Fully Alive
Making use of our psychological expertise we offer Catholic insights into a variety of topics which help the individual to become fully alive.
...A common factor in determining whether or not a diagnosis is warranted includes the individual’s level of functioning. If academic functioning is falling below expectations and homework time is negatively impacting the functioning of the family (e.g., a 15 minute assignment takes an hour), that’s a good example of when to seek professional help...
...The good news is, YES! Our Lord himself gave us a step-by-step approach to holiness when he said, “If anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). These words of Jesus have resounded in the hearts of men and women for 2,000 years. They present to us a practical, concrete path to becoming a follower of Jesus. Many believe they lay down a lifelong project of spiritual growth divided into three practical steps...
"...I had enrolled in the School of Humility (and am still being held back in the remedial classes). I make my living counseling and advising couples. I like to think I’m good at my job, but I’m not usually all that good at taking my own advice. I often tell people that I need to hang a mirror across from me in therapy so that I can glance over at myself when I am telling couples what to do...
...One practice that I train the couples I work with to do is a spousal examination of conscience. And just to be clear, this means that you explore your conscience, not your spouse’s! I came up with this tool years ago when I noticed that couples have hit a true turning point in their marriage when they stop focusing on how the other person is messing up and start focusing on themselves. When you think about why things are going wrong in your relationship, it is easy to blame the other person: “I’d spend more time with her, if she’d just keep the house clean,” or “Why should I trust him, he’s just like his deadbeat dad!” But years of marriage will (or at least it should) teach you that if there is anything in life you don’t have control over, it is your spouse. When we try to control things that we can’t, we end up feeling frustrated and helpless..."
....The path towards finding God inevitably leads through the most wounded parts of our soul. We can build virtue, find our purpose, and learn more and more about our faith, but at some point the road to God will wind through the darkest and most uncomfortable parts of our soul. And yet the path also leads to a constant rediscovering of our essential goodness and dignity, as well as the realization that each and every one of us can reflect God’s love in a singular and powerful way that no other created thing can. Which is why God made the particular you that you find yourself to be with all of your imperfections and gifts....
