Category Archives: Joe’s Blog
We help angry kids, frustrated parents, and distant couples…and just about everyone else. These blogs are attempts at bringing what happens in a session to life for others. There are resources that I draw from and I want to world to have access. I don’t know everything, but I have learned a few things along the way. Thanks for joining me in this journey.
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Ten-Minute Toddler Turnaround | Improving Sleep
Posted on May 9, 2013 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingIt’s here!!! The Ten-Minute Toddler Turnaround | Improving Sleep The Ten-minute Toddler Turnaround | Improving Sleep: Changing your toddler’s sleep health in ten-minutes. The book we’ve been waiting for! <img src=”http://wms.assoc-amazon.com/20070822/US/img/noscript.gif?tag=mentawellncou-20″ alt=”” /><br />
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Ten-minute Toddler Turnaround | sleep
Posted on April 5, 2013 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingSTEP 001 [PLAN] LEARN HOW SLEEP HELPS THE BRAIN ONE HOUR OF SLEEP IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “A” STUDENTS AND “B” STUDENTS REDUCE LIGHT AND SOUND FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR TODDLER LIKES STEP 002 [IMPLEMENT] DEVELOP A CLEAR ROUTINE START WITH HARDEST TASKS AND GO TO EASIEST (CLEAN UP TOYS Ü BRUSH TEETH Ü READ [...]
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Nine ways to get better sleep
Posted on February 1, 2013 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, Parenting9 ways to get better sleep Sleep is when our brains organize what has happened. Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep. People/kids in school need 8-10 hours to appropriately categorize what they have learned. Less sleep = More anxiety/depression/academic failure Don’t have a TV in your bedroom, [...]
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Joe’s new parenting book
Posted on January 22, 2013 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingJoe’s New Book Mental Wellness Parenting | A remarkably simple approach to making parenting easier From Mental Wellness Parenting | A remarkably simple approach to making parenting easier: Control vs. Voice [...]
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14 Ways to Show Your Kids Love on Valentine’s Day
Posted on January 22, 2013 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingEven parents need reminders. Sometimes it’s easy to just get in the routine of parenting. Although Valentine’s Day is often for lovers, we love our kids! It is a special day to share with them just how much they mean to you. Here are a few tips and ideas. Take them out for breakfast. Give [...]
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Parenting Soup
Posted on December 28, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingBeing a good parent is like making soup. For those of you who have never made soup, except out of a can I’m sorry. You are truly missing out. When making a good soup you can of course follow a recipe. But, some of the [...]
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2013 goals
Posted on December 26, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Family Stuff, Joe's BlogNow that Christmas is behind us, 2013 goals are here. Maybe this will help you reach those goals this year. Whether it is to be a better parent, help your kids, improve your marriage, exercise more, or just create a better you…this should help! Print the 2013 Goal Planner Mental Wellness | Why you [...]
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A Guide for Times Like These | How to help your kids, friends, and self in a time of tragedy
Posted on December 17, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's BlogA Guide for times like these What to do What not to do How to help your kids, friends, and self in a time of tragedy Kids Allow [...]
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How to get through the holidays
Posted on December 6, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Family Stuff, Joe's BlogStep 001: know what you want and what makes you happy Step 002: tell yourself that no matter what happens, you are going to do your best Step 003: prepare your family as best as you can. Step 004: do your best to be happier, more helpful, and a better [...]
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Preparing for Gift Letdowns
Posted on November 29, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingThe wonderful and scary thing about kids is that they say what they think. That is why a hug from them is so wonderful and a critical comment can cut through a parent’s heart. They are not censoring much of what they say and do. With the holiday season [...]
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A rap is worth a thousand words
Posted on September 20, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Couples and Relationships, Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingParents rap about maintaining their household by videosonlytube I just saw this video. I don’t have much insight regarding counseling or therapeutic issues to write about. More that I just love how this couple seems to work together. It is so easy to get caught up in life’s tasks, but when a couple fires on [...]
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The Teen Brain
Posted on September 17, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, Parenting“All teenagers are risk-takers, moody, and get embarrassed by their parents.” “They are angry and hate adults.” “They only listen to their friends.” Are these statements really true? Sarah-Jayne Blakemore discusses why teenagers seem more impulsive and less self-aware than grown-ups. She compares the prefrontal cortex in adolescents to adults. Often typically “teenage” behavior is caused by [...]
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Three things anyone can do to prevent suicide
Posted on August 30, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Family Stuff, Joe's BlogAppearing in the Record Eagle on 9-8-12 In 9th grade, the school counselor brought me and several other students into her office. She informed us that a peer had committed suicide. Later, the entire school was informed. It is devastating to get that type of news. Every 15 minutes another family, friend, and [...]
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The Cancer Effect
Posted on August 30, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Couples and Relationships, Family Stuff, Joe's BlogIn July I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Fairly soon I will be having a bunch of additional tests and have a treatment plan. I will soon have my thyroid removed, have a scar on my neck, and be on medicine for the rest of my life. I feel too young for all of this. [...]
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Helicopter Parents Gone Wild
Posted on July 25, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingA “helicopter parent” is a parent who hovers over their child, waiting to catch them before they skin their knee. “Helicopter Parents” schedule, plan, and create a world for their children. They are usually highly involved and deep down want the best for their kids. They are often high achievers or wish they had been [...]
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Mental Wellness: Opposite-sex friends
Posted on July 16, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Couples and Relationships, Joe's BlogOriginally featured in the Record Eagle July 14, 2012. Available at: http://record-eagle.com/features/x748660390/Mental-Wellness-Opposite-sex-friends I have seen many a friendship and marriage fail because of opposite gender friends. What happens when you have a great opposite gender friend and you get married? What about friends that you make after marriage that are opposite of your gender? A marriage [...]
