"Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it." - Rafiki If you’re a Disney fan...

One of the unique things about Bowen family systems theory is how it conceptualizes self. Murray Bowen, who developed the theory, termed...

In the middle of the night my wife is shaking me awake in the hopes to pull me out of another nightmare. Hello, my name is Tommy and I am...

“Asking for help makes me weak.” I get it. I lived under this idea for years. As matter of fact, when I was in Basic Training, I remember...

To the well-meaning counselor and minister: Beware the anxious bid that doth pull at your savior-complex heart strings. Today is...

To grieve is to pay ransom to love. Edwin Shneidman Grief and grieving are no easy tasks. I understand firsthand, as one acquainted with...

Living with any sort of disability, whether it’s developmental, intellectual, or physical, comes with it’s own complex challenges and...

As the summer winds down and the vacation season draws to a close, for a sizable number of us, September ushers in the routine of school...

I am familiar with behavior plans, as I was a teacher before I became a counselor. Behavior plans help children learn. But what are your...

We live in Austin. At least in the greater Austin area. It seems like the word “organic” is everywhere these days! So what on earth do I...

One of my specialties and passions is helping stepfamilies. As both a stepmom and biological mom myself, I am able to understand blended...

Cooler weather, falling leaves, shorter days, a change in the atmosphere. Fall has arrived, and with it, anticipation of the holiday...

I think it’s fair to say there’s some free-floating anxiety running through the veins of society right now. Though it seems to somewhat...

I think the process of working towards a solid self is really a mystery. (See last’s months post for the first part of this...

What is the state of your marriage? Are you bringing the healthiest version of yourself to your marriage?

You never imagined it could happen to you. Your husband or wife would never [fill in the blank]. And yet, here you are discovering your...

One month into the new year, with memories from the holidays still fresh (and another relationship-related holiday coming up), the topic...

Last month I introduced the metaphor of viewing family systems as a tapestry, full of tangles and needing grace.  Now I would like to...

Unlike parenting our own children, none of us look forward to the day that we have to begin to make decisions for our parents.  It can be...

Twas the night before school starts, and all through the house, every creature was stirring, like a rabid mouse. The backpacks were...