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K-Pop Demon Hunters; a Catholic Response to Shame
Not a clever book. Not a popular book. A disruptive book. The kind that reframes your assumptions. For me, that book is…
The Most Important Book I’ve Read in Years
Not a clever book. Not a popular book. A disruptive book. The kind that reframes your assumptions. For me, that book is…
How St. Joseph Can Help You Make Decisions When You Feel Paralyzed
Joseph doesn’t ask for signs or a clearer plan. He receives a word from God, gets up, and moves. For anyone who feels stuck…
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Walking with the Wounded Soul
How can we better come to understand the ways we hide ourselves to protect against the pain we’ve experienced - but which end up causing other problems? Where do we find emotional healing? Strength in relationship God designed our humanity in such a way that even...
The One Most Important Quality to Look for in a Spouse
There are so many lists of tips and tricks for dating, and so many opinions on what to look for in a spouse that I decided to boil everything down to one very simple idea, and that is the importance of friendship in marriage. The Essence of a Successful Marriage...
One Omission and Three False Dichotomies in the Vatican “Declaration”
Here's one missing distinction and three false dichotomies to sum up the issues with the Vatican Declaration at first glance. We are now in a time of the battle between a culture of life and a culture of death.” - Pope St. John Paul II The Vatican Declaration:...
Culture Wars and the Challenge to Listen With Curiosity
In this excerpt from the Being Human Podcast, Dr. Bottaro discusses why we should try to listen with curiosity to opinions held by "the other side," something Jesus Himself has taught us to do. Excerpt from Being Human Podcast Episode #123: Fake Science and Real...
You’re No Angel, But Neither Am I
We aren’t just spiritual beings. Rather, we’re human beings, which means we have both a spirit and a body. And that is why body spirit integration is so important for our growth. Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing...
A Catholic Approach to Dealing With Difficult Relationships
Labeling relationships as "toxic" is widespread right now; let's take a Catholic approach to difficult relationships and examine why they're not always meant to be easy. Navigating difficult relationships Why is this relationship so draining? Do I just need to cut...
Catholic Mindfulness is Not Centering Prayer
Recently there have been one or two threads of concern popping up in regard to my teaching of Catholic Mindfulness. As my concern is always to lead people towards greater flourishing through a deepening encounter with Christ, I publish my response here to...
The Problem with the Bishop Scandals
The Bishop scandals are deeply disappointing, so let's talk about what's at the heart of the problem. The Church's crisis The US Conference of Bishops FINALLY admitted what the deepest problem is- “Our Church (read- Bishops) is suffering from a crisis of sexual...
The Pope and I, a Sinner
Homosexuality is a cross that no heterosexual will ever understand. Let's make sure we're treating others as Jesus treated ALL people. Reflecting on Pope Francis' stance on homosexuality First of all let me begin with what this article is not. It is not a response to...
Hanging Out Is Easier than Dating
Hanging out and dating are two very separate things, and it seems like one is winning out in today's society. Let's talk about why dating is so important and why it shouldn't intimidate men and women! Modern dating culture: hanging out It seems that dating for...
Should Women Man-up? In Response to “Holding Back Tears”
Some gender differences are natural, while others may be enforced by the society we live in. Let's take a psychological approach to these differences and discuss what we can learn. Verily - "Holding Back Tears" First of all, I would like to thank the girls at Verily...
Meet Teresa Violette: Co-Creator of Catholic Mindfulness for Students!
Let's get to know Teresa Violette, mentor at CatholicPsych Institute and co-creator of Catholic Mindfulness for students! On Monday, my team and I re-launched our unique program Catholic Mindfulness for Students, so I thought it would be a good time to introduce...
The Power of Empathy: Understanding Another as a Healing Force
Guest author Sean Faulkner, a CatholicPsych Institute psychotherapist, shares how empathy can be a powerful tool in healing and dealing with conflict. Empathy heals wounds and connects hearts There is little more hurtful than to not feel seen, known, or understood....
Healing During Crisis: My Soul Clings to You
Healing during crisis can feel difficult. Maureen O'Connell reflects on her own experiences and how we can keep ourselves on a path towards healing. Reflection on a time of crisis in the Church ~Psalm 63~ I’ve been sick for about two months. Really sick. A few times I...
‘Tis the Season to Forgive
Forgiveness: a call to action Most marketing campaigns have what’s called a “call to action.” You’ll notice on websites trying to sell you something that there is always a button or link that says “buy it now,” “subscribe,” or “learn more.” A call to action is a...
Worry: The Fifth Superpower of the Female Brain
Healthy vs excessive worry You might be surprised to learn that the final post in the series about feminine brain strengths is actually about worry! As a psychologist, I rarely talk about worry as a strength. I should qualify here that I am talking about a little...
Stayin’ Alive: The Fourth Superpower of the Female Brain
What exactly does stayin' alive mean when it comes to our next superpower of the female brain? Female strength statistics Before diving in to the next "superpower" of the female brain, let's go through a few statistical facts about women: A little over 10 years ago,...
Rethinking New Year’s Resolutions: What’s Your Starting Point?
As you make New Year's resolutions, start from a place of feeling loved and celebrated by God, even in your weaknesses. New Year's resolutions: the trap of perfection January 1st. The New Year. A time to symbolically start over. When considering what resolutions to...
Principles for Living a Happy Life (According to Pope Francis)
Whether you celebrate the holidays or not, we can all use a reminder of some simple principles of happiness. Principles of happiness from Pope Francis As we near the end of what has been an unpredictable and difficult year for many, it's important to recall simple...
The Porn Pandemic: Why Is Pornography So Destructive?
Shedding light on pornography's destructive nature Most people agree that pornography is not socially acceptable. No one thinks people should talk to their parents about porn or bring it up with friends. There is an inherent sense that guys probably shouldn’t talk to...
Collaboration: The Third Superpower of the Female Brain
Female collaboration as a superpower One day while riding on the train on the way to my office, there was a female conductor. I’ve travelled with a female conductor once before, and both times ended the same way. On the intercom as we reached our...
Why The Incarnation Should Blow Our Minds
Profound Mystery of the Incarnation in Christianity “Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in...
Relationships: Infatuation and Love
Just because infatuation isn't always love, that doesn't mean it's not important when it comes to relationships. Let's talk about why. Infatuation vs. Love It’s pretty obvious to anyone with a pulse over the age of 12 that there is a major difference between...
Sexual Identity Crisis: One Thing Cardinal Dolan Got Wrong
I'm sharing my thoughts on Cardinal Dolan's recent message and clearing up some of the confusion surrounding the topics of sexual identity, identity, and sexuality. Cardinal Dolan, a public figure and leader in the Church Cardinal Dolan has certainly been taking a...
Celebrating the Differences of Men and Women
It's beautiful to see how the differences between men and women can complement one another and come together in service of a greater purpose. March: Women's History Month The month of March is designated in the U.S. as "Women's History Month" - a month-long...
More on Catholic Psychology
What is Catholic Psychology? People often ask me, “What do you mean by Catholic Psychology?” There are lots of questions people have regarding my work because it is a field that is relatively new. The Catholic part has been around for millennia and the...
The Truth About Robin Williams and Matt Walsh
Confusion around mental health Robin Williams has become more than a suicide victim, he has become a spokesman for depression and suicide. Opinions have been thrown across the interwebs and lots of conflict has emerged. This is what happens when evil happens. Suicide...