Articles about Healing
Christmas Then and Now
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Providing a personal perspective of Christmas as a child and then as an adult allows us to implement the power of our faith during this stressul time of the year.
Removing the Burden
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
The habit of pushing oneself through for the sake of performance or accomplishment is a trap. Involving our relationship with the Lord reveals His promise to remove the burden from our shoulder and bring His pacing to our daily life.
Worshipping Comfort
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Comfort is natural and necessary in our developmental processes. The lack of comfort may set off a cycle of thinking and doing that feeds an inappropriate focus for comfort.
Elderly and Families: Intergenerational Respect and Love
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
Suggestions on how family members can bring emotional, practical, and spiritual support to older loved ones
Attachment Wounds: Ten Steps That Heal
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
Childhood story illustrating bonding and attachment wounds and ten steps for healing
Parenting Perspectives on Behavior and Bonding
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
A child's oppostional behavior may indicate emotional pain. Article explores larger perspectives, including need for bonding and healing.
Daring to Laugh: When Celebration and Sadness Join Hands
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
Pain and joy often occur together in life. Learn how God's faithfulness, sovereignty, and hope can be found in the midst of brokenness, failure, or other difficult circumstances.
Childlike Needs in Adult Losses
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
Author's experience of a brother dying of AIDS portrays how Christ brings commfort through filling unmet childhood needs.
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.
Depression in the Soul: Five Steps to Freedom
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
Depression can distort and inhibit God's true plan for our lives. Article suggests five steps to bring restorative thinking and behaviors that battle sadness, low self-esteem, and hopelessness.
Family Systems and Generational Bondage
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
Article describes how past generational patterns can influence current family functioning, and how God can equip us in healthy family functioning.
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.
Bread of Bethlehem
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
Family and the sharing of communion is the backdrop of this article, which explores how to receive life-giving and healing attributes of God during the Christmas season.
God's Forgiveness
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
God's forgiveness is complete. He moves us from shame and guilt to being set free.
Marriage Relationships: Strengthening the Bond thru God's Love
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
A couple's journey from blaming each other to helping each other
Escaping the Role of Scapegoat
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
A vignette portraying a family scapegoat moving from cooperating with the role to rejecting the role
Overcoming the Role of Family Hero
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
A vignette portraying common characteristics of the family hero
God's Presence in the Midst of Suffering
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
Moving account of experiencing God's presence in the midst of horrendous suffering
God's Peace in the Midst of a Crisis
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
Moving account of a young woman who experiences the peace of God in the midst of a personal crisis
Addictions: Many Forms But Never Satisfying
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
Addictions cannot satisfy our needs but only serve to destroy joy and peace. God desires more for us!
Stress Management: Young Children Can Teach Us Well
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
Stress management via lessons learned from young children
Perfectionism: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
Perfectionism is harsh and demanding. However,the Lord does not require it.
Finding Balance
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
Finding balance in life through focusing on the Lord
Tearing Down the Wall Through Forgiveness
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
What forgiveness really is and how relationships can be restored
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.
Children of Divorce: Between Two Worlds
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Children walk through the high pain and intense feelings around divorce but they do not have the same ability to recover from the process of their parents' divorce. Research shows that parents seem to take about three years to recover from divorce. This is not true for children. The effects of divorce on children lasts for decades.
Guidelines for Help When You Feel Vulnerable or Lost
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Sometimes there is a straight-forward need for some written steps to take when feeling depressed, anxious, crummy, full of discouragement, or when listening to lies in thinking about God's ability to redeem a seemingly failed life. Here are those steps.
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.
Because God Loves Me: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
God's love made personal
Serve Your Generation
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Meeting the challenge of any new year keeps us mindful of how we have opportunity to be all that God would have us be. A personal look into the life of one serving in the face of loss is described beautifully and challenges us to look at those around us in a new way.
Forgiveness in the New Year
The process of forgiveness, tips on inviting Jesus into the journey of forgiveness, as well as the forgiveness of self and others are discussed in this article.
Words When It Matters
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Our hearts go out to those who have just experienced loss. What can we say to them? This article explains the importance of words to the grieving person and gives five great ideas of what is helpful to share.
Affliction and Fear
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
The healing process for each one of us requires ownership within ourselves of the behaviors and attitudes that often create our own daily battles. What has been discovered is that fear is often behind those patterns of thinking and acting. Scripture tells us that if we are afflicted we are to pray. Knowing what fears we face help us know where to begin in overcoming those core fears.
Who I Am In Christ
Author Unknown, Edited by Brenda Spina, M.S.,LMFT, LPC
Knowing how God sees us and what we have available with Him is important in the developmental process of being His child. What follows are scriptures that identify who we are, what we have, and the things we can do when we believe the truth of His Word.
Mine, Mine, Mine: A Look at Greed
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Sometimes we humans are as selfish and greedy as a two-year-old. We try to obtain some illusive something by wanting more, more, more. Feeling cheated or deprived is one thing. Using money and power to feel better is another. Craving and greed need a healthy look and this article will help us do just that. In it is healthy food for thought and questions for you and you alone.
