Creating a Healthy Balanced Life

“My life is out of control!' This is an age-old concern heard by therapists and group leaders since the beginning of time. The seriousness of the statement is often overlooked as it is difficult to pinpoint what out of control means to each individual. Creating a Healthy Balanced Life is a uniquely designed resource manual to provide therapists, group facilitators or lay leaders with skill based activities, to teach the concepts of taking personal control of life. Living a healthy, balanced life is a process that takes conscious involvement in moment-to-moment, day-to-day actions. When we become more present in our daily thoughts and actions we develop awareness that leads to actual skill development of ways to take personal control. The book identifies five major areas in which your clients can gain a sense of control that will lead to a greater life balance: • The Mind-Body -Soul • Attitude • Stress-less • Relationships • Leisure/Recreation/Play Each chapter includes a brief introduction to the topic, followed by skill based activities and handouts. The activities utilize a variety of learning styles in order to successfully teach the concept and engage all clients and group members. The authors fill the chapters with a variety of creative, rare and diverse techniques keeping a consistent pattern in the introduction of the techniques to assist the leader in using the manual more effectively. The activities assist clients in exploring concrete actions for daily life in order to change behavior and gain control for a healthy balanced life. Add even more creativity to your therapy with the Creating a Healthy Balanced Life Card Deck. Whether working in a group setting or with an individual, using this card deck will break the ice, encourage thinking, get in touch with feelings, and help introduce a specific topic. The open-ended, thought-provoking questions will encourage lively discussions.

Dr John Frederick Johnson has spent more than 50 years as an educator and parish pastor. He has pursued graduate studies in theology, philosophy, and educataion and holds eight earned degrees. In addition to serving congregations in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Florida, he was on the faculty of Concordia University (Milwaukee)and Concordia Seminary. In 1992 he taught theology and philosophy in the Thoeologisches Seminary in Riga, Latvia. He has served on a number of theological commissions, contributed numerous articles to theological journals, and penned several books in the fields of doctrinal studies, philosophical theology, and biblical interpretation. For 18 years he was one of 20 theologians comprising the U.S. Roman Catholic-Lutheran Dialog. In retirement he teaches Bible classes at several Lutheran Churches in the St. Petersburg, FL area.