Beating the Back to School Blues
Jenny’s mother looks at Jenny’s fall 2022 educational progress rep...
Articles
Recommended Reading from Lois Trost
I listened to a radio interview a while back, and my interest piqued w...
Talking to Children About COVID-19
I’m watching a carefree boy teach himself tricks on a trampoline. He...
Practicing Perception Correction
One facet of life that is true for every human being is that, regardle...
A Crash Course on Attachment Theory
In this time of crisis, we are all dealing with stress, changes, an un...
Kinds of Depression
There are many different types of depression. We will look at four maj...
The Gift of the Quarantine: Creative Connection
“Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel ...
Ride The Wave
Handling Anxiety In The Midst Of A Pandemic COVID-19 has reached our s...
Staff Holiday Traditions
Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in t...
Threats and Warning Signs of Possible Violence
The news is filled with stories of horrific violence. It would seem th...
Friending the Media-less
Ideas for Relating with Friends Who Are Not on Social Media One report...
Welcoming: Erin Chinworth
We are excited to announce the latest member of the growing CFI family...
Emotional Flooding
Many people struggle with conflict becoming out of control in their re...
Promoting Longevity
When it comes to living a long satisfying life, there are a number of ...
Contempt
“So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on ano...
Back to School Anxiety
Many children deal with anxiety just before and during the first week ...
How do I get started?
You can call anytime! Not all of the following information is necessar...
My insurance is “out-of-network.” What does that mean?
One of the most asked questions we hear is “Do you take my insurance...
Trust Is A Clinical Issue
An issue often encountered in treating relationships is the problem of...
How to Talk to Your Kids About News and Tragic Events
When tragedy strikes, please be cautious how much of the news you take...
Holiday Family Conflicts and Disappointments
Christmas and the surrounding holidays provide an opportunity for cele...
What Every Youth Minister Needs to Know About Handling Mental Health Crises
We cover issues of confidentiality and legal/moral/ethical obligations...
Self-Talk
You are a powerful influence over your mood and self-esteem. How you t...
Grandparenting, How to Help Without Butting In
As grandparents, you want your grandchildren to grow up in the most lo...
8 Things to Help Beat Depression
Improve the quality of your life by taking control of depression befor...
Becoming a Mother-in-Law
The wedding is over, the bride and groom begin adjusting to their life...
Adjustments in the Early Years of Marriage
When couples realize marriage is not what they expected, they often th...
7 Tips on Dealing with Depression
Depression causes negative thinking, withdrawal, and inactivity. These...
Pastors, Churches, and Mental Health
Quick Quiz: How often do you hear about mental health in your church? ...
Jesus Had a Screwed up Family (Tree) Too
I was first introduced to the intentional nature of Matthew’s accoun...
Is Your Child Shy?
Most shy children grow up to be socially functional adults who are abl...
The Joys of an Empty Nest
Fall is in the air, the season is about to change. Like the seasons o...
Secrets of a Long Marriage
Since Adam and Eve, people have been marrying and learning to live wit...
Myths of Forgiveness
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,...
How Do You Do What You Do (All Day Long)?
Usually this is asked at the end of a particularly difficult or emotio...
Is My Child Depressed?
It is difficult to know how many children (pre-teens) suffer from depr...
It’s All Just Positive Thinking, Right?
When I work with people, I spend a lot of time asking them to pay atte...
How Does God Treat Depression?
Depression affects one in ten Americans at some point in their lives. ...
Building Habits
It is nearly February and your New Year’s resolutions are gone. ...
Back to School for Single Dads
I see many newly divorced or separated fathers in my office who are go...
Teenage Suicide Part 4: Asking
What should I do when I notice warning signs? Many parents fear asking...
Build Intimacy in Your Marriage Through Forgiveness
Intimacy is, by definition, a close, familiar and affectionate persona...
My Teenager is Cutting Themselves: Now What? | Part 2
As a parent, what should you do when you have discovered that your tee...
Teenage Suicide Part 1: What to Look For
Unfortunately teenage suicide is relatively common. It is the 3rd lead...
Teenage Suicide Part 2: Relationships
Broken Relationships Loss of a Boyfriend or Girlfriend Chronic health ...
Teenage Suicide Part 3: Warning Signs
Significant Change in "Normal" Behavior While there are occa...
Continuing Education in Ethics
Licensed mental health professionals are required to receive between t...
Personality Disorders
The classification of personality disorders is often misunderstood. We...
Cell Phones and Teenagers
Increasingly cell phones are mentioned as part of the complaints that ...
When Your Children Are Getting Married
The quality of relationship you have with your adult children will oft...
What You Need to Know Before Marrying Again
A frequently observed pattern is for those who remarry to repeat the m...
Too Busy Not to Sleep
In our society today, it seems that busyness is seen as a badge of hon...
Where Have the Fathers Gone?
The number one deficiency in our society today is Fatherhood. That’s...
Small Steps to Change
So let me start with two background points: First, I despise running. ...
How to Keep Romance Alive in Marriage
Romance can be defined in a number of ways. Emotionally, romance is th...
Who Does Unforgiveness Hurt?
When answering the question, it is important to accurately define what...
How to Get the Most from Marriage Counseling
People are often curious about how to get the most out of their sessio...
