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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…