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Counseling and martial arts have a lot in common: counseling works through the mind, hoping that insight and resolve take root and lead to change, while martial arts begin with action, so that through practiced movement the mind may find peace. Counseling and martial arts are two sides of the same coin and the goal of both is empowerment.
It seems we have an innate hunger for connection with others, and that connection requires effective communication; however, we often struggle to make that happen. In this post, Counseling@Northwestern Assistant Clinical Director and Core Faculty member, James Ruby, offers three tenets for effective and more rewarding communication that yield healthier connections.
Many people enjoy attending holiday and New Year’s parties and mingling with old and new friends, but some people dread these kinds of social interactions. Some believe that they are the only ones suffering with social anxiety, when in fact, about 7 percent of the population External link suffers. The good news is that there are effective treatments to help people reduce their anxiety and regain a sense of control over their lives.
Seasonal transitions can be difficult for many reasons and can have an impact on your mind and body, often referred to as stress. If you live in a cold climate, the shift from fall to winter means fewer daylight hours and more cold days. It also means shifting into the holidays, a brand-new year, and flu season. The following tips can help you focus on your mind and body during stressful seasonal transitions.
Parents have varying goals when they go to parent-teacher conferences. They may want to advocate for their child, understand the teacher’s expectations, or learn about their child’s progress. Some parents may not receive the information they need because of the short amount of time scheduled for the conference, which is often only about 10 minutes. This can cause frustration and a disconnect between parent and teacher. To help you make the most of this time, here are fives things you can do to prepare for an effective parent-teacher conference.
Things that go bump in the night. Seeing something out of the corner of your eye. Feeling as if something is behind you. Having a feeling that something is not quite right.
These are things that countless people around the world have experienced. Some attribute these experiences to a sixth sense while others believe that there are sound, scientific explanations for them. However, for clinicians the question remains: What is the proper approach of a counselor with a client reporting paranormal issues?
Fall is in the air, and that means football season is here. Along with the tailgates and touchdowns come concussions. A form of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussions are common in many sports and have received more attention lately as former professional athletes have come forward with their stories about long-term struggles that resulted from multiple concussions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention External link estimates that between 1.6 million and 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions happen annually in the United States. People who have concussions can experience headaches, personality changes, motor control problems, depression, and insomnia, to name a few symptoms.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. At first glance, the counseling field and works of William Shakespeare may seem to have little in common, but looks can be deceiving. Beneath the cover, both are defined by an interest in the human condition: What makes us tick? What drives us? What confounds us? Let’s explore the connection in a little more depth.
Summer is coming to an end, students are heading back to school, and sports tryouts are right around the corner. Athletes of all ages experience jitters when it comes to tryouts or being scouted. No matter your level of play, these four tips can help you prepare your mind so that you can confidently perform under pressure during tryouts.
Couples in romantic relationships frequently receive advice—solicited or not—from family, friends, and even strangers. Such suggestions can be vague and unwarranted, providing couples with little quality information. For couples that want concrete and realistic advice, The Family Institute at Northwestern University publishes a “Tip of the Month External link ” series on relationships.
