AACC Media

Bitterness is a cancer. Bitterness can seem like a harmless, proper response to pain or betrayal. But make no mistake: every ounce of hurt one holds onto is toxic. Bitterness is a slow but deadly destroyer of relationships, a mental-health kryptonite, and a surefire...

Lately, I have been thinking about what it means to forgive someone. As Christians, we hear about forgiveness regularly, and it's become such a familiar concept that we don't always think too deeply about it. Personal experience has taught me just how hard forgiveness...

by Rhona Epstein, Psy.D, C.A.C. We all know the adage: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Growing up, we learned to work hard in school to get good grades. If we struggled to get an A, we studied harder. Then, we learned to work hard in our jobs to get a...

Today, research indicates that as much as a third of adolescents and adults struggle with perfectionism, which is the feeling that anything short of perfection is unacceptable (NIH, 2021). You may have experienced it, watched clients wrestle with it, or both....

There are a shocking number of different types of relationships when you stop and think about it: family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, classmates, parents of your kids’ friends, former spouses, business partners, and customers. And that’s not even an exhaustive...

Most of us know what initially attracts us to someone—personality, appearance, reputation, etc. But friendship, more than any of those qualities, may be one of the most important aspects of marriage. I know this was the case with my marriage. Friendship served us well...

When a relationship suffers a severe breach of trust, it signals it is in deep trouble. If the relationship is to be fully restored, trust needs to be rebuilt—and the process of rebuilding trust takes time and effort. Sometimes, the burden of trusting again is...

As counselors, we all know the invaluable benefits of therapy in treating any kind of addiction. Having a designated place and confidant to talk through the underlying issues that inform the addictive process is crucial for breakthrough and understanding. But, in my...

In Ephesians 4:2 (NIV), Paul sets a high standard for relationships. He writes, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." While Paul is speaking about all relationships in this verse, his words are especially important to spouse,...

__________________________ Mental health has become one of the most pressing issues that affects individuals from all walks of life, including those in our church communities. While churches often spend time and resources focusing on ministries related to spiritual...

Remembering our friend Dr. Sue Johnson. She was a world-renowned psychologist, best-selling author, professor, researcher, creator of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Sue lived with cancer for three years. On April 23, 2024, that journey ended. “I so enjoyed our...