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Meet Ruth Barz

Lutheran Family Service News

Posted on June 5, 2023
by Ruth Barz, tLMHC

Ruth Barz is a counselor, wife, mom, and one of the newest members of the Lutheran Family Service mental health counseling team. With a deep love of God’s Word and His truth and master’s level training as a mental health counselor, Ruth brings vast experience and insight to her practice. Read on as we discuss navigating life transitions, the power of relationships, different types of trauma, when to seek counseling, and the healing and hope found in Christ alone.

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Ten Tips for Handling Life’s Changes

Church Worker Wellness

Posted on May 18, 2022
by Toni Larson, LISW

Church workers’ transitions run the gamut of exciting, joyful, frightening and stressful. In addition to the usual church year transitions, there are transitions from one call to another and one home to another. For Lutheran school teachers, the transition is growing one class of students, saying goodbye, then welcoming another class a few months later.

Preparation can be helpful in handling life’s changes to reduce stress and expedite adjustment. In her article, “Ten Tips for Handling Life’s Transitions,” author Nylse Esahc (Ibelieve.com, March 10, 2019), suggested the following points with accompanying Bible references, followed by my observations.

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Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

Mental Health

Posted on January 8, 2018
by Linda Kramer

The first time that I heard this phrase was at the end of the 2012 Summer Olympics when swimmer Michael Phelps announced he was quitting swimming (he later changed his mind). I was completing a vacation in Hawaii and found this phrase helpful. Just recently, I have adopted this phrase as last month my husband and I […]

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