Posts by Sue Watkins
Are You a Close Family or Enmeshed?
We all want close families – a family that enjoys being together, being active together and a place we can go to for support. But sometimes closeness is really enmeshment and not the healthy functional family we think it is. If you come from an enmeshed family, you may be struggling with your relationships or…
Read MoreMarital Conflict
Conflict is a normal part of marriage, I think we would all agree. The problem with conflict is when nothing gets resolved and a low level of anger is constantly present in the relationship. So let’s start with what NOT to do. There are many different models for this but here is an easy one that I…
Read MoreWhen Your Teen Comes Out
Your teen just told you he/she is gay. As a parent you may feel surprised, grateful they trusted you to tell you or you may feel confused, sad, but whatever you feel, first focus on your child. Let’s understand first what your teen is going through – The 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report, the largest study…
Read MoreWhat is Killing Your Relationship?
John Gottman, a researcher and clinician, founded the Gottman Institute dedicated to saving and enriching marriage relationships. One aspect he looks for in marriages is the existence of what he calls the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse which is a metaphor depicting the end times in the New Testament. They describe conquest, war, hunger and…
Read MoreA.N.T.S.
Daniel Amen, M.D and founder of Amen Cinics (www.amenclinics.com) came up with an acronym, A.N.T.S – Automatic Negative Thoughts. He had come home from work one day, found ants invading his kitchen and thought the ants reminded him of how pervasive and busy some people’snegative thoughts were. We all have a dialogue going on in…
Read MoreFeelings?? Do I Have To?
For some people, feelings can seem like a bother. For other people, they push feelings away and dismiss them. But feelings are important. Why is that? First you need to know that in your brain, feelings are being created or triggered all the time. It seems unfortunate to miss all that information that your brain is…
Read MoreSupporting your kids going back to school
There is so much stress surrounding going back to school this year. Parents, teachers and kids are all feeling the pressure and uncertainty. Parents have had to make tough decisions about what is best for their families surrounding school. Kids are feeling the stress of school looking different this year and not knowing what it…
Read MoreStaying at Home is Not Everything It is Cracked Up to Be
At first, when we heard we were to stay at home, we thought this will be fine, we can do this! As the weeks wear on many of us are struggling. We may find we are feeling depressed or anxious. We don’t know when this will end, we can’t plan anything and the plans we…
Read MoreBeing Calm When the World is Upside Down
The news is filled with statistics on COVID-19, event cancellations, school and church closures, Stay at Home orders. you might be feeling a bit anxious. The problem with anxiety is how it affects our brains and therefore our behavior and decision-making abilities. So in the middle of all this news, we need to know how…
Read MoreOnline Therapy and In-Person Therapy Changes with COVID-19
Finding hope in the midst of bad news, closures and social distancing can be difficult. Sometimes it helps to talk to someone. Currently, all of us here at The Center for Hope & Healing are offering virtual appointments as well as in office appointments where we are sanitizing hourly. For a virtual appointment, just call…
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