Actor, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, died this week of a heroin overdose. You may know him for winning a 2005 Oscar award for Best Actor in “Capote”. This is a sad loss, especially because he had been abstinent from illicit drugs for 20 years. His recovery was successful until he relapsed last year. He wisely entered […]
The mission of Rotary International is “to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace.” As such, it engages in service projects all over the world. The northern district of Illinois is sending a team of nine professionals to Uganda with a focus on improving the lives of girls. Specifically, […]
The press is publishing more frequent accounts of sexual assault of women in the armed forces. In 2013 sexual assaults in the military were up 50 percent from a year before. Although we’re seeing more incidences of assault in the news, this is not a new issue. In 1995 the Department of Defense conducted a […]
Unless you have received treatment for a mental illness, you may not understand the structure of care within the US. Although mental healthcare in the US is far from perfect, it far exceeds that of undeveloped countries. For example, if you develop a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, you are likely to have a […]
An old friend of mine asked a question regarding a divorcing couple with an eight-year-old son. This couple is not yet divorced and each is seeking custody. It is presumed that they are not living together and they each have time with their son separately. The husband has started dating. I was told that the […]
Many of us have studied Abnormal Psychology in college. It is often a prerequisite class and can provide an introductory foundation to identify the hallmarks of poor mental health. After taking the introductory class, we often go about diagnosing our friends and family with this or that neurosis or disorder. But good mental health is […]
Holiday spending is now behind us. The new year presents a time of reflection over the past year and helps us make resolutions for the coming year. This is a good time to examine spending habits. In retrospect, would you say that you spent wisely over the holidays? Or are you a money miser? Or […]
When we think of holidays, we imagine good cheer and family gatherings. Family time may include gift giving, a warm meal and laughter. We wish others a “Happy Holiday and Joyous New Year.” If we fail to let others know that we love them any other time of the year, holiday rituals remind us to […]
I am an advocate of personal growth. And as a psychotherapist, I sometimes assign homework between sessions. I might ask you to log your mood, read a book, practice a technique, or use meditation and relaxation to calm your anxiety. Fortunately, technology makes it easier to pursue personal growth. I have compiled some of my […]
We fear the time when our parent’s health begins to fail. This is a process which can be overwhelming and we may be unprepared. Where do we start? First, if you notice your parent is having a few problems, speak with your siblings in a family conference to gather comprehensive thoughts and concerns, as well […]