4 Steps to a Great Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day—the often dreaded, frequently disappointing, and usually expensive holiday is here. Here are 4 easy to remember steps to help make this Valentine’s Day have more lasting meaning and depth than you can buy with an expensive present. (You can still buy the present!) L—LOVE. One of […]
It is sad but true that addiction is so prevalent in society that most everyone knows someone who struggles with it. Having a friend or family member who is an addict is painful, confusing, and frustrating. So what do you do when someone you care about is an addict? What can you do to help […]
Should I Drug Test My Teen? People often ask me whether they should drug test their teen. I believe that home drug testing of teens is a great tool, but like any tool, it must be used properly. Here are some facts to guide you in your decision making: Easy Access–Home drug tests can be purchased online or in […]
By Randy Moraitis, MA, BCPC, CPC I once heard it said that raising a teenager is like trying to nail jello to a tree–very challenging. I should know, I’m on my fifth teen and I’ve got the gray hairs to prove it! Parents of teens have so much to worry about when their teens go […]
By Randy Moraitis MA, BCPC, CPC Hard conversations are no fun, but they are a reality of life. Sooner or later you will have to have a hard conversation—with a friend, family member, coworker, customer, or client. Since hard conversations are inevitable, and avoiding them usually only compounds the problem, the smart move is to prepare for the conversation […]
Leadership is essentially about influence. Most everyone leads in some fashion. We may not all lead large organizations, but most people have influence in various areas of their lives—work, home, social life. Great leaders have both character and competence. Competence is necessary, but, according to noted organizational psychologist and author of Derailed, Dr. Tim Irwin, “character trumps competence”. According to […]
Here is a brief list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) I receive about addiction: 1. How do I know if it really is an addiction? When a person requires increasing amounts of a habit forming substance, or compulsive behavior, they likely have an addiction. If there are negative consequences because of the substance use or behavior, this is usually […]
By Randy Moraitis, MA, CIP, BCPC Stressed out? Tense? Anxious? If so, here is a simple technique to help you relax. This technique will lower your heart rate, your blood pressure, and your potential for doing or saying something you may regret. The technique is called “four square breathing” and is taught to military special […]
By Randy Moraitis, MA, BCPC I received a great lesson on how to save a life earlier this week. The lesson came in the form of a handwritten letter I found on my desk Tuesday morning. The letter was left by someone who will remain anonymous. The letter told of how this person had been struggling with pain […]
By Randy Moraitis, MA, BCPC, CPC Have you heard the joke, “A codependent is a person who, when they die, someone else’s life flashes before their eyes?” That joke is really an unfortunate sign of the times and indicative of just how widespread codependency is. So exactly what is a codependent? Melody Beattie, a leading […]
