Was the Sandy Hook mass shooting “evil?”

by Menninger Clinic December 21, 2012

We naturally strive to understand actions that are out of the ordinary—we can’t help it. If we see a woman suddenly slap a man in a restaurant, we will speculate about her state of mind, her reasons and their relationship. Perhaps he said something rude and she felt insulted. Perhaps tension had been building in […]

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Responding to the Sandy Hook tragedy: What of the soul?

by Menninger Clinic December 20, 2012

In our impotence to undo the travesty that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary, we console ourselves with conversation – and arguments – about what to do to prevent similar tragedies in the future. As we do so, we ask what we might learn from science to guide us. Analyzing the numbers For example, what […]

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Washington and the fiscal cliff: leaders or lemmings?

by Menninger Clinic December 7, 2012

Perhaps the commonest observation about the 2012 election was that it painted a picture of “a nation divided,” red in the middle and blue around the edges. But there’s at least one sentiment that unites us all: relief that it’s over. One more attack ad might have been just too much to bear. That’s the […]

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Pot can blow your mind, permanently

by Menninger Clinic November 21, 2012

Mexican heads macheted off at the neck and dopers lying around stoned out of their minds. What’s the connection? If you’re an American and smoke dope, you’re contributing to the current violence in Mexico. You’re the demand, they’re the supply and legalizing pot won’t change that. The cartels will always come up with an attractive […]

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Losing faith in times of suffering

by Menninger Clinic November 2, 2012

Grief, loss and suffering are unavoidable components of life; in fact, they’re such common experiences that numerous books, treatment programs and theories have been developed to help people cope during these tough times. When misfortune affects others, we express condolences, offer encouragement, perhaps even quote from sacred texts. However, when the tragedy is our own, […]

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Confessions of a Peace Corps dropout, or how I learned the meaning of social work

by Menninger Clinic October 22, 2012

When I began my studies in social work, I had some pretty big ideas of how I was going to change the world. I very purposefully made the choice not to study clinical social work and decided that I would take a macro approach. I was going to be a community organizer and change communities; […]

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To save a life, speak up about domestic violence

by Menninger Clinic October 12, 2012

Mention a victim of domestic violence and who do most people immediately imagine? Perhaps a disheveled young woman with bruises on her chin and a black eye, looking sad, frightened and forlorn. This is certainly one of the faces of domestic violence, but far from the only one. One in every four women will experience […]

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What, me worry?

by Menninger Clinic September 28, 2012

I never wore flip flops out of the house until recently. Previously, I always wore laced-up shoes or running shoes. I had a motive: Caution. Preparedness. Readiness. If there were a fire somewhere, I could escape with shoes on. If I were mugged, I could run or show off my Ninja skills. Shoes work. No […]

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Pseudologia fantastica: the truth about pathological liars

by Menninger Clinic September 21, 2012

Some of us are experts at picking up on it, others find themselves victims of it, but we are all guilty of it: It’s the common experience known as lying. White lies, big lies or simple exaggerations are common to the human experience; they may be temporarily problematic but typically do not have lasting repercussions […]

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Social networking site joins the battle to prevent suicide

by Menninger Clinic September 18, 2012

These days “friend me” has become an action, indicating someone wanting to establish contact on Facebook. What started as a purely social networking site has expanded into a medium for change, but nothing so important as the Facebook service designed last year to help prevent suicide. When on Facebook, users can provide support and help to friends […]

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