Sex Addiction Group

Joshua Nichols

Marriage Counselor, Family Counselor, Sex Addictions Therapist

3 Reasons to Slow Down this Holiday Season

Tue, 12/11/2012 - 13:59 -- josh

Christmas time is my favorite time of the year.  I love all the holiday festivities going on, which makes for some quality family time and fun memories.  However, last year, I had an experience that nearly ruined the entire holiday season for me.  In some ways, I felt like I missed Christmas.  Let me tell you what happened.

I came up with this bright idea to have a huge family Christmas at my grandma’s house.  After all, she is my only living grandparent and some of my fondest memories were made at her home.  We’d invite all my aunts, uncles, cousins and their families.  It couldn’t be anything but a win in my book.  However, where I got lost was in the shopping.  My wife and I had so many family members of which we just had to get gifts!  On top of that, we were still planning on having Christmas with our kids as well as with my wife’s family; and we didn’t start shopping until Black Friday. I know, I know….a recipe for disaster.  Needless to say, my kids came home with so many toys and clothes that, out of our guilt, we decided to donate many items to charity.  I did manage to make some good memories though, none of which involved presents, but quality time with my family (and great tasting jalapeno poppers).  I just wonder how much more quality that holiday season would have been if I hadn’t have gotten caught up in the madness.

6 Ways Fathers Can Emotionally Connect with Their Children

Sat, 11/10/2012 - 14:29 -- josh

"A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all."  ~ Washington Irving

This quote by Washington Irving doesn't paint a very nice picture in relation to fathers.  Although I don't think this can be applied to all families and all fathers, it definately rings true for a lot of peopIe in this world.  It is no secret that our nation suffers from a fatherhood crisis.  The National Fatherhood Initiative, referencing the US Census Bureau, reports that 1 out of 3 kids live in a biological father-absent home.  

As a marital and family therapist, it is not uncommon for me to facilitate father-absent family therapy.  Sometimes fathers are not in the picture, and other times they simply refuse to join in on the counseling experience.  Many of you fathers reading this might be thinking, “This doesn’t apply to me.  I haven’t left my family.”  Well, "being there" doesn’t only mean physical presence, it also means emotional presence; and emotional presence is often easier said than done.

Below are 6 tips that I believe can be extremely helpful for fathers as we work to be an emotional presence for our children.

Learning to Live a New Dream: Parenting Children with Special Needs

Wed, 09/19/2012 - 10:35 -- josh

I’ll never forget the night my wife and I found out we were pregnant. The excitement, joy, and thankfulness we experienced were overwhelming. We couldn’t wait to call family and friends to deliver the good news. We were excited to go through all the firsts new parents go through – baby showers, baby proofing, nursery work, doctor appointments, etc.

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Individual Counseling

Do you struggle with feeling anxious or depressed? Have you experienced more than your share of injustices? Have you experienced an agonizing loss with loneliness, helplessness and guilt? If so, you might consider working with a professional counselor.

 

Schedule an appointment today!

Marriage Counseling

Are you looking to connect with your mate on a deeper level? Do you want to restore intimacy or repair the hurt caused by infidelity? If you feel like your relationship is one of high conflict, and resolving problems seems like an unachievable task, then please consider couples counseling.

 

Schedule an appointment today!

Family Counseling

Whether you have adult children or children still living in the home, as long as you are a parent, it is never too late to make changes. If you desire to have a better relationship with your children; or, if you need help in areas such as discipline and boundary setting, then please do not hesitate to call me to set up your first appointment.

Schedule an appointment today!

Seminars

As a licensed marital and family therapist, I have extensive training and experience in working with couples and family.  For more than a decade I have devoted my career and ministry to serving couples and family in the professional counseling setting. I have developed these seminars based on my clinical expertise and experience in working with marriages and families over the years.  I currently offer the following seminars:

Parenting R.I.S.K.S., LIfelong Rewards. Building Relationships that Last a Lifetime

The 5 Myths of Marriage

The V-Factor: Marriage Seminar (in development)

 Book a seminar today!

Special Speaking Engagements

I have experience speaking to religious organizations, academia professionals, non-profit and self-help organizations. I have spoken on mental health topics such as anxiety and depression, self-injury, control, and teenage drug and alcohol addiction. I have presented on relational topics, including but not limited to communication, sexuality and intimacy, blended families, parenting and the parent-child relationship, and forgiveness.

I am also available to speak on other mental health and family-related topics. Please contact me if you are interested in having me speak at your event.

Book me for a special speaking engagement today!