Traveling across the U.S. during vacation time is a wonderful adventure for many families. Road trips whose memories last a lifetime. Families crossing multiple state lines, visiting some of the most beautiful parks and landmarks in the world. Camping in the outdoors, discovering waterfalls, reveling in all those big wide open spaces. It's all part of the rich American way of life. Getting … [Read more...]
Trauma, shame and rage
The negative emotional impact of untreated trauma states, and healing interventions By Katrina Wood, Ph.D Single-episodic traumatic experiences often result in symptoms of explosive outbursts of helpless shame and rage. Untreated, the inability to process and contain the magnitude of world-shattering experiences wreaks havoc in the lives of many. Cumulative emotional trauma states often are … [Read more...]
Playing the money game with kids
So much pressure these days to work harder and longer hours. Meanwhile, the economy continues to ride an unpredictable roller coaster. It's important to pause and look closely at not only how we budget our money but what really, at the end of the day, brings our families pleasure and connection. So often our kids will come up and say, "Mom (or Dad), can I have 5 bucks for this and that?" … [Read more...]
From childhood, we remember intimacy
I was interviewed recently by an Israeli journalist on the topic of childhood memories. Karen Tsuriel's article is reprinted here, in part, with permission: In a conversation from her home in Los Angeles, Dr. Karina Wood said that "most things children remember in their adulthood are not extraordinary events, but mostly the daily simple things that involved love exchanges." "For me, it's the … [Read more...]
Divorce and kids: How to help them
Even if a divorce is amicable and mutually agreed-upon, the children become particularly vulnerable. Seeing their parents break up brings major trauma. All children, somewhere deep inside, wish that everyone would stay together in a perfect world. When that doesn’t happen, there's a shattering that must be addressed. The pieces of valuable lives must put back together with sensitivity and … [Read more...]