Author: Dominick Flarey

How to Find Spiritual Renewal at Work

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The article, “How to Find Spiritual Renewal at Work”, by Laura Polk states

“In a normal day, it’s a wonder you find time to breathe, much less to connect with God – one you need the most during this time.”

American Institute Health Care Professionals’ insight:

Some good tips on spiritual renewal.  Remember always, your daily work is your vocation, make your very life a prayer, as St. Theresa the Little Flower did so long ago.

St Theresa the Little Flower would offer up her daily duties to God.  Whether as menial as sweeping the floor to taking out the garbage, she offered it up to God.  The crosses that we choose, even if greater, are still of our choosing.  God finds great pleasure when we accept the crosses and duties that are thrown upon us instead.  So one may fast, which is good, but by simply accepting daily duty which is beyond our control is greater because it is not within our will to do or not do.  This is how daily tasks at work can become most pleasing to God.

If you are interested in learning more about our Christian Counseling Certification Program, then please review.

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Meditation for Stress Relief

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
Meditation for Stress Relief
Meditation for Stress Relief

The article, “Meditate During Stress Awareness Month”, by Terri Cole states.

“If you’re reading this first thing in the morning, allow this meditation to set the tone for your day. If it’s later in the day and you’re feeling frazzled, use these three minutes to recalibrate your day (it’s never too late in the day to restart).”

American Institute Health Care Professionals‘s insight:

As stress awareness month comes to a close, it is good to see articles targeting meditation for stress relief.    I’m surprised I did not see more reduce stress with meditation type articles.   As we all know when we meditate we relax ourselves and clear our minds.

 

See on www.huffingtonpost.com

How Holistic Nutrition Pros Cheat

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The article, “How Nutrition Pros Cheat — And Get Away With It”, by Julie Upton states

“Can you cheat on your diet and still lose weight or maintain a healthy weight? Nutrition professionals say “yes,” and we frequently cheat, ourselves.”

American Institute Health Care Professionals‘s insight:

Ever wonder how health care coaches and holistic nutrition professionals can stay in shape and never eat anything “bad” for them?   They must have the will power of the gods!   Well I got some news for you, according to this article they cheat all the time.    How do they get away with this diet cheating?   You might have to read the article.   For more healthy diet information you should go here: Become a Holistic Nutritionist.

See on www.huffingtonpost.com

Sleep is critical in stress management

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
stress management
stress management – Not enough sleep can lead to a whole lot of stress! Bust it with 8 hours of sleep.
American Institute Health Care Professionals‘s insight:

Everyone is looking for ways to relieve their stress.    With stress management becoming more mainstream, terms like “managing stress” are trending on google and other major search engines.    What if, however, reducing your stress was as easy as counting sheep?   That’s right!  Getting plenty of sleep could be the way to fight stress.   A new article says that sleep is critical to combating stress.    Perhaps you should try and get a good sleep schedule.  For more on this subject go to: Stress Training Courses.

See on www.chathamdailynews.ca

Grief Counseling Education Program: Grief Is Just Not Always About Loss Centered On Death

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Grief Counseling Education Program: Grief is Loss of Something

Grief and the process that accompanies it is a reaction to loss.  It is a natural reaction to something that was once valued but is no longer within one’s touch.  We usually think of death, but this can be applied to loss love, loss finance and anything we value.  While the grief correlates with the subjective value of the object lost, it still nonetheless is a real experience for the grieving agent or person. Grief counselors must remember this.

With this in mind, we need to only recall a few weeks ago the tragic loss at the Boston Marathon, where bystanders and athletes alike loss limbs.  This type of loss is especially traumatic and life altering.  It brings about a loss of continuity of the person’s self image.  This destruction of self image is a huge loss for anyone.  With the loss of self image comes all the new hurdles and struggles that constantly remind one of the previous life.

