on building walls, tearing them down, and wandering around with God Have you ever had a “bright idea”? One of those ideas where you cannot believe that you didn’t think of before? These are those sorts of ideas that you feel so sure about. Even better, when you share that…

Part of an occasional series about phrases that this therapist finds himself repeating, often. — As a clinician in private practice, one of the phrases that I hear myself saying over and over, often in this way is this: “Remember, anxiety is a body event.” So what does this mean? First, this statement, “anxiety is a body event”, reminds us that when we feel anxiety…

Part of an occasional series about phrases that this therapist finds himself repeating, often. — As a clinician in private practice, one of the phrases that I frequently hear myself saying is this: “Anxiety isn’t good with statistics.” …

Oppositional behavior in children AND adults — So I’m wearing a mask in my office full-time at this point and have been for about a month. We had our own COVID19 scare in my family as the cases were climbing in my home state. …

…but when should we stop and listen? — Many of us feel exhausted by the events demanding our time and concern. Far from confined to a calendar that deludes us into thinking that was 2020 and this is 2021, the creeping tendrils of political and social unrest, economic anxiety, and COVID-19 extend…

if there ever was one… — If there was ever a year for a blue Christmas, this is the year. Many of us have been challenged by external struggles with the chaos that we see in our world and in our nation. …

on destroying idols and having hard conversations with God and each other — It started with a grammatical error. My wife’s friend was graciously posting an interview she had conducted with my wife and me about our recently released book on anxiety. As of late, Cassia had been writing toward self-care during difficult times. …

on “opinions”, testing the truth, and maintaining relationships (even when it is hard) — I tried to stay out of the fray. My instincts have been honed through my work in the church and years as a therapist. I’m typically pretty good at moving back to what is actually important, avoiding “straw man” diversions or attempts to bait me into an argument. My default…

listening to Howard Thurman, watching Watchmen, and sharing with each other during a pandemic — We do not know each other yet; we have not dared to be silent together. Keep open the door of thy heart. It matters not how many doors are closed against thee. from Howard Thurman’s The Inward Journey Our circle now meets underneath a large old tree behind the church…