Posts by Ryan Briscoe

I remember years ago talking with a mom who asked me directly: “So, why is my daughter depressed? I can’t see what she has to be depressed about?” Thinking that she really wanted an answer, I told her, “Honestly, I think it’s primarily due to how often she’s on her phone and social media.” The…

Warning Signs Most teens who go on to attempt or commit suicide give warning signs; rarely is it totally out of the blue. Therefore, it is very important to know what these warnings signs are. Here are three common warning signs: 1.) Deepening depression, especially when accompanied with hopelessness. While it is normal for teens…

What ever brawls are in the streetThere should be peace at home;Where sisters dwell and brothers meetQuarrels shou’d never come.Birds in their little nests agree;And `tis a shameful sight,When children of one familyFall out, and chide, and fight. Hard names at first, and threatening words,That are but noisy breath,May grow to clubs and naked swords,To…

The following self-assessment is from David Murray’s book Reset. While it is geared towards pastors and others in ministry, it applies well to any vocation. It is best to go through this list with someone you trust — close friend, spouse, etc. — and give yourself a check up. If you find yourself agreeing with…

This is an imagined scenario of what I might say to a young client, say, around 6 or 7 years old, but also similar to what a parent might say to their own child of similar age who may be struggling with some problem. “Kids come to see me because they have some problem they…

“I heard of a man who said that he did not like to prejudice his boy, so he would not say anything to him about Religion. The devil, however, was quite willing to prejudice the lad, so very early in life he learned to swear, although his father had a foolish and wicked objection to…

A wise saying has it that “Of making many books there is no end,” and this can definitely be applied to parenting books. With all the thousands of parenting books out there, it’s a good rule of thumb to pay attention to what seems common to them all – to what keeps popping up. Perhaps…

As a therapist, it is interesting to hear from clients why they stopped seeing their previous therapist. For one, it’s more than likely what previous clients have said of me. Rarely will people give you brutally honest feedback; oftentimes you must get it by proxy. One such comment I have often heard as to why…

Albert Ellis, famous psychologist and atheist, once had this to say about the Bible: “I think that I can safely say that the Judeo-Christian Bible is a self-help book that has probably enabled more people to make more extensive and intensive personality and behavioral changes than all professional therapists combined.” Coming from such a die-hard…

What are Men’s Issues? What do I mean by Men’s Issues? Are there issues that only men struggle with? In one sense, no. We all struggle at times with anxiety, depression, grief, loss and other trials under the sun. There are not male emotions and female emotions. There are only emotions, which are expressed in…