The DWA Blog
Therapy for Children and Adolescents: The Language of Play
By: Kayli Beaty, LMFT Associate As adults discuss the contents of their heart through conversation from one side of the room to the other, children tend to have greater difficulty expressing their needs in the same way. Play is the native language of children, so why...
From Discovery Through Recovery
There are many circumstances in life in which it is intuitive to determine what actions to take to resolve a problem. Discovering that a trusted life partner is emotionally or sexually involved with another person or that they are involved in a sexually compulsive...
Making Sense of the Senseless
This is a continuation of my blog series titled From Discovery Through Recovery. I will begin with a deeper explanation of the power of connection because, upon discovery, a life partner is typically trying to make sense of a circumstance that seems senseless. As...
Pornography – Beginnings
By Anthony Hoff, MFT-intern.Welcome. This is the beginning of my series of blogs covering a myriad of pornography (porn) topics. To begin I share an anonymous but true story that illustrates how porn use may begin and how enticing porn may be to a young mind.John...
The Ever-Present Calculator: A Message on Eating Disorders
By: Kayli Spears, MFT-Intern A 2020 research article on body shape ideals in the United States yieldedthat women “reported conflicting pressures to be thin while also having thedesire to have curvier and fuller bodies” (Hunter et al., 2020, pp. 240).There has been yet...
The Reality of Chronic Illness: An Invitation to Leave the Mask at Home
By: Kayli Spears, MFT-Intern “You look normal.” “Why don’t you ever want to do anything?” “You are so flakey.” “Why are you always tired?” “Can’t you just take some medicine?” If you are an individual with autoimmune conditions or chronic pain, you will likely find...
Caring For the Caretaker: Pouring from an Empty Cup
By: Kayli Spears, MFT-Intern When was the last time you checked in on yourself? Being in the position of taking care of a loved one with an illness, dementia, and other memory-loss diseases, in particular, is a unique space accompanied by responsibility, loss,...
More Than Healthcare Self-Care
More Than Healthcare Self-Care Marshall Smith, MFT-Intern "I love my job," "my patients need me," "I should have done a better job," "if I do not take care of my patients who will?" These thoughts are not uncommon in occupations that entail caring for other people,...
Your Story Matters: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Your Story Matters: COVID-19 and Mental Health By Twanna McKee, MFT-Intern Do you feel overwhelmed or anxious during the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, you are not alone. These feelings are only human and keeping them to yourself only adds unwanted stress and fear. We are...
Concerned About Your Kids and Media Use?
By Marshall Smith, MFT-Intern Many of us have done this. We are sitting in a waiting-room, riding the bus, relaxing outside, waiting for our food, or lying in bed and turn to an immediate source of distraction, social media! I would be lying if I were to say I am not...