By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. “What’s wrong with my brain?” Michael asked. A high level manager with a great career, Michael feared his anger outbursts at work might cost him his job. “Why can’t I just put up with crap and not react?” he wondered. Michael learned what happened to his brain and body when he [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Numerous studies show that dog owners obtain health benefits those without pets can only envy. Dog owners have better cholesterol levels, improved immune systems, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of heart attacks. Some dogs can detect the onset of seizures and sniff out a hypoglycemic attack. We all see service [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. In this seventh month, on the seventeenth day it seems appropriate to take the Problogger 7 link challenge. It’s a good time to review old posts and share some highlights of our work over the last few years. Here are 7 links that fit into seven themes picked by Problogger’s Darren [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Recently a family came into my counseling practice with a problem. Mom and stepdad got along great until the stepchildren arrived. The two kids were on a 5 days on, 5 days off schedule of shared parenting. Stepdad found the additional noise, mess and rambunctiousness unacceptable to his serenity. Stepdad threatened [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. We Americans are a worried bunch. News reports of plummeting financial markets, high unemployment, oil slicks and other disasters give us ample concern for the future. As a family therapist I see children as young as 10 worried about global warming, crime and the affordability of college. At 10 that’s a [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Many years ago, as a lonely starving student, I took a walk to get away from my dingy apartment and my blue mood. I saw a rumpled flyer on the wall of a store. It read “Volunteers needed for suicide prevention hotline and food bank. No experience necessary. Training provided. Call [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. In the iconic 1967 film, Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman delivers the classic line, “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Since then the line appears in movies, songs and the daily lives of humans everywhere. Some communication failures can be kind of cute. When my daughter was three [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. John got to work a little earlier so he could finish his report at a research institution before the rest of the staff arrived. As he entered the windowed office he was surprised to see two colleagues leave his work station. He touched his computer. It felt warm. He booted it [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. “What ticks you off?” we asked a recent group of managers and employees at a large corporate training. One smiling woman vigorously raised her hand and proceeded to tell a story. “I could not believe it! I was at the deli to get some fresh olives when I saw a man [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Chelsea King, 17, went for a jog after school last Thursday. Her body was found Tuesday in a shallow grave a half mile from her car. Chelsea was a straight A student, an athlete and a musician in the prestigious San Diego Youth Symphony. Beloved by many for her charming personality, [...]
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