Counseling News from the Week of November 7,2025

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

“In youth we learn; in old age we understand.”

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, "Aphorisms"

"No big challenge has ever been solved, and no lasting improvement has ever been achieved, unless people dare to try something different."

Tim Cook

“One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.”

Sophocles, "Oedipus at Colonus"

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

Plato

“The truth always turns out to be simpler than you thought.”

RICHARD FEYNMAN

“The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.”

Blaise Pascal

"Jealousy is, I think, the worst of all faults because it makes a victim of both parties."

Gene Tierney

Fascinating Facts

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia becomes world’s tallest church

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia has become the world’s tallest church at 534 feet. It is still under construction but is almost complete. This article includes a picture of the impressive structure.

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Counseling Articles

Brain’s Waste Clearance System Implicated in Dementia

Here is some research about factors causing dementia that are important and may have increasing relevance in the years ahead. Apparently a system (the glymphatic system) removes waste from the brain each night, and failure to do so increases the likelihood of developing dementia. From the present research the two factors that affect the healthiness of the glymphatic system removal process are high blood pressure and diabetes, so keeping these two factors in check may be the best we can do at present. Future research may reveal more factors that can be treated.

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Chronic Burnout vs. Depression: How to Tell the Difference and Start Healing

Here is a summary of the differences between chronic burnout and depression that I found quite good. It came to my personal AOL account, and I couldn’t find the full article at a general internet address, but if you’re able to read it through the AOL address below I think the summary is helpful.

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The Mission Creep of Public Schools

This article focuses on two issues: the academic performance of students in our public schools has been declining significantly, and public schools are instead focusing on providing health services to students. While the provision of health services to students from financially disadvantaged families is commendable, for middle-class students this is replacing something that has traditionally been a parental responsibility and under parental control. And since schools have limited budgets, adding health services to their responsibilities may mean less money for academic instruction (and could prevent parents from having control of the health services provided to their children).

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The Deepfake Deluge is Coming, and Kids Are a Major Target

I covered this topic several weeks ago, but apparently it is becoming more widespread and greater numbers of teens and adults are becoming victims of this. With generative AI and modern photoshopping software it apparently has become much easier for classmates and adults to create nude photos of teens and adults, and to even create pornographic videos of them. Clearly there is a need for our legislators to quickly create legislation to combat this. Some victims have committed suicide when they were not able to meet ransom demands before nude photos or pornographic videos of them were released.

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Does Cohabitation Extend Life? Yes, But Married Individuals Live Longer

These research studies from various countries found that when lifespans for singles, cohabiting couples and married couples were compared, cohabiting couples live longer than singles, and married couples had the longest lives. Cohabiting couples worried more about the stability of the relationship than married couples did.

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“My Most Trusted, Utilized ADHD Resources Are…”

Here are some of the people who regularly subscribe to ADHD Research Update and similar newsletters about ADHD who identify what their most trusted ADHD resources are. I have read (and continue to read) articles by these resources and affirm their trustworthiness.

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Why Do We Allow Child Marriage in America?

This article by Nicholas Kristof is in the New York Times, so I’ll summarize its major points. Although many countries have banned child marriage, thirty-four states in the U.S. allow those less than 18 to be married (California and three other states allow a child of any age to be married as long as one parent and a judge agrees). Some states set a minimum age of 15, 16 or 17.

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A Story of Radical Faith, Forgiveness, and the Grace That Heals a Community

Here is a story of how a family experienced the tragic death of a young daughter, showed forgiveness to the man who mistakenly ran over her, and how their Christian faith has helped them and their entire community to heal from this tragic accident.

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The Gap Between God and Science is Closing

Although not a counseling article, this article will be an encouragement to all believers, and it could strengthen your confidence as you counsel with clients who are struggling with the issue or whether or not to believe in a Creator.

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DEA Warns: 'Pink Cocaine' Packs Deadly Surprises

A new combination of drugs called “pink cocaine” is becoming popular. Interestingly, it rarely contains any cocaine, using food coloring to give it the pink color. It usually contains a mixture of ketamine and other drugs, such as MDMA, methamphetamine, caffeine, and fentanyl. Experts are warning of the dangers: “Even experienced users are at risk. Krotulski, director of toxicology at the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education, explained to Vanity Fair that every batch can vary wildly. "White powder could be sugar, could be table salt, or it could be fentanyl, or it could be cocaine, or it could be whatever.”

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When is the Best Time to Take Blood Pressure Medication? The actual title of this article is “The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of BP Chronotherapy” but I think my revised title is clearer.

Over the last few years there has been a controversy over whether to take blood pressure medication at night or first thing in the morning. This was caused by differing results from two very large well-controlled studies. It was found that taking blood pressure medication at night resulted in slightly lower blood pressures during the day. However, long-term studies found there were no differences in the frequency of cardiovascular events or overall mortality between those who took the medications in the morning versus evening. So it seems either time is equally good.

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Hurry Sickness

I had not heard this term before, but it apparently can be applied to some people with ADHD and Type A personalities. If you have one or more clients to whom this might apply, this article might be worth reading.

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Can Energy Drinks Trigger Mania in Bipolar Disorder?

Some people consume energy drinks when they find their energy flagging. The question in this article is whether energy drinks could trigger mania in a person with bipolar disorder. Research has not definitively answered that question, but it seems reasonable that people with bipolar disorder should use them cautiously, and if they sense they might trigger mania for themselves, then reduce or eliminate them from their diet.