Like any loss, the stages and oscilliations of grief will be intense.  The injured victims at the Boston Marathon will need to learn to adapt, cope and learn new skills but this is far harder than simply words.  For some it may take time, but for others it may never occur.  The adaption and accomodation to the new situation may be too traumatic.  Traumatic grief and PTSD may haunt them for their entire life.  This psychological scarring is by far a cruel cross to carry, but with counseling, some may be able to find new meaning.

New meaning and creating new life narratives are key to grief support.  It involves not forgetting the past but accepting it and incorporating it into one’s new life story.  It never forgets the past chapters of the book, but understands the present as it is and looks forward to a new future.  Again, easier said than done, but this is the theory behind it and what grief counselors will be hoping to accomplish with these victims.

In the end, think about the trauma and loss you would feel if such a horrible and heinous event occurred to you?  Would you be able to eventually adapt and re-create your new life narrative?

For now, let us pray for these victims that they may find the courage to eventually overcome the trauma.  Patience, hope and charity are the keys to helping these victims find new meaning–they cannot do it alone but need a sojourner to show them the way.

If you are interested in learning more about the nature of loss and grief, then please review our program and click grief counseling certification.

Please also see if your academic and professional needs are met with the Grief Counseling Education Program.

 

Mark Moran, MA, GC-C

Can a Person Be Overly Righteous?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The article, “Can a Person Be Overly Righteous?” by Bob McCabe states

“Can “be not overly righteous” in Ecclesiastes 7:16 really be saying what it seems to be saying? Does God actually want us to tone down our righteousness?”

American Institute Health Care Professionals’ insight:

The pharisees showed this type of behavior.  When we look at our goodness from ourselves instead of God, we find danger.  We can merit no good of our own accord but only through the Holy Spirit and divine grace.

When we enter into a “how glorious am I” type attitude we become the pharisees.  We see only our virtues and everyone’s vice.  We do not see our own vice of pride and lack of mercy.

We must be like the contrite sinner in the back of the temple as told by Christ.  To realize that we are nothing without Christ and that we must be humble.

If you are interested in Christian Counseling, then please review our program.  Our program offers a variety of courses in Christian Counseling then you can take to become certified.

 

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Health Coaching Advice to Avoid the Gym.

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The article, “Hate the Gym? 11 Crazy Alternatives to Get in Shape”, by Mario Thomas states

“When it comes to physical fitness, I’ve always opted for the tried, true and traditional. I’m perfectly happy with my light weight-training and a good jog in the park.”

American Institute Health Care Professionals‘s insight:

Many people like to exercise but they hate the gym.   Blame it on the equipment lines.   Rude people who do not clean up after themselves.   Or perhaps simply working out in front of people just is not their thing.    Lucky there are gym alternatives available.    For a full list of health coaching advice to avoid the gym, feel free to check out this article.    Also if you have any questions about health care coaching then please check out this link: Become a health coach.

See on www.huffingtonpost.com

Holistic Nursing from A to Z

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The article, “The Best Superfoods, from A to Z”, by Kate Morin states

Healthy foods start with every letter of the alphabet. Here are 26 of our favorites, from A to Z, and why we think they’re so super.

American Institute Health Care Professionals‘s insight:

Do you know your healthy eating ABC’s?   If you are a pro or just starting a holistic diet here is a great list for you to follow.    In fact I’m sipping on some “T” right now.    Maybe for a snack I’ll have a few “N”s and a handful of “D”s.   If you want to learn more holistic health care tips please go here: Holistic Nursing

See on greatist.com

Christian Counseling Certification: Do You Have A Petrine Relationship With Christ?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Certification: What is a Petrine Relationship?

In Christian Counseling, do ever notice different types of Christians who possess different characteristics in their relationship with the Lord?  One relationship to view is Peter. When we look at Peter and our Lord, we see a definite relationship that was special beyond the other apostles.  It contained certain qualities of leadership, inspiration and a deep bond.  This unique relationship played itself out from the very first time Christ and Peter went aboard his fishing boat to Peter’s ultimate end and martyrdom in Rome.

