MSI Press Blog

Parent’s Guide This story encourages conversations between parents and their young children about PTSD, post-deployment issues, or parents suffering from depression. ●        It is understandable that some of you might be feeling anxious about talking to your child about such difficult topics - this is normal. What is important to remember is that you are not there to talk to your child about trauma. Instead, it is best to focus on some of the emotions that they have seen you experience, like fear, panic, sadness. These are all emotions children can understand as they have experienced these emotions themselves at some point in their lives. They can relate to how you feel by asking them to remember a time when they had a nightmare or got lost in a store. ●        When you are talking to your child, it is essential to be an active listener. You should be listening more than speaking. Some children may find it hard to express themselves, so it is vital that you, during th

Joshua Shea, co-author of He's a Porn Addict...Now What? , has done some unsettling reserarch. He shares it with us in today's guest post.: When Donald Trump went on TV that Wednesday night in early March as one of the last people to admit what many of us had come to recognize in the previous 72 hours – the Coronavirus was the real deal – one of my first thoughts went to how this was going to be the single greatest boon to the pornography industry since the invention of the Internet. We’re still in it – probably not even at the halfway point – and it turns out, I was unfortunately correct. As much as I detest PornHub, I’ve got to give them credit for the statistics they provide. Granted, they are not independently verified and sometimes they leave out crucial information (such as ignoring the fact “teen” is a popular search term in their annual report) but I think they are providing a unique window into what is happening. In late February and into the first week of March

Something invisible has stopped the world in its tracks, humbling us, making us aware of our vulnerability. It is the Coronavirus. Despite our technological prowess, we are not the masters of the universe we imagined. Mother Nature still rules. As the world-wide epidemic sweeps across America, President Trump has declared war on this invisible enemy. He has mobilized the forces of scientists, healthcare workers, and business leaders to combat the virus. As a psychologist, I am among the ranks of the battle-ready. The front-line workers confront the enemy face-to-face in the patients they treat. They are the hospital service people, aides, technicians, nurses, doctors, and first responders. I admire their courage and salute them. They risk their lives daily, inadequately armed, and many have fallen in the fight. I am a back-line worker as a psychologist, fighting another invisible enemy, fear. Pandemic panic can be as contagious and pernicious as COVID-19. Living in Michigan, o

Dr. Haim Omer's  post on effective parenting in times of Corona has been translated into many languages (English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese).  It will soon appear in German and Dutch.  You can find them easily in www.haimomer-nvr.com Probably the reason for this broad interest is that it describes in a simple and direct manner a very general principle (The Continuity Principle) for coping successfully at times of crisis, trauma and disaster, and translating the principle into clear tips for parents.

When I consider the massive positive response to our approach (NVR or The New Authority) throughout the world, I can attribute this to the fact that we probably succeeded in addressing what is perhaps the most pressing challenge facing parents today. Read the rest of the post HERE . Dr. Omer is author of Courageous Parents .

Great, insightful review of Overbay and Shea's groundbreaking book, He's a Porn Addict...Now What? in Mental Health @ Home . Excerpts: The book is written in a very conversational tone.  It’s very honest and straightforward, and there’s no skirting around issues.  It is not prescriptive, and different angles and potential strategies are explored.  The book is very practical, giving very reasonable suggestions that could be implemented in the real world. ***** Some of the questions addressed in the book: Isn’t it normal for most guys to like pornography? Is he like this because I won’t do certain things in the bedroom? Why won’t he just stop? How much do we tell the kids? Can’t I just pray this away? Can I force him to get help? Will I ever be able to trust him again? ***** I also appreciated that the book makes space for all the difficult feelings a partner may be struggling with.  The authors aren’t here to judge partner or addict; their goal is to

From Midwest Book Review Synopsis: Jeremy Feig was at rock bottom - broke, alone, and living in a shoebox-sized apartment. At the same time, his cat was perfectly content. What was her secret? She couldn't say it out loud, but it was clear she had all the answers to living a good life. How My Cat Made Me a Better Man is a hilarious self-help book for guys, based on the lessons of an edgy cat named Shelly. It's packed with useful advice on topics like relationships, dealing with stress, and even grooming habits. If you feel like your life is spinning out of control, this book will help you set things right - and keep you laughing along the way. Critique: Witty, whimsical, and featuring life-changing "Cat Lessons", How My Cat Made Me a Better Man is filled with everything from dating tips to coping with anxiety and pursuing life goals. Although written with a spry dash of feline humor, How My Cat Made Me a Better Man is a genuine self-help book filled with nine l