In last week’s blog I invited my readers to begin a journey to better appreciate the power of love in relationships. I began by reminding readers of our neurobiological need to be in relationships, to belong to our groups, to feel safe and protected because of these connections. I also shared a definition of love […]
Special Rules for Teenagers?
Many of us enjoy eating at Chick-fil-A restaurants. I’ve always appreciated the environment and the service-oriented staff that clearly are trained to be courteous to their clients. I think this is evident when we see vehicles backed up at a neighborhood Chick-fil-A during meal times to get their food and their service. I found it […]
How to Reduce Gun Violence – The Omaha 360 Model
More than 6,000 people have been fatally shot already in this new year in the United States. These deaths are filled with so many levels of trauma for loved ones and family members. It sometimes feels hopeless that we can fix this epidemic of violence since these numbers continue to rise nationally. However, in Omaha, […]
Appreciating the Power of Love in Relationships, Part One
Valentine’s Day was just a few weeks ago and many of us found ourselves buying cards and sending or giving flowers or candy to those we love or even something more substantive like jewelry. We live in a society that places value on love (and of course Hallmark cards does it share of marketing to […]
How do we Honor the Presidents on This Special Day?
I find that the national holiday of President’s Day is something that has not been well-defined. Originally it was a celebration of George Washington’s birthday. Then it was deemed appropriate that we combine George Washington’s birthday and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Added to that was a day to renew a commitment in 1932 to the Purple […]
How Can We Prevent the Onslaught of Mass Shootings?
I am sure you are as concerned and shocked as I am when we hear these mass shooting stories that are becoming so prevalent at stores, in schools, in churches, in universities, in city neighborhoods and recently at the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas. So many citizens find themselves going about their normal […]
Why Having a Purpose in Life is Essential for Mental Health
In my previous blog I shared how important connecting and belonging are to each of us. These elements promote a sense of safety, comfort and attachment to others. In this blog I invite you to think even more broadly about connecting and belonging and to consider how having a purpose fits in. As you read […]
How to Understand the Many Layers of Trauma
I was in conversation with someone who had some significant trauma in their lives. They had processed many aspects of it in therapy. Then as they experienced a new set of memories stimulated by encounters with individuals who were a part of their life during that period of time, they experienced an entire re-enactment of […]
How to Help Students Who are Falling Through the Cracks
Lakeside supports students who struggle to stay in our public school systems. We have 4 schools and a large in-school-district counseling program serving 51 school districts. We strive to help students continue their growth and development academically, clinically and emotionally. One of the hard realities is that school can be very difficult for many students […]
Why “It’s a Philly Thing!” Resonates So Strongly and is a Sense of Connection
With the Super Bowl almost here, there is so much enthusiasm in the air. And if you live in or around Philadelphia, you see T-shirts and signs proclaiming, “It’s a Philly Thing!” If you walk into a store or down the street and are wearing a hat or sweatshirt featuring the Eagles, you get a […]