Articles from the Week of December 20, 2024
Explanation: Although I scan the Internet primarily for counseling articles, in the process I run across quotes and interesting facts that I sometimes include in these first two sections. If you’re just interested in the counseling articles, you can skip these first two sections and go directly to the section called Counseling Articles. HV
Interesting Quotes
It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.
Mother Teresa
Caring for our seniors is perhaps the greatest responsibility we have. Those who walked before us have given so much and made possible the life we all enjoy.
John Hoeven
Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You’ll never know how much your caring matters.
Amy Leigh Mercree
No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.
Abraham Lincoln
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
Helen Keller
We must all learn to live together as brothers — or we will all perish together as fools. This is the great issue facing us today. No individual can live alone; no nation can live alone. We are tied together.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.
Margaret Thatcher
“Many believe—and I believe—that I have been designated for this work by God.”
Michelangelo
Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel where it is stored than to anything in which it is poured.
Mark Twain
Fascinating Facts
Black Holes
Most of us have heard of black holes but know little about them. However, since there are an estimated 40 quintillion (a quintillion is a billion billion) black holes in the universe, its probably wise to know a little about them. And if they are so powerful that no light can escape them, how could astronomers capture an image of them? This short article will give a brief description of them and answer that question. (In the latest Science News (December 14) there was a short article about a super-massive black hole that appears to be “waking up” in a galaxy near us. However, it’s far enough away that there’s no danger of it doing anything to us.)
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‘Demon-possessed tractors’: Solar storm wreaks havoc on GPS-reliant US farmers
If you’re wondering what a “demon-possessed tractor” might look like, it appears that storms on the sun can emit bursts of energy that may throw off the GPS tracking used on some farm tractors today, causing them to plant uneven rows of crops or even totally stop in the middle of a field.
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Was Benjamin Franklin a Serial Killer?
After Benjamin Franklin left a house where he lived while in France, the skulls of at least 15 individuals were found in the basement. But our beloved Founding Father was not a serial killer. The home had been used by a person who taught human anatomy, and the cadavers found there were those he had used in his anatomy classes.
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Counseling Articles
To Achieve a “50-50 marriage,” No Divorce Required
According to research, having husbands and wives share equally the work required to maintain outside employment and a household is important to foster good feelings in the couple. However, in many marriages today women work about 3 hours more per week than their husbands. As this author writes, in good marriages often (e.g., when one partner faces a health challenge) the healthy partner does more than 50% of the work temporarily.
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Which Men Cheat Least? Republican Husbands, Especially 'Religious Wife Guys'
Infidelity causes an enormous amount of pain. This research identifies which husbands are least likely to cheat.
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What are 'attachment styles,' and is there science to back them up?
You may have learned the theory of attachment styles in one of your undergraduate courses. Here is a good refresher. Probably one of the most important points for counselors—you can help clients change their attachment style.
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The Power of Service for Kids with ADHD
Children with ADHD almost always struggle with feelings of inferiority. However, most children also struggle with such feelings at times during their childhood and teen years. This writer gives readers (including parents and counselors) some suggestions about how to build self-confidence in these children (also in probably every child, whether or not they have ADHD). Read about “islands of competence.” But also, all human beings, whatever their developmental stage, have the need to have purpose. Asking a child to help you do something gives them an important sense of purpose. Great ideas for building self-confidence in children and others!
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How to Set Boundaries with Family: A Joy-Preserving Guide
Although this article is also written for parents of a child with ADHD, and how to set boundaries during the holidays with families who may not understand their family’s special needs, I think the concept could be generalized to all of our families during the holidays. We all need to set boundaries in order to have healthy relationships when we interact. Those boundaries and expectations will vary depending on our family needs and developmental situations, but setting healthy expectations (in a loving and gentle way) can make the holidays better for all of us.
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What Are My Teen’s Best Options After High School?
Another article for parents of a child with ADHD, but also one that could be helpful to other parents. It talks about career planning with your older teen, and then also lists many other ways to prepare for adult careers besides college. There’s worthwhile information here for any parent of an older teen. And I think it’s worthwhile to remind parents that many career goals do not solidify until early 20s, and that many people discover their ultimate career in their later 20s, after they have tried one or more things to find a “good fit.”Click here to read the full article.
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Christian counselor fired for posts urging wives to submit to their husbands
In what is perhaps a sign of our times, a Christian counselor in Great Britain has been fired from her job at a Christian school for writing that Christian wives should submit to their husbands, citing Scriptures as her basis for her writing. She is appealing her dismissal.
While I do believe the verses she has used are valid, in today’s culture and marriages I believe it is wise to focus on Ephesians 5:20 (Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.) I believe when there is mutual submission (both husband and wife are sensitive and responsive to the needs and feelings of each other), that this lays the foundation for mutually happy and fulfilling relationships, and in this kind of relationship it makes it easier for women to submit to the leadership of their husbands. And in our time and culture, where husbands and wives often have complementary skills and gifts, for couples to allow each other to take the leadership role in those areas where they recognize their partner has the greater gifts. But I agree with this young woman that she should not have been fired from a Christian school for voicing her opinion based on Scripture.
