Spirituality in Daily Life: Reject the box—not the Mystery! || By Rev. Mary Coday Edwards MA

Spirituality—no one institution or religious practice owns its definition. In previous blogs, I have said it seems to imply: 1 – Staying present to your current experience: basically, HOW is your NOW? Your NOW holds valuable information. 2 – A space where we experience Oneness with the Universe, Divine, Higher Consciousness, Gaia, Brahman, Ultimate Reality,…

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Turning Towards || By TJ Dubovich MFTC

As a marriage and family therapist, I hear couples say things such as “I just don’t want to fight anymore” or “We have been fighting more recently and I’m concerned that means deeper issues in our relationship”. While increased, toxic conflict is not a good sign within a connection, conflict, in general, is neither a…

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The Myth of Escalator Sex || By TJ Dubovich MFTC

In the realm of sexuality, there is a pervasive myth that suggests desire should always be like an escalator, consistently and predictably moving upwards. This idea implies that if you and your partner are truly compatible, you should effortlessly slide into a state of continuous, unending desire. Not only that but once you both have…

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Hugs Interrupted || By Annabelle Denmark, MA, LPCC

For most people, a hug can feel soothing, caring, and wonderful. Hugs help regulate the nervous system and help people feel connected. For some, however, hugs can feel overwhelming and claustrophobic. Non-huggers are individuals who usually don’t hug to greet others, or to show affection. There is a continuum of non-huggers, from those who feel…

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Connection Beyond Borders: A Samoan story of family bonds after death || By Lisa Martinez, Affordable Counseling Intern for People House, ERYT 200-RYT 500

For the Marriage, Couple and Family Issues in Counseling class in my graduate program, we needed to complete a genogram, a visual family-tree of sorts that details not only family relationships but also the quality of family relationships. While outlining the family issues in my mother’s father’s family of origin, I noticed patterns of distance,…

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