Author Archives: phyllis

The Emotional Pain of Refugees

The Syrian migrant crisis has triggered the worst humanitarian emergency since the 1940s. The tragedy was felt worldwide in the photo of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, whose body washed up on the shore in Bodrum, Turkey. Since the early days of the Syrian conflict, Non-government Organizations and the International Medical Corps have worked with families along the Turkish, Jordanian and Lebanese borders. Mass displacement, economic despair, daily violence and the death of loved ones have led to a mental health epidemic. As the political, financial and social issues are multi-faceted and complicated, there’s … Continue reading

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Ashley Madison and the High Cost of Infidelity

Adultery isn’t a new concept to any of us, but the illegal hacking onto the Ashley Madison website was an unprecedented crime. The ripple effect of the massive information release has impacted over 37 million families. And it’s taken a huge emotional toll – hate crimes, blackmail, embarrassment,  shame, even suicide. Of course, there are many hidden dangers in acts of betrayal. And to minimize the fallout is totally naive. The result is often personal ruin and devastation of the family. An affair can be related to many issues – poor moral … Continue reading

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Travel for Millennials or Their Moms

We created Her Mentor Center in 2000, 15 years ago. And way back then, before blogging was popular, women would tell us their stories and we’d share them on our website. Lately we’ve discovered that, despite all the talk about the generation gap, getting outside of the box is one ideal that Baby Boomers and Millennials share. Here’s one narrative about the lure of travel that might resonate for all: “The bad news came swiftly and unexpectedly – the office was being closed and I was out of a job. … Continue reading

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Boomerang Kids: A Cultural Shift?

According to recent Pew Research data, the national unemployment rate for 18 to 34 year olds declined to 7.7 percent in the first third of 2015. Yet now even more Boomerang Kids – many with a college degree, huge student loans and poor job prospects – are living with their parents than in the Great Recession. Millennials were hardest hit during those years and economic growth since has been slow. The 20s, now defined as Adultolescence, are considered a crucial decade when the lessons learned influence who they become as adults. Some … Continue reading

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