Articles

Some people see addiction as a disease in which addicts are afflicted and have little power over the cause or onset of addiction- to be a pre-disposition (the “addictive personality”). Others see addictive behaviors as a choice, and addiction as the direct outcome of this choice. In the case of “physical” addictions such as alcoholism…

Divorce is having a devastating impact on both adults and children. Over 1 million children in the United States experience parental divorce annually (Clarke, 1995). Although most children adapt well to this transition, approximately 20% to 25% develop mental health or adjustment problems twice the rate experienced by children from continuously married families (Hetherington et…

According to the Barna Group, a Christian research and polling organization, data from nationwide interviews with a random sample of 7043 adults found that 94% of people in their fifties and beyond have been married at least once. Among all people age 18 or older, 73% have been married at least one time.New data on…

In the mid-1980s, addiction counselors began to expand their focus from addiction to alcohol and cocaine, to addiction to activities such as sex, work, shopping, and gambling. The term “co-dependent” came to replace “co-alcoholic.” As psychotherapists began to research the behavioral patterns of codependent people, they soon realized that these people actually have their own…

Individuals who establish a healthy sense of self during their developmental years know who they are as individuals. They have a good measure of autonomy, and they are able to function without fearing they will lose themselves or be overwhelmed. They are able to engage in appropriate self-care while also caring for others. In the…

Self-esteem or self-image is the view a person holds of himself. It is the basic components of human identity. A solid sense of self-worth is not something we can take or leave. It’s something everyone needs. As a counselor I listen to the pain or hurts of people who are struggling. Here’s what I hear:…

Obsession Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder where a person has recurrent and unwanted ideas or impulses (called obsessions) and an urge or compulsion to do something to relieve the discomfort causedby the obsession. The obsessive thoughts range from the idea of losing control, to that of keeping things or parts of one’s body…

Vulnerability to pornography occurs when an adolescent is unconsciously programmed to interpret smiles, looks, statements, interactions, or events as sexual. Although one’s past is never an excuse for present behavior, each man has an emotional file-folder that catalogues possible influences for what may shape his present struggle. Consequently, if we are to understand why someone…

Pornography is any written or visual material that depicts nudity and/or sexually explicit activity for the purpose of causing sexual arousal. What makes material pornographic is its calculated intent to cause sexual arousal. Three basic things to consider in the definition of sexual addiction: Do I have a sense that I have lost control over…

In the medical field diagnosis comes before prescription. And, if the doctor makes a correct diagnosis will the patient be in a position to reap the benefits of the appropriate remedy? Every one experiences loneliness in different ways. Some may experience it as a vague feeling that something is not right…a feeling of emptiness or…