Counseling News from the Week of August 29,2025
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
"Without goals, training has no direction."
Natalie Coughlin
"In the end, it matters less that you can fight. What you fight for is the real test."
John McCain
Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine
Anthony J. D'Angelo
"Purpose is an essential element of you ... the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose."
Chadwick Boseman
Fascinating Facts
Why More Farmers Are Turning to AI Machines
Some farming chores, such as harvesting crops, are very time consuming (e.g., strawberry picking) and require many hours of backbreaking labor by dozens of laborers. Now powered by AI-guided machines, these tasks can be done more efficiently and accurately by a single machine.
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How Weight Lifting Strengthens Heart Structure and Function
More and more articles are recommending some weightlifting as part of an exercise regimen, but this is one of the first I have read that explains why weightlifting benefits your heart and other body systems.
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Next Generation Amtrak is here
Twenty-seven more high speed Amtrak trains (with speeds up to 160 mph) are arriving this coming year with nice amenities—5G internet, upgraded comfortable seating and lighting, and high quality meal service.
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Counseling Articles
Maybe Women Can Have It All—But Can Their Kids?
Although our culture suggests it is possible for women to have it all—meaning both a full-time career and children, this article makes the point that it is more reasonable for mothers, particularly of young children, to work part-time when possible, and have jobs that continue giving some flexibility while their children are still at home.
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The Missing Voice in the ‘Tradwife’ vs. ‘Have It All’ Debate: The Child’s
In an article that echoes the thoughts of the previous article, this author, a therapist herself, encourages mothers to make mothering a priority for the first three years of their children’s lives, and then consider rejoining the workforce gradually after that.
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America’s Side-Hustle TradWife
This article discusses a trend that is becoming increasingly common among couples who prioritize their children—the wife working part-time, often remotely, to provide some income to augment the husband’s income, but at the same time primarily being at home with the children.
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Working Moms Aren’t ‘Girlbossing.’ We’re Striking a Delicate Balance Between Work and Home
Women like Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press secretary, and Megyn Kelly, may sometimes give unrealistic models of women who appear to successfully work full-time and raise their families at the same time. This article suggests that women who try to both work and raise families often are striking a balance between the two, always trying to give quality in both areas. But for most women with families, it is more realistic to work part-time, so they can give the majority of their energy to their families.
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UNICEF Programs Sexually Groom Children
This article was shocking to me. The UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF) has been producing and distributing materials for children worldwide that I think many of us could not support as appropriate educational sexual education materials for children. Read article for more detail and to see if you agree.
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UN Maternal Health Coalition Attacks Religious Voices
In another disturbing movement within the UN, it encourages abortion and gender ideology and attacks conservative and religious voices as being against people’s rights. Although most of us would agree that the idea of an organization that promotes international peace is a good one, it seems that some of the current U.N. programs have deviated far from their original goal.
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‘Your ADD Is Messing With My OCD’: Is Our Therapeutic Culture Changing Everything From Romance to the Way We Think?
I’m sure you won’t agree with everything in this article, but I think the author does make some points that are worthwhile for all of us to consider. Sometimes our psychological language and theorizing obscures important issues such as character, purpose and meaning.
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“How Do I Choose the Right Medication for ADHD?”
Parents whose children have been newly diagnosed with ADHD may have questions and apprehensions about medication. These answers from Dr. Hallowell, a highly respected psychiatrist, may be of help.
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ADHD Tips You Haven’t Tried Yet
Here are some tips for adults with ADHD and for parents with children who have ADHD.
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5 Moms I Avoid
When a mother and child both have ADHD, there are some mothers who are very difficult to tolerate.
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Sibling Caregivers are Supporting Brothers and Sisters Through Chronic Conditions
Two weeks ago I mentioned in this column the idea that helping children participate in helping with the family work (using appropriate age guidelines) could be a helpful thing in preparing them for adulthood and also for helping them develop compassion for others. Here is another article that makes this point, from the magazine Brain and Life, which focuses on having children help with sibling who have neurological disorders, participating in caregiving for their siblings in age-appropriate ways.
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‘Godfather of AI’ Warns Superintelligent Machines Could Replace Humanity
This person, who is called the Godfather of AI because he was instrumental in developing the technology that eventually led to AI, recognizes the benefits AI potentially provides, but also recognizes its dangers. His article underscores the importance of developing ethical safeguards around the use of AI.
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The Purpose of Our Technologies
A Breakpoint article that also emphasizes the point made by the above article—AI gives us wonderful improvements, but we must always use ethics to guard against its misuse.
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3 Reasons True Christians Must Oppose Transgender Orthodoxy
There are Christians who take both sides on the transgender issue. I think this article makes some thoughtful points for us all to consider.
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What Is Carfentanil?
For those of you who work with clients who experiment with drugs, another drug is now making rounds and might come to your attention. While fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine, Carfentanil is 100 times more potent than fentanyl. It is used to sedate large animals such as elephants. Apparently it can be put in pill form that is indistinguishable from other pills that people take, making it very dangerous because of its potency.
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Ketamine Prescriptions Surge 500 Percent Despite Little Evidence for Chronic Pain
Ketamine prescriptions have dramatically increased but a new study questions whether ketamine reduces chronic pain; its long-term use can produce paranoia and delusions.
