Finding the Life Balance (AKA "I CAN"T DO THAT!") YES, YOU CAN!

The whole idea about balance is based on the idea that you must always be in motion.  You must be present, in the moment, in your body, attuned to yourself and the person in front of you. Sometimes, you may have some other things on your mind (or on the front of your head!) which some people call "intrusive thoughts." You know, the ones that sound like this "I can't do this right now! I have to get to the office/grocery store/feed the dogs/take a run/decorate for Halloween..." Right? I can hear the chatter in my head. Can you? Listen to it, take a breath (in through your nose, out through your mouth- smell the cookies, blow out the candles...) Then, tense up your shoulders and hold it... higher... and release them suddenly... feel that warmth? The relaxation allows you to take another breath; deeper this time... and exhale... Repeat as necessary. Select a thought. Some people call this a "mantra." One of my favorites is "I love and accept you just the way you are for today." Another is "I will trust that the universe is unfolding just as it should and I will improve every encounter I experience today." If you have trouble finding one, look up "affirmations" and choose one that speaks to you... Practice this every day until it becomes a part of your daily self care routine. Affirm the good and pass it on... "Validate the positive and embrace the challenges and changes ahead of me today. We call these  adventures..."

New Study Validates Kids Turn Program Helps Kids Cope with Divorce

Suicidology and the World Health Organization

Just a pretty button?

The recent rash of suicides among teenagers at Gunn High School in Palo Alto reminds me of the wealth of data available from the World Health Organization (WHO) about "Suicide and the Media." This information is readily available to the public about how these things should be handled. Their guidelines, which are published with updated statistics each year, do not advocate or support the current practices being followed by this community. 

Please do not push the button. 

http://www.who.org

San Patrignano- An Amazing Treatment Center

Restorative Justice Circles Part I

Mock Restorative Circle and Interview with Circle Former Participants - PART 1 from Lorenn Walker on Vimeo.

Restorative Justice Circles II

Mock Restorative Circle and Interview with Circle Former Participants - PART 2 from Lorenn Walker on Vimeo.

Bill to Add Medicare Coverage for MFT's - Support in the US Senate

Now, Here Is the Most Fabulous Divorce! A New Bar Has Been Raised!

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

SnagFilms Film Widget

Family Therapy: Breaking Through the "Hostage Situation"

" I Feel Like We, the Parents, Are Hostages to our Children!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-ySzmn1FOE takes you to a link for the Video Clip on Structural Family Therapy, developed by Dr. Salvador Minuchin. The focus is on understanding the family's structure, the distinction between the subsystems (parents in the "luxury boxes" vs. children in the "cheap seats") the distribution and problems associated with power within the family "system" and the "joining" of the therapist to the family, in order to understand the family functioning and to address these characteristics: rigidity, overprotectiveness, lack of conflict resolution skills and enmeshment. It is important to pay particular attention to the interpersonal conflicts and alliances... Caveat: Family therapy is much like cleaning out the proverbial front hall closet- the one with the old skates and tennis racquets and the parts of the vacuum cleaner that look like 14th century weaponry... It looks worse before it gets better... The "overindulged" sector will resist the empowerment of the "parental sector" with varying degrees of force. The longer the disharmony has been in play, the more resistant the force. The therapist must use timing, humor, empathy and curiosity to start the illustrious change of events... Please check my playlist on you tube for other demonstrations of what this family therapy looks like... it really is not a mystery... just fasten your seat belts for the first 8-10 meetings...

A Lovely DNA Origami Box

What a beautiful box, which was made by strands of DNA + bits of DNA + a computer program and the results are published in Nature Magazine...

Sibling Rivalry Is Not Just for Kids!

Playing with Friends Can Be So Simple!

Parental Alienation (Canada): In OZ ~ A caring and sharing problem

Parental Alienation (Canada): In OZ ~ A caring and sharing problem Under review are these items: the presumption of shared parental responsibility and whether shared care is appropriate, the requirement to mediate before going to the Family Court, the Family Court's response to allegations of family violence and the interaction of federal family laws with state child protection and family violence laws. The link to this article should take you there.

Child Custody Decisions