World champion swimmer, Michael Phelps, is one of the most successful athletes of all time. He’s said, “You don’t have to wait for it to get that bad. Therapy isn’t just for people struggling with serious mental illness, you can reach out at any time you think that you need help. It’s proven to work.” Despite his success, he reported that he has struggled with both anxiety and depression for most of his life. Michael made the decision to seek assistance from a professional therapist. He has credited this choice as helping to save his life. The Stigma of Counseling […]
Music is a Bridge It can move your soul, build memories, create connections with others. It is a universal experience for all humans. We may not all enjoy the same type of music, but cultures across the world have been creating and experiencing music for thousands of years. Some songs evoke emotions and memories that bring us tears, while others light a fire in our soul and push us to be the best we can be. Studies have shown music to elicit both basic and complex emotions. Different parts of the brain can be stimulated by the various chords, tempos, […]
Since 2013, my husband and I have had the tradition of keeping what we call a “Good Things Jar.” In January, we pick out a new jar and decorate it with the year. Of course you can create your jar any time of the year. Throughout the year, we use note cards to keep track of good things that happen. We write them down, fold them up, and place them in the jar. Finally, on December 31st, we grab a growler of our favorite beer, start a fire, make a pallet, and pour out our jar. We take turns grabbing […]
Some people might want to see a Christian Counselor because it resonates with their belief system, but what should you expect? Are we going to just read the Bible together? Will they judge me? Are they just going to tell me to pray about it? Let’s look at 3 of the common myths: 1. “Preachy.” A common fear is that a Christian Counselor will just preach at them and tell them that they need to get right with Jesus, pray, and read the Bible. 2. Close-minded or Judgmental. Can you really tell your Christian Counselor everything? What if they judge me? […]
Parenting is the most challenging job there is. No debates necessary. The stakes are high. Effective parents set out to rear productive, responsible members of society. Our hope is that our children will grow up in a world free from rejection and disappointments. A world where they will be loved and valued for their individuality. So, how do we prepare our children for the diverse world that we live in? How do we teach our kids to respect and appreciate that we are all different? COMMUNICATION For starters, let’s be honest and open with our children. Have you ever heard […]
Twenty-two. That’s how many years of marriage I have under my belt. I met my husband while I was a senior in high school. I can remember the day we met like it was yesterday. One Saturday in December of 1991, I was spending the day with my sister and nephew. We decided to go to Wendy’s for a Frosty dessert after shopping at the mall. When I got to the drive-thru window, time stood still. There he was in his gray, striped uniform shirt and baseball cap with Wendy’s written across the front. My future husband took my order […]
The holidays are really great. It’s an opportunity to get together with friends and family you haven’t seen in a while, indulge in some delicious food, and rejuvenate for the upcoming new year. However, it can also be semi-dreadful knowing you will run into multiple people who think it is ok to ask intrusive, inappropriate questions. You know the questions I’m talking about: When are you graduating? When are you going to get a real job? Is that boyfriend of yours going to propose? Are you going to propose/get married? Will you start having kids soon? Are you going to […]
As the weather changes and temperatures drop, sometimes our moods follow suit. Some people experience increased sadness and sluggishness during the fall and winter months. Winter blues, for some is a manageable and temporary state of sadness and malaise. For others, the “blues” may be more serious and result in seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. In this case, a person experiencing winter depression for two or more consecutive years, would need to seek the help of a mental health professional. People who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or seasonal depression, may have low energy, feel sad, irritable, unmotivated, and less […]
As I sit here, taking a break from all the holiday baking I am responsible for this year, a sense of relief comes over me. This year, I am not hosting and it should be relatively low key. (Fingers crossed.) When I think about the stress that can come with spending time with family at the holidays, I have to take a deep breath! Family can be overwhelming. Everyone has questions about your life and opinions on how they could be living it better. Whether you have been married for a one year or 20 years, it can feel like […]
Are you the parent of a child diagnosed with ODD? Are you doing your best to parent your child with little progress? You are not alone. Research suggests that as many as 16% of adolescents have some degree of ODD. In order to help your child, it’s necessary to first have a clear understanding of the nature of the disorder. WHAT IS ODD? Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or ODD, is one of the most common mental health disorders found in adolescents and teenagers. This disorder is characterized by a frequent and persistent pattern of anger, irritability, arguing, defiance or vindictiveness toward […]