ACA MEMBER BLOGS

It’s hard to believe that I completed my last fall semester of my graduate program. It was the fullest semester thus far with three courses, a full-time internship and a full-time graduate assistantship. Here are my thoughts about the courses:

Whether it’s a product of New Year’s resolutions, or “Blue Monday” (Jan 23rd, the most depressing day for the year–and the day by which most everyone has blown their resolutions), or the fact that the holidays are over and the days are depressingly short and dark and cold, for many counseling practices January, February, and March are three of the busiest months of the year.

Because addiction is not a disease that is ever cured (it can be treated, but not cured), this time of year can be particularly difficult for those in early recovery (or just in recovery, period) attempting to maintain their sobriety.

Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori – it is sweet and right to die for your country. The first section, the Latin for “it is sweet and right” served as title for one of the best known poems from the First World War by Wilfred Owen.

As we prepare for 2017, many of us start to think about creating New Year’s resolutions. It’s not uncommon to stumble and give up after a few weeks. It can be challenging to establish new habits, even for the most dedicated of us! Below is a list of common internal blocks that can sabotage the best efforts toward reaching goals.

Sometimes having fears about the world, our position in the world and what our capabilities are feels like that is the limitation of who we essentially are. Make it an affirmation as you move through your daily life to remind yourself that.

It’s the start of a new year and many have proclaimed that this past year of 2016 was the.worst.year.ever. Others insist that we get perspective and stop proclaiming that it was “the worst.” In particular, much of what made this year “the worst” was the election process leading up to the current president-elect.

If your Resolutions include starting your private practice, congratulations! You have committed to an adventure that will benefit you and your family, your clients and their families, your community and your legacy.

The jury is still out about whether video games are really responsible for increasing aggression in youth, and promoting youth violence. Some firmly attest that it is, and many firmly stand by the idea that results are subjective, and inconclusive.

The other day at work I decided I needed some sort of activity book that talks about what counselors do for kids. I decided to search google to see if some counselor had already made such a thing that I might purchase…this resulted in Google helpfully suggesting these commonly searched terms.