We’ve talked alot about families and how early childhood experiences can shape adulthood.  And I’ve had a number of requests to share some thoughts about healthy families.  It’s an interesting dilemma – people don’t come to therapy because their life is wonderful.  But when I look at people I see and know, I realized there are some common principles lived by families who are emotionally present for each other and for the...

Child sexual abuse is the last and most disgusting topic in this series.  As a survivor of this tragedy, I thought I had heard and read it all and that I had recovered.  But in collecting and verifying statistics and information, I am sickened anew.  Children are constantly warned to be aware of stranger danger but sadly, their greatest risk is in their homes and their day to day lives.  Children continue to be raped and violated by parents,...

When talking about abuse of children, images of battered, broken children usually come to mind. Unfortunately, the most prevalent type of abuse is neglect. Specific terminology can vary, but neglect is usually defined as a pattern of failing to provide for a child’s age-appropriate basic needs or failing to sufficiently protect the child from harm. Neglect may not be malicious – it can arise from ignorance or impaired judgement (e.g a parent...