Author Archives: Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT

Stress Management: Getting Out of the Heat

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published September 16, 2011

“A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.” Aesop Fables I commute to work each morning via my state’s transit system. Although there are notable drawbacks to this mode of transportation, the benefits still outweigh the problems. Some of these benefits include:   Gas savings Commuter lane access Blog writing [...]

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Three Effective Habits of Highly Imperfect Parents

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published September 15, 2011

I have a confession to make. It may come as a surprise to many but I feel the need to come clean. I’m not a perfect parent. There, I said it! Now that your jaw is on the floor, perhaps I should confess everything else. Sometimes I…

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Preventive Care: Lessons Learned as a Boy Scout

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published September 13, 2011

I don’t know about you, but every so often I feel the need to purchase a ticket to ride the “Memory Lane Express”. The past is an interesting professor. It reminds us of choices and events that cannot change but its syllabus does adjust as we age and mature. Recently, I enrolled myself into the [...]

Posted in Adolescents, Boy Scouts, Childhood Depression, Matthew Barkdull, Parent Support, Preventive Care | Leave a comment

Recognizing the Depressed Child and Adolescent

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published September 12, 2011

It’s very difficult for parents to tease out an underlying depression given the host of childhood and adolescent growing pains and spectrum of emotions. In other words, what’s normal and what’s not? When should anxious parents get a little more anxious?

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Raising Children in a Trusting Environment

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published September 7, 2011

Introduction One of my recent blogs I authored, “Fostering a Child’s Independence: Drawing the Line in the Sand”, discussed the psychosocial developmental stages of life. As I previously mentioned in this blog, Erick Erickson, a developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst, dedicated most of his life studying, understanding, and developing this model of development. As a refresher, [...]

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Fostering a Child’s Independence: Drawing the Line in the Sand

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published August 3, 2011

This blog posting may be one of the most important that I write. The subject is highly misunderstood and often gets parents and society at large in trouble. I will readily admit that this topic is controversial and may cause some readers to reread this article, wondering if Matt Barkdull has finally lost it (wouldn’t [...]

Posted in Autonomy, Childhood Development, Matthew Barkdull, Parenting, Trust | Leave a comment

Stepfamilies: The Blending of Different Worlds

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published August 1, 2011

The late Churchman Neal Maxwell once said, “There are no perfect families . . . but there are many good families who are . . . anxiously engaged in nurturing and providing for their families, often against such heavy odds!” Living in family units can be the greatest joy yet the greatest challenge throughout existence. [...]

Posted in Coping Skills, Divorce, Matthew Barkdull, Parent Support, Parenting, Stepfamilies | Leave a comment

“The Good Parent”: Challenging the Myths of Good Parenting

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published June 21, 2011

Concerning the topic of parenting, let me share with you a small truth that you probably won’t believe. You’re the expert on your child(ren). Yes, you really are! You were with them from the beginning, you recognize their cues, you know their diet, likes, and dislikes. You sense danger as well as thrill at first words, steps, smiles, and coos. Now does this mean that you know everything? Of course not. You shouldn’t be expected to. Parenting is NOT an art, it’s a process. It’s NOT something we master.Concerning the topic of parenting, let me share with you a small truth that you probably won’t believe. You’re the expert on your child(ren). Yes, you really are! You were with them from the beginning, you recognize their cues, you know their diet, likes, and dislikes. You sense danger as well as thrill at first words, steps, smiles, and coos. Now does this mean that you know everything? Of course not. You shouldn’t be expected to. Parenting is NOT an art, it’s a process. It’s NOT something we master.

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Collaborative Health Care: Don’t Get Left Out in the Cold

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published June 7, 2011

Human beings best exist and thrive in an environment of social support, enabling our system to maximize its potential. In fact, the human body was not engineered to be isolated for long periods of time. Just as flowers turn toward sunlight, so we seek after acceptance, validation, counsel, comfort, pleasure, and happiness by being in the presence of or connected with a larger network of people (e.g. families, friends, peers, organizations, denominations, etc.) Removing a person from his or her social support system is like removing a coal from the burning influence of others—it can sustain itself for a time, but it will always burn out. Isn’t it time we stop getting left out in the cold?

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Bullying at School: The Crisis and the Calming

By Matthew Barkdull, LMFT, MedFT | Published June 3, 2011

Bullying is abuse! It is wrong and never justified! For between 10-30% of school-age children and adolescents, attending school can be a daily trauma as they anticipate another day of enduring the taunting and abuse of bullies. If you fear that your child is the target of a bully, act immediately, advocate for your child, and work toward putting a stop to the abuse.

Posted in Crisis, Matthew Barkdull, Parent Support, School | Leave a comment
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