Wonders Counseling Blog
Cultivating Mindfulness in Children: A Guide to Daily Practices
With the whizzing and whirling of clock and calendar in today's crazy-paced lifestyle, cultivating mindfulness in children becomes an increasingly important focus for parents, teachers, and child and family therapists. Mindfulness practices have many benefits as...
The Scientific Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness
In today's fast-paced world, mindfulness has gained significant attention for its potential to improve mental and physical well-being, and ample scientific evidence supports its benefits. Mindfulness, rooted in ancient contemplative traditions, has become the...
7 Mindfulness-Based Practices for Stress Management
In 2024, a new continuing education training institute is launching that I have founded and am building, Since 1993 I have been a student of mindfulness-based practices and since 1995 I've been sharing and teaching the powers of mindfulness-based practices with...
A Mindfulness Practice: Breathing into Present Moment Awareness
There are captivating mysteries hidden within the simple yet profound act of conscious breathing as a mindfulness practice. In the spirit of silent contemplation and reflection, consider the transformative power that lies within the art of mindfulness and the ethereal...
Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze? Things I’ve learned as a Business Owner
Making the most out of owning your own business requires practical ways to ensure self-care and success.
Helping Tweens with Play Therapy Interventions
Play therapy is an effective way in helping tweens through the struggles of transitioning from childhood to adolescence. Although there are different schools of thought, for the purposes of this article, we will consider tweens to be ages 10-12 (give or take a year...
Finding Your Life Purpose: 7 Step Blueprint
Finding purpose in life can be a daunting process, nevertheless it's a process that will reap substantial benefits. I was recently discussing this very topic with one of my life design coaching clients who is in her late 40s. She was feeling frustrated and discouraged...
4 Strategies to Win Against Work Burnout
If you're feeling exhausted…physically, mentally, and emotionally… you may be feeling the effects of work burnout. It's a common condition that often goes unnoticed until it leads to other health concerns. There is a recent survey on burnout that found almost...
A Children’s Book About Adoption From a Puppy’s Perspective
Luci's Yellow Butterfly is a children's book about adoption from a puppy's perspective written by Cindy Hammonds who participated in my 2022 Children's Book Writing Circle! This is a heart-warming, lilting, rhyming book about a sweet pup who is the last of her litter...
Helping Parents Understand How and Why Play Therapy Works
It is natural for parents to feel curious and inquisitive about how and why a trained mental health professional would choose to play with their child as a central mechanism for providing therapy services. Helping parents learn how and why play therapy works is...
Children’s Books About Big Changes
When things happen in life like divorce, moving to a new house, changing schools, death of a loved one or times of emergency, having children's books about big changes can come in handy for helping children not feel so alone. In this post, I am providing some of my...
Helping Children Learn to Slow Down
Helping children learn to slow down is best achieved through playful and creative means. Author Joelle Harrison who participated in my 2022 Children's Book Writing Circle has written and published the most fun and effective children's book that will help child...
Self-Care: The Importance of Subtraction
Self-care may be something different than what you've been thinking it is. If you’re like most people, your daily schedule is jam-packed full of demands and to-dos. From the time you wake up until the time you fall asleep, you’re either taking care of others or...
Dora Henderson’s Playful Books
Dora Henderson's playful books are well worth exploring. Dora is on a mission - and a playful one at that. The best way for children to learn, grow and heal is through playful and creative activities and that's what these books are all about. Dora Henderson is a...
Children Need More 3-Dimensional Play and Less Time on Screens
Having provided psychotherapy services for children and families since 2001, I have had the opportunity to observe how technology has creeped into the lives of children and families to the point it often eclipses the much-needed experiences of 3-dimensional play.I...
Learn Sandtray with Rita Grayson
As a child and family therapist, one of my most meaningful training experiences over the many years I have been a therapist was with Rita Grayson, LCSW, RPT-S. Rita is the founder of Sage Source Learning Center where she provides a neuro-biological approach to using...
7 Ways for Helping Children & Teens Step Away From Screens
Helping children and teens step away from screens is not about giving up technology. Technology is a wonder! We live in a high tech world and technology has facilitated so many important advances for humanity. I have a growing concern, however, that as a society we...
A Spotlight on AutPlay Therapy
I recently completed my training and certification in AutPlay® Therapy and I am eager to help others learn more about this approach for helping neurodivergent children and adolescents by providing a spotlight on AutPlay® Therapy! This model was created by Dr. Robert...