One of the most overlooked moments in the life of Jesus happens early, before the crowds, before the healings, before the Sermon on the Mount. It happens quietly, in the wilderness. In that story, Jesus is offered something far more seductive than comfort or bread. He is offered power. Real power. Political influence. Control over […]
The Temptation Jesus Refused (and the One American Christianity Accepted) Read More »
I was sitting at Bahama Breeze with a group of faculty and students after a long day at residency last month. Across the table sat another faculty member, and I tried to describe him to a new colleague next to me. But I couldn’t see his face, or anyone’s, on that side of the table.
The Limits of Sight and the Depth of Vision Read More »
I don’t wake up thinking about my skin color. It isn’t part of my self-understanding, it doesn’t guide how I move through the world, and it certainly isn’t the foundation of my identity. My family came from the hills of Kentucky. That means something to me… the stubbornness, the loyalty, the humor, the small-town grit,
“Just an Old White Guy” Read More »
When a child starts to struggle at school, at home, or in relationships, most parents do what good parents do: they seek help. They call the school counselor, ask friends for referrals, or look for someone online who “specializes in kids like mine.” The problem is, in today’s world, that often means walking into a
Pt. 3 – Seeing Beyond the Label: What Parents Should Look for in a Therapist Read More »
One of the hardest parts of being a counselor, or a teacher, for that matter, is learning how to care deeply without getting swept up in every new wave of mental-health awareness or trend. Often, someone walks into our counseling office or students speak up in my classes and say, “I just want to know
Over the years, I’ve noticed that when I speak about the diagnosis and overdiagnosis of children, or the growing tendency to label every challenge as a mental health disorder, some people assume I’m speaking from a place of privilege or outdated thinking. I understand why. I don’t fit the profile of what many would call
Pt 1 – When Labels Become Identities: What decades of experience have taught me. Read More »