Practical Family Living

Teamwork in Tasks and Ministry

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Article describes seven principles to decrease stress through teamwork and delegation in ministry, family, or work-related tasks.

11 Tips to Help Manage Stress

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW

Practical, clear and helpful ideas to keep you focused and positive in the Holiday Season

Characteristics of a Healthy Family

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW

Helpful guides to creating a healthy family

Helpful Guidelines For Resolving Conflict

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW

Conflict is normal and full of potential if we manage it skillfully

Family Relationships: It's Not About Winning and Losing

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW

What family relationships are not about

How to Stop Bullying

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW

Helpful suggestions and step by step plan to end bullying

For Shame, For Shame: How to End Shaming When Disciplining

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW

The power and influence of parents is great; keeping the parent-child relationship in its proper place

Stress Management: Young Children Can Teach Us Well

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW

Stress management via lessons learned from young children

Attributes of a Successful Marriage

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

This article lists 15 keys to a successful marriage, including the habit of forgiveness, letting go of mocking and contempt when under duress, and rehearsing the good rather than the “bad” about the other.

Healing at Christmas

Suzan Myhre, M.S.S.W., LICSW, LPC

This article describes the decisions we all have when entering the holidays. We can choose to stop "the war" in our relationships, to enter a time of peace.

Personal Purity

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

There are benefits to personal purity beyond what we can fully take in as the world is seeming to celebrate impurity. The many faces of sexual impurity is reviewed here. The harmful effects of sexual sin including entertaining impure thoughts are discussed. This piece contains a good discussion of the harm seemingly harmless speech and innuendo brings.

Signs of Unhealthy Boundaries

Check list of some signs of unhealthy boundaries

Fear Less, Love More: To Let Go Is To Love

The positives of letting go and giving over

Behaviors That Inhibit Clarity in Relationships

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Behaviors and thoughts that inhibit relationships

Moving From Shame To Respect

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Moving away from a sense of shame to self respect is very important to our mental and even physical health. Shame means to operate out of a "down deep" sense of not being good enough or that something is very wrong with us. This article gives great guidelines for healthy ways that combat a shame based way of living.

Scared of My Daughter's Friends

A "Dear Rosa" question and answer regarding parenting concerns when a adolescent daughter connects with friends that seem unhealthy for her.

A Parent's Guide To Minimizing Sibling Rivalry

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW

Although sibling rivalry exists in virtually every family, parents can be proactive in helping to minimize sibling rivalry and helping children develop positive life long relationships with their siblings.

Don'ts For Parents and Enablers

Compiled by Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

There is tremendous difficulty for parents or spouses when their child or spouse becomes involved in the abuse of drugs, alcohol or addiction of any sort. This handout outlines how to clarify who is responsible for what and provides practical steps in approaching your child or spouse.

Suggestions For Clarity In Relationships

Author Unknown, Edited by Brenda Spina, M.S.,LMFT, LPC

This handout provides a list of specific response one can use when behavior in relationship becomes intrusive or offensive.

Parents Guide to Lingo on the Internet

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

The benefits and dangers of the internet are becoming more apparent as time passes. Parents have the increasingly difficult task of protecting their children and adolescents from the dangers. Here you will find some of the common uses of letters and symbols by kids as they communicate with one another.

Stay Strong While Raising Strong Willed Children

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW

Strong willed children can be amazingly creative, innovative and steadfast while at the same time frustrating and exhausting to parents. This article discusses some tools for parents to use to teach, train and motivate their strong willed child.

Managing Food Dilemmas During the Holidays

Food holds many meanings and memories for us, especially during the holiday season. This article offers practical tips and suggestions for those with food allergies or special diets.

Facing the Holidays Together

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Each year numerous couples and families struggle to keep pace with the expectations placed upon them from various sources. Keeping extended family, friends, and each other happy requires great skill around negotiation, self-awareness, and the provision of flexibility. This article outlines several guidelines to be aware of as the festivities are rushing in to eat up your time and energy.

The Push/Pull of Adolescence

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Adolescence is often been described as a second toddlerhood. Parents of adolescents often express to me the dichotomy of the behaviors they see (laughing as they share). I know parents don't always laugh but this article takes two underlying dynamics and describes them in the larger scheme of development for teenagers. Take hope! There is more to the picture than you know!

Supporting Safety In Our Schools

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Safety in the schools has become a major focus for parents and school officials. Based on an interview with an area school counselor, Brenda briefly outlines ways in which parents can actively support safety for their children.