> Practical Family Living

Marital Transitions: Parting the Fearful Waters

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Three steps to finding marital stability in the midst of change

Families and Transition

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Illustrates how Jesus can help families survive and thrive in times of change and transition.

Redeeming Our Life Stories: Narrative Family Therapy

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Our lifetime experiences can have positive and negative impacts on us. Narrative Family Therapy can be a tool in allowing Christ's redemptive love, and other positive stories of our lives, to "re-author" our painful past.

Transitions and Change: A Tribute to Mr. Fred Rogers

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Changes in life can bring grief, stress, and a longing for the past. Article uses lessons learned from The Mister Rogers Show to show ways to lessen the trauma around transition.

Grief and Changes

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Change within a family life cycle can bring feelings of grief and loss. Article lists six ways to weather the storms of family changes.

Lord Emmanuel

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Article describes in poetic form how God will dwell with us ande not forsake us in uncertain or tragic times.

Changing Our Hearts by Changing Our Minds

We can take the pressure off others to change by focusing on our own issues, because the only person we can really change is ourselves.

Life Transitions

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

This article explores the task adolescents and their families face when leaving home. It describes the delicate balance between support and autonomy parents must give their emerging adult.

Gratitude, It's Own Memory Chain

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Memories triggered at times of yearly occasions are not always pleasant. How do you deal with triggered memories? Can we move from reacting to certain memories to providing ourselves with a plan? See ways people are able to set in motion a positive chain of memories both personal and spiritual.

Christmas Shocking

Christmas this year may not happen as you picture it. When things do not go as planned, you may experience Christmas culture shock.

Coping with Change at Christmas

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Change is often difficult for families, but changes during the Christmas season can be especially tough. Article looks at four practical and spiritual ways to manage changes: based on Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her response to the birth of our Savior.

I have a WHAT?

As the Nationwide Insurance commercial proclaims, "Life comes at you fast," parents can find themselves quickly thrown into raising a teenager. As you jump into adolescence with your adolescent, take a deep breath, and use these reminders to help with the adolescent journey.

Fear and Anxiety: Steps to Restoring Courage and Stability

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

The new millenium brings added stressors to our lives including ever-present technology, limited family communication and bonding, overwork, and addictions. This article will explore causes and treatment for fear and anxiety to restore a Godly sense of courageious well-being for ourselves and our families.

No Longer Little: Key Concerns of Young Adults

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Young adults face many transitions and many fears. This article explores three key concerns that young adults often keep hidden from their parents. Included are helpful parental responses to support parents in this season of their son or daughter’s life.

Hellos and Goodbyes

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Helpful thoughts for parents, young people, and families for a child's movement into adulthood. Transition from youth to adult is said by Jay Haley and others, to be the most challenging in the human life cycle. Encouragement and ideas for this period of time are presented.

Twenty Something

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

The twenties can be described as a time of great transitions. In this article, Christine outlines common struggles of young adults and provides helpful suggestions for parents and loved ones.

The Ornament of Grace

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

As the Christmas season rolls around we often are confronted with re-evaluating how the year has been for our families and our loved ones. It is easy to become filled with such busyness that we forget one of the many reasons why Christ came. He came to make sinners sons and sons like Jesus. This article briefly takes a look at how the grace of God may be seen as an ornament of grace in our daily lives.

Preparing for the School Year

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Families enjoy the change summer schedules bring. It seems families adjust to the summer schedule then quickly find themselves facing a transition into a new school year. Implementing simple steps help manage this transition with greater ease. This article outlines these steps.

Life's Seasons

Kathy Ann Ward, MA, LPC-T, CSAC

This article recognizes the difficulties that come with life's many transitions, and offers time tested coping strategies.

Transitions

Linda Hillary M.S., NCC, LPC

A new school year... Returning to school may not be so "carefree."

We Become What?

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

People wonder about mass shootings, murder, and sexual deviancy in our culture today. There is something called “cognitive rehearsal” that we as therapists use to help people change unwanted behavior. That is, if you want to change behavior, rehearse in your mind the behavior you want. With thousands of games being played hundreds of thousands of times involving shooting, killing, bombing and maiming, is it any wonder a person will act on what they have rehearsed hundreds of times in electronic gaming and/or pornography? Long ago before we called it cognitive rehearsal, a Proverb was written: “As a person thinks in his heart, so is he" (23:7). We become like what we think about.

Hardened

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

A hardened heart or mind does not happen overnight. It is nurtured, discussed, rehearsed, and even justified by well-meaning individuals. As understandable as mad, bad, sad feelings are, we have a responsibility to consider how we manage these feelings. Even Cain was warned by God to not let sin take root in his heart. He dismissed the warning (apparently). The result was being driven out of the Lord’s presence into the land of Nod; meaning unrest, wandering and exile. That is exactly what happens when we list all the reasons why we can remain jealous, resentful or punishing. Our hearts and minds live in a state of unrest and wandering. Watch for the signs! Change your course and live in rest.

