The Center for Out-of-Court Divorce: Legal and Financial Education Through Divorce & Beyond in Denver, Colorado

Dr. Peter Fonagy Describes "Ego-Destructive Shame:" How Violence Erupts When People Cannot Distinguish Between the "Passing Thought" of a Perceived Threat From One Which They Experience as Completely Real

Random Acts of Kindness Build Our Happiness! Check It Out! The Science of Happiness: "SoulPancake"

"The Found and the Lost" - Terry Real- A Couple's Therapist Who Courageously Extends Himself Beyond the "Neutral Stance" "Relationship Life Therapy" (RLT)

Terry Real is a wise and courageous couples' therapist who gives his clients the dignity and respect to extend himself beyond the traditional "neutral stance." He calls it "Relationship Life Therapy" (RLT).

This clinical approach represents what is still the "minority view." I have used variations of this approach for many years. I would also venture to say that far more "non-neutrality" is delivered in therapeutic settings than many of us know. I hear about this frequently from new people about some of their previous experiences; their interpretations, their projections, their "take away's." Sometimes, I read these for myself, in court documents and other adversarial missives (cringe).

The key distinction ("OK" versus "NOT OK") lies in answering this one question:

To what extent/whether or not has the therapist identified their position (regarding any particular topic or behavior) and specifically labeled it for what it is: neutral or not; straight up. This is best accomplished with also providing them with the rationale about why they are not adopting a "neutral stance" (e.g., a non-neutral stance is required in cases of both intimate partner and family violence).

There are an endless multitude of warm, respectful, funny and empathetic strategies we therapeutic types can use to use to tell our people the truth... 

They deserve our respect and our courage. They need to be able to safely trust us and be correct in doing so.

Watch him and see.... 

Happy weekend :))

4.5 Theta Binaural Brain Waves for Healing, Meditation and Deep Relaxation- Thank you, Yellow Brick Cinema!

Teaching Mindfulness to Children, to Teachers, to Lawyers, to Judges- My Playlist from June, 2015, "Mindfulness - Awareness"

During this turbulent & heartbreaking month.. perhaps, we all need some  Mindfulness-Learn-Speak?

This is a great introductory video to a series called "Go Strengths Online" which is designed to teach Mindfulness to children at home and at school. It is produced by a group called "gozenonline." Don't you wish you'd thought of that name? 

I have left my "2015 Mindfulness- Awareness" Playlist "Public" on the "Valerie Houghton" YouTube channel. This playlist includes a TEDx Talk by Dr. Daniel Siegel, MD on Neural Integration, another one by Megan McElheran, PhD titled "Trauma, Change and Resilience" plus three inspirational video clips from "Remember the Titans" and  public health video short film titled "The Best Medicine: Why Relationships Matter" by WatchRelate. 

AND if you want to find any of these goodies on your own, please do! As always, take what you like and share what you like. During this turbulent month... we need to practice MINDFULNESS. As they say in Titans, "teach (us) to trust the soul of a man rather than his look... no matter what aspect of our lives, I hope we can live by these words. 

Happy Sunday. Peace be with you.

Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Public Health Crisis- APSAC Publishes New 2016 Position Paper

Celebrate the 33rd Anniversary of Mr. Edward Lawson's 1983 Civil Rights Victory in the US Supreme Court in Kolender v. Lawson "Stop & Identify" Law in San Diego

                U.S. Supreme Court KOLENDER v. LAWSON                                                                                                         

                                            461 U.S. 352 (1983)                                                                                   
                  KOLENDER, CHIEF OF POLICE OF SAN DIEGO, ET AL. v. LAWSON
                         APPEAL FROM THE US COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT 
                                                   No. 81-1320. 
                           Argued November 8, 1982 ~ Decided May 2, 1983  
                                                                                                                                                                            

"We conclude that the (California 647(e) "stop & identify") statute as it has been construed is unconstitutionally vague within the meaning of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by failing to clarify what is contemplated [461 U.S. 352, 354] by the  requirement that a suspect provide a "credible and reliable" identification."

"As such, the statute vests virtually complete discretion in the hands of the police to determine whether the suspect has satisfied the statute and must be permitted to go on his way in the absence of probable cause to arrest."

                                                   ...... Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Obviously, 33 years later, our united nation still has a long way to go.

It's our responsibility; each one of makes choices, whether or not we stand up, speak up and do the right thing... or not. 

We make a choice; "Who am I today?"
Today is May 2nd, 2016. Thank you, Mr. Lawson.

Tech Trends to Watch in 2016... We Have Clients to Serve and Engagement is a Two Way Conversation :))

How to Record Mirrored Devices Using Reflector 2: Great App for Making Fabulous Tutorials OR for Committing Misdeeds by Surreptitious Pranksters

So, let's call them "MISDEEDS." Yeah, that works.
"Surreptitious Pranksters" could mean anyone from your stalker boyfriend (or girlfriend) to your former spouse or an obsessed stalker fan against whom you have a RESTRAINING ORDER!

It's just important to be aware, in this month, February, is TEEN DATING VIOLENCE (DV) AWARENESS MONTH! (www.Loveisrespect.org)

Many people are NOT AWARE of this issue.  

If we can't SEE it, we can't PREVENT it.  

Help our youth STOP IT WHILE WE CAN. 

How to Prevent Your Child/Teen From Being Lured by An Online Predator- Power Empowerment 101!!