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A Talk That You Might Encourage Parents to Listen To
This past week the New York Times carried a front-page article entitled Parents: You Need to Talk With Your Teens About Pornography. The fact that the New York Times carried such an article, and as a front- page article, says that even our secular culture recognizes the importance of this issue for teens. Albert Mohler spent almost an entire Briefing discussing this article and his reflections on this topic on December 17, says something about how important he believes this issue is for Christian parents. I encourage you to listen to his discussion (about 25 minutes) and then encourage the parents you think might benefit from it to listen to is also. It can be found at https://albertmohler.com/2024/12/17/briefing-12-17-24/
One Million Moms warns parents against ‘Wicked’
Before you consider going to see the movie “Wicked” you may want to read this warning article from One Million Moms.
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Wisconsin Christian School Massacre Suspect Identified - Alleged Manifesto Shows Radical Views
The tragic shooting at an interdenominational Christian school this week was apparently done by Natalie Rupnowa, a 15-year-old student who attended the school. Here is a manifesto, apparently written by her, revealing a deeply disturbed girl. This is the type of person we attempt to help.
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School shooter Natalie ‘Samantha’ Rupnow was in therapy over troubled home life that saw parents repeatedly divorce — before deadly Wisconsin rampage
Here is further information about the home life of Natalie Rupnow, which includes some of the details that may have led to the upset that led to the deadly shooting and her suicide.
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After years of hype and hurt, 'trans' obsession could finally be waning
Just this week, the very liberal Washington Post included an article discussing the fact that support for “Gender-Affirming Care” is starting to wane across the world in those countries that formerly were very supportive, and there may even be some waning of support in the U.S.
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Abigail Shrier Was Vilified. Now She’s Been Vindicated.
Another article on the above subject. Although there are still differences of opinion in the mental health field about the subject of gender-affirming care for gender dysphoric children, here is one point of view by the editors of the Free Press along with the reasons they take their point of view.
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Accessible Tiny Homes May Be an Affordable Alternative to Assisted Living
I included an article about tiny homes last week, but my primary thought was for those who couldn’t afford larger homes now that the price of homes has skyrocketed. But here is a very comprehensive article about how tiny homes can be an excellent alternative for those with disabilities or medical situations that make normal homes inaccessible for them. And such tiny homes can sometimes be built next to family members’ homes, so they give privacy and autonomy, but also make it easy for family members to come in case of emergencies or when their loved one needs transportation.
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A Mother Shares How Parkinson's Changed Her Parenting
Soania Mathur received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s just after she completed her residency in family medicine. (Parkinsonism is a progressive disease for which there is no cure.) She was at first in denial, but then eventually realized that she needed to adjust her attitude if she wanted to be the best marital partner and mother she could be. So she made those adjustments, worked for 12 years as a physician before retiring and raised three daughters, whom she describes as charitable and empathetic. And she describes what she has done in the last several years since retiring to fill her life with purpose.
I think her story can be a wonderful inspiration to anyone who has received a diagnosis that they have a lifelong disease for which there is no cure. I encourage you to download this article and save it to use with clients who face similar situations. Also, if you go to the archives of Brain and Life (free) you’ll find dozens of articles telling the stories of people who have learned they have lifelong diseases and have developed a new life purpose based on that information, which could be inspiring to one or more of your clients.
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Teaching Children the Joy of Work
If you have young parents with young children, this may be a helpful article for them about how to gradually include their children in the work of the family in ways that build their self-esteem and help them develop a sense of responsibility.
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Over two-thirds of US teens don’t drink, smoke or use marijuana — but this one vice is gaining ground: survey
There is good news about the use of alcohol, smoking, and marijuana among teens. This article discusses the one substance that is starting to increase in popularity among teens. Although usage is still relatively small, if you work with teens you probably will want to be aware of this.
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Here’s a guide to know whether your religious group is healthy or toxic | Opinion
A thoughtful essay by someone who has studied a wide variety of churches over many years. See what you think of his analysis.
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Your Brain Flushes Out Waste Every Night–Here’s How to Help It Clean Up
This comprehensive article on sleep will probably tell you several things about sleep that you didn’t know before. As you may know, in healthy sleeping the brain flushes out toxins that are produced during the day. This article gives several pointers on how to sleep to maximize the cleaning process in your brain during the night.
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Jamie Foxx's Daughter's Guitar Playing Helped Save Him, Neurologist Explains
A fascinating article about how music can play an important role in the lives of those with neurological issues and those with Alzheimer's.
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ADHD Medications for Adults: ADD Treatment Q&A on Types, Side Effects
An excellent article by Russell Barkley, a highly-respected authority on ADHD, in which he answers eight very common questions asked about ADHD medication. Great to save if you talk with parents or adult about ADHD medication.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed these articles and that you have a wonderful Christmas!
Henry Virkler
