May / June 2022 Volume 21, No. 3
Supporting Children Through Their Grief Journey
An estimated 1 in 14, or 5.3 million, children in the U.S. will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they reach the age of 18 (Edelman, 2020). This estimate does not reflect deaths from COVID-19, as the analysis will not be released until sometime in 2022. No doubt, many more children and [...]
Read MoreMay / June 2022 Volume 21, No. 3
The Cost of Chronic Infidelity on Spouses and Partners: Understanding Betrayal Trauma
On a Sunday morning, the bright light of my husband's cell phone woke me up. It was unusual for him to have his cell phone in bed. When he got up, I looked at the phone. Through viewing information on his two cell phones, I discovered that my husband was in the grips of an [...]
Read MoreMay / June 2022 Volume 21, No. 3
Understanding the Effects of Social Media on the Relationship Between Parents and Adolescents
Social media, accessed through electronic devices, has been positively correlated with depression and anxiety (Lin et al., 2016; Kross et al., 2013). According to the American Psychological Association (APA), about one-fifth of Americans see digital influences of social media as a source of stress, as they have become a vital component of daily functioning (APA, [...]
Read MoreMay / June 2022 Volume 21, No. 3
Transmitting Hypervigilance Through Intergenerational Trauma: Recommendations for Marriage and Family Therapists
African Americans have been shown to display distrust and hypervigilant behavior against people of authority and knowledge. When relaying their experiences to their peers and family members, hypervigilance seems to spread throughout the community resulting in more distrust. However, such hypervigilance may not be helpful or serve as a protective factor when and where trust [...]
Read MoreMarch / April 2022 Volume 21, No. 2
Pandemic Fatigue
Large population communicable diseases (pandemics) in general have multiple consequences, ranging from disruption of the community infrastructure, to tragic loss of life. Physically, individuals may experience an increase in medical complaints, specifically related to infectious diseases; as well as exacerbations of chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes and respiratory problems (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary [...]
Read MoreJanuary / February 2022 Volume 21, no. 1
One Size Does Not Fit All in Couple Therapy: The Case for Theory Integration
Couple therapy is a complex and challenging activity even for the most experienced marriage and family therapists (MFTs). There are many models to choose from, and integrating them is not easy for most MFTs who wish to improve their skills in working with couples. Some are attachment based and others emphasize differentiation. Some focus on [...]
Read MoreJanuary / February 2022 Volume 21, no. 1
“Forget Me Not”: A Population Silently Begging for Systemic Treatment
Eleven years ago, my life changed forever when I became a father. It was something I had always wanted. In fact, I dreamed about it. Maybe it was because I came from a “broken home” or because I never had father who was involved: I don’t know. But I looked forward to fatherhood and was [...]
Read MoreJanuary / February 2022 Volume 21, no. 1
How’s Your Clients’ Sex Life?
We live in a culture that is both sex-obsessed and starving for genuine, loving connection. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (Laumann, Paik, & Rosen, 1999), an astounding 42% of American women have low libido or desire, pain, and/or elusive orgasms. Many more lack emotional connection with their lovers. This is a [...]
Read MoreNovember / December 2021 Volume 20, No. 6
Healing Systems: Therapy with Mandated Clients
Mandated clients are often navigating many systems at once. These systems include their families, their schools, the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)/Juvenile Services Department (JSD), etc. In addition to navigating multiple systems, mandated clients may be experiencing levels of trauma (or Adverse Childhood Experiences – “ACEs”), individually or within the family system. These traumatic experiences [...]
Read MoreSeptember / October 2021 Volume 20, No. 5
Reflection On My Brother’s Death & The Blessing of Guilt:
For all who have had to say their goodbye to a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not been able to say “good-bye.” My brother, Richard (“Rick”), died on December 15, 2020, during the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was told that Rick contracted and died from “double-pneumonia,” but I have my [...]
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