The Power of Gratitude
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Pastor Craig Barnes wrote “Gratitude may be the best measure of our spirituality.” According to Barnes, when we practice and express gratitude, we demonstrate that we are paying attention […]
Celebrating 46 Years of Providing Faith-based, Christian, Mental Health Services
It is hard to believe that it was 46 years ago— in 1976—that we first opened up the Clinics (then known as “Minirth-Meier Clinics”) to help serve the Dallas area with Christian counseling services while psychiatrists Dr. Frank Minirth and Dr. Paul Meier taught full time at Dallas Theological Seminary. Their goal was to help […]
When an Unemployed Adult Son or Daughter Lives at Home
As your child grows, the template needs to shift from parent-child to adult-adult. They’re not your adult child; they are your adult son or adult daughter. They’ve become your peer. But breaking the once-a-parent-always-a-parent mindset is difficult and can strain the relationship between a husband and wife. A common reason for this tension? When capable […]
Enabling the Addict: What An Addict Really Needs From You
Addiction is a common disease that is ravaging families across America. Data shows that roughly 23.5 million Americans have a problem with substance abuse but only 2.5 million receive treatment. Additionally, about 19.5 million substance abusers saw no need for treatment or that their substance abuse was problematic. Addiction is a disease that affects the […]
Attachment Disorders Series #3: Understanding Adult Attachment Disorder
You’ve probably heard of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) in children. It’s a rare condition that develops when a child doesn’t attach emotionally with their caregiver. But did you know that adults can have attachment disorders, too? Basics of attachment Healthy, secure attachment develops through early nurturing experiences. Trust develops when an infant expresses a need, […]
Serving our First Responders
To work at the Meier Clinics was a dream of mine as I have been reading Dr. Meier’s books for 20 years. So when I had the opportunity to train in the Catalyst program in 2016, I jumped at the chance. Early on in my training with Dr. Keith Cobern, Dr. Meier, and the treatment […]
Attachment Disorders Series #2: Parenting Reactive Children or Youth
Last month we shared an overview about parenting a child with attachment issues. And we touched on Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) as a part of therapeutic parenting. (Therapeutic parenting is different from traditional parenting in that you learn to parent your child’s brain in addition to their behavior.) There are four parts to successfully parenting […]
Attachment Disorders Series #1: Parenting a Child With Attachment Issues
“My daughter won’t make eye contact or let me touch her.” “My child does what I ask only when he wants something.” When a child is distant, parents often think it’s their responsibility to develop attachment in their children. But attachment is different from bonding. Just because you bond with your child doesn’t guarantee they’ll […]
Coping with Loses as we Age
We grow up reading fairy tales where the story always ends, “and they lived happily ever after.” But as you grow up, reality is often harsh. In junior high school, kids tease everybody, including you. In high school, you don’t make the basketball team, even though you assumed a few years earlier that you would […]
When You Can’t Seem to Bridge the Emotional Gap in Your Marriage
Loneliness in marriage is deeply hurtful and exhausting. You might have tried everything to get help — including professional counseling — but it feels like your spouse can’t or won’t connect with you. Consider three easy-to-miss issues that might contribute to the emotional distance in your marriage: autism spectrum disorder, reactive attachment disorder, and traumatic […]
