Labor Day is a unique time that represents not only an important holiday, but also time to go back to school for the fall. It got me thinking about how busy life gets when our kids go back to school. In previous post I have mentioned the importance of taking a time out from the …
Joining is a term used by many couples and family therapists. I use it with couples to find ways they can join with each other instead of being so against each other. Often times we get so caught up in a fight or argument that we lose sight of what we are even trying to …
Starting a blended family is a great new opportunity in your life! It can also leave you with some questions. What is the step-parent step-child relationship going to be like? If there are step-siblings are they going to get along? How do you deal with cultural differences, or differences in established patterns and routines? These are all legitimate concerns, …
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A few weeks ago my husband and I got sick at the same time. It wasn’t pretty or a pleasant experience by any means. Having kids and being sick at the same time is really quite an interesting challenge. I am sure many of you have experienced something like that, but for us it was a first. It …
This spring is going by so fast, and now I am looking at my calendar and can’t believe it’s almost May. I really enjoy the spring because to me it’s time to look at refreshing yourselves and starting new. To me spring is that time of year when we can start feeling rejuvenated and gain a new …
Last weekend I had the honor of going to Washington D.C. for a conference with the AAMFT. During the conference I had the opportunity to visit the Capitol Building, The Lincoln Memorial, The White House and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I, for the first time, got to share in our American history. It started me thinking about how …
In therapy sessions I like to ask “what are your hopes?” Often times people are caught off guard and don’t know how to respond. In life when we surround ourselves with stress, or sadness or trauma we tend to forget about the four letter word, HOPE. In a therapeutic setting when we start dealing with hope I …
The other day I was looking out at the beach and watching the smoothness of the water. I’m still amazed how beautiful it is. Just a couple weeks ago the waves were fiercely crashing and it started to rain so hard that I couldn’t even see out the office window into the parking lot. It made me think …
Outside my neighbor’s house is an old tree that he has decided to cut down. When I look at the tree all I can think about is its history and the stories I am sure the tree could tell. In some ways I wish it could talk to tell us its stories and to help us learn …
January. This is the month of starting fresh, making resolutions or setting goals and looking at the New Year with excitement. Although the month starts with such enthusiasm and conviction, by the middle of the month you may start feeling discouraged, a loss of hope or motivation and feeling of being stuck already. With the excitement of the …
