The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

By: Christine Hammond, LMHC, NCC Art imitates life and so it is with “Flying Monkeys”. The term was coined from the movie “The Wizard of Oz” in which the Wicked Witch dispatches moneys to fly and get Dorothy and her dog. The monkeys obey her command, doing her dirty work for her, taunting and terrorizing Dorothy as she tries in vain to get back home. And so it is with narcissists and their flying monkeys. As if a magical spell has taken over, the bond between the narcissist and their flying monkeys is one of unwavering loyalty even in the face of danger. When the narcissist wants to evoke some punishment on a target they dispatch their henchmen (aka flying monkeys) to do their bidding. Unfortunately, this can and often does include abusive behavior such as guilt-tripping, twisting the truth, gaslighting, assaults, threats, and violence. This keeps them out of harms way and able to claim innocence if caught. To be sure, not just narcissists are capable of conjuring up

By: Dwight Bain, LMHC, NCC Your total health matters, which includes physical/mental/social/spiritual spheres of life. Success requires strength in each of these areas, yet one of the most ignored and overlooked is mental health. Just as you would not ignore a broken bone, wisdom says one should not ignore a wounded soul. The body is interconnected which is why many practitioners now follow a holistic model of care connecting the body and soul and spirit. “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”- World Health Organization, 2006. The goal is to achieve total health in all categories. Patients with chronic physical health problems are more likely to develop mental health problems. One study done in England revealed a long-term physical condition increased the likelihood of developing a mental health problem seven times. This sadly leads to early death because two-thirds of people with serious

By: Dwight Bain, LMHC, NCC Roots of Resentment are fueled by Trying Want fewer conflicts with your family? Stop the subtle ‘lies’ that hurt feelings.  That’s what a counselor told me the first year Sheila and I were married. Stop trying and start doing. I think he was borrowing a quote from Master Yoda in the Star Wars film who said, “Do or Do not. There is no Try.”  Tried it. It worked and that’s when I learned the secret to resolve needless conflict. “Trying is Lying. Only Doing builds Trust.” When we say the word “Try” it doesn’t mean much. Consider these popular phrases: I am going to try to - Lose the weight Quit smoking Get more sleep Be on time Pay off the credit card this month Watch less TV and read more Spend less time on Facebook And my #1 favorite… “I’m going to try to get to the gym.” Behavior is based on belief. What we believe pulls us toward action. It’s very powerful. Until you really believe something you can’t change it