Many times feelings are the last thing that people want to talk about. In the counseling room, I have had people ask, “What is the point of it all?” The truth is that we have emotional responses to things all of the time, even if we are not aware of it. The more we learn to identify and share what is going on inside of us, the more freedom we have. As long as we are in emotional turmoil, it can distract us from making clear decisions because we are in constant reaction to life’s challenges. Ignoring our feelings often makes things worse, but as we learn to identify and talk about our feelings, the feelings become more manageable.
Amy Brooten, MA, LAPC I confess. I am a reluctant blogger. It’s true I enjoy reading blogs of some gifted writers I follow. I am not a gifted writer so please bear with me! Today my task is to write about God’s design for human sexuality. I’m the resident sex therapist at Stonegate and sex is my area of expertise. Over the next several months, I will be blogging about sexuality and sexual issues. For starters, the creation story in Genesis tells us that God created us male and female (Genesis 1:27). It is fascinating to discover that in Hebrew the word for man “ish” was not used until God created woman—“ishshah” (Genesis 2:23). We are uniquely created masculine and feminine—both in the image of God—and it takes both to accurately reflect the image of God. God’s design for human sexuality is amazing and beautiful and includes a plan for meaningful sexual intimacy. Thanks for your patience with me as I learn how to blog. Blessings, Phyllis
Phyllis Kiser, MA, LPC Do you rest well? I sure don't. Rest doesn't come easy for me. It's one of those things I've struggled with my entire life. I seem to be one of those people that find it difficult to naturally rest. Recently, I have turned a corner and have learned about my need for rest and how to live that out. I believe we need rest in various dimensions of our lives: physical, social, mental and spiritual. We were created to live with cycles of rest including: daily, weekly, and other significant times throughout the year. Ultimately, rest begins in our spiritual lives and has to be rooted in our relationship with Christ. Paul Tripp has a great perspective on this Desiring God post: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/real-lasting-rest
Joe Bucha, MA, LPC jbucha@stonegatecounsel.com |