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Psychology of Supporting Those Without a Home
In clinical psychology we sometimes encounter pernicious problems when common best practices are not getting the job done. Some call them treatment resistant cases...
7 Surprising Mythbusters about Eating Disorders
As someone who has worked in the field of eating disorder (ED) treatment and prevention for 10 years, I am used to the way the disease operates and familiar with the seemingly backward truths that don’t fit the stereotypes...
Perfecting the Morning Routine – Tips for Parents
Would you like to get your children out of bed, fed and off to school on time without nagging, hassling, and threatening them? You deserve a peaceful morning routine as much as your children do...
What Happens in Marriage Counseling?
What To Expect in Couples and Marriage Counseling Family Psychology of South Bend comes from a tradition of clinicians who try to demystify counseling and psychology, thus the straight forward topic of today's article about...
Disrespectful Child
The article below was first written by Dr. Petersen for GoodTherapy.org and is published by them at http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/respect/. It is reproduced here with permission...
Anatomy of Marriage
Divorce and marital satisfaction are not in the stars or a matter of luck. They are highly predictable...
Morning Hassles With Your Preschooler
Sick and tired of getting started on the wrong foot with the children in the morning? Tired of herding the children through the morning sequence – out of bed, dressed, fed, school supplies readied? If so, you are in good...
Emotional Unavailability – When Your Partner Can’t Connect
When we commit to a relationship, we usually expect that our partner will reciprocate with roughly the same level of emotional involvement that we put into it...
All Press Posts
Beacon Health and Fitness Autism Training
I consulted with Beacon childcare staff at the Grainer location on creating a positive environment for their autistic members. Working with the South Bend community is something I'm passionate about.
Beacon Health and Fitness Autism Training
Is your relationship suffering from gridlocked, escalating conflict?
If so, you may be worried about the health and future of your relationship. And for good reason! Contentious, gridlocked conflict often includes criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and even contempt...
ABC 57 Interview: How to have an open conversation with children about tragedy
The news has been flooded with violence. In the past month alone, the United States has had 45 mass shootings. Many of these frightful situations are happening where people buy their groceries, or even just go to work...
Virtual learning can exacerbate body image issues for children
Mental health counselor Heather Blackford discusses how children's body issues can be exacerbated by remote learning. Eating disorders can be triggered by a negative body image and affect children of all ages...
Dr. Petersen interviewed by Dukes about new year
We were happy to contribute to Howard Duke's South Bend Tribune story about the new year in which we all hope to make significant strides away from COVID's hold on us...
How does Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) develop?
We who are generally anxious often have developed a posture of alertness, even vigilance for what might become, or already is, out of control...
Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder – GAD
Treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder include: Counseling for self or relationship to help cultivate trust, rest, and safety...
Aftershocks of COVID crisis lead to dramatic spike in anxiety, depression in kids
View original story on WNDU: Local experts see dramatic spike in anxiety, depression in kids In March and April, we had many media inquiries about a presumed increase in mental health needs as a result of the...
Warning Signs Of Abusive Relationships
View original WNDU story Lindsay Stone came to my office for an interview on camera about abusive relationships...