The Ties That Bind

The mythology of family reads like a fairytale: loving parents who don’t yell or scold; strong sibling bonds that are forged from mutual respect and a desire to protect one another; communication that’s fluid; boundaries that are flexible but still strong...

The Child Inside

The concept of the “inner child” has been a near-constant focus of therapy since the 1970s . From psychiatrist Charles Whitfield to new age practitioner Louis Hay, helping professionals have advocated clients accessing their “inner child” to...

The Reward of Authenticity

One of the scariest risks we take is the choice to be authentic. Being real with others requires us to be vulnerable — if we are rejected or misunderstood, we can’t blame others’ reactions on the mask we are wearing. We feel the pain more deeply when...

The Web of Life

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...

The Expert Within

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,...