Isaiah 61:3 is a verse that has brought comfort to many people who struggle with trauma, grief, and loss. It says, “And provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” Isaiah was telling the Jewish people that God was bringing judgment on them and

Sometimes people say, “I’m sad, I’m feeling blue, I’m depressed.” What they mean is that they are having a bad day, have had a negative experience, and are feeling glum about it. But the feeling will pass and tomorrow they will be fine. That is not depression. However, if you are feeling low and it doesn’t pass, but it is persistent, you may have real depression. And you need to seek help for it. Symptoms of Depression According to the National Institute of Mental Health,

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, one of the therapy models that I use, especially when working with low self-esteem issues is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT. CBT is the most common therapy model used by counselors. But it not the only one. There are literally hundreds of therapy models. It can get confusing. So, here is a short primer on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you understand what it is and how it works. Consider this a sort of “Cognitive Behavio

As I help clients with father-wounds, I’ve noticed some common consequences of those wounds, scars of father-wounds that people carry.