Practical Family Living

The Hope of Christmas

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Christmas is a season in which we are reminded of why Christ came. Two things were guaranteed when Christ came into the world.

Rules, Rigidity and Responsibility

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

This candid look at self care outlines the way rules promote rigidty of thought. When rigid in our thinking we turn away from the grace and love of God. Turning away leads to a very lonely existence.

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

Emotional Healing for Adults Through the Inner Child

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Christ's example of love and attention to children can be a model for adults to reconnect with childhood experiences to restore simple joys, spontaneity, and hope.

Easter Clothes: Throwing Off Cloaks of Unforgiveness

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Forgiveness brings emotional and spiritual healing. Using Biblical references to Palm Sunday and Easter, and a story from Corrie Ten Boom, this article shows how the old "clothes" or habits around unforgiveness hamper our freedom and joy.

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.

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

The positives of letting go and giving over

Because God Loves Me: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

God's love made personal

Helping the Discouraged

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Discouragement can leave us frightened and unmotivated with feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. Drawing from the biblical story of Elijah and an actual family therapy case, this article discusses five steps to helping an individual recover from discouragement.

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.

Entitlement, Money and Families

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

This article describes what entitlement means and how families send messages to their children about money and entitlement.

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.