My Teenager is Cutting Themselves: Now What? | Part 1
Like suicide, cutting and other types of self-harm appear to be all to...
Understanding the New Definition of Autism
In recent years, the American Psychiatric Association published its la...
A Good Night’s Sleep
Quality sleep may be one of the most important things to maintaining o...
Hope is a Big Word
Hope is a big word. It is what keeps us going. It is something that he...
Little Things Count
As couples consider ways to improve their emotional connection and fri...
Making the Most of Family Vacations
I love vacations. I have been accused, and I can’t disagree, of havi...
Non-Medication Ways to Treat Biological Issues in Mental Health
The treatment of depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns...
The Difference Between Perfectionism and Anxiety
For purposes of simplicity, let’s define anxiety as excessive wo...
Causes of Depression
Depression may be caused by one or more factors. One factor contributi...
When Your Child is Anxious
We all strive to provide a safe and satisfying life for our children. ...
When Your Spouse Won’t Admit They Did Wrong
A common first question to a breach in relational trust is: “Wha...
Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress
With our over-committed schedules, it is often difficult to avoid stre...
Grief in Bleak Midwinter
If you have lost a loved one in the last year, then you will likely fi...
Helping a Loved One Who Self-Injures
Self injury tends to be a misunderstood behavior. The most common assu...
Surviving the Summer: Family Reunions
Summer is a time for “baseball and apple pie”, for relaxin...
ADHD Help for the Holidays (or anytime)
We all know parenting kids during school breaks can be challenging. It...
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Passion and romance are not constants in a love relationship. If it we...
Questions about Christmas (from a Jewish child)
Everything I always wanted to know about Christmas as a Jewish child b...
Preventing Homework Conflict with Your Child | Part 2
In Part 1 of this topic, we looked at a strategy for redefining “...
Preventing Homework Conflict with Your Child | Part 1
An all too common problem that we address in family therapy is when ch...
How Can I Be Lonely? I Have Facebook.
I just read an article on the interaction between loneliness and the u...
The Danger of Loneliness
Is loneliness dangerous? Well, no, not to adults. Not physically anywa...
Premarital Pointers
The season of love and romance is upon us. Since the focus this time ...
Connecting with Children in a Smart Phone World
Connecting with your child is a concern shared by most parents. Smile...
Searching for Happiness?
Could the pursuit for happiness be a major factor in the feelings of s...
Interview with Dr. Dale Doty & Eric Clements
Greg Pittman, minister at Cedar Ridge Christian Church, interviews Dr....
Law Requiring Couples Seeking Divorce to Take Educational Class
Dr. William Berman interviews with News on 6 to discuss a state law re...
Welcoming: Bonnie Lee
We are excited to announce the latest member of the growing CFI family...
Holiday Family Challenges
The holidays are stressful in many ways. The increase in activities, ...
Do I have to read the Bible?
Therapists use a number of resources, in finding help for their client...
Will my counselor pray with me?
Yes. If that is what you want. Some clients prefer that our counselors...
Who can come to counseling sessions?
At Christian Family Institute, we work with people in a variety of con...
Can you help my two year old?
Two year old children do occasionally need professional services. When...
Holidays for Newly Married Couples: Do’s and Don’ts
Well, the wedding is over. You and your spouse have returned from your...
Does My Ex Have to Know the Kids are Coming to Counseling?
There are a few issues involved in this question: To answer this, we m...
Do you offer services to non-religious or other faith traditions?
When Christian Family Institute chose it’s name, it was not inte...
Why do Christians get depressed?
Christians are not immune to depression. Christians face the same cha...
Why aren’t your Christian services free?
Jesus said, “…the worker deserves his wages” (Luke 1...
Who can prescribe medication?
Only a physician, such as your family doctor or a psychiatrist, can pr...
Will medication help?
Sometimes! Medication is not the ONLY answer to many psychological, me...
How often do I have to come for counseling?
The frequency with which you meet with your counselor will be part of ...
Can you fix my marriage?
We will work with you and your spouse to improve communication, teach ...
Are anxiety and depression hereditary?
This is the age-old question of nature vs. nurture. Are mood disorders...
What is the age to teach children about sex?
You can’t begin too soon. Sex education is not a single tell-all dis...
PREPARE / ENRICH Training
Dr. Dale Doty discusses the benefits of PREPARE/ENRICH training for pa...
Introduction to CFI
Dr. Dale Doty explains the history and distinctiveness of Christian F...
What is the CFI model of Christian counseling?
Basic Assumptions. Christian Family Institute counselors have worked ...
Are there different types of Christian counseling?
In a classic article written for Christianity Today in 1975, Gary Coll...
Where does CFI stand on issues?
The Local Church. Christian Family Institute was founded in 1977 for t...
How do you integrate the science of psychology and Biblical theology?
Psychology is a mixture of science and philosophy. One function of psy...
What are your fees for counseling services?
Private practice professionals engaged in counseling customarily charg...
When should I refer for counseling?
Nearly all helping professionals at some time or another find themselv...
How do I make a referral?
The first step in making an effective referral is believing that refer...
What is Christian counseling?
The dictionary defines counseling as the active exchange of opinions o...
What can clients expect from Christian counseling?
Prospective clients have formed their expectations of counseling based...