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Lessons Taught by Trauma
By Kristy Cobillas, MEd, LPC “What good does it do to talk about it, if it’s not going to change anything?” When it comes to trauma, there are those who will attempt to mentally and emotionally bury the experience. It is true that simply talking about the past does not change it. Recounting the memory of a horrendous experience may do little more than cause one to re-experience the emotional pain. In therapy, victims of trauma can process the event(s) with the help of a professional, who uses techniques conducive to the healing process. Many people who have experienced trauma continue to suffer long after the event is over. The…
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12 Tips for Parenting Your Teenager
by Janet Kontz, MA, LPC Does this sound familiar? We often hear from parents of teenagers that they find it difficult to connect with their kids when they reach the adolescent stage of life. Many parents feel that this is the most daunting time to be a parent. Helping your teenager navigate through this period of life in between childhood and adulthood can be as confusing and frustrating for you, as it is for them. Take heart, parents! It doesn’t have to be a hard as you might think, and you don’t have to do it alone. Here are 12 tips for understanding and parenting your teenager: 1. Expect inconsistencies Teenagers are…
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Death By A Thousand What If’s
by Kristy Cobillas, MEd, PLPC We have all heard someone claim that they have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) because of their proclivity toward keeping things neat and organized. Many a joke has been made regarding having “OCD” friends over so that they can clean the house. Those truly suffering with the disorder could only wish it were simply a matter of being particular or neat; unfortunately that is not the case. Exactly what is OCD? Characterized by a presence of obsessions, compulsions or both, OCD is a lifelong, debilitating, and painful neuropsychobiological (brain and psychological) disorder affecting 2% of the population. Coming from the latin word obsessio, which means to “take…
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Don’t Worry, Be Happy
When Bobby McFerrin’s cheery tune “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” topped music charts in 1988, it was hailed as a fresh new philosophy for living a positive life. Christians, however, know that Jesus says this many times in the Gospels, extorting us to trust in Him rather than wasting time and energy on senseless worrying. Worry, by definition, is allowing our minds to focus on problems. Worry is secondarily defined as the action of an animal gnawing on something, in the same way that a dog gnaws on a bone. People tormented by worry often find themselves ruminating over something, like a cow chewing its cud again and again. Why Do…
Marriage Family & Individual Counseling | St Louis MO
