Bipolar Disorder

By Mike DeMoss | April 1, 2018

Help, I’m married to a spouse with a bipolar disorder! Being married to a spouse with bipolar can be a very difficult challenge. Often a marriage where bipolar is present can be described by the offended spouse as being on an emotional rollercoaster. Many marriages can be serious jeopardy when the disorder is present in…

Couples Therapy

By Mike DeMoss | May 16, 2017

Couples Therapy – Gottman method As a couple’s therapist, I believe the Gottman Method is one of the most effective methods in helping couples in conflict. A great deal of research has gone into what helps couples have a meaningful relationship and what most often leads couples to split apart. The Gottman’s indicate that there are…

What is a Love Map?

By Mike DeMoss | December 27, 2016

Marriage Counseling – Love Maps What is a “Love Map?” How to Use Gottman’s Model for Lasting Love Do you know your partner? Have you got a deep understanding of who they are as a person, including their hopes, fears, and dreams? The Gottman Institute has a tool called a “Love Map” that can help…

Marriage Miscommunication

By Mike DeMoss | October 15, 2016

Communication in Marriage With all of the discussions on marriage and divorce today, many agree that there are four marriage miscommunication signs that a marriage may be in serious trouble. The Gottman Institute in Seattle, Washington identified four deadly communication styles that can be deadly to a marriage. They called these communication styles “The Four…

Marriage Therapy – Gottman method

By Mike DeMoss | October 11, 2016

Gottman Marriage Therapy The Gottman’s have thoroughly researched what works best in marriage therapy. The Gottman method follows seven basic principles to help couples build healthy relationships. If you are interested in couples counseling and believe this method would be helpful, please contact me. The Gottman Method for Healthy Relationships: Build Love Maps:How well do you…

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Clinically Based Center

By Deborah Pettitt | March 16, 2026

Family Christian Counseling Center is a clinically based business, but what does that mean? It means we are an office where mental‑health services are provided using established therapeutic methods, ethical standards, and evidence‑supported practices. Our main purpose is to provide a structured, confidential environment where clients can address emotional, behavioral, and relational concerns with the…

How to Train your Amygdala

By Deborah Pettitt | January 19, 2026

This month I thought I would write a review of a children’s book How to Train Your Amygdala by Anna Housley Juster. This would be great to read with your child to learn about the amygdala and to practice the training strategies.  Reading it together can build positive connections, building new pathways in the brain…

Christmas Quotes – Part 2

By Deborah Pettitt | December 12, 2025

I thought I would share more of my favorite quotes this month for celebrating Christmas, I hope they a smile to your face and thankfulness to your heart. “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” – Charles Dickens.   “Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing,…

Glass Child

By Megan Meyer | October 31, 2025

If you’ve ever felt torn between meeting one child’s extra needs and making sure the other(s) feel seen, you’re not alone. Many parents in this situation are doing their best to hold everything together — balancing therapy appointments, medical needs, school supports, and emotional care. Yet, even with all the love in the world, the…

Part 2 – Quotes about Children

By Deborah Pettitt | October 9, 2025

This month I thought I would give you some more of my favorite quotes about children, after all they are our future. And one just for fun from Erma Bombeck: If you would like to read part 1 of our “quotes about children“, click on the link.

Understanding the Protective Response

By Deborah Pettitt | September 2, 2025

In Brain-Body Parenting, Dr. Mona Delahooke explains the concept of the protective response—a child’s instinctive reaction to perceived threats, which often manifests as challenging behavior. Rather than viewing these behaviors as intentional defiance or manipulation, Delahooke urges parents to understand them as nervous system-driven responses rooted in a child’s internal sense of safety. She introduces…

Sandtray has many uses

By Danen Downs | July 28, 2025

Our work with adolescents and teens often involves learning how to successfully regulate our emotions.  And the first step to learning how to regulate emotions is to first increase our awareness of our particular emotional states and how we move between them.  I often use sandtray with clients to help build and organize this awareness…

The Role of Interoception

By Deborah Pettitt | July 7, 2025

Chapter 6 of Brain-Body Parenting by Dr. Mona Delahooke, is titled “Making Sense of the Senses: How Emotions Arise from the Body’s Experience of the World.” The chapter looks into the relationship between sensory experiences and emotional regulation in children. Delahooke emphasizes that children’s behaviors are influenced by their sensory processing systems, which shape how…

Healing Developmental Trauma

By Deborah Pettitt | May 23, 2025

At our agency, we specialize in the treatment of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD)—a condition rooted in chronic, early-life trauma that disrupts the brain’s natural developmental trajectory. The first three years of life are critical: during this time, the brain forms up to 90% of its neural pathways, shaping how we connect, regulate, and respond to the…

Brain Body Parenting – Interoception

By Deborah Pettitt | April 21, 2025

Chapter 5 of Brain-Body Parenting by Dr. Mona Delahooke talks about the relationship between the brain and body, emphasizing the place of bodily sensations in emotional regulation and behavior. Delahooke gives us more information on the concept of interoception—the ability to perceive internal bodily signals such as hunger, heartbeat, or discomfort—and its significance in understanding…

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