Peter as a Leader

Peter is seen as the leader of the apostles.  Christ chose him among the first to follow him.  He also challenged Peter more than any other because he saw the seed of leadership in him.  On one occasion, Peter is the first to proclaim Christ Lord.  On other occasions, we see the faith of Peter explode as he jumped out of the boat to walk to our Lord on the water.   While the other apostles remain hesitant, Peter stood out and led.  Later in Peter’s life, Christ will tell Peter that he will be the rock of the church and to feed his sheep.

Peter as a Fallen Human

Yet with all this expectation, we still find in Peter a true person.  A human much like ourselves.  Peter is filled with love for God but is so imperfect on so many occasions.  Even when Peter walked upon the water to our Lord, he lost concentration of Christ and began to drown.  In other stories, we see Peter’s insistence to never deny our Lord and even in the garden, he raised his sword to defend his master, yet hours later, he denied his Lord three times.

Later after Christ’s resurrection, Christ asked Peter three times if he loved him.  Many contend that Peter was given a chance to renounce each of his previous denial through this.  While I believe this is true, it is also true that each time Christ asked Peter if he loved him, he asked for a certain type of love.  A type of love that is lost in the English translation from the Greek.  Christ three times kept asking Peter for the ultimate love of self denial and total giving.  Yet Peter’s response was always a lower type of love of intense emotion and friendship.  Yet, Christ still saw the potential in Peter and asked for a lesser love in his final declaration, but forewarned Peter that one day he would feed his sheep and die for him because of his intense love.

Even in Peter’s later days, among the intense persecution in Rome, legend has that as Peter fled the city he was met by the glorified Lord, who was returning to Rome.  Legend states that Christ warned Peter if he would not stay with his flock that Christ himself would die again with his people.  While legend, -or maybe not, it does point to Peter’s spiritual evolution of finally accepting his cross and showing his ultimate love for his master.

Peter the Final Product

So from this simple fisherman came the first leader of the Christian Church.  A simple Jewish man who would take the reigns from Christ and guide the church, through his leadership and inspired writings.  This final product was a soul that willingly died for Christ and found himself unjust to die as his master, hence insisting upside down crucifixion.  This amazing transformation was due to a consistent commitment to Christ despite any pitfalls or failures.  It relied on hope from the Holy Spirit to guide him and allow him to constantly return to Christ with even more fire than before.  Yes, Peter always had that fire, but it needed fed and refueled.

Do We Have A Petrine Relationship?

Most of us do have a  Petrine relationship with Christ. !  We have a fire for Christ.  We love him and say we will do anything–and probably mean it at the time of saying it!  But it is so difficult to carry through.  Our broken human nature, our fears and the temptations of the world sometimes push us away and we lose focus–much like Peter did when he stood before our Lord on the water.   However, unlike others who despaired, like Judas, Peter never gave up.  Even after denial, he wept bitterly and became a better man and Christian.   How many times do we see this same pattern in our own life?   While many of us would like to see ourselves like John, steadfast and devout, most of us are more like Peter.  We have a strong love for the Lord but sometimes fail.

I feel Christ has a special love for “Peter” types.  Maybe its because I feel I fit into this group as well!  Those who have a Petrine relationship with Christ are almost paralled to Christ the way a loving father is to his son.  The father sees the good intent of his child and the potential of his child to be the very best son no matter his current short comings.  Peter was this type.   And ultimately, the finished product of his soul was something we should all hope to emulate.

 

If you are interested in learning more about Christianity, or counseling, then please click Christian Counseling Certification

 

Mark Moran, MA

 

The Rhythm of Forgiveness and Repentance

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

“Now this phrase of this prayer would be really wonderful if it stopped at “Forgive us our debts.” That’s how most of us pray, if we’re honest.”

American Institute Health Care Professionals’ insight:

A closer look at the depth one must seek to forgive their brother and sister if they wish to be forgiven themselves.

This is key in Christianity.  Christ emphasizes it in his teaching, as well as in the Our Father.  It is not an option but a requirement.  It is also something necessary for us to attain forgiveness.

If you are interested in Christian Counseling, then please review the program.  If you have any questions regarding our Christian Counseling Education Program, please let us know.

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