Make a Healthier Choice

Carrissa Pannuzzo, M.A., LMFT, LPC

We’ve all got habits we’d like to change. Maybe it’s a disrespectful tone taken with a spouse or child at certain moments. Maybe it’s the tendency to go to things like coffee or the internet for comfort instead of God. We’d all like to make healthier choices but are often at a loss at how to change. Here’s a quick guide to use as a tool to help you break out of these unhealthy sinful patterns: 1. Present your concern to God. Ask for guidance, wisdom, and power. 2 Timothy 1:7 - For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 2. Take a break and breathe. When you find yourself in the situation during which you choose your unhealthy, sinful habit: Stop. Don’t do anything. Don’t react. Just give yourself a moment to think. While you’re doing this take a few deep breaths to calm yourself and let the thinking part of your brain kick in. 3. Identify and analyze. HALT! What’s going on with you at the time of your unhealthy behavior? Are you (H)urting/(H)ungry, (A)ngry, (L)onely, (T)ired? (Think HALT.) Is what’s going on reminding you of something hurtful or frightening from the past? What’s really going on? 4. Choose a different behavior. You’ll likely find with God’s help and through developing the ability to stop yourself in the moment - that choosing the new healthy behavior is easier. It won’t be simple but, over time and with practice and prayer, God will help you change your habits and tendencies for the better.

Change

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Change is a joint effort. Most of our growth in life comes from hearing and seeing what others are doing, then integrating what works with our own lives. Little children learn by copying those older than them. Sometimes that is great and other times a bit scary. So…when it comes to change, real life change, we need outside help. Life-long change comes from allowing others to sow seeds into our lives and then letting the seed take root. When Israel left Egypt, scripture states, “For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with His mighty hand.” (Exodus 13:9b) God uses His Word, people, music, and many other ways to sow seeds into our lives. Let the seed(s) take root and come out of your Egypt.

The Upside of Change

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

We all get into patterns of acting and reacting to one another; especially in close relationships. However, sometimes those actions and reactions are unhealthy and need to change in order for the relationship to flourish. We not only need to be willing, but we also need to make a conscious effort, to change our patterns of behavior. In the words of Albert Einstein: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

Worry - Or Pray and Take Inventory

Carrissa Pannuzzo, M.A., LMFT, LPC

It is so easy to worry. With all the conveniences and connections in modern society, ending up overwhelmed and full of doubt and worry is almost inevitable. But, there is a better way. Finding it involves going against the current, but the battle is worth it. To begin, look at priorities. Decide and pray about what's important and what sort of legacy you want to leave behind. From there, look at each hour of your day, week, or month and decide how it should be spent (yes, sleep is a priority). Is the way you're spending your time now demonstrative of your values? In other words, would an outsider be able to see what you value just by watching you? If not, it's time for a change. Solidifying your priorities will remove the other mental clutter and leave far less to worry about. Who knows, the worry may all but vanish completely.

A Rock Through Your Front Window

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

Have you ever felt as if someone threw a rock through the front window of your life? Maybe, it was after a divorce, sudden job loss, serious accident, grave medical diagnosis, death of a loved one, or broken relationship. It may have felt as if your life and dreams were shattered to pieces and you were left to grieve the loss amidst the shards. Although we cannot control all the circumstances in our lives, we can control how we respond. Do we allow disappointment, fear, anger, and bitterness to take root in our heart? Or...Do we allow ourselves the freedom and space to grieve? Do we allow ourselves the freedom to change and grow?

The Stories We Tell

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

Children are wonderfully creative at thinking up stories, in which they are heroic and triumphant. However, when difficulties arise we can lose the ability to tell ourselves a good story with a positive ending.

Guilt, Sadness, Pity, Etc., OK, But What Kind?

Carrissa Pannuzzo, M.A., LMFT, LPC

Negative emotions are part of life. It's how we choose to experience them that makes all the difference.

Happy New Year!

Carrissa Pannuzzo, M.A., LMFT, LPC

With the New Year comes the desire to change. However, it's not uncommon to be a bit jaded because we know that these changes often don't stick. But, God is bringing us from glory to glory. So, this year, be encouraged to trust the process. We're not there yet – BUT, we are not where we were. Happy New Year!

Anger: Good or Bad?

Carrissa Pannuzzo, M.A., LMFT, LPC

Anger itself is not good or bad. It often gets a bad rap but anger is a psycho-biochemical response that gives us information to help us respond appropriately in specific situations. The problem with anger results from our interpretation and motivation, both things that happen after the initial emotion. Anger gives us the message: find out why you're angry, take care of yourself, and then change something. Change your relationship, expectations, location, or something else. Don't be afraid of your anger. Use it for your and your relationships health and benefit.