We have prayed for more Christian counselors. God is providing. Christian Family Solutions receives over 200 calls for appointments each week, and the need for more […] The post Moving mental health ministry forward appeared first on Christian Family Solutions ..read more

by Kara Witthuhn, School-Based Wellness Specialist This article is also available as a printable handout here. As the new school year begins, setting your child up for success is a top priority for parents. A key aspect of supporting your child’s learning, as well as social and emotional development, is nurturing their brain health. Here are four tips to boost your child’s brain development and ensure a successful school year: Prioritize good sleep habits. Ensure your child gets the recommended amount of sleep for their age – 9-12 hours for most elementary or grade school age children. A ..read more

Healing & Helping is a bi-annual publication of Christian Family Solutions, designed to share the impact of our work and provide ministry updates to readers across the country. Healing and Helping Spring Summer 2024 The post 2024 Spring Summer Healing & Helping Magazine appeared first on Christian Family Solutions ..read more

By Angie Molkentin This article first appeared in the April 2024 WELS Women’s Ministry Newsletter. Have you been called to encourage someone who is lonely? Opportunities abound: Your daughter is lonely because friends at school snubbed her. Your coworker is lonely because she doesn’t have a social life outside of work. Your friend is lonely as she faces life without her loved one by her side. Ministry to the lonely is critical now more than ever. A 2024 poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) finds that one in three Americans feels lonely every week. Studies show that loneliness ..read more

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation awarded Christian Family Solutions (CFS) a $5,000 grant to help fill the gap in funding for children being treated for mental health conditions in its STRONG Child & Adolescent Day Treatment Program. CFS was among the grant recipients invited to network with foundation supporters at the 2024 Health and Harmony Event on April 5 in Madison, Wis. Through the STRONG program, CFS offers day treatment for children ages 4-17 who are suffering from behavioral or mental health conditions. Day treatment includes trauma-informed and culturall ..read more

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are a vital step towards healing for individuals with acute symptoms. If you, a loved one, or a patient/client is struggling to function on a daily basis or is not improving with outpatient therapy, an IOP may provide the right dose of therapy. The goal is to stop destructive thoughts, heal the hurt, and build behavioral skills before they become more serious or require hospitalization or inpatient care. IOPs at Christian Family Solutions are anchored in evidence-based approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to equip individuals with the neces ..read more

by Sarah Reik, LPC, CFS Member Assistance Program Manager When someone we care about is battling depression, it can be difficult to know how to help. The first step often involves initiating a conversation, but finding the right words and actions can feel daunting. However, offering support and love can make a world of difference to someone navigating the darkness of depression. Start the Conversation Bringing up the topic of depression with a loved one requires sensitivity and empathy. Here are some gentle ways to initiate the conversation: Express Concern: Begin by expressing your worry in ..read more

In the last two decades, and certainly since the pandemic, more people are paying attention to mental health and willing to try counseling. In that time, the number of U.S. adults who sought mental health care in some form has increased 65%, from 27 million in 2002 to 42 million in 20211.  Clearly, people are searching for answers. Is the counseling profession providing solutions? And how does Christian counseling fit into the outcomes equation? A May 2023 article in The New York Times Magazine summarized the latest research on the effectiveness of “talk therapy.” One prominent researcher ..read more

Group therapy can be an intimidating thought. Sometimes, we are just better together.   For the person who struggles with anxiety, it might take every ounce of courage to walk into a group therapy room. Those battling depression may simply not have the energy to face a group of people on any given day. Cassie Lauters, program manager for the adult intensive outpatient program (IOP) at CFS, has helped adults work through these feelings throughout her five years in the program in Appleton. “It’s not always easy to join a group, but I have seen the progress our clients make once they fi ..read more

By Jane Mose, MA, CFS Family Peer Specialist Some parents actually dread the Christmas season because their child’s behavior is so challenging that it drains all the joy. This may sound odd to all the parents who find great joy in watching their children engage in the excitement of Christmas. But it’s real. Some children are unable to regulate their behavior leading up to or during a special day, resulting in any number of angry verbal and physical outbursts or extra meltdowns. They might defy and reject their parents more around a holiday. Children from all backgrounds, including being raised ..read more