Our family has just begun navigating the college exploration process. My son is actively researching various schools for programs heavy in the arts -- film, screenwriting, directing. We, as parents committed to bankrolling (at least in part) his higher education, are...

Couples in joint counseling are sometimes surprised when I recommend that one -- or both -- members also initiate individual counseling with their own therapists. Some people worry that spending time in solo sessions will create further distance in the relationship,...

We expect the symptoms of distress when we are under pressure, anticipating a negative event or feeling burdened with excessive expectations. But we can also experience anxiety, muscle tension, headaches, irritability, fitful sleep -- as well as a slew of other stress...

Many people think recovery from addiction begins with a stint in rehab. Or that recovery commences when the addict hits "rock bottom." Or even that abstinence from one's drug of choice is the key to recovering a healthy life. But many "12-Steppers" (members of 12-step...

Although my son is well past the Disney-age set, I have not been immune to the force of the cultural phenomenon of the Frozen movie, specifically it's omnipresent anthem "Let It Go." I wouldn't originally have considered Princesses Elsa and Anna to be Zen aficionados,...

Maybe it's the realization that middle age has firmly and irrevocably arrived. Maybe it's the aches and pains I notice more now when I leave the gym or finish raking my yard. Maybe my son's penchant for analyzing his every body part, facial expression and hair...

My left hand is killing me. No, it's not a flare up of carpal tunnel syndrome. I didn't punch a wall or accidentally slam my hand in the door jamb. My hand is aching from the hour-long DEATH GRIP I had on my car's parking brake. You see, I just finished with my son's...

Holidays, days of remembrance, and anniversaries can all be springboards for a decision to change. Milestones often remind us of what we hold dear, as well as spotlight the finite time we have to create lives that reflect our truest selves. As yet another Fourth of...

Tammy Wynette had it right all those years ago, when she sang of the deep heartbreak, loss and sense of failure that can accompany divorce. Over the last several decades, researchers have studied marital divorce and it's impact on spouses and their children. To hear...

Report cards arrived in the mail today. And while my son's final grades were acceptable according to our family's standards, I couldn't avoid focusing on the "D" and "F" he received on two final exams. Those letters seemed to vibrate on the page, and my son was...