Respond or React?
The unconscious mind is continuously processing information that is obtained overtly and covertly. Often, we may not be aware of the source of information that creates or influences our behaviors and choices because it was obtained covertly. Part of the work that we do in our therapy is to discover the internal information and examine […]
How Practicing Spiritual Disciplines Can Positively Impact Your Mental Health
Throughout church history, people who know Jesus as their Savior and Lord have practiced spiritual disciplines. Practicing habits of devotion isn’t about rules or trying to conform to “acceptable” actions you impose on yourself (or that others set for you). Instead, these disciplines deepen your relationship with God so you can be conformed to the image of Jesus. We discipline ourselves — train ourselves […]
Recognizing When Your Teen May Need Therapy: Insights from Meier Clinics
Adolescence is a pivotal and often challenging phase in a young person’s life, marking a period of significant physical, emotional, and psychological changes. During these formative years, the emergence of mental health problems can often go unnoticed or be misinterpreted as typical teenage behavior. However, it’s a time when underlying issues such as anxiety, depression, […]
Helping the Spouse of an Addict: Do’s and Don’ts
If a person shares with you that he or she is the spouse of an addict, what should you do? How do you guide this spouse to help their husband or wife without enabling out-of-control behavior or taking responsibility for it themselves? There are several types of addiction (substance, sexual, behavioral), and each requires different […]
Mental Illness vs. Mental Wellness
In most of our society, the term “mental illness” is perceived as something to be afraid of or too much to handle. Although, mental illnesses can be scary at times, people often forget that the person who has a mental illness is still a person with a name and a set of lived experiences. Understanding […]
Being a Person of Hope in a World of Anxiety
It’s one thing to deal with normal life stress. Add in natural disasters, worldwide disease, interruption of school and work, loss of income … and the effects of multiple stressors aren’t far behind. Anxiety can be summed up as too much too fast. But there’s no fast and simple way to recover. So be patient […]
Blessed are the Peacemakers
In the most famous sermon ever preached, The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9, NIV) This seems like one of the more straightforward beatitudes, or is it? Sometimes in order to fully understand what the Bible says, we need to be […]
Forgiveness
One of the greatest threats to any relationship – marriage in particular – is an inability to forgive. Why do so many of us find it so difficult to let go of past hurts? The answer to this question can go several layers deep. It’s common for an anger cycle to be set in motion when someone’s […]
Social Media and Mental Health
“I’ve seen lots of news stories linking adolescent social media use to bad mental health outcomes. What’s the connection between these things?” In the last decade, teens have experienced soaring rates of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and suicide. Researchers believe there’s a correlation between these issues and social media. Here’s why. FOMO: This […]
Improving our Wellbeing with Love and Hobbies
At first glance, one may think that the combination of love and hobbies is a peculiar pair. One may go on to wonder how this odd couple could improve our well-being. Well, here’s how: Love is often a word that is difficult to describe. In All About Love, author Bell Hooks defines love in a […]
