Abandonment and depression are central themes in the song “Darkling” by South African rap-rave group Die Antwoord. The song was written by group member YoLandi…
Filmmaker Ora DeKornfeld beautifully captures the healing power of poetry by showcasing a young girl named Tyesha, who uses spoken word as a vessel to…
Robert Waldinger is a psychiatrist and the director of a unique longitudinal study called the Harvard Study of Adult Development. This study is different than…
In 2014, a young boy (pseudonym ‘Kunkun’ for anonymity) was banished from his village in Sichuan, China after being diagnosed with AIDS. The villagers did…
A dramatic new Netflix docuseries delves into the unsolved murder of a beloved nun and teacher, Sister Cathy Cesnik. Beginning as a murder mystery, viewers…
Artist P!nk wrote the song “Beam me up” about a close friend who lost her young child. The lyrics reflect on her friend’s grief and…
This short by The School of Life discusses the dangers that come with a challenging childhood, among them, triggering of anxiety, self-hatred, and shame. While…
William Wordsworth experienced much loss in his life. His parents died when he was an adolescent, and several of his own children died when they…
For years, the field of maternal healthcare has emphasized supportive birthing environments. Giving birth is a deeply vulnerable experience, and having a compassionate medical team…
In April 2015, Justin Sangiuliano, a seventeen-year-old diagnosed with Autism, was physically restrained at his group home in Oshawa, Canada. To control an aggressive outburst,…
Carly Simon’s song “That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be” chronicles the painful aftermath of growing up with parents in an unhappy marriage,…
“My aunt woke me to say that my mom sent a text to the family priest in the middle of the night, asking for prayers…
As a counselor, social worker, or therapist, how do you begin conversations with your clients? What are the best ways to break the ice and…
Anna R. was having an ultrasound, prepared to see her baby for the first time. When she asked the technician what the sex of the…
When a father loses a child, his grief can sometimes be eclipsed by that of the mother’s. This poem by Eileen Knight Hagemeister describes how…
When she was 10 years old, Sarah wrote the original song “Dream Child” in memory of her young cousin who had died within of few…
English, Math, History, Geography…classes found in school curricula build foundational knowledge and promote future success. Schools lay the groundwork for cognitive development, especially in academic…
Does reading have the ability to increase empathy? Writer and activist Alaa Al Aswany thinks so. He believes that the role of literature has been…
A friend of mine once told me that she was the product of her mother’s rape. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she wondered…
You are seven years old… alone in the hospital, away from home and the support of family and friends. You can’t go to school, roughhouse…
