A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold (a book review)
I just finished reading Sue Klebold's book A Mother's Reckoning. *All proceeds from the book go towards mental health. I live here in Littleton and knew people involved in the tragedy. I attend the church that planted 15 trees (including two for Dylan...
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Why Attachment Is The Most Crucial Aspect In Relationships
(The following is an excerpt from my book Renewed: Finding Your Inner Happy in an Overwhelmed World) In 1995 the Fort Worth Star-Telegram assigned journalist Tim Madigan the task of writing about children’s television icon Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers’...
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The Books I Read The Second Half Of 2015
Can you believe 2015 has two days left in it? I didn't get as many books read as I usually do because we were so busy traveling and remodeling. However, I got to read a wide variety of books and I think you'd enjoy most of them. For each book listed, I cut and pasted...
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What We Do With These Videos Reveals Our Character
Something horrible is happening in our country. It's been happening for a long time, but legally, since 1973. In Roe v. Wade the United States Supreme Court made a landmark decision saying it was acceptable and legal for a woman to abort her baby. That's when...
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A Candid Discussion About Sexual Abuse In Light Of The Duggar Story
In light of the Josh Duggar story I want to have a candid discussion about sexual abuse. I don't know all the details of the case and the Duggar's are not my focus here. Childhood Sexual Abuse is epidemic. Dare I say ubiquitous? Statistics say one in three...
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Manny Pacquiao – No Stranger to Suffering
If you're like me, and you don't follow boxing, you might be asking who is Manny Pacquiao? I read about him in today's Wall Street Journal (see link below). He has a big boxing match coming up this weekend. The majority of sports fans know who he is but for...
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Ten Ways to Respond When Someone Wounds You With Their Words
It was unexpected. Someone I most admired pulled out one of those little stiletto knives, thrust it into my gut, and twisted before I even knew what hit me. Breathing was difficult, I felt dizzy and sick. I felt like a failure. Felt bad to be in my own skin. ...
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Maybe It’s You Who Has a Fear of Intimacy
A dozen years ago I was telling my counselor that my husband was afraid of deep emotional intimacy. Our relationship was good, including our sex life, but at times it was scary to have tender and personal conversations. I used to be a Creative Memories...
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The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
For years I have followed the work of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. He is one of the world's leading trauma experts. I've read his research, listened to him in person, and followed his ongoing work in the field of PTSD. Dr. van der Kolk releases a seminal piece of decades...
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The Unlikely Way Therapy Heals Emotional Pain
In grad school my professor told the class about his cat’s injured paw. The veternarian told him the wound would try to heal too quickly. My teacher was instructed by the vet to peel the scab back each day. Being a counselor is a lot like that. People bury...
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