Practical Family Living

Martha, Can You Believe?

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Martha was unique in her refusal to not question God. She pursued Jesus in hope of receiving answers and comfort in her time of grief and loss. Using her life we will see the utilization of her skills and God's merciful response to her pain.

Allowing Grief

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Resisting the existence of grief robs us of the comfort available in our relationship with the Lord. A brief example of one girl's grief is shared.

When Bereavement and Holidays Walk Together

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Roles and traditions between family members, especially during the holidays, can be altered when a loved one dies. Article brings tips on coping with this sensitive family issue.

Traumatic Loss and Uncommon Grace

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Utilizes truths gleaned from the story of the Good Samaritan to help families cope with traumatic loss.

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.

Trusting God in Trials and Sorrow

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Article depicts, through a teenager's story, how Christ will not delay his provision, safety, strength, and love when we endure trials and suffering.

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.

Grieving As An Act of Reconciliation

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

This article addresses grieving in light of a process of reconciliation instead of a one action decision of acceptance.

Taking Care of Yourself Over Holidays After a Loss

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

After the death of a loved one, various holidays are difficult, especially Christmas. Here are specific ideas for moving through any holiday with gentleness toward yourself and your situation.

Grieving Another Divorce

A "Dear Rosa" question and answer expressing the anger and hurt one can feel during a divorce in the face of some Christians

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.

Making Your Way Through Transition

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

This article describes the challenges we face when going through difficult life changes. It also gives a way of navigating through that difficult time.

Coping With Holiday Grief

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

Adapted from "Ten Ways To Cope With Holiday Grief" by L.B. Schultz, this handout provides information that is both practical and helpful for anyone who experiences renewed grief during the holiday seasons. Grief knows no time frame. Because of that fact, knowing what is normal and helpful may aid in alleviating and normalize the grief responses.

Things To Remember When Grieving

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

Following guidelines originally written in "How To Grieve" by KAIROS, these steps help the grief stricken person what to remember. Each of these ten statements move the grieving individual towards the strength of God and moving forward into the future with renewed focus.

Understanding Grief When A Child Dies

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

Reprinted in part from "Compassionate Friends", Copyright 1980, the death of a child has unique stresses that impact the remaining family members. Guilt, grief, depression, and strained relationships are not unusual. This handout is especially helpful for parents who have had to say good-bye to a child prematurely.

Chronic Disease: A Life Altering Condition

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

Each year many people are diagnosed with having a chronic disease. This article discusses some of the common grief reactions patients may have when first diagnosed.

This is Your Life: Adolescents Leaving Home

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

This article addresses launching as a transition in family life, and ways one can prepare for it.

Gifts of the Heart: Ideas for Giving at Christmas

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

This article addresses how families can be creative about giving during times of economic shortages.

When A Father Dies - Preparing For The Holidays

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

The death of a family member creates a kind of stress that one does not understand until they experience the loss themselves. Add the holidays to this and the multiple levels of grief increase. There are a few basic truths that become real in the face of such a loss around the holidays. This article, written to encourage as well as remind us of these truths, utilizes the author's own personal experience to bring the reality of what it means to celebrate living in the face of grief.

Let There Be Peace in the Home: Helping Children Manage Stress During the Holiday Season

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

Children are just as vulnerable to experiencing holiday stress as adults. This article gives parents nine practical tips to help children manage stress associated with the holiday season.

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.

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.

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.

Rebuilding After the Storm

August 18, 2005. A record breaking day in the history of Wisconsin with 27 confirmed tornadoes in one twenty-four hour period. In one moment, debris was strewn everywhere and the destruction left behind on that day was well into the millions of dollars. Addiction is destructive, like a tornado, and you are left to deal with the aftermath of a person struggling with addiction. Whether the addiction is food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, or pornography, a trail of wreckage is left behind and rebuilding needs to begin.

Cadence 91: Prayer for Military Families

Sarah L. Pollock (daughter of Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMF

Cadence 91 is a poetic prayer in honor of all military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Based on Psalm 91, this prayer poignantly depicts the physical, emotional and spiritual trials of war and how the great love and security of Jesus Christ will not fail.

