• Praying For Ferguson St Louis

    Praying For Our City

    Our heart breaks for those who are in mourning. We continue to uphold Ferguson and the metropolitan area in prayer. We are confident that the vast majority of our neighbors desire peace, healing, and reconciliation. Our counselors stand ready to assist in that process.

  • holiday mommy stress and anxiety

    Mommy Holiday Stress

    Kathy, I feel guilty and confused. We have always alternated holidays, but it’s getting to the point that I’m starting to dread the packing of the presents, side dishes, and the kids’ toys and diapers.  I hate the mall. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to start our own family traditions, but I just know my mother-in-law would be furious to not have Christmas at her house. We have school programs, church events, and Secret Santa at work. My husband and I try very hard to teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas. It’s important for me to have the house look nice because I want the…

  • Upset Child throwing tantrum at dad

    Helping Children When They Are Upset

    By Carolyn Knarr, MSW, LCSW, Director of Child Therapeutic Services One of the most important parenting skills is helping children learn to calm down when they are upset. A child can go from calm to out of control in  five seconds or less! The more escalated the child’s emotions and behavior are, the more calm the adult needs to be. Responding with a lecture or with more intensity will quickly create a power struggle. When a child is “having a meltdown,” he* isn’t thinking with his frontal cortex, which is the rational, problem-solving part of his brain. He is responding with his amygdala, which is the emotional, fight or flight…

  • teenager with headphones laptop

    Raising Teenagers with Good Values

    By John A. Leber Jr. MA, PLPC Having worked in education for over  six years as a counselor, teacher, and coach, I’ve found one  troubling question that keeps presenting itself: Who is raising our teenagers and from where do they get their values and sense of worth?  The obvious answer would be that their parents are raising them and are instilling the appropriate values and beliefs.  Unfortunately, we need to question this belief and realize that our teenagers are absorbing information and often taking action based on what they see and hear from mass media. The halls of our local high schools are filled with thousands of students, nearly all…