Articles

Creating Intentional Change A Not-Your-Standard-Goal-Setting-Workshop With Keri Riggs, M.A., LPC-S What do you long for? What makes your heart sing? What brings you JOY? Join us on Saturday, January 21st 9 AM – 12 noon Most adults know how to set SMART goals, and perhaps you have done so with some success in the past… You also may know that only 8% of people who make New Year’s Resolutions are successful. Why is that? They set goals that are uninspiring, based on something they think they “should” do or want. Set aside a little structured and focused time just for…

I'm starting to think we are in the middle of an anxiety epidemic. In a counseling and coaching practice, you see trends of common client problems at certain times - maybe couples with sexual issues in their relationships, people with micromanaging or abusive bosses at work, acting-out 15-year-olds, women who are quite sure they must have ADHD or the beginning of Alzheimer's. The past few months the issue has been anxiety. So my mission over the next few blogs is to share a few of my favorite tips, tools and resources. Our Imagination is a Powerful Thing You know that…

Lessons from a longer-than-expected nature hike in Missouri OR It made sense at the time... I felt like Cheryl Strayed in Wild. Okay, that's a little dramatic. Let's just say I wasn't well prepared. My hopefully-soon-to-be-Eagle Boy Scout son would've laughed at me or scolded me, I'm sure. Arriving at Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area tucked back on Route 76 in Branson, Missouri, I decided to take the short 7/10 mile walk. It was a walk, not a hike, just a little time in nature that I'd been craving. I would take the 328 steps down to the lake and was sure coming…

I just read an article about a recommendation for FDA approval for a "female Viagra" and boy am I HOT! (No, not that kind of hot!) My clients fall into one of three categories: - those who are desperate to have a quick fix, a band-aid, a geographical cure or medication to help with their problem - those who won't touch medicine with a 30-foot pole - those who are open to both because they understand the mind, body and spirit work together (or rather, are NOT working well together) and that some problems are quite complex without one simple cause…

I continue to occasionally suffer from Analysis Paralysis. Also known as Overthinking Things. Problem solving should be simple, right? Like most of my dear readers and clients, I’m a smart cookie (everyone has always said so). Quite capable of figuring things out. Seeing all the angles, multiple possible solutions AND their potential consequences. Contingency planning extraordinaire. But sometimes playing the “what if” game just makes us feel anxious, worried and exhausted. Overwhelmed, we either cave and do nothing (and beat ourselves up about THAT) or jump into SOME solution, just to do something (and second guess ourselves for THAT). Sound familiar?…