Articles

The hiking paths in Red Rock Canyon provide breathtaking views of red mountain ranges, limestone formations that have existed since the time of dinosaurs, and occasional sightings of wildlife--from thumb-sized geckos to stubby burros and majestic wild horses. The...

Our family has slated tours of several colleges onto our spring calendar, and my son is logging hours in an after-school class to prepare for the ACT test. We are about to embark on a journey dotted with questions, marked by difficult choices. Other parents, teachers,...

Cognitive behavioral interventions are some of the most common, and most effective, tools we use to teach clients to manage their depressive symptoms. Addressing mistaken beliefs, meditation and deep breathing exercises, and replacing negative scripts help clients to...

"Why does therapy have to be HARD?" I empathize deeply when clients ask this question.  Indeed, therapy can be difficult, scary, exhausting and confusing. Clients exhibit great courage when they are willing to dig deep, to be vulnerable, to feel and examine feelings...

We left the vet's office in a fog of disbelief. Hearing words like "carcinoma," and "chemotherapy" and "palliative care" is surreal for anyone faced with a loved one's diagnosis of cancer. But looking into the eyes of the 10-pound bundle of fur I carried in my arms,...

  Always Do Your Best. Upon first reading, the fourth agreement in Don Miguel Ruiz's book, The Four Agreements, seems nearly impossible to uphold. I assumed (yes, I'm aware that I managed to break one of the agreements before I even finished the list) that my "best"...

"Don't make assumptions" is the third guideline for living with integrity, according to Don Miguel Ruiz' book, The Four Agreements. The assumptions he writes about include predicting the outcome of situations, "mind reading" others, or even limiting our risk-taking...

"Don't Take Anything Personally" is Don Miquel Ruiz's second suggestion in his book The Four Agreements. I initially assumed he was talking about choosing to overlook negative feedback, as harsh criticism can be damaging to our self-esteem. But further reading...

  In Don Miguel Ruiz's classic self-help book, The Four Agreements, he offers four rules for living that he suggests will allow us to "escape hell" and live in a "heaven on earth" of our own making. The first agreement is more than a challenge to speak only the...

"Guilt's strength lies not in the failure of others to grant us forgiveness, but in our failure to forgive ourselves." -- Kelseyleigh Reber  Nobody's perfect. We learn from a young age that everyone makes mistakes. And most of us have had to forgive someone who's hurt...