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College, Bipolar Disorder, and Sleep: A Firsthand Survival Guide

Another article for bipolar clients. College produces challenges for many students, but for students with bipolar disorder, there are some things to be especially aware of, such as irregular sleep schedules or inadequate sleep. This article identifies some of those.

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Study Finds Evidence That Text-Based Therapy Eases Depression

This is from the New York Times, so I’ll summarize its basic finding. This was a large, randomized trial comparing the results of once-weekly video counseling sessions with text-based therapy for clients with mild to moderate depression. Text-based therapy allowed clients to send texts throughout the day and receive feedback. Both groups of sessions were with licensed counselors. The research found both types of therapy equally effective. (This was not a study of clients with severe depression or other mental disorders.)

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The Most Important Question about AI

This article from Breakpoint contains some information about AI that I hadn’t heard before. It is now possible to ask “God” questions directly using AI and get answers (please don’t). The article also goes into some further thoughtful discussion about AI.

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ARFID Is More Than Picky Eating—And the Condition Is on the Rise

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) was added to the DSM in 2013, but until recently it was relatively rare. Children between 2 and 6 often go through a period of being picky eaters, but ARFID continues (usually in children and teens, but sometimes also in adults) to the point where there are significant effects on growth and health. The article discusses three of the common reasons adults give for ARFID, which may be helpful in counseling with such individuals, although it probably would be wise to see what reason an individual gives for their ARFID, and develop a counseling approach from there. This article also includes other helpful information about the disorder. An eating disorder clinic, Equip, that provides specialized care for those who do not respond to individual treatment, says it treated more than 1,000 people in the U.S. with ARFID in 2024—a 144 percent jump from 2023.

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Postpartum Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder: Review of Neurobiology and Expert Consensus Statement on classification.

Postpartum Psychosis is not yet in the DSM but expect that it may appear in the DSM-6. It often includes episodes of mania, major depression and mixed episodes, and results in increased risk of fratricide or maternal suicide. See article for other important details.

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Psilocybin Outside the Clinic

Mushrooms containing psilocybin are being studied in some psychiatric research, but a number of states have legalized the use and sale of such mushrooms for recreational use. This article discusses the wide variety of potency found in natural samples and encourages that further research be done before there is more widespread use or legalization of this product.

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Running vs. Walking: Which Is Better for Lasting Health?

This is from the New York Times, so I’ll summarize a few of its most important points. Both are good for you, but if you are healthy enough to gradually pick up the pace and start running, this activity gives a few additional medical benefits. If running is not possible for you, you may still benefit from picking up the pace or walking in an area that contains hills. But whichever level of exercise you engage in benefits you physically and psychologically.

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New therapeutic brain implants could defy the need for surgery

Brain surgery costs thousands of dollars and carries risks. What if doctors could develop tiny electronic chips that could autonomously travel to a specified part of the brain, implant themselves in the brain tissue, and then develop electrical stimulation to treat a specific disease. That may be possible within a few years.

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Christian man prosecuted for ex-gay testimony awaits ruling in 'conversion therapy' case

This article from the Christian Post reminds us that many countries have laws against “conversion therapy,” i.e., against any counseling that is contrary to gay, lesbian or transgender philosophy. In this case the defendant did not try to convert anyone—he was only sharing that after he became a Christian he believed his lifestyle was contrary to what God wanted and changed his life. I encourage us to pray that people everywhere could have the freedom to discuss sexual orientation and transgender issues with children and clients without fear that they are breaking the law.

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Team Observes How Brain Activity, Energy Use, and Blood Flow Synchronize During Normal Sleep, Opening a Window on Sleep and Neurological Disorders

We know that it is very important that the brain’s glymphatic system cleans the brain of wastes each night, but until recent brain studies we didn’t understand much about how the brain did this as well as do the other things that the brain needed to do while we were sleeping to keep us alive and allow us to wake up when an external threat required us to do so. These very recent studies are beginning to tell us how all those things happen when we are asleep.

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A Book that Might Be a Nice Christmas Present for Someone (or for yourself)

A few months ago I watched an interview with Supreme Court Justice Amy Comey Barrett. I was incredibly impressed with her and bought her book Listening to the Law. I’ve read through her book (about a chapter a day). If you (or someone you know) is interested in American history, how our government works and how the Supreme Court works and makes decisions, I highly recommend this book to you to consider giving it as a gift to a friend or to yourself. It tells fascinating stories of how our country almost did not survive (the Articles of Confederation were seriously flawed). The Constitutional Convention developed our Constitution through a series of important compromises between the thirteen colonies (the large and small states, slave-owning states and free states had to agree to ratify the original Constitution in order for it to become the law of the land). The Constitutional Convention also developed the three branches of government and the balance of powers, the Bill of Rights, and the ability to make amendments to it when situations arose in the future that did not face the original colonies. Many of these decisions required our Founding Fathers to make compromises in order to arrive at a consensus that would win a majority of the votes necessary for ratification, but fortunately they did.  

Justice Barrett shares how the responsibility of a Supreme Court Justice is to interpret the law, rather than let their own preferences guide their decisions (e.g., she is personally opposed to capital punishment, but in a specific case chose to vote that based on the law in that case the person qualified for the death penalty). If you or your gift recipient read this book I am certain you will be filled with gratitude with the wisdom God gave the original founders at the Constitutional Convention and the Constitution they gave to us.  

I wish you a wonderful week ahead!

Henry Virkler