Counseling Connection

read moreMy recent interest in golf prompted me to discover the Golf Digest article by Butch Harmon entitled The 8 Stupid Mistakes Every Golfer Makes. As a counselor and coach I couldn't help noticing how some of Harmon's advice can also apply to long-term relationships with the one you love. Harmon's pointers begin with the premise that if we are unhappy with the direction the ball is going, it makes sense to make changes. Obviously the ball direction won't change by doing things exactly the same way, time after time.

read moreRecently, a beautiful woman, begged me to save her marriage. She is not alone in seeking help for this situation. Half of all marriages end in divorce. The following coping strategies may be helpful to you or an acquaintance experiencing similar circumstances. Unfortunately, no one can save a marriage unless BOTH partners are committed to staying and working on the marriage together. The only power you have is to work on yourself. This strategy will be good for you, (you need to take care of yourself right now), and it will boost your self-esteem.

read morePhysically anxiety can cause discomfort such as rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, upset stomach, flushed face, dry mouth or sweating. Behaviorally anxiety can affect your ability to act, communicate and deal effectively with everyday situations. Anxiety can be mild, creating some uneasiness. At the other extreme panic attacks can occur 'out of the blue' which can be extremely intense to the point of feeling dizzy and detached or with a fear of being out of control or dying. Untreated panic disorder often creates a cycle where a person's world gets smaller and smaller, in an attempt to try to control the panic.

read morePremarital counseling is a type of therapy that helps couples prepare for marriage. Premarital counseling can help ensure that you and your partner have a strong, healthy relationship - giving you a better chance for a stable and satisfying marriage. Premarital counseling can also help you identify weaknesses that could become bigger problems during marriage. Premarital counseling includes communication skills and techniques as well as learning what a healthy relationship looks like. You will also learn more about yourself and your partner regarding values, priorities, and the expectations that you each have for your marriage.

read moreDid you know that there is both healthy and unhealthy stress? Some stress is good for us. A job gets us up and moving in the morning. A driving test means that we need to know the rules of the road, and the basics of driving. New responsibilities mean that we are still striving rather than stagnating. Stress is your physical body's physical reaction to the demands that you have in your life which can be both positive and negative demands. You probably are aware of some of the signs of stress such as continual exhaustion or lack of energy, aching muscles, migraines, headaches, hot flashes, tight stomach, dry throat, increased heartbeat, difficulty sleeping or waking up in the middle of the night, heavy heart, not caring about yourself or others like you used to, and just not having time or energy for others.