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Browse published articles attributed to Ken Thom, with full-archive search.
As I’ve previously stated, shame significantly impacts our spirituality. This is usually the most challenging area for shame-based people. Spirituality is found deep within our core: the deepest level that humans operate from. The ability to live in peace and harmony is a function of our spirituality. Shame contaminates our spirituality by causing our spirituality to be very negative.
Recently, I got into the car to make a quick trip to the store. I popped in a CD, Michael W. Smith’s "Healing Rain." The second track on the CD is the song "Healing Rain." As I listened to it, the Holy Spirit came over me so strongly that I began to weep. I have always believed that this is truly an anointed song. It has spoken to me for a number of years. Michael repeats over and over again “healing rain is coming down, healing rain is coming down, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid of healing rain.” On a cognitive level, why would someone be afraid of healing? Healing is good, right?
It goes without saying; mothers play a very important role in our lives. Many articles and books have been written about this. There is a tremendous amount of research about being a mother. It has been dissected from every angle and from numerous counseling theories. Attachment theory says that Infants form attachments to any consistent caregiver who is sensitive and responsive in social interactions with them. The quality of the social engagement is more influential than the amount of time spent.
Being 'present,' what does that mean? On the surface, it obviously means that you are here, physically here. Students are either present or absent when roll is taken at school. After roll is taken and lunch orders turned in, the teacher then has the task of getting the students really present.
A narrative is a story or an account of an event. Jesus taught by telling parables to illustrate his moral attitudes and religious principles. I use narratives in family regulatory therapy and find them very effective.
I finished writing my first book not too long ago. I found it difficult identifying what my expectations were since I’ve never done this before. The entire process of getting the book in print and to being in your hands was an emotional roller coaster. I had to keep reminding myself “process Ken, remember process.” At times it seemed like every step of the way was a challenge. The lack of faith questions that I kept asking were: “Why this?” or ‘What now?”
Mother's Day is just around the corner. This is a time of family gatherings to celebrate mothers. Family traditions of cookouts, picnics and dining out are fairly common. It goes without saying; mothers play a very important role in our lives. Many articles and books have been written about this. There is a tremendous amount of research about being a mother. It has been dissected from every angle and from numerous counseling theories. Attachment theory says that Infants form attachments to any consistent caregiver who is sensitive and responsive in social interactions with them.
Another Father's Day has passed. This was a time of family gatherings to celebrate fathers. Family traditions of cookouts, picnics, sports, and dining out are fairly common. I believe that the role of fathers has been diminished over time. There’s been an evolution of his earlier role of going out and killing the beast for supper to being more involved emotionally. Numerous articles and books have been written about this. There is a tremendous amount of research about being a father. It has been dissected from every angle and from numerous counseling theories.
I am challenged on a daily basis to help families identify their own fears. Many times this is not an easy task because we are so resistant to admitting that we are afraid. We are conditioned to not experience fear. Fear is not an acceptable emotion in our society. Men are supposed to be strong and not show emotions. Women are perceived as weak and unable to take care of themselves if they are afraid. We live in an emotionally suppressed and emotionally phobic society.
Remember that relationships and love are not events, they are processes. Loving our children and others can bring many challenges. Challenges cause us to want other people to change. We need to be courageous and look inside ourselves whenever we think someone else needs to change. 1 Timothy 1:5, “The goal of this command is love which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
November is Adoption Awareness Month, so it seems appropriate that I share with you about one of my success stories, Trey.
Believe it or not, school is just around the corner. Back to school sales have been going on for several weeks. Letters have arrived in the mail with dates for orientation and enrollment. Children and parents alike have mixed feelings about returning to school. Returning to school can be traumatic for children with challenging behaviors. I always encourage parents to get an early start on monitoring how their child is doing in school. Prevention and early intervention are the keys to success.
Around this time of year there are all kinds of catchy phrases. Jesus is the “reason for the season” is the one that immediately pops into my mind. Another one from the past is “What Would Jesus Do?”. I feel like this trivializes Jesus and is either seasonal or just trendy. Jesus should be what we are all about, every day of the year. Jesus is the spiritual basis for family regulatory therapy, a body/mind model of therapy that I use in my practice.
I believe that our parenting model comes from God, who carries the bulk of the work for us as parents. God's love for us drew us into relationship with him, and I contend that this loving relationship then influenced us into obedience to Him. We work toward and remain in obedience because we do not want to lose relationship with God. Even when we are not obedient that relationship is still there for us. God never withdraws his love. This is how God teaches us to have and be in relationship through mind, body, and spirit regulation.