family

Is your family dynamic under stress because of a teenagers drug abuse?

Marriages require work from both spouses to strive and grow. When you add children to the mix the marriage becomes a family with more pressure to make things work. With career obligations, chaotic schedules, and responsibilities to your children, there’s not much room for disruption. Adolescent drug abuse can be cause of disruption in the family dynamic.  What steps should you take to rebuild and strengthen the family dynamic when dealing with a child’s drug dependency?

Earning his Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pfeiffer University, Mr. Jonathan Dotch Sr. is founder of Dotch Counseling Services of Charlotte, where he practices as a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist – Associate (LCASA) as well as  a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)  Mr. Dotch Sr. is the author of New Choices: Reaping the Benefits from Positive Decisions which is dedicated to troubled youth trying to overcome adversity during the adolescent phase. He has also served others as a mentor youth care-worker for at-risk children and juvenile delinquents, and in community support services.

To find out more about Mr. Jonathan Dotch Sr. and his practice, Dotch Counseling Services of Charlotte, you can visit their website or call (704) 729-4486 for an appointment.

Does your relationship have what it takes to deal with a medical illness?

Relationships can be tricky; they require communication, honesty, and love to keep it alive and healthy. You recognize what each other need and want out of the relationship and out of each other. You begin to share life lessons with one another. You learn to provide emotional support, validation, and compliments. You start sharing goals and dreams that resonate with both of you. You discover the value of compassion, acceptance, and forgiveness. But, what happens when the relationship you’ve worked so hard to keep healthy is threatened by a medical illness and it’s consequences?

Earning his doctorate in Medical Family Therapy from East Carolina University, Dr. Dan Marlowe is the Director of Behavioral Health for Campbell University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine where he is in charge of the psychosocial health of the medical and graduate student body. Dr. Marlowe’s studies focused on the integration of mental and behavioral health in medical settings, as well as the treatment of families and couples dealing with acute and chronic illness. His doctoral residency was spend at Duke Cancer Institute’s Cancer Patient Support program where he helped launch their research program as well as helped to expand their collaborative care program the provides counseling services to patients and their families at no cost. Dr. Marlowe is the president-elect for the North Carolina Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

To find out more about Dr. Marlowe and his practice, Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, you can call (910) 893-1560 for an appointment.

 

Does your relationship have what it takes to survive depression?

As a society we are becoming more and more aware of mental health issues and its effects on our lifestyle. We now have Mental Health Awareness Month every May to build awareness for people with mental health issues, such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. While we are becoming more receptive and knowledgeable to the external and internal effects of mental health conditions, like depression, what can be done when depression begins to affect our families, and even our spouse? Can anything be done to help loved ones coping with the after effects?

Earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Anna Brandon practices at the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders. Dr. Brandon has an extensive background in the healthcare profession having worked as an attending psychologist at the first perinatal psychiatric inpatient unit in the nation, conducting research in North Carolina and Texas for couples using partner-assisted interpersonal psychotherapy, as well as helping many women struggling with distress in the context of infertility, pregnancy, and chronic illness.

To find out more about Dr. Anna Brandon and her practice, UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders, you can visit their website or call (919) 966-5217 for an appointment.