Are you a parent looking to explore counseling services for your child? You are not alone. Hundreds of parents sign their child(ren) up for therapy each year. Here are a few reasons why.

Truust between management and employees fosters a sense of loyalty and commitment to the company, resulting in increased productivity and job satisfaction. When employees trust their superiors, they are more likely to follow their lead and take on additional responsibilities.

The ability to connect with others, demonstrating compassion, sensitivity, and a true interest in their interests, is a rare skill and a valuable component of emotional intelligence. Those that are good at it can put others at ease, build rapport, and seem to attract new friends/contacts/clients without much effort. They are good listeners. Truth is, they have most likely put a lot of effort into becoming more self-aware and 'other-aware' -- tuning into the wants, needs, and desires of the person across from them and responding accordingly.

Many of us are facing unprecedented circumstances with the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, and suddenly find ourselves in isolation from coworkers, friends, and loved ones.  Research shows that the long-term effects of not being able to connect others can be damaging. 

If you’ve ever experienced conflict with those you work with, you understand the depth of stress these strained relationships can cause, and we all know the ill-effects of stress, let alone it being downright miserable. Interpersonal relationships also directly affect our productivity.

We learn at an early age that blaming can sometimes get us out of trouble...at least temporarily. As a child, pointing the finger at one of my ornery brothers "saved" me, countless times, from getting grounded, which made it appear to be a lucrative strategy! As we move into adulthood, many of us do not learn conflict resolution skills, and carry this childish behavior into our grown-up relationships, both at work and at home. It doesn't take long to realize that assigning blame becomes a hindrance to healthy, happy connections with others. Sure, the technique may seem to protect our self-esteem, but it does nothing to move us toward resolve.

My entire childhood spanned a few miles radius surrounding Rangeline road where on either side you were met with nothing but fields of corn. The corn even grows so high that it is a perfect cover for all the small-town secrets that are born from the abuse that runs generations deep. These places are so hidden in the depts of the corn, they’re not even visible to the people who stay.

Being a midwest child, I can carefully recall memories of prolonged bus stop waits where the icy wind would pierce into my mouth and nose literally taking my breath away.

Stress is a normal part of everyday life, but if we don't learn to get a handle on it, it can wreak havoc on our mental and physical health.

Healthy relationships are important to our wellbeing. If it's a relationship worth salvaging, choosing to trust again may be the very thing needed to renew and restore the friendship.