 By Lavern Nissley
Want to hear a really inspiring testimonial of learning? These do happen, but rarely are they as uplifting as the one we're about to highlight here. Unfortunately, many couples see it as a stigma to reach out for assistance with their relationship. Some even seem to prefer "sneaking in" under cover of darkness so that no one they know sees them. I'm not kidding! But Derek and Taylor, the couple you are about to meet, saw it differently. At least after they got started. They are so glad they didn't push off seeking help until it was too late.
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 By Ellen Dudney
(Ellen served with the Pregnancy Resource Clinic in Springfield from 2008 through 2018, beginning as a Nurse Manager, then leading as Executive Director from 2011-2018.) Yes, Virginia, there is life after the working! I do not like the word “retirement”. It focuses on things ending, but it says nothing about the future. And, it makes me sound old – which I most certainly am not! How about if we call it “transition” instead. After all, I’m still the same person, with the same skills, interests, and passions – I’ll just be pursuing these in a different way, as will you.  By Lavern Nissley
Have you ever seen the TV commercials with pets that are skinny, shaking and looking forsaken? My heart always goes out to these neglected creatures with the wish that such lack of care and concern could be totally eradicated. The blue pinwheels you are seeing all over the nation this week are a reminder to pay attention to incidents of abuse. But not of pets. Of children.  By Abby Glaser, Client Advocate at Encompass
Someone recently asked me how we determine what a couple needs when they come in for intake. For those who may not be familiar, I often provide free intake appointments for couples who are in crisis. The goal in that 45 minutes is to evaluate what is happening in their relationship and what the best next steps would be. Keep in mind that I am not a marriage therapist, just a social worker! Thinking through that question in the days after of how we determine what a couple needs, I realized that I am looking for the presence of one thing and the absence of another…  By Lavern Nissley
If I were to tell you that there is a simple, 5 minute daily habit that has been shown to increase the chances of marriage success to over 99%, would you want to know what it is? Would you be interested in trying it out? Ronda and I came across this secret during a marriage workshop in March, 1990. It changed the trajectory of our own marriage, likely saving it. And we love to share this potent secret with others.  By Lavern Nissley
That's right. Just stop talking. Not for good, but to give others a chance to talk and for you to learn. All of us, unless we're extremely shy and/or very un-talkative by nature, could do well by consciously condensing.  By Lavern Nissley
Most people, myself included until last year, have never heard of ACE. No, it's not the standardized test for applying to colleges; that's ACT. A person's ACE score (Adverse Childhood Experiences) has been correlated with a host of physical and psychological maladies. Continue reading to understand why ACEs are so important and relevant.  By Abby Glaser
I was listening to a podcast recently where the guest shared something called the “10-7-5 Rule”. The gist of it is that each person has ten defining moments, seven critical choices and five pivotal people who impact who they are. Defining moments, both positive and negative, are events who have changed or redefined who we are. Many of those are situations out of our control and our response to them is what changes us. Critical choices, also positive or negative, have affected our life up until today and set the path for our future. Lastly, five pivotal people are individuals who have made an indelible mark on our lives. That latter category has had me thinking the most.  So, how would you summarize the overall objective of parenting? You have been on the receiving end of it, whether positive or negative, or some mixture of both. If you have children yourself, you're faced with a significant responsibility for doing something with these little human beings for the next 18-20 years, and likely beyond.
What is it? And how do we do it?  By Lavern Nissley
One of Ronda's goals for 2019 is to become more minimalistic. What that 5 syllable word means is that she is "on a mission" to do a lot of household item purging so that clutter is reduced and only the essentials are available to us. Scary. I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. Just under two months into this crusade for simplicity, I don't want to go back. It's had an amazing effect upon us! |
HostsLavern & Ronda Nissley are co-directors of Encompass. Married since 1978, both enjoy coffee, riding their tandem bicycle and working together to build strong relationships. 
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