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Harvard revokes tenure of professor famous for ethics studies, first time in 80 years
In an ironic case, a professor known for her studies in ethics and honesty lost her tenure at Harvard based on allegations that she committed data fraud. For more details, see article.
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Understanding an Overlooked Side of Bipolar Disorder
In bipolar disorder the most commonly recognized features are manic and depressive episodes. But one overlooked feature that is important for counselors and individuals with bipolar disorder to know about is mood instability--frequent, unpredictable shifts in mood, even when someone is not in a full mood episode. Mood instability can make it more difficult to meet daily demands and can harm relationships, especially if loved ones are not aware of this feature. See article for suggestions on how to deal with those symptoms.
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Cities Move Away From Strategies That Make Drug Use Safer
This is from the New York Times, so you may not be able to read it. Here’s a summary: many cities and some colleges have attempted to reduce drug overdose deaths by adopting various “harm-reduction strategies” such as safe spaces where needle exchanges, sterile syringes, alcohol wipes, rubber ties and nasal sprays would be available. These spaces did reduce overdose deaths between 2023 and 2025, but they also attracted crime and disorder to such an extent that some cities are in the process of shutting down their “safe spaces.” However, progressive judges in some localities are not allowing cities to do so. There is still controversy about the best way to reduce drug overdoses, but critics say that making addiction easier only reinforces more addiction.
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ChatGPT ‘coached’ teen as he prepared suicide and even praised the noose knot: ‘Yeah, that’s not bad at all’
In the most egregious case I have ever read, ChatGPT encouraged a teen to commit suicide, telling him the various ways he could do it. This was not simply responsive conversation but was actively encouraging this youth to commit suicide. If you read the things ChatGPT said to this young man I think you will agree that his parents are fully justified in their wrongful death lawsuit, and hopefully it will force the designer of the program to significantly redesign their artificial intelligence. (See second article below: apparently ChatGPT has already agree to do so.)
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AI Chatbots Need to Fix Suicide-Related Responses, Study Says
In a study directly related to the above article but also to other chatbots’ responses to questions, it is clear that AI chatbots need clear ethical guidelines about how they will respond to individuals. There seem to be clear differences on which chatbots give good information (and refuse to give harmful information) to users.
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OpenAI Plans to Update ChatGPT After Parents Sue Over Teen’s Suicide
And in an almost-immediate response to Adam Rains’ suicide, OpenAI said it will change its responses when individuals write comments indicating distress.
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4 Books to Help You Deal With a Narcissist
You won’t be able to read this article without subscribing to the New York Times, but if you have a client who’s dealing with a narcissist, I’ll give you the titles of the four books and a short description of them. Rethinking Narcissism by clinical psychologist Craig Malkin presents narcissism as a continuum. At the low end of the continuum would be those who view themselves and their needs more negatively. In the middle of the continuum would be those he calls “healthy narcissists” who have an enhanced view of themselves but still have some degree of empathy and are able to accept some criticism. At the high end of the continuum are what he calls “pathological narcissists” who have significant deficits in empathy and a high sense of entitlement. He does make the telling point that all humans have a need to feel special.
It's Not You by Ramani Durvasula is also written by a psychologist. She says that “narcissism is often rooted in deep insecurity and difficulty handling criticism — and narcissists often engage in harmful behaviors like gaslighting or boundary violations.
She provides tools for people in these relationships to reclaim their sense of self, rebuild boundaries and heal from painful relational dynamics, while reminding readers that these patterns reflect psychological struggles rather than ill intent.”
Disarming the Narcissist by Wendy T. Behary, a cognitive therapist, reminds us “that we can’t change or control others, we can only control how we show up.” Ms. Behary, a therapist and founder of The Cognitive Therapy Center of New Jersey, suggests that readers use what she calls “empathic confrontation” when interacting with narcissists, which involves acknowledging someone else’s perspective and feelings while still maintaining personal boundaries. Simple techniques like using “I” statements can help lessen the chances that a narcissist will act defensively, she writes.
When it comes to our relationships with narcissists, this involves being direct, clear and setting boundaries, Ms. Schwartzberg said, which “gives the narcissist less fodder to manipulate the narrative.”
The Narcissism Epidemic’ by Jean M. Twenge and W. Keith Campbell explores how our culture promotes narcissism, and how narcissistic traits in children and adolescents are shaped by school, home and social media. The authors, two psychologists, argue that the overemphasis on children’s self-esteem — promoted since the 1980s and amplified by social media — has caused much of today’s suffering.
I’ve included these brief summaries and quotations so if you would be interested in reading more, or have clients who might benefit, you could have them consider purchasing one of these books. I have not read any of them myself.
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What Makes a Good Partnership With Your Psychiatrist?
Some recommend that people with bipolar have a psychiatrist to manage medication (who might meet with them once every few months (and whenever a mood episode threatens) and a psychotherapist to meet with more frequently to handle psychological issues. This first article talks about finding a good psychiatrist, and the next one asks whether to add a psychiatric nurse practitioner as one of your support care team.
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Should You Add a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner to Your Care Team?
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Modesty and My Daughter
Many moms (and definitely dads) probably feel uncomfortable talking with their daughters about modesty. Here are a few good suggestions about how to do this from Mark Gregston.
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Have a wonderful week!
Henry Virkler