CatholicPsych Blog
Featured articles
Sméagol: The Wound Before the Ring
Before the Ring, before the creature, there was a hobbit who was already rejected by his own people. Tolkien’s Gandalf tells us plainly, in that second chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring, that Sméagol “had no friends.”
What Your Avoidance Is Really Trying to Protect
Perhaps it’s responding to text messages. Maybe it’s taking care of your physical health, scheduling that dentist appointment you’ve been putting off, beginning a workout routine, or opening a bill you’ve been meaning to address. Maybe it is a difficult conversation with a spouse, parent, sibling, friend, or child. Whatever form it takes, most of us can identify areas of life where we continually postpone something we know needs our attention.
Venting or Healing? What JPII Teaches Us About Self-Expression
There is often a felt tension between the need to share one’s authentic lived experience (which is inevitably messy) and wanting to protect the reputation and uphold the dignity of the person being mentioned. It’s a valid point. Am I venting, or am I healing? How do I know the difference?
Categories
Select a topic from the category list below.
Continue reading
2 Steps to a Perfect Valentine’s Day (For Everyone)
This month brings with it one of the most loved and hated days of the whole year- Valentine’s Day. Whether you are in a relationship or not, everyone of us can celebrate love, true love, on this popular holiday. What really gets commercialized on Valentine's Day? Of...
4 Steps to a Stress-Free Christmas
With the proper tools, you can have a stress-free Christmas this year and instead celebrate the birth of our Savior. The reality of the holidays Ah the Christmas season! Ideally, it's a time of year for enjoying holiday parties, delicious food, the exchanging of...
Abundant Fruit of Catholic Mindfulness
In this guest post, CPI therapist Maureen O’Connell shares the many fruits of Catholic Mindfulness that have blessed her life for the better. A Tree is Known by its Fruit ~Luke 6:43 The email that changed my life How often do you delete marketing emails? If you’re...
Let’s Talk About Sex
As a Catholic I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. I'd like to share my thoughts on why sex in marriage is so important when it comes to connecting us to God. In the image of God I will admit, I did not watch the Grammy’s last night. However as I...
What’s with This Skype Therapy Anyway?
It’s really interesting how many people are curious about online therapy over Skype and how many questions I get about it. Admittedly, it was tough at first to decide whether or not to offer video-based counseling. I had many of the same questions myself. After 8...
WWJF: What Would Jesus Feel? (And Why It Matters For Us)
Following Jesus' emotional example and learning from His humanity Have you ever read a passage from the Gospel and asked yourself, "I wonder what Jesus was feeling in this passage? What emotions was he experiencing here?" (I would be willing to bet it isn’t all...
My Time with Fr. Benedict
Religious Life with Fr. Benedict Groeschel Not many married men can say they lived the religious life for a time. I had the very unique blessing of spending 3 and a half years as a Franciscan Friar. I could fill volumes on what I learned during that time in religious...
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...