Articles written by Melinda Clayton

What is Helium

About me - Melinda Clayton

My many years as a psychotherapist have given me a unique perspective on human behaviors and interactions, and I like to explore that in my writing. Relationships, mental health issues, and educational topics are all areas in which I'm able to share my knowledge

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Politics, News & Issues > US Economy When the state of the economy hits home: 3 of 105
For months now, the news wires have been full of terrifying stories about the ongoing economic meltdown. Banks once considered indestructible are tottering, businesses are closing, and the jobless rate is soaring.Wall Street seems so far removed from the typical American existence that at first it may be difficult to fathom t... More..
Business > Starting a Business Write a business plan over lunch: 1 of 29
Stressful economic times often lead to an increase in small and self-owned businesses. As individuals seek to regain control of their own career paths in the wake of corporate bankruptcies and layoffs, self-employment can be one strategy for doing so. In order to ensure success, however, it's imperative that the business be s... More..
Relationships & Family > Family Life Thoughts on what mealtime represents for families: 3 of 86
The positive benefits of sharing family mealtimes together are numerous. When we overlook this simple activity, our children miss out on many opportunities for not only sharing and learning, but also for building valuable skills.I recently attended a school-sponsored workshop on building family connections. The keynote speake... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Self-Awareness & Realization Reflections: Living every day with passion: 9 of 226
"I'm just not passionate about anything," said my friend during yet another late night phone call. After reassuring my friend and hanging up, I thought about that word. Passion. What, exactly, is passion? What do we mean when we say we want to feel passion?Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (1985) has many different de... More..
Sciences > Sociology Is political ideology used to manipulate the masses?: 1 of 24
Throughout history, political ideology has been used by all cultures to manipulate the belief systems of the citizens of that culture. For example, in war, each side is taught that its cause is the just one, and that the cause of the other side is unjust.The ideology known as American Exceptionalism has influenced the belief ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Child Behavior & Discipline (Other) Does yelling reinforce discipline?: 1 of 22
As parents, we teach our children how to respond not only to us, but to the world in general. If we consistently yell at our children as a means of enforcing discipline, we've indeed taught our children many lessons, but unfortunately none of them are what we were hoping to teach. Most parents yell out of frustration. Perhap... More..
Education > College Courses & Majors Testimonies: The diary of an adult university student: 1 of 19
As an older student returning to further my education, I had quite a role model to follow. He was in his thirties when he finally felt ready for college. By that time, he'd been married for 13 years and had four children to feed.Having barely finished high school, completed a stint in the navy, and worked a variety of decent ... More..
Relationships & Family > Family Dysfunction How an unstable home environment can severely stress the intellectual functioning of a child: 1 of 18
When I first met eight year old John, he had a bald spot on the back of his head and bite marks on his legs. As I entered the room, he sat on the floor, rocking violently, slamming his head into the wall with each backwards lurch.John was not autistic, nor was he psychotic. In fact, John's IQ was measured to be well above ave... More..
Health & Fitness > Autism Is autism really an epidemic?: 1 of 17
Autism. It's a word that strikes fear into the hearts of parents all across the country. In 2007, Americans were bombarded with the news that autism in America had reached epidemic proportions, but in order for us to take an honest look at autism in our society, we must first sort through the facts.In 2002, a California based... More..
Health & Fitness > Therapy & Counseling How to choose a mental health care provider: 1 of 16
Making the decision to seek professional help for anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues can be frightening. There are so many choices, and you're not really sure what all those credentials and letters mean. You just don't know where to start. By keeping a few key points in mind, you'll soon find a mental health ... More..