Many of you may not be aware that Flourish Counseling donates 20% of its revenues back to the community in the form of scholarships for services.  These scholarships are available from all of our therapists and they provide discounts to clients who need them at a variety of different levels/dollar amounts.  Our scholarship program successfully allows others to seek support from us when full fees are not manageable for their household.  It’s our way of embodying Ghandi’s words of wisdom - “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Currently Flourish Counseling psychotherapist Denise Onofrey has two large scholarships available exclusively for couples therapy that would provide ongoing services at $50 per session.  Denise’s graduate level training focused on Couples and Family therapy specifically and she provides support to a number of couples already. 

These scholarships will be given out on a first come, first serve basis.  There are no income level requirements to request a scholarship.  Please contact Angela@FlourishCounseling.com or 303-455-3767, x1 for more information.

Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential by Michael Bernard Beckwith, 2008.

The Spiritual Activist: Practices to Transform Your Life, Your Work, and Your World by Claudia Horwitz, 2002.

Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle, 2003.

What Will Set You Free? From Pain to Passion in Seven Weeks by Rev. Cynthia James, 2007.

Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn, 1994.

All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi, 2005.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! By Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter, CPA.

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey, 2007.

Women and Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny by Suze Orman, 2007.

The Custom Fit Workplace:  Choose When, Where and How to Work and Boost Your Bottom Line by Joan Blades and Nanette Fondas, 2010.

The Motherhood Manifesto: What America’s Moms Want and What to do About It by Joan Blades and Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, 2006.

The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World Is Still the Least Valued by Ann Crittenden, 2001.

The Two-Income Trap: Why Middle-Class Mothers and Fathers are Going Broke by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi, 2003.

Career Decisions

Living the Dream - A Guidebook for Job Seekers and Career Explorers by Melanie Mullhall, 2002.

Relationships

Hold Me Tight:  Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson (developer of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy), 2008.

Parenting

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting by John Gottman, PhD, 1997.

EMDR

EMDR Essentials:  A Guide for Clients and Therapists by Barb Maiberger, 2009.

Feeling Good:  The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns, MD, 1980.

Using Mindfulness & Cognitive Behavioral Psychology to Overcome Depression by John R. McQuaid, PhD and Paula E. Carmona, RN, MSN.

The Mindful Way Through Depression (Includes a CD of guided meditations) by Williams, Teasdale, Segal, and Kabat-Zinn, 2007.

(Continued)

Now return your attention to your current stressors. The strengths that you relied upon in the past are available to you in your present circumstances. Affirm this for yourself in writing in your journal:

I am ________________________ amidst ______________________.

          (inner strengths)                              (present circumstance)

Read your new affirmation aloud to yourself a few times to allow it to take root.

Part 2:

There are years in which we flourish and are thrilled with life’s developments.  At other times, we feel we are just muddling through. Still other years rock us to our very core and challenge our ability to persevere.  I invite you to think back to a truly difficult experience you went through in the past. What was the difficult circumstance and when did you experience it?

Now ask yourself, “How did I get through that? What strengths did I use?” For example, building my business to the point that it became profitable was a difficult experience for me. I relied on my tenacity and determination to get me through those years.  If you’re willing, close your eyes for a moment and recall what it feels like to have those inner strengths active in your body.

To be continued

If you were to visit me at my office, I would greet you and offer you a cup of hot tea. Then I would show you to a comfortable seat in my quiet space and we would begin our leisurely talk. Eventually I would get around to asking you, “What personal strengths can you be proud of?”

This question often baffles people because they have never stopped to think about it. I believe we spend too little time recognizing and acknowledging our own efforts. Everyone possesses different strengths and there is no human being who is completely devoid of personal beauty. Some have the gift of courage, others the gift of tenacity. Still others demonstrate strength through their hard work, diplomacy, humor, ability to remain hopeful, willingness to ask for help, or deep spiritual knowingness.

“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.”   - Anna Quindlen

 “The perfect is the enemy of the good.  - Voltaire

 ”Perfect” directly implies a standard and that standard is usually sourced outside the essential self. Author Anna Quindlen wrote one of my favorite little books, A Short Guide to a Happy Life, and she’s really on to a deep truth here. The real work is becoming ourselves - fully and confidently.

“Being perfect” is a fool’s errand and often the result of early programming. It’s one of those foolish things we adults need to put aside.

Your stories of perfection or just being good or ……… are welcome at http://www.ExtraordinaryPeople.com/BLOG

With love and respect,

Robert White

Robert White is an Executive Coach, Author of “Living an Extraordinary Life”  and a truly insightful personal acquaintance of Angela.  You can receive his free 21 page report “Simple Truths and Enduring Values” plus his weekly e zine by registering at http://www.ExtraordinaryPeople.com