Imagine Hope Counseling Group Blog
Inspiring Hope for Life & Relationships
Reshaping it All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness by Candace Cameron Bure
Candace, who most of us remember as the oldest daughter DJ on the hit TV series “Full House” is now grown up with 3 kids of her own! In this book, she talks about her faith and how it has helped her to overcome a lot of hurdles in her life, including a struggle with food addiction that started as a teenager working in Hollywood.
Candace recalls the struggles of growing up in front of the public eye, and the criticism she received once she started to put on weight. Now 25 pounds lighter than she was on Full House, she talks about how she lost the weight with a lifestyle change, not a diet. Her change included portion control, exercise, prayer, and learning self-control.
At the end of each chapter are lighthearted subtitles such as “The Main Ingredient”, “A Slice of Advice”, “A Pinch of Practicality”, “Food for Thought”, “Candy Dish”, and “From My Stove to Yours”. Each of these includes scripture, stories, advice, healthy recipes, and a lot of laughs!
If you are struggling with food addiction or losing weight, or even are just looking for an easy read that is positive and uplifting, I would recommend this book. Continue to read this week as we share more recommendations with you! 
Written by: Christy Fogg, MSW, LCSW
Christy Fogg, MSW, LCSW is a licensed therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. Christy enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Christy also provides family counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling.
Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield.
Tags: Reshaping it All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness by Candace Cameron Bure
Posted in Eating Disorders, Faith Based Living | No Comments »
It is spring! Which means it is time for us to share some of our favorite reads as we look forward to nicer weather
The Law of Happiness: How Spiritual Wisdom and Modern Science Can Change Your Life By Henry Cloud
We live in a world where people are always seeking happiness. Through medications, moving up the corporate ladder, and keeping up with the “Jones’s”, our society is filled with ideas of how to reach that feeling of true happiness.
So much of what people think will make them happy is through things on the outside, but Henry Cloud helps us see through research and biblical references that true sustainable happiness comes from the inside.
This book covers several different ways and character traits that people have to achieve sustainable happiness. Here are some of my favorite chapters:
- Happy people are givers
- Happy people aren’t waiting for someday
- Happy people connect
- Happy people don’t compare themselves
- Happy people are grateful
- Happy people have boundaries
- Happy people forgive
- Happy people have a faith
There are many more chapters and tons of powerful info that map out the road to happiness. Check it out for ways to overhaul your life towards a happy and fulfilling life!
Check in all week for more great books!
Written by Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC
Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC is a licensed therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. Teri enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Teri also does family counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling. Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield.
Tags: The Law of happiness by Henry Cloud
Posted in depression, Faith Based Living, Spirituality, ways to cope | No Comments »
In studying the Serenity Prayer this week, we want an awareness & focus to be on what the words mean, not memorization and repetitiveness of the popular prayer. Let’s look at the second line which focuses on acceptance.
“To Accept the Things I Cannot Change”
According to Dictionary.com, the word “accept” can mean:
- to receive with approval or favor
- to agree or consent to
- to receive
- to regard as true or sound
- to regard as normal, suitable or usual
- to understand
- to receive without adverse reaction
After asking for peace (serenity), we then are asking to understand, or to regard/receive as true and sound the things we cannot change. This means we acknowledge there are some things, people & choices that are out of our control, and that we accept these things. We seek undertanding of our personal limitations without adverse/negative reaction. We admit, “Hey this is normal & usual that I cannot change all things, & the same applies to everyone else”. We have to evaluate and recognize, “I cannot make my spouse quit smoking cigarettes”, or “I cannot make other drivers more friendly on the roads”, or “I cannot make my parent give me the approval I am wanting from them”. We realize if we continue we will drive ourselves crazy (adverse reaction!).
We encourage you to evaluate if there’s anything in your life that you’re trying to control that you need to let go. We hope you keep reading with us the rest of the week as we discuss Courage & Wisdom. Thank you!
Written by: Tamara Wilhelm MA, LMHC
*Tamara enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, & couples counseling at Imagine Hope. We also specialize in family counseling, child & adolescent counseling. Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Noblesville, Zionsville, Westfield & Fishers.
Tags: 12-step groups, Serenity Prayer
Posted in addictions, coping skills, Faith Based Living, Relationships, Spirituality, stress | No Comments »
The Serenity Prayer is commonly linked to 12 step programs and is used by many as a coping tool. It says:
“God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.”
When we truly internalize these words, it can remind us that we do have power over some things in our lives, but not all things. When we can accept this in our lives, we are able to shift our expectations and be more at peace about what is going on in our lives.
Over this week Imagine Hope is going to help you see how using the Serenity Prayer in your daily life can help anyone- even those who don’t struggle with addictions! This week we are going to break down the Serenity Prayer phrase by phrase to help you have a better understanding of it’s meaning and how YOU can use it in your life!
