“I’m lonely,” a woman told me. She describes how she longs for meaningful friendships but doesn’t know how to make those happen. With tears, she explains how she looks around, and it seems everyone has someone but her. She feels desperate and is void of any hope that things will change. She says she knows... Continue Reading →
In a previous blog, I offered to follow-up with more discussion on harm reduction approaches to drug and alcohol use. In the original blog, I cited Erickson (2018:189) saying, “Harm reduction, also known as harm minimization, is a strategy for reducing harm to drug users and the people close to them, in cases where complete... Continue Reading →
I spent much of my day yesterday watching the Queen's funeral. I was impressed by all of the pomp and circumstance. No one does pomp and circumstance better than the British! The day was filled with formalities, marching bands, processions, and symbolism. Along with all of the media coverage, I've also enjoyed reading all the... Continue Reading →
The wellness wheel is a model of eight parts that make up a well-rounded and balanced lifestyle. It is a visual reminder that our lives are made up of many facets and that each one is important and should be recognized. If we are out of balance in one area, that will affect other areas... Continue Reading →
It’s that time of year again where kids are getting up to early morning alarms, school lunches are packed, and busses slow down traffic in the morning and afternoon picking up and dropping off children. September has always felt like a “fresh start.” A time to reorganize and recommit. I love the fun-loving vibes of... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, I was performing internship duties at a location on the West Side of Chicago with one of the highest rates of incarceration, violence, poverty, and other aspects of disadvantage. I was scheduled to run my first session on Peace Management as a supplement to the needs of formerly incarcerated men, and... Continue Reading →
Do you agree that expected gender roles have major impacts on the success of a marriage? In a widely cited classical book, Judson and Mary Landis (1953:) argue, “We emphasized also the necessity for looking upon the wedding as a commitment binding both partners to permanent cooperation, and offering no limiting escape clause. Important also... Continue Reading →
In my time as a counselor, I have found myself disliking the broad question of: “What brings you to therapy?’ I find this question sometimes creates a wave of nervousness or pressure for the client. While it is certainly important for both the therapist and client to ultimately collaborate on goals and seek direction, I... Continue Reading →
You may have heard the words, “Quit being so defensive!” Hearing this statement can feel challenging because you may not even see an error in the way you responded. You may also have been responding in this way most of your life. Defensiveness is not a character flaw; rather, it ought to be looked at... Continue Reading →
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