Tag Archives: counseling

Who Are The Three People You Most Want To Fix/Change? (Family of Origin 101)

Who are the three people you most want to fix/change? 1_______________ 2_______________ 3_______________ Good luck! How has fixing people worked for you in the past? Many people, maybe even most people, become even more entrenched when they sense others are … Continue reading

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Family of Origin 101: Who Is The Sick (Black sheep) Person In Your Family?

Who is the “identified patent,” or who are the “identified patients,” in your family of origin/extended family?  The identified patient family member is seen as the “sick one.”  Who does your family focus on? Who is the black sheep in … Continue reading

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Family of Origin 101: Understanding Yourself, Your Conflicts With Others, Your Family Of Origin

In 1981, my 19 year-old brother committed suicide.  Shot himself in the head.  It is the worst thing and the best thing that has ever happened to me.  His horrible death forced me to look at myself and my family … Continue reading

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Top Five Things I Don’t Like About My Wife

We met for supper at a Mexican restaurant.  For a solid hour I listened. They teach us in seminary pastoral care classes about the importance of listening.  In this case, my listening was not an example of a pastoral care … Continue reading

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Why My Father Took Me Out Of The Will

My father died an awful death, dying of prostate cancer.  Some people have peaceful deaths; my father did not.  Death is hard enough without – well, without what we witnessed. The good thing is my father was surrounded by his … Continue reading

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United States Must Admit (and soon) It Needs Help

I can barely change a light bulb.  Lesbians, with their tools, who can fix everything get on my last nerve.  They do what I can’t do. You want to know what a bad day is like for me?  It’s when … Continue reading

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Karl Rove and His Mama: A Psychological Look At Karl Rove’s Politics (Part 2)

As you think about the psychodynamics of your family of origin and how your kinfolk impact your politics and your religion (part 1 of this series), and as you join me in “critiquing”/analyzing Karl Rove’s Courage and Consequence:  My Life as … Continue reading

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How Self-aware Are You? (I've seen Easter happen over and over and over.)

So I’m like a kid in a candy shop.  My, the church’s, new Ipad has been shipped from China and will be delivered to me tomorrow.  I’ve already bought some apps and downloaded some free ones.  The kids at church (I … Continue reading

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