We live in a hyper-connected age, yet we feel lonelier than ever before. “The number of Americans with no close friends has tripled since 1985” (Forbes). Because of the Internet, we can experience limitless virtual “connection,” but that doesn’t replace real-life interaction. Social relationships, whether with family or friends, play a vital role in [...]
Do you feel as if people don’t respect you? That they take advantage of you, don’t listen to you, or that you end up in situations where you are unhappy? When you learn to set healthy boundaries, your self-esteem will be strengthened, your relationships can improve, and you can experience the freedom and empowerment [...]
Even if you’ve never heard of the four main communication styles, you’ll probably recognize them instantly when they’re described. They are: Aggressive Passive Passive-aggressive Assertive A person isn’t defined entirely by one style, but when they face conflict, they tend to return to their baseline, which is one of these four types. Each situation [...]
Imagine you had a bad day at work. What is the first thing you do when you get home? Do you get yourself a snack and sit down to watch something? Do you call a friend to talk? How do you cope with a hard day or overwhelming emotions? Imagine that instead of using [...]
According to Kessler, et al. (2005), about twenty percent of all adolescents in the U.S. face a diagnosable mental health condition. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) (2017) found suicide to be the third leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 to 19. It is also estimated that just [...]
You are altogether beautiful my love, there is no flaw in you. – Song of Solomon 4:7 When you consider the fact that the media, entertainment industries, and magazines are all presenting women (and men) as flawless, it’s no wonder that eating disorders are becoming increasingly more common. Photoshopped images are creating the impression [...]
In the last several decades, the legalization of marijuana has been hotly debated, and its growing popularity has affected teenagers from all backgrounds. Teenagers in counseling often claim that marijuana is “natural” or “organic” or that it has health benefits. Unfortunately, lecturing adolescents about what they should not do often pushes them in the [...]
When someone hears the term “OCD” images of an obsessively clean person comes to mind. Perhaps someone who has to wash their hands three times after shaking someone’s hand. In reality, true Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) covers a broader range of conditions and can deteriorate the quality of life for the person living with [...]
Play therapy for children might sound too simple at first. Don’t children play anyway? What is therapeutic about it? Play isn't just playing, though. It’s a vital part of a child’s world, and as such it provides a powerful treatment modality in therapy for children. As they play in their everyday lives, children learn [...]
Codependent Relationships Defined You may have first heard of the word codependency in the 1980s in the context of alcoholism and drug addiction. A “codependent” referred to the spouse or family member of someone who was struggling with substance abuse. To be “codependent” meant that the family member changed their life to adapt to [...]
