COVID-19 – The Worry of Violence From An Economic Crisis: Just Another Day For The Poor
“The opposite of poverty is justice.” Bryan Stevenson, lawyer and social justice advocate “Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” Nelson Mandela “He that oppresseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth Him hath mercy on the poor.” […]
5 Mental Health Tips for Coping with the Coronavirus
1) Remember emotions are not good or bad. Each emotion serves a purpose to alert us to something important. Anxiety, in particular, can be helpful to help us “prepare” for a situation or perform during a stressful task. Ask yourself and label what emotion(s) you might be feeling. Labeling emotions in and of itself can be regulating to distress. […]
Resolving Marital Conflict: A Roadmap on How to Fight Fair with Your Spouse
Introduction Let’s face it, marriage can be hard! When two different personalities decide to intertwine their lives and establish an exclusive union that is expected to last into perpetuity, the potential for friction can be quite high. Case in point, studies have shown that on average, only 31% of marital disputes constitute solvable problems (Gottman, […]
Eating Disorders 101
The term “eating disorders” refers to a group of disorders that are characterized by eating or eating-related behavior and significantly impairs someone’s physical health and/or psychosocial functioning. It is important to note that obesity is not considered to be an eating disorder, though it is associated with other mental disorders such as depression and binge-eating disorder. […]
Come As You Are: Examining Our Own Narratives Around Food, Health, and Body Image
Common assumptions around eating disorders often narrowly focus on an individual’s food intake and exercise. It’s time to examine how cultural norms directly impact all of us. A leading factor in the development of disordered eating is a cultural emphasis on being thin (Culbert, Racine, & Klump, 2015). When thinness is celebrated and equated with […]
Making A Plan For A Happy Holiday
Think About It What is one thing that you’ve experienced on a past holiday that you do not want to repeat this year? Drinking too much / using drugs Spending the holiday alone at home and feeling lonely Conflict with family or friends Feeling guilty or sad that I had nothing to give Feeling depressed Wanting to […]
On the Epidemic of Fatherlessness in the Black Community
In 1965, the Assistant Secretary of Labor, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, commissioned a report on the state of the African-American family. The report was titled, The Negro Family: The Case for National Action. This famed report, which was later commonly referred to as “The Moynihan Report,” resulted in a great deal of controversy, but it unequivocally illustrated […]
Dr. Harris Summer 2019 Reads Suggestions
Dr. Harris Summer 2019 Reads Suggestions About the Author: Rev. Dr. Peonita Harris, Psy.D., LMFT, CSAT
How Do I Know When I Have Actually Forgiven?
Navigating the Forgiveness Process with Grace In my work with clients, it is not unusual for me to bear witness to confusion about forgiveness. One specific area of confusion arises in a client’s uncertainty about whether or not forgiveness has actually taken place. Examples of some of the comments I hear include, “I thought I […]
Forgiveness: The Great Anger Validator
The feeling of anger is one that is common to everyone. Perhaps we clench our fists, grit our teeth and imagine the worst for an offender. Maybe we stuff our anger inside into densely compacted packages that are eventually set off like explosives when we just cannot take it anymore. In many instances, anger functions […]