God Grant Me The Serenity…
Even if you don’t believe in God or a higher power, this prayer used as a mantra can be helpful. When we look at the word serenity, it helps us understand the intent and the tone of this prayer.
The word serenity is defined as: “Peace; the absence of mental stress or anxiety; quiet; peace of mind; tranquility; a disposition free from stress or emotion.” This prayer’s intention is about looking for peace and calm in the midst of emotional trouble. As you use this prayer in your own life, be in tune with what you are asking to be “granted”. You are asking for a calmer spirit.
Keep reading all week as we break down the rest of the Serenity Prayer! We hope you start praying for peace in your own lives!
Written by Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC
Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC is a licensed therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. Teri enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Teri also does family counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling. Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield.
Tags: Serenity Prayer
Posted in addictions, Anxiety, coping skills, Faith Based Living, Spirituality | No Comments »
When I was five years old, my mother read to me The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. This book is about a little stuffed rabbit who was made of velveteen and satin. The rabbit was given to a boy for Christmas. As per usual with little children, after the newness wore off the little boy forgot about the rabbit and the rabbit had to navigate his way amongst the other toys.
The other toys made the rabbit feel like he was ordinary and not worth playing with. Some toys told him he was not made of good enough material, or he did not have modern technology. The velveteen rabbit found a friend in a skin horse who was an old toy in the nursery. The wise skin horse told the toy rabbit that the mechanical toys broke and were thrown away and would never become “real”. The skin horse explains that becoming “real” happens when a child really loves you for a long time, you become “real” The wise skin horse explains to the rabbit that becoming “real” takes a long time and does not happen for the toys that break easily, or have sharp edges. The skin horse explains that by the time you are real, most of your fur has been been loved off, and sometimes you look shabby; but these things do not matter because you are “real”.
In the story the boys loves the rabbit very much and play with him for many months until the boy catches scarlet fever. Due to infection the doctor ordered that the toys be burned or thrown away. The boy received a new stuffed bunny and our velveteen rabbit was placed in a pile to be destroyed. However, because the rabbit had been so loved by the boy, a fairy came and turned the velveteen rabbit into a real rabbit! The rabbit lived in the woods behind the home of the boy so he could watch his friend and play with other real bunnies.
The life lesson I take from this book is that when our culture or peers try to tell us we are not good enough, like the other toys in the nursery with the velveteen rabbit, we have to remember that we are worthy. The velveteen rabbit was not the most beautiful, most technologically advanced, not the most modern. But he was worthy of the boy’s love anyway. The rabbit, as inperfect as he was, became the boy’s favorite toy and became a real rabbit!
So next time you think thoughts like….
“If I had that fancy dress, people would think I’m pretty enough to be included”
“If I could just lose those 10 pounds, he would think I’m attractive”
“If I got better grades, finally mom would be proud of me”
“If I can get that raise at work, then she would think I’m rich enough to date”
…. remember the Velveteen Rabbit. You are worthy just the way you are! You have value as you were made by your creator. You have a purpose here on earth and it is not to change into someone you are not. The people who matter in your life will see you for your beautiful self as you are.
Please come back tomorrow to see what children’s book Natalie choses to share! As always, thanks for stopping by!
Written by Alexa Griffith, LMHC, LCAC, NCC, RPT
Alexa Griffith, LMHC, LCAC, NCC, RPT is a licensed therapist and Registered Play Therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. Alexa enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Alexa also does play therapy, family counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling.
Tags: Margery Williams, Velveteen Rabbit, worthiness
Posted in Codependency, Faith Based Living | No Comments »
You Are Special by Max Lucado
This is an absolutely precious book! It’s about a village of Wemmicks who are wooden people carved by a woodworker named Eli. Each Wemmick has a different shape, size, talent, and style, but they were all created by the same carver and all live in the village.
All the Wemmicks walk around giving each other stickers for various things. Someone can receive Stars for being talented, pretty, having smooth wood or saying something smart. Someone can receive Dots for scratched wood, falling down or not having lots of talents.
Punchinello is a Wemmick who has lots of dots and doesn’t like going around the other Wemmicks because he knows they’ll just find reasons for giving him more dots. Punchinello has convinced himself he’s not a good Wemmick because he has so many dots.
However, Punchinello meets a Wemmick who has no stickers at all – no dots or stars. Other Wemmicks try to give her stickers, but they won’t stick. Punchinello wants to know more, and she tells him to go see Eli, the woodworker.
Punchinello works up enough nerve to visit Eli’s workshop and Eli is so happy to see him! Eli looks Punchinello over and tells him he’s special despite all the dots on his body. Eli continues “You’re special because you’re mine. That’s why you matter to me”.
