Families
The Benefits of Family Therapy in Marietta for Blended Families
Merging two families can bring joy, but it also introduces unique challenges. Differing parenting styles, loyalty conflicts, and communication gaps can create stress for children and adults alike. At Marietta West Cobb Counseling Center, our licensed family therapists specialize in helping blended families develop understanding, respect, and emotional balance. Common Challenges Blended Families Face Adjustment…
Read MoreTen Practical Tips to Prepare Your Child for Back to School
Summer break is winding down and, like it or not, it’s time to start thinking about how to prepare your child for back to school. Whether your child is entering kindergarten or navigating the middle grades, the transition from vacation mode to classroom readiness can be a big adjustment. But with a little planning and…
Read MoreParents and Adult Children: Change the Dynamic, Deepen the Bond
As children grow into adults, the dynamics of the parent-child relationship evolve. Navigating this transition can be challenging for both parents and adult children, especially as expectations, responsibilities, and life stages shift. However, improving this relationship is possible with open communication, empathy, and respect. Here are some practical tips to help strengthen the bond between…
Read MoreTeen Marijuana Use – It Ain’t the Pot from Your Day
As an addiction counselor, I’ve heard all kinds of rationale for using drugs. Some reasonable (“a drink with dinner is relaxing”) and some not so reasonable (“with all my troubles, I deserve to get high”). One rationale I’ve heard many people use about marijuana is, “It’s only pot… it’s natural… like an herb.” Nowadays I…
Read MoreTaking Responsibility in a Codependent Relationship
You know the worst thing about living alone? When you misplace something, you have no one to blame but yourself. I was looking for my headphones the other day. I was frustrated that I couldn’t find a single pair and more frustrated I had no one to blame but me! That got me thinking about…
Read MoreAre You Helping or Enabling?
You are a caring and loving person. You have a deep-rooted desire to help and support your loved ones. However, paradoxically, sometimes helping can lead to unintended consequences that ultimately cause harm to the very people you intend to help. Then help becomes enabling. The Hazeldon foundation defines enabling as, “doing for a loved one…
Read MoreAre You Caught in a Drama Triangle?
When we continue to enable dysfunctional behavior, we fall prey to the Drama Triangle. Developed by Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UC, San Francisco Stephen Karman, the Drama Triangle consists of three roles, Victim, Rescuer, and Persecutor. While you might see yourself and your loved ones as a specific role, in truth, each person…
Read MoreStop Repeating the Same Mistakes of Enabling Bad Behavior
Have you ever become frustrated because you find yourself in the same (or similar) predicament over and over with a loved one who will not change? How many times do you realize, often too late, that as careful as you thought you were being, you made choices that led you down the same old path…
Read MoreHelping Our Children Leave the Nest – Parenting Adult Children
I recently read an article about Bald Eagles. The most interesting part of the article was how they raise their young and how their young become independent. Baby eagles remain in the nest for about 12 weeks, with the parent eagles bringing them food. During this time, eaglets gain a pound every few days until…
Read MoreCodependency – When Is Enough Enough?
When we work with addiction we say that an addict won’t change until they “hit their bottom.” Waiting for this to happen can be maddening for their loved ones, especially painful for loved ones with codependency issues. As they watch the trouble that an addict creates for themselves and others, they think, “When is he/she…
Read More