Strengthen Your Relationships During National Family Wellness Month

Every person has at some point felt that their family puts the fun" in dysfunctional," and unfortunately, theres nothing fun about unhealthy relationships. With May being National Family Wellness Month, its the perfect time to spend more time with family members and appreciate those closest to you. But sometimes family relationships are more destructive than supportive, or they dont exist at all. Since healthy relationships are an important factor in overall personal well being, its important for people to assess the strength of their relationships to see just how functional they are.

(PRWEB) April 14, 2004 -- Every person has at some point felt that their family puts the fun" in dysfunctional," and unfortunately, theres nothing fun about unhealthy relationships. With May being National Family Wellness Month, its the perfect time to spend more time with family members and appreciate those closest to you. But sometimes family relationships are more destructive than supportive, or they dont exist at all. Since healthy relationships are an important factor in overall personal well being, its important for people to assess the strength of their relationships to see just how functional they are.

In her new book, Beacon of Hope: A Guide to Internal Truth (Cameo Publications, $17.95, ISBN 0-9744149-1-3), author Marcia J. Lawton, Ph.D. describes the Paraclete Model for assessing relationships. While family relationships are important, they may not always be possible for whatever reason, so Lawton encourages creating a family of friends to serve as the support network and using the Paraclete Model to gauge the functionality of all relationships. As she explains, a Paraclete-style relationship is one focused on support, community, guidance, and cooperation, rather than competition and individualism.

With the Paraclete role, people shift from the idea that its either/or-either theyre helpers or helpees-to looking at the whole continuum of the relationship with different dimensions where each person plays a part and receives some benefit, whether its enlightenment, support, friendship, or guidance," says Lawton. Armed with this information, readers can assess their own relationships, family or otherwise, based on these qualities and use Lawtons model to make improvements. This spirituality and personal growth book, which combines Lawtons health experiences with advice for readers to overcome obstacles in their own lives, emphasizes the importance of relationships for overall wellness.

No matter how much someone values 'alone time, he or she also needs relationships with others in order to integrate with society and develop into a whole person," says Lawton. While the lines defining family" may blur, the strength and support behind the relationship is whats most important. With Lawtons insights, readers can use the Paraclete Model as a guide to strengthen the relationships they have with others so all parties benefit from a strong support system.

Marcia J. Lawton, Ph.D. spent forty years as a mental health clinician, twenty of which were as a professor for alcohol and drug abuse counselors at Virginia Commonwealth University, and has been in recovery herself for thirty years. Now in her retirement, Lawton spends time developing her diverse and ever-growing family of friends.

For more information, or a review copy of Beacon of Hope: A Guide to Internal Truth please call 1-866-372-2636 or send an e-mail to david@cameopublications.com.