By Lauren Carpenter, Access Services Imagine this scenario: Your son is home from college for the weekend and he says he has something important to tell you. You take him out to lunch, and over the course of the meal, he tells you that he is gay. The moment he tells you, you may be … More »
Blog Posts Tagged ‘communication’
Are You Listening to Me?
By Joseph Honsberger, LCSW-C How is it that we sometimes feel unheard in our closest relationships? This is a common complaint of couples. Communication is extremely important to having a satisfying, intimate, long-term relationship. We often learn that it’s important to tell your partner how you feel or what you think, but we don’t hear … More »
Jewish Parents are Jewish Educators (Whether They Know it or Not)
By Noah Aronin, Supervisor, JOIN for Teens Many Jewish parents today don’t see themselves as Jewish educators. They aren’t fluent in Hebrew, they aren’t experts in Jewish texts, and they might not even know what contemporary educational researchers recommend. But Jewish parents are Jewish educators, whether they know it or not. Judaism isn’t an abstract … More »
The Faux Pas of No Return
By Tova Jaffee If only everything could be written in the employee handbook….. There is a great deal of comfort in knowing what is expected of you at work. But what about those blunders that nobody told you about — those things you found out only later were the faux pas of no return? Consider … More »
Meeting Anger with Kindness
By Debra K. Waranch, LCSW-C Often in our daily lives we come across people who are upset and angry. These encounters can leave us feeling dismayed or hurt, or feeling as if their anger transfers onto us. This recently happened to me, but I refused to let the person’s anger attach to me. I realized … More »
Grievances in the Workplace
By Ilene Lewandowski As a Human Resource professional I have often been asked, “How can I file a grievance?” My first response to that question is: “What is the problem”? After the person explains what is bothering him or her, it usually turns out to be a communication problem. What exactly is a grievance and … More »
Office Email Etiquette
By Faye Katz Although email has enjoyed increasing popularity over the past fifteen years, few rules have been publicized to the vast majority of users. It’s taken a kind of a blind-leading-the-blind route. For most office correspondence, email is quick, efficient and direct. Yet, overuse of email as a replacement for verbal interactions can be … More »
Home Alone
By Robin Sweeney Remember the comedy movie “Home Alone,” when the parents went on a family vacation and forgot their 8-year-old son? Kevin was left to fend for himself, and he proved to be self-reliant, remarkably independent, and incredibly ingenious as he successfully defended his home against ridiculous intruders. Probably not the ideal first “home … More »
The Gifts of Stories
Shelly Varon, LCSW-C Once upon a time….. So begin the journeys of our imagination and our life. And who doesn’t like a good story? Whether it’s a great work of literature or the latest soap opera, stories grab our attention and connect us with others. They can be fun to tell and hear (after … More »