Anger is a natural and powerful emotion that everyone experiences. While anger can serve as a healthy response to injustice or frustration, it can also become destructive if left unchecked. Mastering anger involves understanding its root causes, recognizing triggers, and learning to respond thoughtfully rather...
The holiday season, often filled with joy and celebration, can also bring significant challenges for those struggling with eating disorders. Festivities centered around food, social gatherings, and family dynamics can exacerbate feelings of anxiety, shame, or isolation. It’s crucial to acknowledge these struggles and provide...
It is a humid, hot, sticky day and I am in the middle of rural Uganda living with a host family for five days. Can you say culture shock? The hut, and yes, I do mean an actual hut made of cow pies, has three...
Unmanaged anger can create a wedge in relationships, leading to misunderstandings, emotional distance, and lasting pain. However, anger itself isn’t inherently negative; it’s a natural emotion that, when understood, can serve a positive purpose. The challenge lies in managing anger effectively. At Second Story Counseling,...
Several years ago I attended a talk given by an important theologian and voice in my life, Peter Rollins. Midway through his talk he said, “Your symptom is your prophet.” Those words disrupted me. How often have I tried to escape, ignore, numb, dismiss, or...
“You don’t always have to be doing something. You can just be and that’s plenty,” Alice Walker. Over the summer, while looking over the cheese selection at a local farmers market, a woman came around with a basket filled with little pieces of paper and...
A few years back I heard one of my favorite speakers and teachers, Peter Rollins, talking on a podcast about relationships. Rollins is a philosopher who studies psychoanalysis and rarely talks about relationships so I immediately leaned in. He suggested that relationships exist on a...
Living with ADD/ADHD as an adult can present unique challenges, from difficulty maintaining focus to struggling with organization or managing emotions. These challenges can affect various areas of life, including work, relationships, and daily routines. In Hudsonville, Michigan, Second Story Counseling supports adults with ADD/ADHD...