Counseling News from the Week

of September 5,2025

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

"Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!"

Ingrid Bergman

Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

Melodie Beattie

“Only by doing the best we can with the very best that an era offers, do we find the way to do better in the future.”

FRANK DRAKE

"Success has brought me world idolization and millions of pounds. But it's prevented me from having the one thing we all need: A loving, ongoing relationship."

Freddie Mercury

“To love truth for truth's sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of all other virtues.”

John Locke

Fascinating Facts

The new dating term 'Shrekking' sounds innocent. It's not what you think

For those of you who may still be on the dating scene there’s a new dating trend. Not one I would recommend.

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White holes: What we know about black holes' neglected twins

We’ve all heard of black holes, but most of us have not heard of a more recently-discovered astronomical anomaly—white holes. White holes, like black holes, have mass, and some of them do spin. However, unlike black holes, from which nothing can escape, nothing can enter a white hole. For a fascinating glimpse of this relatively new discovery, read the article.

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Counseling Articles

Men With Prestigious Jobs Are More Likely to Cheat 

This article is a thorough study of cheating, which has been much in the news recently because of the kiss-cam that was broadcast world-wide. In general men with prestigious jobs are more likely to cheat, but unemployed men are also likely to do so. Some good news: infidelity overall, in both men and women, is decreasing.

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Why Young Women Shouldn't Ditch Marriage

Our culture often tells young women that marriage and having children robs them of their best future. But this research says just the opposite. Women in good marriages are more likely to rate themselves as very happy, and having children often adds a new sense of purpose to their lives. So encourage your young female clients with these facts rather than what our culture and some of their peers may be telling them.

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What ‘Swifties’ Can Learn From Taylor’s Engagement

It’s not often that we can affirm some of the young stars for their behavior, but this article describes several points about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship—how they have demonstrated the importance of commitment, and the end goal of heading toward a lasting marriage.

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Marriage and the Risk of Suicide: A Growing Divide

In 2023 almost 50,000 Americans died by suicide, and the suicide rate in America has been increasing for the last two decades. But marriage seems to be a helpful palliative for the many stresses of daily life. Unmarried individuals are three times more likely than their married counterparts to report suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts.

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ADHD: Not a Diagnosis but a Warning Label

I 0think it is wise to sometimes read things contrary to your current thinking. This psychiatrist believes that we have been understanding certain behaviors all wrong and diagnosing them (incorrectly) as ADHD. He finds ways to discredit the interpretations given about ADHD by numerous psychiatrists and psychologists. Although his arguments didn’t convince me, I invite you to read this article and see if his arguments convince you.

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Your Emotionally Reactive Child Needs Empathy — Not Punishment

 This article was written for parents of children with ADHD, who are often emotionally reactive, but I think it could also be helpful to any parent of an emotionally reactive child. It models several empathic responses that could be helpful to use.

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“I Didn’t Burn Out – I Incinerated.”

I included this article for several reasons. I think several adults who care for one or more children with ADHD may have either had this experience or may one day have it. But another reason is that those of us who are caregivers may experience more stress as we attempt to help those with emotional difficulties navigate life if we truly care about the pain of those we care for. And a third reason is that occasionally people may find, as this author did, that they may have an undiagnosed issue, such as ADHD themselves, that makes life more complicated.

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A Quiet Medicine: How Silence Slows Down Your Heart and Grows Neurons

A fascinating article that suggests that we might benefit from more silence in our lives. Silence reduces blood pressure, it helps people do cognitive tasks more accurately and with less stress, helps us relax, and may even encourage our brains to grow more neurons (at least it does that in mice, so it may do the same in us). And what we do with our minds can also make a difference (e.g., meditation).

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God on a New York Subway

Though this is not a counseling article, I believe it tells us something important about how God cares about, and often orchestrates, the details of our lives.

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People Who Were Raised by Helicopter Parents Often Develop These 9 Traits as Adults

“Helicopter parents are well-meaning but overly involved, constantly hovering to shield their child from discomfort, failure or risk—often without realizing it stifles the very skills kids need to grow, like resilience and independence.” If you are working with parents who resemble this definition, this article might be helpful in motivating them to change their parenting style.

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How Bipolar Increases Your Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes

People with bipolar disorder are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. This article explains some of the possible reasons and also gives people with bipolar suggestions to reduce the likelihood of this and what to do if Type 2 diabetes does develop.

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Using Music to Manage Bipolar: Tips and Benefits

Written by a person who temporarily lost his enjoyment of music during a depressive episode, he explains how he regained his appreciation of music and how he now uses music to help him manage his bipolar disorder.

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ADHD and Impulsive Eating

Some people with ADHD impulse eat and may become overweight as a result. If this is a problem for you or for a client with ADHD, here’s a good article that includes some tips for overcoming it.

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OpenAI and Meta say they're fixing AI chatbots in wake of teen's suicide

As mentioned in last week’s Friday Mailing, OpenAI and Meta immediately said they would make changes based on Adam Rain’s suicide, and this article gives details of the changes they are immediately making. This does not mean all other chatbots will be making similar changes, so counselors and parents are encouraged to talk with youngsters, if they use chatbots, about the benefits of using healthy friends or parents to talk about important issues in their lives.

