We are so sorry that it's been a while since you've heard from us! We have had a lot going on during the first couple months of 2017. Did you know that Agape turned 10 on January 1st?? We have been so blessed with RAPID & TREMENDOUS growth in the past ten years, giving us the opportunity to reach farther and help more people than we ever could have imagined was possible. Thank you for playing a part and growing with us!
We've got some great info for you in this issue of the newsletter, including an upcoming social skills group, some tips for how to help kids & teenagers in dealing with grief from Lisa Mottola Ernst, and some relationship tips from Kathryn Manley. Enjoy!
By Lisa Mottola Ernst, MSW, LCSW
In working with grieving children, teens and families, I get many questions concerning children and their ability to grieve.
“Is my child grieving?”
“Why do they want to go to their best friend’s house for a sleepover, when grandpa just died a week ago?”
“Why can I do to support my child?”
Before answering these questions, it is important to note that children grieve differently than adults. For them, the loss of a parent, sister, brother, grandparent, friend or classmate brings both sadness and confusion. Given a child’s ability to ...READ MORE HERE
By Kathryn Manley, MS, LPC, CST
As we enter the new year, many couples might be considering how they can resolve to improve their relationship. When we want to improve something, it’s often beneficial to turn to “how-to” advice. The Bible actually has many great guidelines and “how-to’s” that can help us achieve healthy, long term commitments. One of those “how-to” lists is widely known as “the fruits of the spirit.” These fruits apply to many areas of our lives, and as a therapist, I see a direct application to the area of relationships. The interpretation given below is my own. I am not a trained Bible scholar, nor a pastor. Below are some of my personal reflections that have been personally acquired in my 30 years of marriage as well as nearly 20 years of working with couples in a psychotherapy setting. Long term committed relationships are not easy to maintain because relationships reveal the best and the worst in us. Following a “how-to” list such as “the fruits of the spirit,” will ...READ MORE HERE
