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Articles written by The American Counseling Association


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  • Is quarantining negatively affecting children?

    The American Counseling Association, Special to Village News|Updated Jul 24, 2020

    Most schools closed in mid-spring. Playgrounds in many areas are taped off. Sports programs from baseball to swim meets are being canceled. The current COVID-19 crisis and its quarantining measures are directly affecting children every day in a variety of ways. Many parents worry what the long-term effects may be on their children. It’s a question for which there aren’t a lot of ready answers but the consensus from numerous experts is that most children will be all right. It is especially true for younger children. While the...

  • Lower stress levels for holiday travel

    The American Counseling Association|Updated Dec 20, 2019

    In today’s world virtually any holiday travel is going to be a cause for increased stress and anxiety. Whether driving for a holiday visit with relatives or taking a holiday plane trip, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll experience some stress-producing, travel-related issues. Regardless, holiday travel is popular. It’s estimated that this year’s holiday period will see more than 94 million Americans climbing in their cars for a holiday road trip. If air travel is in the plans, they’ll be joining an estimated 6 million fellow...

  • Holiday depression is a common problem

    The American Counseling Association|Updated Dec 12, 2019

    ‘Tis the season when everyone is bombarded with happy holiday images. Advertisers continually show rejoicing families with their new cars, children opening piles of presents around the Christmas tree and countless cheery family gatherings – upbeat images, laughing children and plenty of holiday joy. Except this image simply isn’t true for everyone. All those happy holiday images and promotion of all the good times and pleasures of the season can build up unrealistic expectations and not just for those children asking Santa...

  • Is your teen able to handle peer pressure?

    The American Counseling Association, Special to Village News|Updated Nov 15, 2019

    Parents may often ignore what is probably the most important influence in their teenager’s life – peer pressure. While parental opinions may be given some consideration, if only because of the consequences of ignoring them, it’s more often the comments and actions of peers that help many teens decide virtually everything from hairstyles to clothing choices to academic efforts. Peer pressure can be a good thing, encouraging participation in sports, religious activities and working for good grades. But peer pressure can also...

  • Understanding why people lie

    The American Counseling Association|Updated Nov 1, 2019

    Special to Village News People live in a world where lying has become a fairly common occurrence. Indeed, there are now organizations specializing in fact-checking political statements and business releases to uncover the fabrications often presented. Of course, it’s not just political figures or business leaders with a monopoly on fibbing to people. Lies happen in most homes, whether it’s the little boy standing over the smashed vase he said he didn’t break or the teenager offering a story for why she was two hours past...

  • Get stress under control

    The American Counseling Association|Updated Oct 18, 2019

    Special to Village News Stress affects everyone these days. Jobs, family issues, the daily news and hundreds of other factors can all help create and promote the stress and anxiety that so many people feel. Of course, there are always going to be factors in people’s lives that make them worried and can leave them feeling nervous, afraid or uncomfortable. That’s simply life. But there are ways to can minimize the effect stress may be having on a person’s physical, mental and emotional health. Simple lifestyle changes for bette...

  • Is your memory beginning to worry you?

    The American Counseling Association|Updated Sep 13, 2019

    Special to Village News People may have seen a sign or a T-shirt with the slogan, “My ability to remember song lyrics from the 80s far exceeds my ability to remember why I walked into the kitchen.” It’s a funny quote, but one clearly based on a real issue many people experience as they age. Why do people seem more forgetful or have more problems with short-term memory as they grow older? In some cases it can be an early indication of a more serious problem – Alzheimer’s disease. This disease affects 5.8 million Americans and...

  • School mornings don't have to be chaos

    The American Counseling Association|Updated Sep 13, 2019

    Special to Village NewsSo what does the typical school morning look like at home? Quiet conversation over a leisurely breakfast, everyone dressed and ready to depart on time, all their books, papers and lunch neatly packed and ready to go? No? Not quite? More like a minor riot with lots of stress? If so, it’s time for a change. There’s no magic way to guarantee that the bedlam that marks those getting ready for school times in too many homes will totally disappear, but there are steps to take to help minimize the sch...

  • Staying active promotes better mental health

    The American Counseling Association, Special to the Village News|Updated May 14, 2018

    While the groundhog’s prediction this year of six more weeks of winter was right on target for many parts of the country, now that it’s firmly into spring, it’s a great time to start thinking about being more active. When most people think of exercise, it’s for the physical benefits it can provide, and there are many. Regular physical exercise can help trim waistlines, increase aerobic capacity, build muscle size, improve sex life and even add years to a life. But if that’s not enough to get people up and motivated to exerci...

  • Yes, sometimes it's good to say, 'No'

    The American Counseling Association, Special to Village News|Updated Apr 7, 2018

    Most people, most of the time, want to be nice, to do what is asked and to please those asking for help. They usually try to be accommodating at work, with friends and with family members. But sometimes, rather than replying, “Sure,” when asked to do an inconvenient favor or to take on a task beyond our abilities, it may make better sense to say, “No.” It can often be difficult to just utter that simple “no.” People like to look responsible, helpful and capable; however, the reality is that saying “yes” to virtually every...

  • Know when to ask for help

    The American Counseling Association|Updated Mar 7, 2018

    For most people asking for help can often be difficult. Yes, asking for advice on planting a garden is easy, but for a serious issue, such as mental health, people may find that they don’t want to admit to the problems they’re facing. It’s not hard to understand why they may be reluctant. Admitting that they’re struggling or feeling overwhelmed is like admitting they’re weak or inadequate. Most people learned as children that it’s important to be independent, strong and self-sufficient. That background makes it difficult t...

  • How to handle workplace disagreements

    The American Counseling Association, Special to the Village News|Updated Jan 11, 2018

    While everyone all has multiple relationships through their family and friends, for most people, the relationships in which they spend the most waking hours are work relationships. Disagreements in any relationship can be challenging, but with friends and family, people usually find ways to work out their issues. A disagreement on the job, however, especially with someone who has more authority, can be a very difficult and awkward experience. Even if someone feels strongly about an idea, decision or a project, they often...

  • Be a weight loss helper, not a hinderer

    The American Counseling Association, Special to the Village News|Updated Jan 7, 2018

    Know someone trying to lose weight as one of their new year’s resolutions? Probably yes, since weight loss is traditionally the most common resolution that people make. While dropping a few pounds is clearly highly personal, if there’s a spouse, family member, co-worker or friend aiming for a trimmer waistline, people have a number of ways to support their loved ones bringing their resolution to fruition. A good starting point in being helpful is often not trying to be so helpful. Sometimes things people do or say may mak...