01Feb

Married to Your Counselor? –The Practical Side

Life is full of changes. This week I learned that a friend of mine has been promoted and will move across the country soon. A few days after that, my phone rang and I was told a family member’s cancer has returned. And just this morning a friend of mine’s infant daughter was admitted to […]

01Jan

A New Type of Resolution—The Practical Side

I have said in past blogs that I do not believe in New Year’s resolutions. What I mean by that is that I am always trying to better myself, though I often fall short. My quest to grow personally does not just happen in the month of January each year. My journey of personal growth […]

21Dec

Getting in Touch

“Life engenders life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”  -Sarah Bernhardt I have this beautiful handwritten letter from my Great Aunt Bea, written several Christmases ago, probably as an insert in some long lost holiday card. The paper is old and worn from many readings, so now I keep it framed behind glass. It’s […]

16Dec

Operation: Love Yourself

As a therapist, one of the most common complaints I hear from clients is about low self-esteem. Being a woman who has struggled with her weight for years because of an unfortunate medical diagnosis, I know personally the struggles that many women experience when looking in the mirror. Although there are men out there who also struggle […]

11Dec

Seasons Change, Our Need for Connection Remains

Tomorrow morning if you wake up And the future is unclear I… I will be here -Steven Curtis Chapman, I Will Be Here The holiday season can be a time of connection where friends and family get together for parties, dinners and other gatherings. Everywhere one goes there are reminders of the season…

06Dec

Crafting Gratitude—The Personal Side

A year or two ago I started a new practice. At the end of every day I mentally list 3 things I am grateful for.  I also sometimes list one thing I could have done better that day. I usually do this as I am falling asleep, but sometimes I do it throughout the day […]

01Dec

Crafting Gratitude — The Practical Side

Thanksgiving has just passed, and now I am counting the days until Christmas. I love Christmas, because I love giving (and getting) gifts. I love lit trees, delicious treats, and family traditions that have been celebrated and passed down for thirty plus years. And, yet, as I am getting older, I have come to love Thanksgiving […]

25Nov

Speaking Different Languages

A good friend recently asked me why her daughter was “acting out (being short, non-compliant, angry).” She explained, “I’ve done everything to make her happy. I buy her whatever she wants. No matter what I do for her she is still defiant, and seems unhappy. I’ve tried sitting her down and asking what’s going on, […]

11Nov

Children and Emotional Distress

One of the most challenging experiences for a parent is learning how to help a child in emotional distress.  A parent can feel overwhelmed and inadequate, when faced with the acute emotional distress of their child; especially when they try to respond by attempting to calm the child down or with problem solving…and it doesn’t work. Panic can […]

06Nov

Care for the Caregiver — The Personal Side

For the personal piece on caregiving, I wanted to share some advice from a dear friend. My friend of many years—let’s call her Lily—is caregiver to a young son who is currently struggling with two different types of mental illness.