Articles
A directory of articles written by our counselors
| 10 Barriers to Communication in marriages and relationships Author: Natalie Chandler Here are 10 barriers to effective communication in marriage and relationships. Subject(s) Marriage Counseling, Relationships, Healthy Living |
| 10 Communication Myths in Relationships Author: Joleen Watson Good communication is one very important aspect of building a stronger and healthier relationship with your significant other Subject(s) Marriage Counseling, Relationships, Divorce, Family Issues |
| 15 SIGNS YOUR MARRIAGE IS IN TROUBLE Author: Tamara Wilhelm Do you think your marriage might be in trouble? Subject(s) Marriage Counseling, Relationships |
| 5 Ways of Handling Conflict: Which one are You? Author: Natalie Chandler The are five typical ways of handling conflict. Which one describes how you handle conflict? Subject(s) Marriage Counseling, Healthy Living, Relationships |
| 7 Tips to Keep Your Child from Being Self-Absorbed Author: Tamara Wilhelm It’s developmentally appropriate for a child and teen to be egocentric or “all about me”. However, there does come a point when that God-given egocentrism starts giving way to selfishness, a sense of entitlement, or being down right cocky and rude. In ord Subject(s) Parenting, Family Issues |
| A MEMORIAL TO MY FATHER Author: Joleen Watson Some may own castles on the bank of the Rhine and hire an orchestra each evening at nine Subject(s) Grief Issues |
| BECOMING A STEPPARENT Author: Joleen Watson With the high rate of divorce and remarriage, many couples are experiencing a new first: becoming a stepparent. Blending families creates it’s own set of challenges, and on top of that, stepparenting doesn’t exactly have a great image in our culture (e.g Subject(s) Parenting, Family Issues |
| CAN MARRIAGE COUNSELING HELP YOU? Six Attributes Author: Joleen Watson One of the most common questions we get asked as therapists is: How does Marriage Counseling really work? Subject(s) Marriage Counseling, Relationships |
| Codependency Author: Natalie Chandler When you hear the word codependency, many people think of being married to an alcoholic or growing up in a family with addictions. You might also think of someone who is addicted to relationships. Although these are both manifestations of codependency, th Subject(s) Codependency, Relationships, Healthy Living |
| Common Blended Family Problems Author: Tamara Wilhelm The U.S. statistic for divorce is now up to 60%. If a couple has a child when they divorce, and one of the ex-spouses decides to remarry, this creates a stepfamily. Stepfamilies are more common now than ever, and one-third of all children will be a part o Subject(s) Family Issues, Marriage Counseling, Parenting |
| Communication Tips for Parents Author: Teri Claassen Here are some great communiction types for parents when addressing their kids. Subject(s) Parenting, Relationships, Family Issues |
| Coping With a Loved One’s Long Term Illness Author: Tamara Wilhelm The statistics are alarming. In 2003 an estimated 556,902 people died from cancer. Every year there are 5.2 million people living with Alzheimer’s and it’s estimated that 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s in their lifetime. If that’s not en Subject(s) Grief Issues, Stress, Depression, Healthy Living |
| Coping With Divorce Author: Natalie Chandler Divorce is one of the most devastating, stressful, and life changing experiences a person can go through. Many people feel it is worse than a death of a loved one, in that you feel the feelings of the “death” of the relationship but are still forced to d Subject(s) Divorce, Marriage Counseling, Family Issues, Relationships |
| Coping with Grief and Loss Author: Natalie Chandler Losing something that is important to us is never easy. Luckily we are designed to be able to cope with and actually survive loss. Most people are just not aware of what’s “normal” when grieving. Our hope is that this article will help you understand gr Subject(s) Grief Issues, Stress |
| Coping With Infertility Author: Teri Claassen Infertility can be a devastating process for a couple to go through. Its roller coaster effects can bring stress, grieving, conflict, pain, and heartache into your relationship. Many people feel as if they live their life in two weeks cycles waiting to Subject(s) Healthy Living, Relationships, Stress, Family Issues |
| COPING WITH JOB LOSS Author: Joleen Watson With the decline of our economy in today’s world, job loss through company closures, downsizing and layoffs is on a steep incline. Many people are suddenly faced with the stresses of paying bills and taking care of their own life and their family, while Subject(s) Healthy Living, Stress, Depression |
| Coping with Sudden Loss Author: Joleen Watson The sudden, unexpected loss of a friend or loved one can be one of the most difficult things to cope with. While most losses are devastating, a sudden loss can leave us feeling uncertain, anxious, and vulnerable about life and the future. Subject(s) Grief Issues, Healthy Living |
