Working with the community... for a healthier community.

A Primer for Couples

By Victoria L. Mitchell, RN, LCSW, Agape Counseling, Ltd. Have you ever noticed how words tend to sound like their meaning? Take the word breathless. As you say it, you begin to feel the need to inhale deeply. The word sizzle elicits the sense of crackling heat. Frigid? Saying it sends a shadow of a […]

Do You Have Spider Veins?

Submitted by The Vein Specialists Spider veins are dilated blood vessels that form just under the skin and result in red, blue, or purple clusters of veins visible near the surface of the legs. Spider veins appear due to the pressure of body weight, gravity, and the task of carrying blood from the bottom of […]

The Dizzying Success of Vestibular Testing

By Lori Lovely Vertigo encompasses more than just conditions resulting in fear of heights, like James Stewart suffered from in the Hitchcock film of the same name. Vertigo is a symptom of an inner ear disorder. Dizziness and imbalance issues account for approximately six million doctor visits every year in the U.S. All ages are […]

Lack of Sleep Getting You Down?

Submitted by Koala Center for Sleep Disorders If you didn’t sleep well last night, you may find yourself irritable and grumpy today. But if you’re someone who has suffered from insomnia and disrupted sleep for months, years, or decades, the compounded sleeplessness may take an even greater toll on your overall mood and mental health. […]

Is Self-Compassion for Wimps?

By Greg Skibinski, MA, LCPC, CADC, CSAT, CMAT, Executive Director, Agape Counseling, LTD Is self-compassion for wimps? No. Actually, it is a difficult thing to practice. I’m sure we all have felt a sense of compassion for others. We feel a sense of kindness or empathy toward them—maybe even a desire to help them and […]

Searching for the Ideal Marriage

By Dr. Phillip J. Ladd, LCPC, Co-President of Christian Psychological Associates (John R. Day & Associates, Ltd.) Ideally, marriage is intended to be both permanent and exclusive. However, because humanity rarely lives up to the ideal, failure often happens. Statistically, we used to say that more than 50 percent of all marriages performed in a […]

Savor The Flavor Of Eating Right

We eat every day, several times a day. But in our fast paced culture, more often than not we are eating on the run, grabbing a toaster pastry and a cup of coffee to gulp down in the car on the way to work. We grab fast food for lunch, or we multi-task our meals […]

Accident Changes, Redefines Life

Submitted by Comprehensive Prosthetics and Orthotics There are several significant birthdays—18, 21, 65, and turning 25 is one of them. This milestone marks a point when you are really considered an adult by others, when your career decisions become more serious, and other life choices (marriage, buying a home, etc.) become more important. For Abby […]

Anxiety Disorders in Children

By Wilma McLaughlin, LCPC, Agape Counseling Anxiety and anxiety disorders in children are one of the main reasons parents seek counseling for their children. Phobias (such as school or social phobia), separation anxiety, obsessive compulsive behavior, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress are all anxiety related disorders. Anxiety is best understood in terms of being a […]

Taking Your Health to Heart

By Jesse VanLe, MD, HeartCare Midwest As we age, it can be challenging to distinguish signs of aging from symptoms that point to potential health risks. Early recognition of potential health problems is an important part of staying healthy. One of the areas where early recognition is most crucial to recovery is the heart, and […]