Several years ago, in my psychology practice, I began to wonder, “How can I help my clients feel their true worth and value?” For years, women and men had come…
There’s a big difference between talking and communicating. People talk all the time, yet poor communication is still one of the most common struggles in relationships of all types. Marriages…
Romantic love: We have to work at it. It doesn’t just happen on its own. Well, it does at first. But if we sit by and do nothing, over time,…
Last week, I posted 5 things I know for sure about love. This week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I want to focus on how we can increase love in…
I love that February is the month of love. I don’t particularly love Valentine’s Day—for many reasons—but I love the idea of focusing on love at the start of each…
We officially have four teenaged sons as of this week. We still have two younger daughters, but much of our time and energy lately has been focused on the teens….
We have some exciting things happening with my recently released bestselling memoir, This is How We Grow, and I’d like to share them with you! GoodReads Giveaway! First, we’ve…
It’s important for all of us to learn the skills of overcoming–because life will test us. We will struggle and fall and have to learn to get back…
We all want to “be happy,” don’t we? We want to feel well, have good times, and enjoy life. Certainly, happiness is a good thing. We may feel happy when…
Why is it so hard? I’ve given a lot of thought to this question over the years, because the number one issue I see in my psychology practice is a…
No, it’s not usual for me to post three days in a row, but today I simply had to share our New Year’s tradition: family goal-setting. I started doing New…
I know. I just posted yesterday. But one “resolution” I actually made for myself this New Year is to post when I feel like it and write about whatever is…
New Year’s is one of the busiest times for goal-setting–for envisioning a new path, for choosing to grow. And if you’re choosing to grow, you’ve come to the right place;…
If there is one thing we all need during the holidays and all year long it is hope. Hope in today. Hope in tomorrow. Hope in days to come. …
Are you a naturally cheerful person? Sadly, I am not. If I don’t work on it, I can be grumpy, complaining, critical, and downright negative. But, for all who are…
It seems like it gets worse every year–the busyness of the holidays, that is. Between holiday parties and concerts, kids activities, sports and recitals, and holiday decorating, shopping, and food…
I’ve been practicing gratitude for quite some time now. I started a gratitude journal back when I was first married, I’ve studied countless books and research articles on gratitude, and…
Happy Birthday, Dr. Hibbert! In honor of Dr. Hibbert’s birthday, we’re having a 24-hour sale on the This Is How We Grow print book, November 22nd only! Thinking of holiday…
I wasn’t going to write today, but I can’t help myself. You see, as of yesterday, I am a published author, and since I started writing this post, I learned…
This Is How We Grow Blog Hop 2013: 10 Ways I Choose to Grow Each Day My family and I have been through our share of rough times. In 2007,…
An Invitation to YOU! Join my This Is How We Grow Blog Hop! (in honor of my new book, by the same name!) Theme: “I choose to grow.” …
As I often tell clients who are depressed or anxious and considering taking a psychotropic medication, “When you need it, you need it.” What I mean is, if medication is…
Relationships can be exhausting, especially when we lose sight of the person we really love. We can get so entrenched in our feelings, our position, our hurt, that we fail…
“Patience is a virtue,” it’s been said, and certainly it’s true. When we live with patience, we experience greater peace, joy, and love. We notice and embrace the beautiful parts…
Whenever I post something on Facebook or my blog about how I am really doing, I’m always surprised by the comments I receive. Like the time I posted about staying…
As you may know, I have just finished writing my first book–a memoir about the four years after my sister and brother-in-law died, we inherited our nephews, I had a…
What does personal growth look like for you? I asked this on my facebook page yesterday, and here are some of the answers I received: “Personal growth looks like, not…
We all have our strengths. For instance, I’m good at: 1) writing and public-speaking, 2) talking with my kids and listening to those in need. I’m also good at 3)…
If you ask me, “What is the number one rule of parenting?” I will say, “Consistency.” So, why is it #2 on my Top 10 Parenting Success Skills? Well, as…
I’ve always said the number one rule of parenting is consistency. And, I still believe that’s true. But, as important as it is to be consistent, there’s one thing even…
Stress Management: 15 Proven Ways to Stress Less (& Smile More!) I’m no stranger to stress. I’ve got a busy life, with six kids, after all! At least, that’s…
Ever feel burned out? I know I do (more often than I care to admit!). And, I know my friends do. And, I know my clients do. In fact, in…
“It is our actions and desires that cause us to become something, whether a true friend, a gifted teacher, or one who has qualified for eternal life.” ~Dallin H. Oaks…
I aspire to live as the crow flies. “Crows fly in sweeping circular arcs across the apron of the sky, using all the available space from horizon to horizon before…
“Are you a human being or a human doing?” I love this question. Since I am a doer by nature, this question reminds me there is more to life than…
I specialize in working with mothers. I also happen to be a mother. But I’ve always held a deep respect for fathers. I am, of course, the daughter of a…
Some time back in graduate school I realized that if I don’t ask for help when I need it, it might never come. Like so many women, I’d spent the…
Why does Mother’s Day always make me think of all I’m not doing right as a Mother? Every year I try to avoid it, but I can’t escape. The images…
Today, as part of the Postpartum Support International (PSI) Blog Hop 2013, I am happy to host a guest post by colleague and friend, Laura DiVenti. Laura has an incredible…
It’s cliché, I know, but I certainly wasn’t expecting postpartum depression (PPD). Newly graduated from college and recently married, I couldn’t wait to start a family, to finally become a…