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Antidepressant Withdrawal

When clients try to stop antidepressants abruptly and on their own they may experience something called discontinuation syndrome, and this may vary depending on the antidepressant they have been on and for how long. (This is not a sign that they have become addicted, only that their bodies have adjusted to having a certain chemical in their blood, and it needs some time to adjust to the change in their blood’s chemistry.) If you have a client who has been on antidepressants for a long time, encourage them to talk with their doctor about withdrawal methods. Clients experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms have been identified from a high of 25% to as low as 3% in various studies, so encourage clients to work with their doctors so they don’t have a negative experience. However, from the research, some of the wild accusations by those opposed to medications seem to be overblown.

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The Pornography “Rebooting” Experience: A Qualitative Analysis of Abstinence Journals on an Online Pornography Abstinence Forum

An increasing number of children, teens, and adults have become addicted to porn and it often leads to depression, isolation, and even suicidal ideation. But the good news is that many people are receiving help getting unhooked. This article compiles some encouraging research and lists the things that people are saying helped them break their addiction.

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Forced Drug Treatment Isn’t Horrific. It’s a Relief.

This is from the New York Times, and since you won’t be able to read it without subscribing, I’ll summarize its major points. Follow up studies found that people subjected to mandated treatment were slightly less likely to relapse in the coming year than those who participated in voluntary treatment. The author also made the point that it is not just users who are harmed by drug usage. Therefore he makes the point that mandated drug treatment can be a positive thing.

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 6 ‘magic phrases’ that make children listen to their parents

I was skeptical when I first read this title, but after reading this article, I think this mother (some sources say she is a child psychologist) has some good points and suggestions. See what you think.

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7 Secrets to Studying Better with ADHD

Here are 7 suggestions that reportedly help people with ADHD learn and retain better.

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Occurrence of Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder in Individuals With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treated With Stimulants

This meta-analysis drawing from multiple research studies found that there was a small increase of bipolar disorder and psychosis in clients with ADHD who were treated with stimulants. However, it was not concluded that stimulants caused either psychosis or bipolar disorder. These individuals could have had both ADHD and been predisposed to either develop bipolar disorder or psychosis. The study indicated the need for further research to clarify the meaning of this finding.

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ADHD Is the Disorder That Never Sleeps

It is estimated that 80% of those with ADHD have problems sleeping and are “night owls.” This often results in inadequate sleep which can lead to other problems. This article includes suggestions on how they can reset their circadian rhythm to enable them get more sleep.

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Why Waiting to Make an Important Decision Is Key With Bipolar

The author of this article, who has bipolar disorder and shares a few of the impulsive decisions she has made that she regrets, suggests some ways to help those with bipolar disorder to make wiser decisions.

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How Avis Cardella Overcame Shopping Addiction by Dealing With Her Grief

Some people with bipolar disorder shop impulsively, especially during manic or hypomanic episodes. This writer loved to shop with her mother, and when her mother passed away, she eventually realized she had developed a shopping addiction to mask her grief. She has written a book about this and how she overcame this. If you have a client whom you suspect might be using a shopping addiction to cover grief this might be a helpful book for them to read. However, I am not sure it would be helpful to a person with bipolar disorder who simply shops during manic or hypomanic episodes. For them a different treatment plan is probably needed.

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Why Modern Scientists Yearn for Spirituality

While I don’t have nearly the depth of scientific understanding as some of the scientists mentioned in this article, I think I have had similar experiences. The more I learn about the miracles of the universe, from interplanetary issues to the internal biochemistry of animals and humans, I think over and over of the biblical phrase—"we are wonderfully and magnificently made” and of the Creator who is responsible for it all.

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Doctors Are Prescribing Preschoolers ADHD Medications Too Soon: Study

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children diagnosed with or suspected of ADHD first begin with behavioral counseling, and then only begin medication if behavioral therapy is not enough to help them do well once they begin school. A study found that many children are prescribed medication almost immediately after an ADHD diagnosis and before behavioral counseling has first been tried.

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A Pill to Heal the Brain Could Revolutionize Neuroscience

This is from the New York Times, so I’ll summarize its major points. There are several new drugs in development (none approved for general use yet) that could help repair parts of the brain damaged by strokes and traumatic brain injuries. Also, the brain itself can send out neurons (sometimes even from distant parts of the brain) to help re-establish electrical connections that were damaged by a stroke or TBI. So once I learn that any of these advances have been approved for general use I will include it in this column. But there is definitely hope for future advancements.

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Florida is the first state to end all vaccine mandates, including in schools

In an action that is certain to concern some parents of school-aged children, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, announced that Florida would be ending all vaccine mandates. This move will still need to be approved by the Florida legislature. Probably many parents will continue to vaccinate their children for childhood diseases, some of which are highly contagious and could quickly be spread among schoolchildren.

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Meat Lovers Rejoice: Study Finds No Link Between Eating Meat and Early Death Risk

For the last few decades we have been told that it is not healthy to eat meat, and that protein from plants was healthier than protein derived from meats. This latest research suggests that meat-lovers can go back to eating meats without the fear that it will shorten their lifespans.

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I know a few of these articles were not counseling-related, but I thought they might be of interest to at least some readers.

Have a wonderful week!

Henry Virkler