#counselinginsideandoutside

Throughout my work with youth i've noticed A Trend in Youth Work Whether Camp, Ministry, or Therapy #selfdeterminationtheory

As adults we are always trying to make sure that children and adolescence are meeting expectations whether developmental milestones, formation of a strong faith, skill development, and more. No matter what field you are in there is a trend that is in need of recognition. This trend is that only a few people know how to relate to the younger generations in an empathetic, positive, and genuine…

Life Challenges - AT Trail Experience Revisited. An exploration of a hiking experience in relation to the importance of positive peers and support on our life journeys.

As the Winter Weather continues to barrel down on us in the Northeast I am finding myself wishing that summer would come to the Northern Hemisphere quicker than normal. While looking through photos to use for a new post I found this photo from an Appalachian Trail hike experience a few friends and myself took this past year. The experience was eye opening and has been something that has been a…

Thank you to James Davis and Jack and Laura of Camping Coast to Coast this post idea came from a summer of imaginative play. Here I discuss the research and benefits of inlcuding Role Playing Games like Dungeons and Dragons in therapy, programming, and more. Role Playing Games, Family, and the Like: A Brief Follow Up Conversation

Previously, I have shared that role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons have been shown to be helpful in allowing adolescents to work on their anxiety (see here). Since then I have taken the time to follow up with my own research of what the peer reviewed psychological journals say about the use of role playing games in therapy and the benefits we gain from them in everyday life.

Blackmon…

As I think about Adventure, and Adventure Therapy i have often wondered what these have in store for our lives. In this short essay I explain what I believe is the meaning and importance of adventure. Adventure: What does it mean to have an Adventure? and What does it Give Us?

What does it mean to have an adventure? There are stories of individuals that go on these marvelous trips around the world that we call adventures. There are also times when we go on extended trips that we consider to be very exciting. Then you have people like me who are interested in the idea of adventure therapy where we create challenges and invoke risk types of experiences so that…

Follower: Why is your blog called Counseling Inside and Outside?

Jon: My blog is called Counseling Inside and Outside because counseling does not just happen in an office nor does it occur just inside an individual. A camp counselor has their own approach to helping children learn about themselves as does a professional counselor who could work in a clinic, be a mobile therapist, or be a part of a community based service. All in all you can consider there to be counseling done on the inside and the outside.

Follower: What's the difference between the two?

I have posted recently with "What is the Answer", and some thoughts about summer camp. I'm curious however about what you have gotten from these posts and would love to find ways for them to apply to your life even more.

"What" is the Real Answer. The process of therapy and counseling occurs because of what the relationship is. There are studies and neuroscience knowledge that can tell us scientifically how therapy works but the question that ends up being asked is: What do I do with my life? What am I doing today? What am I doing right now? What can I do to be successful? What can I learn today? What...? What...?

These questions bring us to the issue of the unknown, the unpredictable experience of life. As much as we try to control our lives we are at the mercy of social experience, and biological necessities among other factors. So the question I pose to you is: "What are you going to do about it?"

Define your own "What". Define the thing that you to be a part of your life. Is that success? Is that love? Is that comfort? Is it altruism? Define the "What".

Once the "What" is defined you can start to take the steps to figuring out what pieces of that pie you will be able to take on first. We learn and teach about earning money, helping others, being a productive member of society, and a bunch of other "norms". These "norms" are developed by implicit or implied rules that are developed by each interaction we have with another individual.

In the christian faith the greatest commandant is to "love your neighbor as yourself". This is an ACTIVE change in your lifestyle. An ACTIVE willingness to take a risk for what you believe in. The passive cookie cutter mold of societal life is this big abstract thing that we seem to fight in order to be ourselves. This could be your "What", your CHANGE!

Change is an active process that can happen throughout any relationship given the right conditions and experience. As I learn more about counseling and I dig deeper into understanding how better to help others I am learning that being empathetic, genuine, and keeping unconditional positive regard is at the basis. Everyone can achieve these pieces of relationship.