Building Bridges of Belonging
Sharing Science through Stories
Leading Lifesavers with Love
Posts
10 Minutes and Depression
A few weeks ago, I was invited to speak at a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) conference in Salem, Oregon. My topic: Depression and Self-Care. As a man with no kids, I felt incredibly unqualified to speak to these courageous mothers. To make matters worse, I have an...
One Good Friend
I overheard a parent in the grocery store who was distressed that their child "only had one friend" in school. My initial reaction was to sympathize with the child's predicament, as this must signal some sort of social isolation. Yet, perhaps our culture...
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Traffic
This morning as I was driving to campus, I believe that I noticed the principles of ACT in ACTion. Have you ever noticed one of those "Your Speed" signs that flashes your current speed at you, and you slowed down? My thought is that if the behavior is "speeding"...
The Double-Edged Sword of the Internet
As the ever-evolving culture that is the Internet continues to take over every aspect of human interaction, I am continually amazed at the ways that our lives have been improved by such technology. During a recent lecture at George Fox University on the Social...
Love, Empathy, and Alzheimer’s Disease
Over the course of two years of working at an assisted living facility, I had the opportunity to work with many folks who had reached the final stages of their life journey. One resident, who I will refer to as Frank, told me something that continues to bubble...
Competitive Resilience: Anxiety and Performance
In this past year, I had the honor of coaching part of the track team at my university. Specifically, I worked with the shot-putters, discus throwers, and hammer throwers. The throws are unique amongst other sporting events, particularly in the nature of...
Read to your kids!
A great psychologist once told me that one of the best things a parent can do is read to their kids. Yes, we hear that message a lot - usually, on the television. Linguistic programming and cognitive expansion represent but a few of the many benefits that...