Joan Munson, PhD is co-author of the book 50 Plus One: Great Life Lessons to Teach Your Children.
Dr. Munson is the author of more than a dozen articles on our site.
Dr. Munson has worked with incarcerated individuals, families, adolescents, and college students in a variety of settings, including county and city jails, community mental health centers, university counseling centers, and hospitals. She also has a background in individual, group, and couples counseling. Dr. Munson lives in Colorado with her husband and three energetic children. She currently has a private practice in Boulder where she sees adults, couples and adolescents.
Dr. Munson received her Ph.D. from The University of Denver, her Master of Arts degree in Community Counseling from George Washington University, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Illinois.
“Loving our kids is a primary parenting goal, but it is equally important to recognize that you can love your child without feeling like they always need to be happy and content.”
Dr. Munson was quoted on Parents.com in “Back-Talk Boot Camp: Stop the Sass” by Vicki Glembocki.
Dr. Munson was quoted in the WebMD.com digital magazine in “Calming Tiny Nerves” by Gina Shaw.
As the start of the school year approaches, have you seen your first grader go into meltdown mode at the mention of school, or watched your soon-to-be kindergartner regress back to baby talking and thumb sucking? Rest assured that you’re not alone. Each fall, millions of parents deal with their children’s beginning-of-the-year anxiety. For younger children... Read more »
Your teen prefers to sleep until noon. She is crabby when she wakes up, would rather talk to the dog than you. She isolates herself in her room for hours at a time. Does she have depression? Or is this normal teenager behavior? It's perfectly normal for teens to be moody, irritable, overly sensitive, and withdrawn.... Read more »
Bullying incidents are no longer limited to the playground or the locker room. Cyberbullying, the latest form of bullying sweeping across middle and high schools, is pervasive. And the recent rash of suicides by kids who’ve been mercilessly cyberbullied certainly sets off alarm bells. Keeping up with technology can seem overwhelming and induce a sense... Read more »
Even though she was only three years old, Mallory knew precisely how to get attention from her parents. When she wanted a cookie before dinner, she’d whine and hang on to her father’s pant leg as he cooked. She’d continue until her dad caved in and got her the cookie. Of course, by that point,... Read more »
In 2014, Colorado voters in the United States passed a landmark law legalizing the sale and purchase of marijuana. Fast-forward to 2020 and more than 40 states have laws legalizing marijuana is some form, including several states that have made possession and recreational use legal. Canada legalized marijuana in 2018 and similar movements are underway... Read more »
Our kids have the uncanny ability to get under our skin and bring out the very worst in us. We can lose our tempers and yell at our kids in a way that we would never do with a child who wasn't our own. Indeed, we often treat our loved ones the worst. Here's the... Read more »
Do you ever find yourself wondering, “When will this child stop defying me and start doing what I ask?” “I won’t do it!”...“You can’t make me!”...“I’m not going!” It can be incredibly frustrating, not to mention exhausting, dealing with a young child or toddler who finds it necessary to challenge your every request, act in a... Read more »
Having a young child in school can be a mixed blessing for parents. You might be relieved that your child is in a routine and you no longer have to organize their day for them. But if your child has behavior problems, school can suddenly become a major stress point for you, your child, and... Read more »
Sarah is trying to get her 3-year-old son Sam into the car to go to the library, when he suddenly decides that not only is his car seat a form of torture, but that he doesn’t want to go to the library after all. While trying to maintain her composure and calmly get Sam buckled,... Read more »
Do you have an adult child living at home who’s driving you crazy in one way or another? Do they seem unable to do chores around the house, contribute financially, or be respectful? If so, you are not alone. In recent years, the old expectation that kids will move on and out of the house has... Read more »