Eli explains further that stickers only stick if they matter to Punchinello, but if Punchinello trusts Eli’s love, the less he’ll care about the stickers.
Not only is this a great book for children, but an important reminder for us adults too! God made us and God doesn’t make mistakes. The more we focus on what other’s think about us, the more those labels “stick” to us – fat, clumsy, lazy, crazy, etc… The more we focus on our Maker and Creator, the more His labels will stick – lovable, worthy, valuable, strong, etc…
We have to visit our Creator everyday to get these reminders. I hope you’re shedding some of your dots and spending some time with your Creator.
Written by: Tamara Wilhelm MA, LMHC, LCAC
*Tamara enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, & couples counseling at Imagine Hope. We also specialize in family counseling, child & adolescent counseling. Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Noblesville, Zionsville, Westfield & Fishers.
Tags: Max Lucado, You Are Special
Posted in Faith Based Living, self esteem | No Comments »
It is Christmas time, which means people are participating in family traditions. Traditions can be an important part of people’s lives as they create connectedness, stability, and a sense of family as we have something to look forward to. This week Imagine Hope staff will be sharing some of our favorite personal traditions. We hope you enjoy our stories and see the value in having traditions in your own families!
Teri’s Tradition- Operation Christmas Child
Christmas is a season of giving! Not just buying the latest and greatest gifts for loved ones, but also for giving to those who aren’t able to have the luxuries we have.
Operation Christmas Child (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/) is a tradition we do as a family every year that I also participated in as a teen in my church youth group. This ministry has you pack a shoe box filled with school supplies, toys, and toiletries for it to be delivered to a child in need across the world.
As I walk up and down the aisles of the store with my kids each year, we talk about how the boy or girl they are buying for isn’t able to have crayons, a teddy bear, or even a toothbrush! They look at me shocked and I remind them how blessed we are to have what we have. This tradition is important to us as it serves a reminder to have gratitude and a spirit of giving rather than “getting”.
It feels good to give back all times during the year. We live in a world of over indulgence where we take the basics for granted too often. Take a step back and look at all you have been blessed with. Maybe it is time for you to have a tradition of giving this holiday season too!
Check back tomorrow for more!
Written by Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC
Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC is a licensed therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. Teri enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Teri also does family counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling. Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield.
Tags: Giving back, traditions
Posted in Christmas, Faith Based Living, Gratitude | No Comments »
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow”- Melody Beattie
My own Thanksgiving traditions have changed over the years due to additions of some family members, and the passing of other family members. However, I am a sucker for traditions. The best part of Thanksgiving, aside from Mama Dorothy’s famous and highly sought after Chocolate Ice Box Pie, is that we get to spend time with family. I am grateful for the family that comes to me from all over the country (and sometimes the world) for this most delicious of holidays.
In my family, it is a tradition to gather before the feast and say for what we are most thankful. As a younger girl, I did not appreciate this tradition at all. I hated being put on the spot, and really did not want to wait for 25-30 people to talk before I could get to the mashed potatoes before my brother gobbled them all up. However, as I have grown up I really do like this part of the day. I like it so much that I have incorporated doing it for myself every day. Thanksgiving is not just a holiday, it is a verb. It is an action that does not soley belong on a lone day in November. It is an action, that when taken, can magnify all the good in your life and minimize the bad.
Practicing Thankfulness, even in these difficult times, may feel nearly impossible. During difficult times, we struggle with thoughts of worry, doubt, loneliness, fear, shame and depression. These thoughts do not lead to healthy outcomes, but tend to make matters worse. When we are aware of our inner critic, and notice these thoughts, purposeful thoughts of gratitude is the most powerful way drive negativity away! Thankfulness is a powerful antidepressant.
Mary Lore states in her book, Managing Thought: How Do Your Thoughts Rule Your World, that when you practice Thankfulness, a physical and mental transformation occurs. Your brain begins perceiving even more for which to be thankful. When you focus on the positive, or your strengths, your creative juices start to flow and you get creative ideas on how to turn things in your negative situation around.
For me, Thankfulness is like Mindfulness. A very deep sense of connection with the world and myself occurs when I am disciplined enough to practice. But is does take practice. A lot of practice!
This Thanksgiving, make your gratitude last as long as the turkey leftovers. It’s a good place to start! If you notice that it makes you feel good, keep it up! Notice something to be grateful for every day.
Please join us tomorrow and Friday to see how Natalie and Joleen practice lessons learned from Thanksgiving.
Written by Alexa Griffith, LMHC, LCAC, NCC, RPT
Alexa Griffith, LMHC, LCAC, NCC, RPT is a licensed therapist and Registered Play Therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. Alexa enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Alexa also does play therapy, family counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling. Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield
Tags: gratitude, Thanksgiving
Posted in Faith Based Living, Healthy Living | No Comments »
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