My First Christmas Alone

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Holidays are unique in that they tend to awaken emotions many would rather avoid. Facing your first holidays without a loved one means the development of a new awareness of ourselves along with the loss of our loved one. Brenda candidly shares her experience of her first Christmas without her parents and the reality of our Heavenly Father's understanding.

Coming Home

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Home is a powerful word. This article speaks to the yearning for home whether one is physically home or not. Where is home? If we do not have a sense of home, where may we find it?

Suicide Prevention: Making the Connection

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

Suicide is a very complex subject and is usually not about death at all but rather about wanting to stop the pain. The vast majority of the time, those who are thinking about suicide do give verbal and/ or behavioral warning signs particularly in the last week before the attempt. By knowing the warning signs, loved ones can intervene and provide support. This article lists many verbal and behavioral warning signs of suicide and provides questions to ask if you suspect a loved one may be suicidal.

The Inner-Workings of People Problems

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

As therapists at the Center for Family Healing, we sometimes give seminars about ‘people problems.’ Anxiety, stress, depression and various personality/relationship concerns are what we work with every day. This article points the reader to reading material that will help understand some of these matters. The article also discusses letting go of, when appropriate, impossibly tangled people problems.

Honor Widows

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Widowhood is one of those transitions that is easily dismissed and greatly misunderstood. As someone who watched her mother work through the varied tasks of this transition, the lack of availability in those around her for her situation was striking. Yet, James exhorts us to care for the orphans and widows as an expression of our pure and faultless expression of faith. The author expresses lessons learned from her own experience of coming along side her mother when facing widowhood.

Women, Grief, and Jesus

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Women experiencing grief and loss can also know deep comfort, individual attention, and a life-giving future through the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s loving attention to a mother who lost her only son from the gospel of Luke, is explored in this article.

Honor Widows, #2 of 2, #3374

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Transitioning into the single life once again is not an easy task but it is a doable one. Based on personal experience, Brenda relates numerous practical suggestions for family members and friends to implement with a loved one whose spouse has died.

Honor Widows, #1 of 2, #3373

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Transitioning into the single life once again is not an easy task but it is a doable one. Based on personal experience, Brenda relates numerous practical suggestions for family members and friends to implement with a loved one whose spouse has died.

Unemployment and the Family, #2 of 2, #3354

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Support is available for the spouses and families of those who are out of work. Indeed, programs are available for the person out of work, but as the experience of Christine Kennedy Cedergren shows, the spouses of the unemployed person have much to gain by coming together for support and direction. Christine and Cheryl Welch from Fox Valley Workforce Development encourage the spouse as well as the unemployed to take advantage of their well planned and very beneficial opportunities.

Unemployment and the Family, #1 of 2, #3353

Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Support is available for the spouses and families of those who are out of work. Indeed, programs are available for the person out of work, but as the experience of Christine Kennedy Cedergren shows, the spouses of the unemployed person have much to gain by coming together for support and direction. Christine and Cheryl Welch from Fox Valley Workforce Development encourage the spouse as well as the unemployed to take advantage of their well planned and very beneficial opportunities.

God's Fearless Love For Challenging Relationships, #9 of 9, #3313

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

This program is a conversational wrap-up between Lynda Savage and Mary Lambrecht of the series: God’s Fearless Love for Challenging Relationships. It reviews main concepts around challenging relationships: unspoken dreams, communication with challenging individuals, abiding in Christ, Biblical relational models for challenging relationships, and how forgiveness is important.

God's Fearless Love For Challenging Relationships, #8 of 9, #3312

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Program looks at the benefits of forgiveness, including spiritual freedom and hope for the future. Mary Lambrecht shares a personal story of forgiveness and a short testimony of her brother’s salvation in Christ, shortly before he died of AIDS in 1991.

God's Fearless Love For Challenging Relationships, #7 of 9, #3311

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Program explores forgiveness: what it is and what it isn’t. The story of Corrie Ten Boom forgiving one of her captors from a Nazi concentration camp further illustrates key principles around forgiveness.

God's Fearless Love For Challenging Relationships, #5 of 9, #3309

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Challenges in relationships can include others failing us or disappointing us, even in times of our greatest need. This program gives examples of how Christ drew upon God the Father’s love and sovereignty, and His sovereignty in the terrorist attack on the United States, September 11, 2001.

