09|2025
As a family therapist, one of the most common phrases I hear from clients is “I’m sorry.” It is often uttered with the intention of diffusing tension, shifting the conversation, or appeasing a partner. However, many of these apologies lack the depth and sincerity required to truly heal wounds and foster emotional connection. In fact,… Read more »
08|2025
As an Executive Director overseeing an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) designed for individuals with both mental health and substance use disorders, it’s vital to recognize the complexity and interconnectedness of these dual challenges. Individuals often grapple with overlapping struggles, making it difficult for both them and healthcare professionals to determine whether they are dealing with… Read more »
11|2022
Make preparations in advance. Recovering addicts need to assemble a “recovery kit” they can take with them before joining their families for holiday celebrations. This kit would include contact information for the recovering person’s sponsor and therapist. People in recovery that may be traveling out of town need to bring reading material, whether it is… Read more »
10|2020
Drop the word “exercise,” throw out the term “physical education” and stop cowering when you hear “dance.” Replace those dreary and loaded terms with the sheer joy and the simple pleasure of moving your body. No matter your size, your shape, the flesh that jiggles, the bones that stick out, the maleness or femaleness of… Read more »
09|2020
Anxiety is different than fear but it is related to it. Fear is a feeling of tension that is associated with a known source of danger. Anxiety is also a feeling of tension, but in this case, the danger or the threat of danger is unknown. Anxiety is often anticipatory — worrying about the future…. Read more »
09|2020
When that overwhelming feeling strikes, it’s easy to feel powerless and immobile. Everything feels too big. It’s not just everyday busyness and packed schedules. When we’re overwhelmed, just making dinner becomes a monumental effort. Take the Thriving quiz below to see how well you’ve learned to deal with overwhelm. True or False 1. I try… Read more »
06|2020
If trying to maintain balance in your life makes you sometimes feel like Terrifico, the Terrified Tightrope Walker in the Circus of Life, working without a net while the crowd below holds their breath in anticipation of a slip, you’re not alone. These days almost all of us have so many demands placed on our… Read more »
11|2019
Sober for the 2020 Holidays About this time every year, we like to take a closer look at the unique challenge of staying holiday sober. Sobriety is not just wishful thinking – it’s a daily commitment to making good, healthy choices over bad, destructive ones. Staying holiday sober takes extra effort on the part of… Read more »
11|2019
From Hopelessness to Happiness—a Learnable Life Skill If life could be graded, Anthony would give his an “F” with not much optimism for the future. His new job is stressful, his teenage daughter is struggling with depression, he and his wife are fighting a lot lately, and he hates himself for the extra 50 pounds… Read more »