| Cure for Perfectionism! Author: Natalie Chandler 10 months ago I was well on my way to be perfect!! Subject(s) Healthy Living |
| Emotional Abuse: The Hidden Attacker Author: Natalie Chandler My dream come true? I was married at age 21- naively excited and full of hope! “Life” had begun, right? Subject(s) Relationships, Marriage Counseling |
| Emotional Affairs Author: Joleen Watson With the explosion of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, as well as the increase in our dependence on technology like cell phones, the internet and computers, we are seeing a rather drastic increase in emotional infidelity in relationsh Subject(s) Infidelity, Marriage Counseling, Relationships |
| Enmeshment Author: Tamara Wilhelm It is common for relationships to begin with an intense start, where you spend endless hours talking, texting an emailing back and forth... Subject(s) Relationships, Healthy Living, Marriage Counseling |
| Fair Fighting Rules Author: Teri Claassen In all relationships there are conflicts and learning how to argue in a fair manner is important. In couples therapy and psychotherapy you should be learning these tools and have a safe environment to practice them in. Subject(s) Marriage Counseling, Relationships, Healthy Living, Boundaries |
| Faith Offers Hope for Relationships Author: Natalie Chandler Even the best of marriages are challenging and can be difficult. Many couples were not modeled positive ways to communicate with their partners. We see couples that struggle with communication, getting their needs met and identifying their partners needs, Subject(s) Marriage Counseling, Faith-Based Living, Relationships, Healthy Living |
| Finding The Right Therapist Author: Tamara Wilhelm The decision to begin therapy is hard enough, but after you decide that you need therapy, who do you call? We’ve designed the following list to make this search more easy Subject(s) Healthy Living, Marriage Counseling |
| Focus on Feelings Author: Joleen Watson A feeling is an internal sensation or emotion. It is an involuntary response to a mental or physical stimulus! Since feelings are involuntary, they are neither right or wrong. Subject(s) Healthy Living |
| Forgiveness- An Important Part of the Healing Process Author: Teri Claassen Forgiveness is an extremely scary process for many. Oftentimes people don’t know how to do it, nor do they realize the powerful healing that can come as a result of it. Subject(s) Relationships, Healthy Living |
| Healing after the loss of a child Author: Teri Claassen Losing a child is one of the top fears parents face. It is one of nature’s cruelest moments. Whether it is due to stillbirth, miscarriage, sudden infant death syndrome, illness, or after years spent with the child, the pain is intense and crippling. Subject(s) Grief Issues, Parenting, Depression, Stress |
| HEALING FROM INFIDELITY Author: Joleen Watson Infidelity is one of the most devastating things that can happen to any relationship and the effects can be severe and longstanding. One in every 2.7 couples is touched by infidelity, and the numbers are on the rise. What are some things you can do if y Subject(s) Infidelity, Marriage Counseling, Relationships |
| Healing the Loss of Hurricane Katrina Author: Natalie Chandler As most of you are aware, at last count, there are 2,600 evacuees in Indianapolis from Hurricane Katrina. Subject(s) Grief Issues |
| Help! What’s the Most Effective Way to Discipline My Child? Author: Joleen Watson Children do not always do what parents want, which can be frustrating to the parent and cause a seemingly never-ending pattern of conflict. When a child misbehaves, because all children (and teens) need rules and expectations to help them learn, the pare Subject(s) Parenting, Family Issues |
| Helpful Tips for Reducing Anxiety Author: Natalie Chandler Here are a few helpful tips that will help you reduce anxiety. Subject(s) Stress, Healthy Living, Depression |
| Helping your child cope with divorce Author: Teri Claassen Divorce can be a devastating experience for all involved. Many people, especially kids, feel as if the world they used to know has now died. It is important for parents to understand ways to minimize the effects of divorce on their kids. Subject(s) Divorce, Marriage Counseling, Relationships, Parenting |
| How to Co-parent Effectively After Your Divorce Author: Teri Claassen Parenting after a divorce can be a difficult task for parents to manage. It takes patience, good communication skills, and the ability for each parent to push their personal issues with their ex to the side. Many people say, “We divorced because we couldn Subject(s) Marriage Counseling, Parenting, Divorce, Family Issues |
