The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

  By Dwight Bain, LMHC Caregiver Stress is REAL.  Here's how to be compassionate without burn out   “Don’t take life so seriously, you’ll never get out of it alive,” was the simple advice I saw on a greeting card once and it makes sense, especially when thinking about the incredible pressures placed on those in the important role of caregiver for a loved one. You’ve got to lighten up the load to prevent major burnout. Many times it’s easy to overlook just how tired, frustrated, or angry someone feels when they are buried in the dozens of day-to-day tasks required of a primary caregiver. This special report is designed to help you spot the warning signs when you’ve done too much for too long and don’t have enough energy left in the tank to help anyone, especially yourself. There was a popular song many years ago that said, “he ain’t heavy- he’s my brother” which isn’t exactly accurate. If you are piggy-back riding your brother, sister, child, or any other fam...

  By: Brian Murray, LMHC, NCC At times we can all feel confused about life. We work and grind our way through along with the dissatisfaction of having fulfilling work and relationships. We fall into a job or a marriage without ever really understanding who we are or what we are getting involved with. Years go by and we live with resentment, frustration and anxiety about who we are and what we are doing. We change careers, end the marriages and yet we still feel empty and incomplete. What is going on? Searching for direction and knowing who we are, and where we are going can be difficult. This searching can be especially challenging after a major life event such as the death of a loved one, a lost marriage or job loss. Sometimes big changes can leave us feeling liberated, and other times it can feel like the world is coming to an end. At times these major life changes cause us to wonder about what we are really doing here. It begs the question of what is the meaning of all of th...

By: Brian Murray, LMHC, NCC Going to marriage counseling isn’t always easy. Sometimes clients can leave counseling after a couple of sessions with more questions than they walked in with. Before counseling it is common for one or both partners to question whether the problem is me, my spouse or some other dynamic that is causing issues. Some problems are clear cut such as cheating or addictions, however, sometimes the problem is due to personality and interactions.   What most couples do not recognize is that the problem is usually both of them. They are failing to realize that the main client in couples counseling is the relationship itself. Every person has their own “stuff” and it’s up to each person to handle their stuff. If you own it, then you are challenged to take responsibility for it. The same goes for your relationship. Going to counseling is the first step of taking responsibility for your marriage. However, the counselor’s office is not the place to start blaming the...

By: Megan Brewer, LMHC The first time I had surgery, I was well into my thirties. It wasn’t major—just removing a small abnormality inside my leg. The surgeon told me to expect 1–2 days to heal; then I could walk on it. He also said most people returned to work shortly thereafter. This was good news, because I didn’t want to spend any more time than was absolutely necessary away from my regularly scheduled week. Being kind to my body and giving it time and space to heal is something I have regularly wrestled to do. So, you can imagine my surprise and disappointment when after 1–2 days I still needed my sweet husband’s help to get around the house. I eventually borrowed crutches in order to move about without pain. Two weeks after the surgery, I was still unable to walk without pain and sat in my physical therapist’s office feeling frustrated—like my body had failed me somehow. She too was surprised to see my leg so swollen and so unusable, which helped me to feel a little more va...