Stephen Crippen, MA, LMFT

read moreI want God to speak. God is not extraverted enough for my taste. I want God to just talk to me, the way God talked to Abraham and Moses and the prophets, and Jesus. I want God to defeat my enemies. I am deeply troubled by bullies, and I admit I feel enraged when they get away with their abuse. I admit I sometimes want to put my foot on the neck of the guy who puts his foot on necks. Yes, I hear the irony in that. But why doesn't God make it right? I want God to clear the ashen skies, cool the roiling oceans, re-freeze the Arctic, filter the rivers until they sparkle, dispel the raging hurricanes, disperse the greenhouse gases, save uncounted millions from death and suffering caused by our climate catastrophe.

read moreI'm beta-testing a new intervention with couples. I've been trying it out with several couples recently, and early results have been positive. Lots of couples come to counseling because they're pissed off. The anger often seems to be about a lot of things, a thousand paper cuts, the rough edges and strains of life. But it typically runs deeper, and is closer to rage than it is to irritation or frustration. I've posted twice on a "Clear the Air" technique that really works when you are upset about something and need to work through it with your partner.