This post is a little unusual in that I don’t typically do product reviews, but I have found myself repeatedly recommending these sound machines to clients for a variety of uses and so it seemed worth while to write about what a helpful addition these appliances can be to your home.
Transitions Counselors' Blog
For a complete listing of posts visit the Blog Archive.
Helpful Uses for White Noise Machines
April 25th, 2011 by Sean SlevinIntended Audience: General, Parents
In Search of the “Perfect” Counselor
March 18th, 2011 by Sean SlevinIntended Audience: General
Having been a client myself at various points over the years (as well, of course, now being a provider of counseling services) I thought I would share some of my thoughts about selecting a counselor for oneself. The title of this post is a little misleading in that I don’t think there are any perfect counselors, nor do I think it would be good for us as people if there were. While I think we may at times long for someone who has no struggles of their own and would care for us perfectly, I think that such a person would feel so different from ourselves that it would make it hard to experience their help as being relevant. In my past experiences as a client, I have found it comforting to experience my counselor as being human, just like me in that they have imperfections and frailties, and yet having walked further down the path of growth than I yet had. In short, working with a counselor who is human like you and yet has grown in places that you have not yet grown instills hope that you too can grow in those places. A counselor who presents themselves as completely without struggles, limitations, weaknesses, etc. can in comparison feel hard to relate to since deep down we all know ourselves to be imperfect.
A Common Marital Hang-up: Personality Differences
January 15th, 2011 by Kristin SlevinIntended Audience: Married
There are many topics that bring couples in for counseling. The three areas that couples fight about the most are Intimacy, Finances and Parenting. However, in my work with couples I see another problem that I believe is a root problem under many difficulties that couples encounter. This problem is making assumptions about one’s spouse based on one’s self. While making assumptions this way seems reasonable enough, the rule of complementarities gives couples a high rate of being wrong when they make assumptions about the other based on themselves.
Resources from Ken Myers Lecture on Technology and Children
November 19th, 2010 by Sean SlevinIntended Audience: Christians, General, Parents
I recently came across my notes from the Ken Myers lecture from a while back on “Modern Technology in the Lives of our Children” and thought I’d share the various resources that he mentioned and as well as some of the themes he emphasized.
Reducing Stress Using Muscle Relaxation (Contract/Release Method)
June 23rd, 2010 by Kristin SlevinIntended Audience: General
With the current advances of neuroscience we are coming to a greater understanding of the connection between the health of the mind and the body. Mental tension and physical tension go together. Most of us have some awareness of this connection when after a stressful day we find that we have a headache or our shoulders are tight or our stomach hurts. Mental and emotional stress affects our bodies, each of us in our own way. What we are often less aware of is that relaxing the body can help reduce mental and emotional stress. You have probably experienced this too. Have you ever noticed how much better you feel after eating a nice meal, soaking in the tub, exercising, or cuddling with your favorite animal or person? Such activities release chemicals in the brain which help relax the body as well as promote mental well-being.
Modern Technology in the Lives of our Children: A Lecture by Ken Myers
May 10th, 2010 by Sean SlevinIntended Audience: Christians, General, Parents
Redeemer Classical School (located in Keezletown, Virginia) has arranged for Ken Myers to present a lecture this coming Friday (May 14, 2010) on Growing up in a Digital Nation: Modern Technology in the Lives of our Children.
Friday, May 14, 2010, at 7:30pm
Massanutten Presbyterian Church
50 Indian Trail, Penn Laird, VA
Admission is free and all are welcome.
A Good Self-Help Book is Like a Map…
March 29th, 2010 by Sean SlevinIntended Audience: General
One of our goals with the Transitions blog is to provide useful resources to our readers. These can be books, articles, psychological research, websites, etc., as well as, of course, our own thoughts about what can be helpful to those seeking to learn, grow and live well. We intend for all of these things to be useful and helpful (obviously, or why would we post them?), but part of utilizing any resource well is understanding what it can and cannot accomplish for you.
Green Space and Your Mental Health
March 18th, 2010 by Sean SlevinIntended Audience: General
As a rather severe winter fades and spring approaches it seems like a good time to write about an interesting study I came across a while back about the health benefits of living near green spaces. The perceived connection between closeness to nature and one’s health is not new, and is one which is not hard to accept on just an intuitive level. Particularly at this time of year after having had so much snow it can feel good to just see the green grass again!
Knowing When It’s Wise to Get Marriage Counseling
February 24th, 2010 by Kristin SlevinIntended Audience: Married
As the old saying goes, time is a great healer. For the most part people are resilient and can find ways through difficult times. However, there are some circumstances in which it may not be worth the potential damage to wait to get counseling. This post examines one such situation: marital problems that have gone on for longer than four months without getting any better. In order to illustrate some of the damage that can be caused by waiting to get marital help, I will use a made-up example about a fictional couple, Sally and Bill. (In order to protect our client’s confidentiality we never use client’s stories as examples.)
Icicles at the Transitions Office
February 17th, 2010 by Sean SlevinIntended Audience: General
I have always been fascinated by icicles–they’re just so fantastical and otherworldly! While the snow has been pretty to watch, the frequency and quantity has meant for a lot of shoveling and rescheduling. One perk for me with all of the snow has been the increasingly enormous icicles at our office. So for a change of pace here on the Transitions blog I thought I’d write a fun post just to share a few pictures of them.
