Counselor Corner: A Parents’ Journey with Missoula Schools
In the best interests of our child, we had originally decided on public education. A visit to the local school's open house, however, drastically changed our plan. The kindergarten teacher, a former gym teacher who had a huge wad of gum in his mouth, admitted openly, "None of the other schools would accept me." This statement was said in sort of a jokey-tone. But as parents, we don't really interpret
Counselor Corner: A Drive through the Heart of America’s West with my Dad
I was riding shotgun, my father at the wheel, the two of us encased within the confines of a beaten-down Chevy on an immaculate American highway. We were heading northwest on I-93. Outside the car window, a broad expanse of Montana landscape unfurled like an artist's canvas. Mile upon mile of luscious terrain stretched into the distance, the vast open country lending itself to the spirit of exploration — a
Counselor’s Corner: Finding Glimmers Instead of Triggers
"Triggers," as they're aptly called, are those little alarm bells that ring in our minds when something seems off. They make our hearts race, our palms sweat, and often cause us to either retreat in fear or react in anger. They’re like those sneaky little gremlins, hiding behind our everyday experiences, causing a stir within us that often goes unnoticed. Examples of Triggers Sudden Loud Noises: For some, loud
Counselor Corner: Cutting Ties with Malignant Narcissists
A psychopathic narcissist, often known as a malignant narcissist, is a person who displays characteristics of both narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders, and in some cases, traits of psychopathy as well. This combination often results in a complex and potentially harmful personality type that can cause significant distress to those they interact with. Such individuals are usually marked by an excessive sense of self-importance and entitlement, and they often lack
Counselor Corner: The Art of Forgiveness
Just the other day, I ran into an old friend of mine, Sheila. Our friendship had been on a long pause, stretching back years before the Covid era. The incident that caused our rift was rather mundane - it took place in a Target store. Having forgotten my wallet, I borrowed 5 dollars from Sheila for a trinket that had caught my eye. I thanked her and promised to repay
Counselor Corner: The Joy and Wisdom of Letting Go
When I was a Missoula undergraduate student in philosophy at the University of Montana some 20 years ago, I attended a Buddhism event led by the late Alan Sponberg, then the professor of Buddhism at UM. He invited us all to summarize Buddhism in just three words as a sort of exercise. “Hmmm, I thought, how about: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.” These, of course, are the “three refuges” of Buddhism. It