Families I work with find out after a few sessions that I do things a little differently as a counselor. I start most counseling sessions asking about strengths. Why is this different? Well, families usually come to therapy because of struggles. It can seem off-putting, therefore, when I ask what individuals are good at, where the family …
It’s back: the COVID-19 surge, that is. With it come the tests, the quarantines, the school closures, distance from family and friends, canceled events, and so much more. The stress is hard for parents, and hard for kids. What’s a parent or caregiver to do, especially when their kids have …
“But they can’t get off scott-free!” I frequently hear reactions like this from parents in response to their children’s baffling behaviors. “X behavior isn’t okay!” I hear this, too. Misbehavior is not okay. It is still wrong. Behavior makes sense in context, though. If caregivers can understand why children are engaging in this misbehavior, then they can consider consequences, and if consequences …
In this episode of our Family Care Learning Podcast, we learn about parentification which is often found in children in the foster care system. Haley and Sarah, both therapists at Arizona Family Counseling discuss how foster parents can help children struggling with it. Watch the podcast or read our blog …
In this episode of the Family Care Learning Podcast, we hear from Brandon and Seth who discuss the importance of exercise in psychology and in our general sense of well being. Can exercise really influence our brains and influence the way that we feel or change the way we feel? …
Parents often are not sure what to tell their children about therapy. Should they tell their child why they are sending them to therapy, that is the presenting concerns? Should they tell their child who the therapist is and what his or her job is? Or should they leave that …
Your child comes from a hard place. He or she is struggling with their behaviors. You know that the holidays are a difficult time of year for your child, so what do you do? Do you keep the Christmas tree in storage? Do you avoid going out at night so …
There are two basic parts of gardening: to nourish and to protect. The same goes for mental health. Let’s say your mind is a garden. The positive thoughts are the flowers and healthy plants. The negative thoughts are the weeds and pests that come to consume. Just like you plant your flowers …
We are at war and the battlefield is in the mind. Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, our enemy seeks to torment, confuse, and oppress us and he works subtly in the shadows of the mind. There are multiple references to this battle in Scripture (see …
P.R.E.P.A.R.E. Plan for session. Test the software. Block out the time so that you can easy, rather than rush into it. Ready the room. Find a private, quiet room or location (not in the car with others, or in the living room, if possible). Place a fan or noise machine outside …