Nov
26
2010
As a counselor who works with children at Life Skills Resource Group Orlando, I am aware that at the top of many children’s holiday wish list is a wish that their parents will get back together. Of course that’s not likely to happen for most children of divorce, so the holidays are a difficult time. Because the holidays are often associated with past memories of time spent with family, a holiday season after divorce presents a new world of change to a child. Traditions are disrupted and feelings of security and happiness can be turned upside down. However, there are some things parents can do to help their child experience the joy of the holiday season despite their divorce.
Communication and understanding is one of the most important things a parent can offer their child during this time. Children may have very negative feelings about the holidays after a divorce, so a parent must communicate to their child that it’s okay to have those feelings. Parents may feel guilty about their divorce, especially during the holidays, and as a result they avoid talking with their child about their negative feelings. But a parent must tell their child that it’s okay to feel the way they do and that the sadness they feel is normal. Talking with your child about their feelings and validating those feelings is the best gift you can give your child during the holidays.
Another gift you can give your child is to make every effort to get along with your ex-spouse. A child’s adjustment to a divorce is usually connected to how well the ex-spouses have adjusted. Although every family has stress during the holidays, the stress on a divorced family can be severe, so it takes extra effort to take the high road and avoid disagreements with your ex- spouse. The Orlando counselors at Life Skills Resource Group can help you and your child learn ways to cope with divorce and the stress of the holidays. Please feel free to contact me or any of the qualified counselors at Life Skills Resource Group Orlando by visiting Our Team page. Amy
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Nov
14
2010
Kim Murphy, MS, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Okay, I give up. How can you be a good consumer of Psychological services without really trying? Here at Life Skills Resource Group in Orlando, it seems to me that there are a few things (seven, to be exact) that you absolutely have to do in order to be successful in therapy, i.e. get something lasting out of it for the money and time you put in to it.
1. First of all, as Stephen R. Covey wrote in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, you need to “begin with the end in mind.” Have a specific goal(s) that you want to work on when you begin your search for a therapist. The more you are able to clarify what is bothering you right now and what you want the future to look like, the easier it will be for you to find the right person to help you achieve your goals.
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Nov
06
2010
“Will I pass my test?”
“Is there a monster under my bed?”
“If you leave, will you ever come back?”
“What if I get lost?”
“What if someone takes me?”
“Is the door locked?”
“Please don’t leave me.”
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Nov
01
2010
Kim Murphy, MS, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Have you ever seen the movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell? Of course you have; everyone has (probably more than once). It’s the one about a bitter, jaded weatherman who, for some unknown reason, is forced to keep repeating the same day over and over again. Considered to be a modern American classic, it’s on several lists of best films of all time. Almost immediately after its release in 1993, people began referring to anything tedious and repetitive as being “like Groundhog Day.” Why is this movie so beloved and more importantly, why am I blogging about it? It’s simple. While on the one hand it’s a charming fantasy about a terrible man learning to be a wonderful human being, Groundhog Day is also a perfect example of mindfulness in action. As a counselor at Life Skills Resource Group in Orlando, I often extol the virtues of mindfulness to my clients, and help them to practice it in their lives.
Wikipedia states that “Mindfulness plays a central role in the teaching of Buddhist meditation… [It] is the critical factor in the path to liberation and subsequent enlightenment. The study of mindfulness (as it applies to Psychology) operates on the idea that by intentionally recognizing the potential of each small moment in a day, one can pursue a richer life experience that includes more novelty and less stress.” It is important to note that mindfulness is characterized by a sense of curiosity, non-judgment and acceptance.
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