Eric Scalise, Ph.D. Human nature at its core is basically self-absorbed, self-ish, and self-centered. This is simply a result of the fall from grace that occurred in the Garden of Eden so many years ago. Children come into this life, literally screaming for...
Well Done: Creating a Win-Win Marriage
Eric Scalise, Ph.D. An oft quoted verse of Scripture related to marriage is, “The two shall become one” (Eph. 5:31). Unfortunately for many couples, once the marriage ceremony is over, the adventure begins when a husband and wife start arguing about, “Which...
Stepping Stones to a Healthy Stepfamily: Stepfathers with Children
Excerpted with permission from Stepping Stones to a Healthy Stepfamily The good news? Any stepdad with previous parenting experience is already better qualified to handle the stress of the job. The bad news? Not even previous parenting experience can...
Pastors In Transition
When God changes the paths of ministers and leads them in new directions, it can feel isolating and discouraging. Transitioning from life as a pastor to life outside of the pulpit can be a difficult and challenging process as those who have spent their entire career...
Leading Well in the Home
Eric Scalise, Ph.D. There are multiple and sometimes, ambiguous definitions of what we refer to as “leadership.” Leaders have been characterized as visionary, transformational, charismatic, and even servant-oriented. In today’s post-modern culture, one that...
The Call to Care: Lay Counseling and the Local Church
Eric Scalise, Ph.D. We are surrounded and often consumed by our fast-paced, push-button, instant-everything world. Anxiety and depression, substance abuse, marital conflicts, sexual addiction, domestic violence, child abuse, unwanted pregnancy—and the list could go...
Family Healing through Forgiveness
Systemic Family Disease Families are hidden victims of substance use suffered by a family member. The family is trapped in family survival behavioral and emotional reactions that resemble a systemic family disease, the impact substance use disorder has on the family...
Spirituality From a Developmental Perspective: Moving from Self to Others
When I read the Bible I am struck with the understanding that nothing happens outside of relationship. At the core of our faith is our relationship with God. When we consider the world in which we live, it is all about the relationships we have with our fellow...
The Power of Encouragement
Eric Scalise, Ph.D. What is encouragement, and why is it so essential for maintaining healthy marriages and families? Encouragement represents positive influence, to literally give courage to someone—not waiting until it’s deserved or asked for, but taking...