God's Fearless Love For Challenging Relationships, #3 of 9, #3307

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

This program further explores, through study of the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11), healthy principles of relating to others in challenging times.

God's Fearless Love For Challenging Relationships, #2 of 9, #3306

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Conflict and challenges in relationships were part of Jesus’ walk on earth, just as they are part of our earthly walk. This program will explore how Jesus, Lazarus, and Mary and Martha effectively walked through conflict with one another to a place of love and understanding.

God's Fearless Love For Challenging Relationships, #1 of 9, #3305

Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT

Fears around the loss of a personal dream can influence our relationships. This program will explore how unspoken inner hopes and dreams can cause conflict in relationships, and how Christ can help us verbalize dreams to self and others.

Chronic Disease: From Grief to Hope, #3 of 3, #3295

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

Chronic Disease affects roughly 45% of the total population. Behind this statistic are faces and experiences of real people and their families. In this three part series, Christine Vander Wielen and Lynda Savage discuss five stages of grief people may experience and how family members can help. In part 3 the stages of depression and acceptance are discussed.

Chronic Disease: From Grief to Hope, #2 of 3, #3294

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

Chronic Disease affects roughly 45% of the total population. Behind this statistic are faces and experiences of real people and their families. In this three part series, Christine Vander Wielen and Lynda Savage discuss five stages of grief people may experience and how family members can help. In part 2 the stages of denial, anger, bargaining and depression are discussed.

Chronic Disease: From Grief to Hope, #1 of 3, #3293

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

Chronic Disease affects roughly 45% of the total population. Behind this statistic are faces and experiences of real people and their families. In this three part series, Christine Vander Wielen and Lynda Savage discuss five stages of grief people may experience and how family members can help. In part 1 the topic is introduced and the stage of denial is discussed.

The Two Sides of Pity #2 of 2, #3224

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

These programs feature Suzan Myhre and Paul Cameron discussing the difference between Godly pity and self-centered pity. It looks at the kind of thoughts and beliefs that go with self-centered and the trappings of it. God's truth frees us from these trappings.

The Two Sides of Pity #1 of 2, #3223

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

These programs feature Suzan Myhre and Paul Cameron discussing the difference between Godly pity and self-centered pity. It looks at the kind of thoughts and beliefs that go with self-centered pity and the trappings of it. God's truth frees us from these trappings.

Helping Children Cope With Death #2 of 2, #3206

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

In these two programs, Brenda Spina outline specific concerns and helps for young children, school age children, pre-teens, teens who face the loss of a loved one.

Helping Children Cope With Death #1 of 2, #3205

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

In these two programs, Brenda Spina outline specific concerns and helps for young children, school age children, pre-teens, and teens who face the loss of a loved one.

Aging Parents #2 of 2, #3248

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

In these two programs, Brenda Spina and Paul Cameron discuss the core fears adults face as they age. the growing sense of dependency involves children or other adults as caregivers. Knowing what to expect, how to treat aging adults and yourself as the caregiver are presented.

Aging Parents #1 of 2, #3247

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

In these two programs, Brenda Spina and Paul Cameron discuss the core fears adults face as they age. The growing sense of dependency involves children or other adults as caregivers, Knowing what to expect, how to treat aging adults and yourself as the caregiver are presented.

Dealing With Loss #2 of 2, #3186

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Ever come face to face with someone who is suffering and not known what to say or do? Me too! In these two programs, Brenda defines loss and outlines general guidelines that individuals can follow when coming along side one who is experiencing loss and suffering.

Dealing With Loss #1 of 2, #3185

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

Ever come face to face with suffering and not known what to say or do? Me too! In these two programs, Brenda along with Paul define loss and outline general guidelines that people can follow when coming along side one who is experiencing suffering and loss.

Grief Process #2 of 2, #2194

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

This program continues the discussion of the grief process after the loss of a loved one.

Grief Process #1 of 2, #2193

Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC

A look at the grief process after the loss of a loved one.

After The Grief #3077

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

The death of a loved one, especially a spouse, creates numerous emotional and social dilemma's for the remaining individual. Join Suzan and Brenda as they focus on the question "What now?". God has a plan and a purpose for those who have experienced such a loss.