I first read David Elkind’s book, “The Hurried Child,” while in graduate school almost 25 years ago. It provided a course of treatment for me to use with families and their children. I encouraged families to relax and limit the stress that they imposed upon their kids. This stress usually took the form of over-involvement…
Books I’m Reading: I had a “down day” this week due to an Upper Respiratory something-or-other and I found myself at home reading books about Sleep. It all started because I did not get a good night’s sleep due to the medication that I was taking to help me with the coughing. As I’ve gotten older,…
Lessons from my Clients Solomon (not his real name) reminded me that my efforts and the efforts of the team of people in his life are not in vain. Solomon is a 26-year old young man, who watched his mother murdered in front of him when he was around 5 years old. She was beaten…
Meaningful Moment- Switchbacks I took three adolescent boys into the woods to train with backpacks this past weekend. It was therapeutic!!! We stopped on the trail in the Jefferson Memorial Forest and walked through a stream bed. We looked for geodes. It was three young teenagers in the woods, looking for geodes. I saw the…
What I’ve been Watching on TV- I spent the week re-watching: Ken Burns: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. This is such an inspiring documentary. It’s inspiring, not because of the beautiful scenery, but because of the brave and visionary people that made this park system possible. There is an overlook at the Grand Canyon…
Lessons from My Clients Sometimes the lessons we learn feel negative. I learned this past week that I cannot help everyone. It is sobering. I want to help everyone, but of course, some people have been so injured, or neglected, or have been broken to the point that they are beyond my help. And the…
WELCOME TO MY WAYPOINTS! As I explained in a previous blog, Waypoints are significant events or moments from my past week that help me stay oriented as to where I am and where I’m going. Lessons from My Clients: Let your Pain (Misery) Guide You I was speaking with a foster parent this past week. She…