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Mental Wellness: More than beauty rest
Posted on July 16, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Family Stuff, Joe's BlogOriginally appeared in the Record Eagle, April 21, 2012 available at: http://record-eagle.com/bodysoul/x1350020161/Mental-Wellness-More-than-beauty-rest/print My grandma had a sleep mask. You know the kind that blocks out light? Hers was pink. I always thought it looked stupid. Then my wife gave me one last December, except mine is brown and black. When I got it, I thought, [...]
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Parenting and stepping back
Posted on July 2, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingThere are so many factors that go into parenting. It seems that every friend, website, magazine, and blog is telling you how to get more organized and structured in your parenting. But what if I told you that you were too organized and rigid? Would that be freeing? Of course there are times that you [...]
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Bus Monitor Bullied
Posted on June 21, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingBus Monitor Bullied About a week ago, my wife was changing my daughter’s diaper. She was parked outside a pharmacy in Traverse City and she was changing the diaper on the front seat of our car. I wasn’t there. Some teens pulled up and were seated with [...]
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When an escalator is not just an escalator
Posted on June 14, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Joe's Blog, ParentingI was at a conference today in Traverse City and the facilitator showed this video. I absolutely love it. For one, it is funny. But It also makes several points that I think are worth noting. The facilitator discussed the mentalities that many of us have: Victim vs. Creator. When a stimulus happens and [...]
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15 things I learned while in the hospital
Posted on May 15, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Family Stuff, Joe's BlogI haven’t told everyone, but I have told a lot of people, my daughter was recently in the hospital for a week. It was something fairly severe and we’re now in recovery mode. Here are some things that I wrote down the night that her surgery was over and [...]
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Mental Wellness: Build time to slow down
Posted on April 23, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Joe's BlogOriginally published at http://record-eagle.com/features/x239062040/Mental-Wellness-Build-time-to-slow-down by Joseph R. Sanok I can’t slow down. I need this article more than anyone. I have a baby, house, job, private practice ” the list goes on and on. I bet your list is similar. There is always a reason why I can’t slow down. I [...]
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Friends and Crisis: Dos and Don’ts
Posted on April 20, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Couples and Relationships, Joe's BlogYou never really appreciate a life of normality until crisis hits. Our family has been through a number of things lately: a death, a major medical issue, and close friends having their own crisis. It is amazing how it seems that high profile events bring out people’s true social skills. I learned through experience what [...]
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Money, Couples, and Mayo
Posted on April 19, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Couples and Relationships, Joe's BlogIt all started when we were shopping for mayonnaise. I mean, we didn’t go to the store just for mayo, it’s not like we have an all mayo diet, but it is now known as the “Mayo Incident.” I would say that it started years before that incident, but it was the catalyst. We [...]
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Three Tips to Relax More as a Parent
Posted on April 19, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Joe's Blog, ParentingHow’s it going friend? I hope that your day is going fabulous! Also, thank you in advance for passing this on to one friend, I’m sure you know a parent that can grow with you, so thanks for helping your friends through this newsletter. Today’s newsletter is going to be a shorter letter with a [...]
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Boundaries | Tantrum-Toddlers to Tantrum-Teens
Posted on April 19, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingFirst let me say “welcome” to all of our new subscribers. It has been overwhelming to see how many new people joined us in the last month. Welcome, welcome welcome and thank you! Those of you that are the vets of the list, thank you as well for sticking with me! Now, down to business.New [...]
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Four Things Every Preschooler Should Do Every Day
Posted on April 19, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingDear Joe, My five year old daughter talks to everyone, she is a lovely person with a big personality. I am worried that she will talk to strangers and it could lead to something bad. What are your thoughts on “stranger danger.” -A Mom in Traverse City, MI Dear [...]
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Blah in our Brains
Posted on April 19, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Joe's Blog, ParentingAsk Joe Think “Dear Abby” for a new generation. Each newsletter I will select one or more questions to answer. So if you have a parenting or mental wellness question, please send it my way. I’m sure others have the same question and could benefit. sanokcounseling@gmail.com Dear Joe, What are [...]
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Ask Joe
Posted on April 19, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingAsk Joe Think “Dear Abby” for a new generation. Each newsletter I will select one or more questions to answer. So if you have a parenting or mental wellness question, please send it my way. I’m sure others have the same question and could benefit. joe@mentalwellnesscounseling.com Dear Joe, There is so much in the news these days [...]
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Tired Parents
Posted on April 19, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingAsk Joe Think “Dear Abby” for a new generation. Each newsletter I will select one or more questions to answer. So if you have a parenting or mental wellness question, please send it my way. I’m sure others have the same question and could benefit. sanokcounseling@gmail.com Dear Joe, I have a toddler will not [...]
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Giving Good Instructions to Children
Posted on April 19, 2012 by sanokcounseling in Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingAsk Joe Think “Dear Abby” for a new generation. Each newsletter I will select one or more questions to answer. So if you have a parenting or mental wellness question, please send it my way. I’m sure others have the same question and could benefit. joe@mentalwellnesscounseling.com Dear Joe, [...]
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Four Parenting Tips
Posted on April 19, 2012 by sanokcounseling in A better life, Family Stuff, Joe's Blog, ParentingFour Parenting Tips Parenting can be so complex, here are some quick tips to get you going: 1. Start observing: When you review your child’s behavior, what do you see, hear, and observe. What is your starting point? Once you establish the description of behavior, it will be easier [...]
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