Take me to "A Catholic's Guide to Helping a Loved One in Distress"

By Maribel Laguna, LPC-S

If you have the privilege of becoming the confidante of an abuse victim, you may not know what to do or say when you first learn about the abuse. Although many people may stumble over inappropriate or awkward responses, these are all far better than silence. It is easy to be silent out of shock or fear, but remember the words of Blessed Pope John Paul II, “Be not afraid!” Instead, pray for...

Take me to "A Catholic's Guide to Helping a Loved One in Distress"

by Eric Gudan, PsyD

It’s human nature to point the finger at someone else. When something goes wrong, it’s always someone else’s fault. Parents who are watching children grow up often attribute bad behavior to others: disobedient classmates, an inept teacher, a bad TV role model.

As Catholic parents, we want our children to choose good, grow in virtue, and be holy. We know that living according to God’s...

Take me to God Image podcasts!

by Peter T. Malinoski, Ph.D.

As Catholics, we believe that we are created and placed on this earth to know, love and serve God in this world and be with Him forever in the next. That is our primary purpose here, and all things should serve that final and most important reason for our existence.

The first step in accomplishing that goal is to know God. But what if we don’t really know God? Or we don’t know the real God? What if who we think is God is...

Take me to "A Catholic's Guide to Self-Help"

by Peter T. Malinoski, Ph.D.

As children we learn the two great commandments: Love God above all things and love your neighbor as yourself. In order to follow these commands, however, we have to interact with both God and our neighbor in genuine ways. What does that mean? That means we have to have an accurate perception of our thoughts and feelings and respond to both God and neighbor in authentic and appropriate ways.

Part of our human nature...

Take me to "A Catholic's Guide to Selecting a Therapist"

By Maribel Laguna, LPC-S

According to an article published in The Wall Street Journal in March 2019, millennials are the therapy generation. The article goes on to cite several studies that show young people seeking help more often than previous generations. Expectations of personal perfection, an increase in depression rates, and a focus on self-improvement are some possible reasons.

Whether you are part of that generation or a member...

Take me to "A Catholic's Guide to Self-Help"

By Matthew McCall, Psy.D.

Many people today who are striving to grow in their faith and become a “good Catholic” find emotions confusing. Are emotions wrong and sinful? Do they cloud our ability to reason? Are they things to be controlled and suppressed in order to attain sanctity?

The reality is that God created our emotions, often called our passions, for many reasons. By better understanding what role they play in our lives, we can...

by Gerry Crete, Ph.D. and Matthew Riegel, Ed.S.

If you’re a Catholic parent in this era of iPhones, Androids, video games, and computers, you’ve probably struggled with the question of how and when to allow your children to have access to all this technology. This was the central discussion that took place after the screening of a documentary called Screen-Agers, which occurred in Atlanta this week.

Technology is a useful and, it seems, necessary tool which is here to stay, for...

Take me to "A Catholic's Guide to Self-Help"

by Eric Gudan, Psy. D.

Today is a national holiday that should be all about togetherness and gratitude. Before our country’s founding, Thanksgiving celebrated generosity between communities, despite racial differences. Now, nearly 400 years later, our modern society too often associates Thanksgiving with impossible relatives, congested highways, and complicated meal preparation. Throw in the ever-encroaching Black Friday sales, marking the...