Universities Now Offering Degrees In Sex Work?
Universities have historically had as their goal to help students learn skills that would allow them to prepare for safe careers that they could justifiably be proud to serve in. It shows something pretty unsettling that this college (others will probably follow) is now offering a course in sex work. Click here to read full article.
PTC Warns Parents About ‘Squid Game’ Given New Data Revealing Intense, Graphic Violence
Apparently the popularity of this game is expanding rapidly and it is reportedly being pushed by Netflix, so parents need to be warned about this game so they can protect their children. Click here to read full article.
Jesus Isn’t Going to Calm the Storms in Your Life
Sometimes people, including clients, read the story of Jesus calming the storm in the Sea of Galilee and they, or a friend, or even a Bible teacher, allegorize the story and claim that it teaches that God will calm every storm in our lives if we only pray and trust Him. When that doesn’t always happen it can cause them to lose faith or become angry with God.
This article provides some introductory principles of hermeneutics (how to properly interpret the Bible) and shows what purpose God had in including that story in the Bible. It might be helpful in your counseling sometime to know the information included in this article. Click here to read full article.
ADHD in Adults Looks Different. Most Diagnostic Criteria Ignores This Fact.
I would encourage every therapist, whether or not they specialize in clients who have ADHD, to read this article. It is written by Russell Barkley, one of the world’s most respected authorities on ADHD. Not only does it cover several important differences in diagnostic criteria not included in the DSM-5, which is why therapists who do not specialize in ADHD may be unknowingly treating adult clients who have ADHD and not recognizing its presence. It also includes several important points about treatment that are different than what is widely known. So please don’t miss reading this article and perhaps downloading it for future reference. Click here to read full article.
The Christian Peacemaker Who Left a Trail of Trauma
Many Christian organizations require that employees use mediation rather than lawsuits if employment difficulties arise. In the past couple decades many churches and Christian institutions have used Judy Dabler as a mediator. Very recently a review of her mediation settlements and her work with her own staff have revealed significant problematic issues, and her ability to work as a mediator has been removed. If an institution or church you have been involved in has used her services, you may want to read this article from Christianity Today. Click here to read full article.
Cannabis Use in Pregnancy May Lead to a More Anxious, Aggressive Child
The evidence continues to mount that cannabis use during pregnancy or in the months following delivery (when mothers may be nursing) can lead to negative issues in the children. This article explains that one of the factors is that marijuana today is much more potent that the marijuana of the 1970s. One joint today may contain 17 times the concentration of THC as the marijuana of past decades. See the full article for important details. Click here to read full article.
6 Quotes to Inspire Your Bipolar Management & Stability
Although these six quotes are found in a bipolar magazine, I think they’re equally applicable to all of us. Click here to read full article.
Warning to Parents
A friend sent me this warning on Facebook, which seemed like important information, but I don’t know how to convert it into a normal file, so I retyped it below:
“Parents—I did not know this and neither did my daughter so I’m sharing hoping it helps you! Aly was at Panera Bread in Aberdeen on Friday with friends and an older female asked them if she could borrow one of their phones to call her sister because her data had run out. Luckily, one of Aly’s friends had been warned that this is a tactic of human traffickers and she stopped them from giving the woman a phone. A friend of mine explained that the woman would have quickly created a contact in their phones and turned on the location sharing while pretending to make a call, then handed it back and would then be able to track the kid indefinitely. Scary! Warn your kids!”
13-Year-Old Uses His ‘Make-A-Wish’ to Feed His City’s Homeless for Year
Here’s a beautiful story about a selfless 13-year-old to inspire us all. Click here to read full article.
The Unexpected Neuroscience of Mommy Brain
We’ve all heard of expectant mothers complaining of “mommy brain,” during which they claim their memory is not as good as it was prior to pregnancy. This article from the Amen Institute is fascinating! Apparently there is rapid restructuring going on in pregnant mother’s brains preparing them for the advent of motherhood, and according to some, giving mothers a “superbrain.” Unfortunately, there’s no mention that expectant fathers get a similar boost. Click here to read full article.
How to Succeed in College with ADHD: Evidence-Based Strategies That Work
Those with ADHD often have trouble being successful in college. Here is a compilation of the services one should look for to improve the chances of being successful. Click here to read full article.
Bipolar Medication & the Creativity Question
Some people with bipolar disorder refuse to take medication because they fear medication may reduce their ability to be creative. The author of this article, who has bipolar disorder himself, didn’t take medication for several years after it was first prescribed. Here is how he eventually decided what to do. Click here to read full article.
Vaping Is Risky. Why Is the F.D.A. Authorizing E-Cigarettes?
In 2018 a survey of smokers found that 55% wanted to quit, but only 7.5% succeeded. The hope was that e-cigarettes, which contain fewer toxins than normal cigarettes, could at least provide a less toxic experience than regular smoking. At one time it was hoped that e-cigarettes might provide an effective way of helping smokers quit smoking entirely, but the research is questionable about whether smoking e-cigarettes is more effective than other methods of helping smokers quit entirely. Read the article for more details. Obviously, breaking a smoking addiction is very difficult, and the best option would be to try to help people not start smoking in the first place. Click here to read full article.
Plan a Trip, Skip the Tree: How Our Readers Get Through the Holidays After Loss
Those who have experienced a loss, either through death or divorce, share some of the ways they are using to make it through the holiday season. Click here to read full article.
My Child Saw Pornography, What Should I Do?
Children are sometimes exposed to pornography, sometimes accidentally. How should a parent react when they become aware of it? This brief article by a therapist offers some good advice. Click here to read full article.
Ex-porn star encourages Christians to forgive themselves after sinning: ‘Lessons can be learned’
Sometimes the Christians you counsel may have difficulty believing that God could forgive them for one or more of the sins they have committed. This ex-porn star and her husband give some thoughts that might help all of us remember that God forgives all of our sins if we truly repent and ask Him to do so. Click here to read full article.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Henry Virkler
