Attachment Disorders Series #3: Understanding Adult Attachment Disorder
You’ve probably heard of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) in children. It’s a rare condition that develops when a child doesn’t attach emotionally with their caregiver. But did you know that adults can have attachment disorders, too? Basics of attachment Healthy, secure attachment develops through early nurturing experiences. Trust develops when an infant expresses a need, […]
Serving our First Responders
To work at the Meier Clinics was a dream of mine as I have been reading Dr. Meier’s books for 20 years. So when I had the opportunity to train in the Catalyst program in 2016, I jumped at the chance. Early on in my training with Dr. Keith Cobern, Dr. Meier, and the treatment […]
Attachment Disorders Series #2: Parenting Reactive Children or Youth
Last month we shared an overview about parenting a child with attachment issues. And we touched on Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) as a part of therapeutic parenting. (Therapeutic parenting is different from traditional parenting in that you learn to parent your child’s brain in addition to their behavior.) There are four parts to successfully parenting […]
Attachment Disorders Series #1: Parenting a Child With Attachment Issues
“My daughter won’t make eye contact or let me touch her.” “My child does what I ask only when he wants something.” When a child is distant, parents often think it’s their responsibility to develop attachment in their children. But attachment is different from bonding. Just because you bond with your child doesn’t guarantee they’ll […]
Coping with Loses as we Age
We grow up reading fairy tales where the story always ends, “and they lived happily ever after.” But as you grow up, reality is often harsh. In junior high school, kids tease everybody, including you. In high school, you don’t make the basketball team, even though you assumed a few years earlier that you would […]
When You Can’t Seem to Bridge the Emotional Gap in Your Marriage
Loneliness in marriage is deeply hurtful and exhausting. You might have tried everything to get help — including professional counseling — but it feels like your spouse can’t or won’t connect with you. Consider three easy-to-miss issues that might contribute to the emotional distance in your marriage: autism spectrum disorder, reactive attachment disorder, and traumatic […]
Are You Purpling?: The Battle of Wills
Now you’re probably wondering, “What in the world is purpling? Is that even a word?” My spell check says it is not, but read on and I’ll explain what I mean by “purpling.” You see God has two wills – His perfect will and His permissive will. We’re in one or the other at all […]
When Your Married Son or Daughter Seems Emotionally Distant
Learning to relate to your adult son or daughter in healthy ways takes wisdom. And for many parents, switching gears from connecting as parent-child to adult-adult isn’t easy. You know you need to let them go, but you don’t want to lose a close relationship. That’s not a bad thing; God designed moms and dads […]
The Teen Suicide Pandemic
There is a pandemic affecting adolescents that has been growing in severity for decades, without the coverage or attention that it deserves. Suicide is a hard subject to talk about, and in many cultures speaking of any mental illness or problem includes the connotation that those struggling mentally are defective members of society, overreacting to […]
How to Deal Wisely With Manipulative People
Note: This piece gives a broad overview of emotional manipulation. But manipulation in marriage can be more complex and must be addressed with sensitivity and care. If you’re married and wonder about the differences between an unhealthy exchange and abuse, we encourage you to read our article Signs of Emotional Abuse. We’ve all known manipulative people, […]
