If you've ever thought about getting counseling for the first time, you're probably not exactly sure what it is.  The definition for "counseling" in Merriam-Webster sounds formal, complicated, and actually, a little bit scary.  Instead, I think of counseling as the conversing, chatting, or visiting that takes place between two or more individuals.  And this is in fact, exactly what happens when a client comes to see me. What Is Counseling? Clients have come to see me for so many different ...read more

Now that spring is upon us, many of us think of opening the windows and letting in fresh air.  Others think about cleaning out the garage, de-cluttering throughout the house, cleaning out closets, putting a fresh coat of paint on a wall.  I could go on, but you probably wish I wouldn't.  But what about your mind? This is also a good time to consider decluttering your mind.  It's a good time to take inventory of what's living around upstairs in your head.  Are you still walking around with ...read more

There have been multiple times over the course of my life when an inspiring quote has caught my attention and challenged my perspective.  I hope the following inspiring quotes do the same for you. If you have a quote you would like to contribute, please do.  Just send it to me here.  I will publish it without any of your identifying information. Inspiring Quotes Nothing will work unless you do.  ~Maya Angelou The longer you wait for the future, the shorter it will be.  ~Loesje Second ...read more

Having bipolar means you have moods that swing back and forth between depression and mania, but in this blog article, we'll focus on mania. What is Mania? Many people think that having mania means you're always happy and full of energy, but this is inaccurate.  Instead, having mania means that whatever you're feeling, you're feeling it big.  Whatever you're doing, you're doing it big.  Instead of being content, you're ecstatic.  Instead of being miffed, you're raging.  Even when you only need ...read more

As the holidays draw near, they evoke many emotions in many people.  Some feel excited, hopeful, and thankful while others feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and even depressed and anxious.  It may seem too early to plan for holiday stress, but if you wait until you feel the stress, it is harder to manage it.  Plan now. Get back to the basics... by getting enough sleep, eating right (that's easier said than done over the holidays), cutting out caffeine, and keeping all of your doctor's ...read more

To Our Heroes, Our Defenders Thank you to the defenders of our nation.  You make many, many sacrifices.  You miss birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, and miss the arrival of your baby and that baby's first steps.  You worry about family members while deployed, but you defend me anyway. In addition, you've been wounded, and sometimes gravely, you've been terrified, and you've lost buddies, but you defend me anyway.  For some of you, your faith was shattered.  And all too often, once you ...read more

What Is Anxiety? There are several different types of anxiety, but this article focuses on Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).  According to the DSM-5 TM, GAD is "excessive worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance)."  At least 3 of the following symptoms must be present: Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge; Being easily fatigued; Difficulty concentrating or ...read more

What is Depression? Depression is a deep sadness that lasts for at least two weeks.  More specifically and according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 TM, depression includes at least five of the following: Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.  (If you are experiencing any of these, you should call 911 immediately or go to your nearest emergency room.); Depressed mood ...read more

Being married is one thing, but being happily married is quite another. Marriage can be one of the most challenging relationships created by God and sometimes that’s because we enter marriage with unrealistic expectations. Many of us expect that marriage will make us happy. It won’t. All it does is make us married. It’s up to us to make our union a happy one. One of the best ways to increase our chance that our marriage is happy is to clearly understand how the Bible describes marriage and do ...read more

Even when we do everything we can to heal our broken relationship, there will be times when our relationship will not be reconciled and the relationship ends. If that's where we are, we find ourselves grieving. What is grieving and who feels it? Grief is a deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved. This includes loss of a marriage or other intimate relationship, a parent-child relationship, a friendship, a pet, or the loss of a dream or the hope of how we wanted a ...read more