them sincere and let them flow generously! It does not get old. (We’re all a little bit narcissistic). If there is something you love about your kid, tell em! E

March 4th, 2019 Your great day begins with a great moment. Even a single moment can swing the momentum of the rest of our day. We control our (reactions to) our emotions. Our emotions don't control us. Try this phrase out: "I'm noticing I'm feeling __________". When we are mindful of our emotions and give them a name in the moment, we begin to take back control.

Navigating the teenage years can be a tumultuous journey filled with emotional ups and downs. As adolescents grapple with identity, peer pressure, and academic expectations, mental health challenges often arise. Mental health counseling can be a beacon of hope, providing teens with the tools they need to thrive. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of mental health counseling for teenagers, the benefits it offers, and practical steps for parents and guardians to

Teenage years can be a tumultuous time filled with emotional ups and downs. As adolescents navigate the complexities of growing up, they often face unique challenges that can impact their mental health. Understanding these challenges and implementing effective strategies can empower teens to manage their mental well-being. This blog post explores practical approaches to overcoming mental health challenges during the teenage years. Understanding Teen Mental Health Challenges C

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any healthy family dynamic. When family members can express their thoughts and feelings openly, it fosters understanding, strengthens relationships, and resolves conflicts. However, achieving this level of communication can be challenging. In this blog post, we will explore practical tips for improving communication within your family, drawing on insights from family counseling. Understanding the Importance of Communication Before