Many like to believe that the fields of science and spirituality exist as a dyad, with little room for overlap or agreement. Famous debates such as Creationism versus the Big Bang, discourse on evolution, and the ever-growing debates on bodily autonomy further strengthen the tension between the two approaches to the natural world. Because the […]
Life’s journey has led me down diverse paths, where failures have been glorious and successes illusory–all of these leading to two fundamental convictions: The need to know that we are deeply and profoundly loved, and Life’s perceived failures and challenges are opportunities for transformation The first conviction arises from my work as a church pastor […]
Peacebuilding is vital for human rights, social justice, conflict resolution, community building, peaceful living, and a sustainable future (Lederach, 2004). Peacebuilding helps reduce and prevent violence and supports relational solidarity for individuals, families, communities, and society. Peace is built when people learn to make decisions that plan for long-term goals and anticipate potential conflicts (Schirch, […]
Living in the 21st century means many things to different people. One aspect shared by many is learning how to navigate the digital world. What may this entail? How do people find connections in a world infused with social media, remote work, and online dating? It is this question that many mental health professionals have […]
Being new to the world of telemedicine, I found myself feeling skeptical that this modality would benefit the clients I work with. About half the clients I see attend therapy in-person, while the other half attend virtually. I often wondered how I was supposed to connect with individuals on a deep level when we were […]
Breaking News! The long awaited certificate program for existential positive psychology and meaning therapy will soon be offered jointly by the International Network on Personal Meaning (INPM) and the Meaning-Centered Counselling Institute. Dr. Paul Wong, a pioneer in the emerging field of existential positive psychology (aka positive psychology 2.0, or PP 2.0) states that, “Over […]
Is it possible to have the kind of ideal community as described by Nelson Mandela? I am afraid not. And for good reasons, too. Suppose that there was an ideal community. Your or my presence would ruin it because none of us are perfect. We are all broken in some way, living in a […]
Just over three years ago, almost overnight, the landscape of what was possible online changed in the field of mental health. At the time, I was working as a psychotherapist at a non-profit organization. A typical day consisted of interactions with coworkers, sessions with clients, and social gatherings with friends and family. In the normalcy […]
What is community? Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines community as “a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society.” Our digital world has introduced millions of people that share at least one thing in common, thereby creating a sense of community. Whether that is food, fashion, automobiles, sex, or sports, […]
Many years ago, I had the privilege of experiencing life in semi-rural Ireland; an experience that would prove to be pivotal during a time of profound personal sorrow. Life, as I had known it for nearly a decade, had been derailed by circumstances that fell outside of the realm of my mere human control. These […]