This month we honor our colleague and friend, Megan Burdick-Grade, MA, LMFT, WATR-BC, a gifted licensed marriage and family therapist and a Wisconsin-licensed and nationally board certified art therapist who celebrates 21 years on staff at Samaritan in 2020. Megan started her working life as an art teacher and came to understand the healing effects […]

When Teen Dating is Troublesome Helping Young People Discover Healthy Dating Relationships By John Schaller, MS, NCC, LPC, Samaritan The internet is having powerful effects on the ways teens date and/or engage in romantic relationships. In my practice as a counselor, I work with young people to set personal boundaries, recognize healthy relationships, and build […]

The Snowball Effect Small Acts of Kindness Really Catch On By Nerf Udoekong, Case Manager, Connected Community Wellness Screen, Oshkosh Area School District (Rise Up) After the holidays, winter can sometimes seem to drag on, doesn’t it? During these times, it can be hard to find energy or inspiration. I contend that inspiration can be […]

By Doug Bisbee, M.Div., MAC, LPC, at Samaritan When it comes to mental wellness, research and earned wisdom have proven that having a faith tradition genuinely helps people navigate the struggles of life. No matter a person’s religious affiliation, here are three reasons why the structure and purpose of religion are assets to well-being: Faith […]

From Presents to Presence: Reframing Our Holiday Expectations By Gloria Allhiser, MA, LPC-IT, Samaritan The holiday season seems to come and go in a flash now that I am an adult (and a parent), but when I was a little girl, I remember the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas feeling like 10 years! When […]

How to Respond to Parent Questions By Amy D’Addario, MS, CSW, SAC, Connected Community Wellness Screen Site Coordinator, On-Site Clinician at Samaritan In the same way we monitor a child’s physical wellness, it is important to monitor mental wellness. Mental wellness enables children to think clearly, develop socially, and learn new skills. It is essential. […]

The Meaning of World Kindness Day Plus 10 Ideas for Small Acts of Kindness on Any Day By Missy Klosterman, MSW, APSW, Resident Therapist at Samaritan World Kindness Day was established in 1998 in Tokyo and has since taken hold of hearts and minds all over the world. Celebrated annually on November 13, World Kindness […]

Seven Ways to Combat Domestic Violence By Dr. Tracy Siebers, Ed.D., LPC, Clinical Director at Samaritan Nearly two in three corporate executives (63%) say domestic violence is a major problem in our society, and more than half (55%) cite its harmful impact on productivity in their companies.1 What do you think about these statistics? What […]

Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the recovery. In honor of those in recovery or battling active addictions, we want to recognize the wonderful possibilities of a life well-lived free of alcohol and other substance use […]