| How to Feel Good about Yourself Author: Natalie Chandler How you feel about yourself is called self-esteem. Most teens struggle with a low self-esteem. It is really hard to feel good about yourself with so much pressure to be like everyone else. Here are some tips that will help you be you and have a more posi Subject(s) Healthy Living |
| How to help someone you care about with body image and eating disorder issues Author: Teri Claassen Unfortunately eating disorders and body image issues are affecting women and men of all ages. Whether the influence of friends, media, or family issues are to blame, these issues can be difficult to get through alone and can sometimes be deadly. This is w Subject(s) Healthy Living |
| How Your Thinking Impacts Your Relationships Author: Joleen Watson There are many unhealthy patterns of thinking that we learn over the course of our lives. These unhealthy ways of thinking are called cognitive distortions Subject(s) Relationships, Marriage Counseling, Healthy Living |
| IS YOUR LIFE BALANCED? Author: Joleen Watson What is the best behavioral treatment for depression, anxiety, and a host of other issues? Subject(s) Healthy Living, Stress, Current Events, Faith-Based Living |
| Meet - Teri Claassen Author: Teri Claassen Interview with Counselor Teri Claassen Subject(s) Current Events |
| PLANTING THE SEED OF INTERDEPENDENCE Author: Joleen Watson So often, when individuals take the first step to working on their relationships in therapy, though the issues at hand may seem very different, the end goal is the same Subject(s) Healthy Living, Relationships |
| Postpartum Depression Author: Tamara Wilhelm The birth of a baby can be a very exciting, stressful, joyous and anxious time in a woman’s life. As you’re preparing for the arrival, there may also be something else that arrives in which a woman isn’t expecting….depression. Subject(s) Depression, Parenting, Stress, Family Issues |
| PREMARITAL COUNSELING: What To Discuss Before You Get Married Author: Joleen Watson There are so many things that need to be discussed about marriage before the wedding, and unfortunate as it may be, sometimes couples can get so caught up in the planning stages of the wedding ceremony, they forget to keep the focus on what it’s really al Subject(s) Relationships, Marriage Counseling |
| Prevention is the Best Cure Author: Natalie Chandler etting married is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It is a very exciting time for you, your family, and your friends. Too often, many couples spend more time, money, and energy planning the wedding then they do preparing for the marriage. Subject(s) Relationships, Marriage Counseling |
| Relationship Tips for Singles Author: Joleen Watson With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, one question we hear quite often in counseling work with singles is: “How do you meet people when you are dating and looking for a relationship”? Subject(s) Relationships, Healthy Living |
| Sexual Addiction? Author: Tamara Wilhelm Sexual addiction is becoming more recognized by society as a disorder and extremely serious condition. Sexual addiction has been around for centuries. Subject(s) Sexual Addiction, Marriage Counseling, Healthy Living |
| SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ADDICTIONS Author: Joleen Watson You might be wondering why your friend or loved one is choosing drugs over friends and family. Or perhaps you are struggling with emotionally supporting someone you care about as they go through legal problems due to drug or alcohol use. Maybe you are e Subject(s) Substance Abuse, Healthy Living |
| STRESS!!! Author: Natalie Chandler We all have stress in our lives. Some stress is good. Positive stress keeps us ready and alert to deal with or avoid danger. Subject(s) Stress, Healthy Living |
| Suicide: An Increasing Risk for Teens Author: Joleen Watson Suicide rates in adolescents and youth remain unacceptably high in the United States. Subject(s) Stress, Healthy Living, Parenting, Teen Issues |
| The Devastation of a Miscarriage Author: Natalie Chandler I never imagined a few years ago I would one day write about my own experience having a miscarriage. I had heard of women who had one or multiple miscarriages, but you can never fully understand the loss until you experience one yourself. Subject(s) Grief Issues, Stress, Parenting |
| The Secret to Keeping New Years Resolutions Author: Natalie Chandler One of the most difficult challenges faced by a therapist is initiating lasting change in our clients. We are all creatures of habit. Some of us are uncomfortable but are comfortable being uncomfortable because it is familiar and a habit. Subject(s) Healthy Living |
| Tips on how to communicate with your partner when the conversation is heated! Author: Natalie Chandler Here are a few tips on how to communicate with your partner when the conversation is heated. Subject(s) Marriage Counseling, Relationships, Family Issues, Faith-Based Living |
