Melody Brooke

Oh! I Could Never Tell Him That!

It took me many years to figure out that my way of communicating was a disaster. I was so paranoid of telling my partner things that would upset him that I had very few things that I could actually say to him. Even when I got over the paranoia, I still ... Read >

Helping Vets Survive the Horror

Over the past several weeks the problems of returning vets from Iraq and Afghanistan has been making headlines. This weeks Newsweek had an article about some peripheral damage done to counselors working to try to help those returning vets deal with the tr... Read >

Seven Keys to Lasting Connection

It doesn't matter how excited you are about your partner if you can't stay on the same wavelength and keep a connection over time. Finding the right person is really less than half of what it takes to stay connected with someone. In working with couples... Read >

Recovering From a Major Loss

I sat there holding him, not believing what was happening. Time stood still as I futilely attempted to revive him. Only moments before he was calm and ordinary. My other children stood beside me, but I was only peripherally aware of them. He was dead. I f... Read >

My New Office Nightmare

It was the second day, of the second month, of the second year, of the second millenium as I looked back on the first week of being in my new office. I was proud of what I had created. It was so totally me, everything about it defined who I am and what ... Read >

Help! I Need a Counselor

If you, like many people, have an underlying sense of dissatisfaction with your life, have unsatisfying relationships, have bouts of “the blues” or just feel trapped in your life, then you may want to find a therapist. A good therapist can hel... Read >

Minimizing the Risk of Post Traumatic Stress

Recently, public attention has been focused on the reactions people have to trauma. Many studies have been done, and many efforts have been made to reduce the possibility of developing a dysfunctional response, which may eventually develop into a full blo... Read >

Why Won't You Listen to Me?

How many times have you been in a situation with someone you know pretty well, maybe your spouse or your best friend, when you just couldn't get through to them? For some reason beyond your understanding they just refuse to listen to what you are saying. ... Read >

Is Your Child a Rescuer?

When I was a little girl I had a friend named Vicki Pedigoe. She was so sweet to me. She had long, straight black hair and big black eyes, with a light olive complexion. We were in the third grade and I had no other friends. She didn't either. We playe... Read >

Find Your Voice Through Play

Growing up as a girl child of the 60's I was taught that women must find their voice. We were taught about the Suffragettes who succeeded in procuring the vote for women. We learned about "the Story of O". We learned to burn our bras and speak up in po... Read >