Equity, Independence and Loss Throughout the world, in every country and culture, people struggle with the desire for equity, independence and freedom. It is an inherent human drive to be in control of our lives, our decisions, our activities. It is also a human necessity to work cooperatively with others in building families, communities and…
The Importance of Dads
The Importance of Dads “I need a Daddy to be a Child” states 4 year old Tara. Tara lived with her mother and did not know about Daddies in a home until she visited a friend with two parents in the home. What did you do with my Daddy? Tara asked her Mother. Children know…
Mental Health and Mental Illness
Mental Health and Mental Illness Often in our society the term “Mental health” and the term “Mental illness” are interchanged or misused when discussing or describing a person’s mental state. The terms describe two different situations regarding people’s ability to function within societal guidelines. Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes…
Have a Heart: Teaching and Cultivating Compassion
Have a Heart: Teaching and Cultivating Compassion When we show kindness, caring, and a willingness to help others, we are showing compassion. While often used interchangeable with sympathy being compassionate brings with it a desire to to assist someone else in a challenging situation rather than just feeling “pity”. We are all in need of compassion…
Understanding Trauma and Loss
Understanding Trauma and Loss As our culture and society becomes more accepting of mental health as an intricate component of each person’s overall health there is now more interest in the concept and impact of trauma and traumatic events on physical and mental wellbeing. Information, educational programs and environmental cultural shifts are occurring in all…
A Time for Respect and Justice
A Time for Respect and Justice Much attention is being paid to the ideals of respect and justice for individuals and groups in the USA and around the world as our world, as we have known it, is changing with the onset of both natural and man directed events. Millions of people are being displaced…
Understanding And Building Resiliency
Understanding And Building Resiliency Resiliency is the new “buzz’ word moving through many different fields and professionals from trauma and stress, to academic success to the workplace. But what is resiliency exactly and why is it important? Resiliency is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness, the ability of a substance or…
Suicide Is Not the Only Answer
Suicide Is Not the Only Answer Suicides are growing in our country, especially among young people and senior men. While it is important to know the signs when someone is considering suicide it is equally important to understand what we all need when we experience a trauma and loss so we can heal and find…
Life Success and Responsibility
Life Success and Responsibility Life is a continuous series of challenges and achievements. At the end we hope that we have experienced more achievements than challenges. A major component of whether we have more “ups” than “downs” depends on how we handle both. We learn how to handle, “cope”, with challenges and achievements through various…
In The Land Of The Free
In The Land Of The Free On July 4th and through each year we celebrate the concept of freedom in the US. While freedom can mean different things to different people freedom continues to encompass several key elements to all people who overcome great challenges to find it for their lives. The history of the…