I was first introduced to the practice of Tai Chi in 1994 during a training experience at the Harvard Mind Body Institute, a Division of the Harvard Medical School.   I was impressed that this esteemed Medical School was including Tai Chi as one of the ways they were teaching their medical residents, community health providers and patients alike to improve health and lifestyle where traditional western medical treatments had failed to provide a solution.

(more…)

All of us have moments in our relationships where we find ourselves at an impasse.  We may have been hurt, or caused hurt, and we find ourselves in a stalemate with our partner, family member or colleague and don’t know how to move forward. Thich Nhat Hahn, a noted Buddhist monk who specializes in mindfulness meditation and non-violent solutions to conflict, developed a way to help break through these impasses.  We have adapted this “Beginning Anew” process and find it very helpful in our work with couples, families, and businesses. (more…)

The loss of a loved one can be one of the most difficult experiences in anyone’s life.  Loss provokes the natural process of grief, however we may be inclined to speed this process along to avoid difficult feelings such as sadness, anger, and loneliness.  Our modern culture also supports this by expecting us to have funeral plans arranged quickly and go back to work after the approved three bereavement days.  Well-intentioned people talk about “getting over” and “moving on” from the loss, when in reality we will never forget that loved one.  There is no normal way to grieve, however it is important to let this process progress naturally. (more…)

It’s easy for a lot of us to identify areas where we can improve. It’s also easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others who seem smarter, more attractive, funnier, more disciplined, more easy going, wealthier, etc. What can happen is that when we are overly aware of and focus on what we DON’T have, we miss out on a lot. We miss out on the feeling of self-acceptance and being “enough,” we miss out on feeling gratitude about what we have, and we miss out on using our strengths. Here are some things to consider when focusing on your positive attributes and building self-esteem. (more…)

What is Self Injury?

Self Injury can be a difficult subject to discuss with your child.  It is the act of deliberately harming oneself in order to ease emotional pain or discomfort. Common forms of self injury include cutting, burning or scratching. The physical pain associated with self injury can become soothing and even addictive for some.  Children and teenagers who self injure may be dealing with anxiety or depression and use it as a way to cope with and calm these distressing feelings. For some, self injury is secretive.  Others use it as a way to communicate emotional pain to those around them. (more…)

Depression in children and adolescents can look very different than it does in adults.  While feelings of sadness and hopelessness are still common symptoms, there are many other warning signs to be aware of.  Below are 3 lesser known symptoms to look for beyond what we typically think of when we hear the term depression: (more…)

(more…)

Is Alcohol Affecting Your Life? 11 Warning Signs and 9 Ways to Help Yourself

We live in a society that minimizes, normalizes and glamorizes irresponsible drinking, and it can be a challenge to figure out if your drinking has become an issue.  Luckily, there are some clear cut ways to determine – if you are honest with yourself – whether you have crossed the line into alcohol abuse or dependence.    The following are signs of alcohol abuse (must meet one of these symptoms in the past 12 months.) (more…)

8 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFULLY BLENDING REMARRIED FAMILIES -by Christine Nelson Taylor, LPC

Re-marriages of divorced parents can create difficult transitions for the blended family, and love alone can’t fix everything.  Each member brings their own set of expectations of how the newly configured family will function, and when these aren’t met, feelings of disappointment, hurt and hopelessness often set the tone. (more…)