Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalms 107:1 GRATITUDE TURNS WHAT WE HAVE INTO ENOUGH (UNKNOWN) The last thing anyone wants to be told when they are suffering is to “be grateful.” This comment can feel trite to those experiencing loss, financial struggles, grief, relationship distress, or many
Why Clear and Consistent Boundaries are Good for Children ‘The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Psalm 16:6 A group of landscape architects conducted a study in the early 2000s to determine what impact a fence might have on children’s behavior at a playground. In the
In the wild west of adolescent parenting, many people face this new frontier fraught with fears and anxieties. The parents’ mature brain has a negative bias towards the environment around it. This strategy scans for danger. And whether dangers are real or imagined, we naturally work to preserve ourselves and our young. Experts like Daniel
The word “trauma” is often thrown around in the media and has become a common topic of discussion in our society. But what is psychological trauma? The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an emotional response to a distressing event. In the United States, rates of trauma exposure are estimated to be high. Approximately 70% of
There are many benefits to mindful meditation. Mindful meditation can be used within Dialectetical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT is a modality that counselors use to equip clients with the tools necessary to achieve their goals. The four pillars of DBT include Distress Tolerance Skills, Emotional Regulation Skills, Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills, and Mindfulness. Mindfulness is defined as or our ability to stay in
What do you think of when you hear the phrase “Christian” counseling? We hear so many people say they want Christian counseling, but what exactly do they mean? The quick answer is that it depends on your theology. If we look at counseling on a continuum, on one end is secular psychology, which uses science and
There are many situations in which we react to situations and people instead of responding to them? For example, if your teenager comes to you and tells you they crashed your brand-new car and totaled it, would you react or would you be able to respond? If you get to work and you see someone
Children experiencing emotional distress often do not have the ability to verbally express their emotions. Play therapy is a powerful way for children to find healing. I’m sure we’ve all witnessed a preschooler throwing a temper tantrum. It may be easy to dismiss that child as spoiled. More than likely the child is experiencing several
If you think you may suffer from Illness Anxiety disorder, consider the following scenario. You are at the gym, getting a good sweat session in. As you run at a faster pace on the treadmill, you begin to feel a minor tenderness in your lower abdomen. The spiraling of thoughts flood your conscious mind: “Was it that
Ten million Americans struggle with seasonal depression. As actor Stewart Stafford said “January is the calendar’s ingrown hair.” Winter can be a very difficult time of year for people, especially in areas that have a lot of snow and cold temperatures. January seems to be an especially difficult month after the ups and downs from
