In psychotherapy, we are asked to face all of our insecurities, fears, regrets, guilt and shame. It can seem intrusive, foreign and taboo. How can embracing our pains in the presence of someone we don’t know lead to healing? The idea of therapy can push us away because it makes us feel as if there is something wrong with us. And what if someone found out we were going and judged us harshly?

I’d like to address some of these concerns by offering a little of the perspective...

The New Year: a time to symbolically start over. Resolutions provide an opportunity to “fix” ourselves and correct all of last year’s mistakes. We hope to discover a perfected, happier, better version of who we are.

You’ll find no shortage of articles in both secular culture and Catholic circles about how to improve ourselves. We set the bar at a nearly unattainable height for faith, family, finances, and health. “I should pray more.” “I should...

Let’s begin with an “opening crawl” of caveats:

FULL SPOILER ALERT. I’m going to be delving into some of the characters and plot points of Episode 7 from a psychological perspective, so if you haven’t seen it, get to the theater and come back and read!

• I’m presuming that you are at least somewhat familiar with the franchise and can recall some of the major details of the earlier episodes.
• I loved the film. It is refreshing to have Star Wars back on...

The immediate problems with 50 Shades of Gray are obvious. As a Catholic Psychologist, I wholeheartedly agree with everything being said regarding pornography and BDSM and unhealthy relationships. There are also some interesting points I’ve read regarding why women are so drawn to the books and movie relating to their unsatisfying sex lives. There’s a lot there to comment on and draw out, especially to explore the true meaning of sexuality and how to find fulfillment in...

*This article was written in response the 2015 Synod on the Family. 

Following the Synod on the Family, I’m really disappointed by how quickly the Catholic media went the way of the secular media and amplified the polarization between the two – a polarization that only feeds page clicks for advertising revenue-driven blog sites and not much more. My blog does not exist for page-clicks, and so even if no one reads this, I’d like to contribute (in my opinion)...

Not many married men can say they lived the religious life for a time. I had the very unique blessing of spending 3 and a half years as a Franciscan Friar. I could fill volumes on what I learned during that time in religious life in general, but I want to give a brief reflection here on what I learned specifically from Fr. Benedict Groeschel.

HUMILITY AND CHARITY

As a “postulant” in the community, I had the privilege of accompanying Fr. Benedict for a week as he taught a course on...

THIS POST IS FROM OUR GUEST-AUTHOR JENNY UEBBING

“Mommy, make a happy face at me.”

I look up from the glow of my laptop, irritated, hearing for perhaps the 10th time that day my three-year-old son’s persistent request.

“Mommy’s working, honey. Please go downstairs and play legos.”

Tantrum, flailing, stomping, sibling pinching ensue. Consequences are meted out. Justice is served. Repeat cycle.

It has, of course, occurred to me that I spend too much time...

Cardinal Dolan has certainly been taking a beating lately with the issues of Fulton Sheen and the St. Patrick’s Day parade at the same time. In his response to the criticisms he has received for accepting the position of Grand Marshal for the parade, he voiced how much of a beating he has been taking, and I’m sure it’s not easy to be dealing with what he is going through as a public figure and leader in the Church. As one of his flock in the Archdiocese of New...

Robin Williams has become more than a suicide victim, he has become a spokesman for depression and suicide. Opinions have been thrown across the interwebs and lots of conflict has emerged. This is what happens when evil happens. Suicide is an evil, as is all disease and every manifestation of it. In the wake of this horrible event, an event that occurs with alarming frequency in our world especially among young people, it makes sense that those left to mourn such a loss are confused and...

What a wonderful victory today for the pro-life cultural movement. With the news constantly inundated with depressing stories of losses, and the sense that stemming the tide of extreme dehumanization rampant in our culture will never be possible, the Supreme Court ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby is a welcome breath of fresh air.

As a Catholic healthcare provider, I am reminded daily of the culture war raging between pro-life values and values that go against the good of the human person. I...