Drunk With Hope: God's Help for Addiction and Emotional Wounds
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
Emotional wounds can negatively influence relationships which can lead to addictive behaviors. Article explores how to put God’s truth into emotional pain, thus taking the first step in freedom from addiction.
Relationships And The Brain
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Our brain is sending out signals for hormone release in all of our relationships. These hormones are either the "feel-good" kind or they are the fight or flight kind. Therapists at the Center for Family Healing give healthy response training to our clients to bring about the results they would like in their relationships.
Feeling Crazy - The Effects of Addiction on the Family
Suzan Myhre, M.S.S.W., LICSW, LPC
This article describes the serious and debilitating effects of addiction on the family. Hopes for rehabilitation are addressed.
God's Christmas List
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW
If we find ourselves overwhelmed, anxious, lonely or fearful during this Christmas season, we can take heart and reflect on God’s love. God has made all the necessary preparations for Christmas.
Trauma: Caring for Ourselves
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Each of us experiences situations and events that run the risk of leaving us traumatized. Traumatic events may not be completely avoidable. Yet if we find ourselves on the backside of a traumatic event there are some specific things we can implement to help ourselves through the resulting emotional upheaval. This article outlines each of those helps and, surprisingly, they sound familiar.
Affected Family Members
Kathy Ann Ward, MA, LPC-T, CSAC
Families affected by a loved one’s chronic mental illness or addiction endure a unique type of stress. This article discusses two strategies, boundary setting and calming the nervous system, to help those who are both currently being affected, as well as those affected in childhood.
Once and For All!
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Brenda takes a well used expression "…once and for all!" and normalizes the frustration we all experience when confronted with the same issue over and over again. Correlating it with the journey of the Isrealites into the Promised Land, we begin to understand the spiritual purpose of this process.
Promises! Promises!
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
As many say and the rest of us believe, the holidays push our coping skills to the limit. Often the things that carry us through have nothing to do with gifts, meals, or concerts. Precious memories, promises fulfilled and God's sustaining presence is what carries us. This article urges each one of us to remember the promises God has graciously provided as a way of coping with the stresses the holiday season brings.
Rejection Hurts
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Rejection hurts. It hurts physiologically (neurologically speaking) and it hurts our feelings. Reputable science confirms this. In fact our brains respond so similarly to rejection and physical pain that taking a Tylenol will reduce both the emotional impact of rejection in the same way it reduces physical pain. (Guy Winch, Ph.D., July, 2013) In short, regrouping with a person or persons who accept and love you unconditionally after rejection is conducive to major healing. Not talking rebound escapism here, but the kind of love and acceptance found similar to and in a non-toxic favorite grandmother’s home. It may take time, but it is in this context that rest and taking real stock of your lovability and worth happens.
This is A Season of Loss for Some
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
We have seasons when we mourn for our lost loved ones. For some, the goodbye was not the best. What was your relationship with a deceased loved one? It makes a difference. Was there a chance to say "goodbye" and find peace with the person? Was there an opportunity to forgive and be forgiven? If not, abuse, neglect, separation, harsh words can continue to sting when the person is gone. Think of them and yourself at their and your best. Believe the best about their and your ability to let go and let God. Honoring the good qualities of the person and yourself as well as the faithfulness of God can be healing.
Reflections: Are You Lovable?
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Love relationships are a mirror. We learn how and if we are lovable only by our interactions with people we love. Young children don’t think about the overworked mother who is stressed or a raging father’s childhood, they simply attribute negative exchanges as a reflection of their unworthiness. As children who mature or as adult children of these relationships, it is important first to know that the relationship where you learned your lovability or lack of lovability is the faulty part, not you as a person. That, simply put, is the healing part of recovery. God is not mad at you. He loves you. When the mirror reflects God’s love toward you, it is possible for a love filled life.
Joseph Was Left to Die by His Brothers
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
If anyone had reason to remain bitter, it was Joseph in the book of Genesis. Yet he forgave his brothers, was reconciled to them, and provided for them. His forgiveness melted their hearts, and old wounds were somehow healed. Forgiveness isn't just a behavioral adjustment or psychological device. It is the sum and substance of every page and paragraph of the Bible. It's what the Bible is all about. It's the theme of the ages, the crux of the cross and gist of grace. Beware lest any root of bitterness spring up within you. * He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. *Martin Luther King, Jr., in his book, Strength to Love
Healing Thoughts
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
This week of Thanksgiving many have a myriad of feelings. When those feelings become uncomfortable, spread your arms wide to the Lord. Feel the feelings, learn from them, then release them to God. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for our redemption. We don’t have to wait for some human person to come along and save us from our plight. Thank God for His unfailing love. Ask God for His healing oil to flow in over and through you exactly as you are. Have the courage it takes to be imperfect. Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and to set the captives free.
The Healing Cycle and The Wounding Cycle
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC, Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW, Carrissa Pannuzzo, M.A., LMFT, LPC, Laura Demetrician, M.S., LMFT
The wounding process in relationships can be cyclical. If repeated enough times, our responses become second nature. Interrupting the unhealthy behaviors that often accompany the cycle needs recycling with the truth. This handout outlines both the cycle of wounding and the cycle of healing.
