This week, we proudly recognize and celebrate the incredible Case Managers who work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of those they serve every day.
Case Managers are often the bridge between hope and healing, helping individuals and families navigate complex systems, access critical resources, overcome barriers, and achieve their goals. Their compassion, dedication, advocacy, and commitment to person-centered care create lasting positive impacts in our communities.
At Southeast Kentucky Behavioral Health, we are grateful for the Case Managers who go above and beyond to support individuals through some of life’s most challenging moments. Your ability to listen, empower, encourage, and advocate changes lives in ways that often go unseen, but never go unappreciated.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication, your servant hearts, and your commitment to improving the health and well-being of others. The work you do matters, and the people you serve are better because of it.
💙 This week, we celebrate you. 💙 We appreciate you. 💙 We thank you for making a difference every single day.
With the new update in TherapyPortal, there is now more flexibility with new Proxy Access for parents, guardians, and other caregivers, plus new options for patients to request in-person or Telehealth appointments.
TherapyPortal™ Proxy Access for Parents and Guardians
This update allows a patient contact from the Patient Info tab to be given proxy access to the portal on the patient’s behalf. For example, rather than entering the parent’s email as the patient’s email address, the practice can now explicitly add the parent and give them proxy access. This helps practices more accurately identify who is accessing the portal and completing actions on the patient’s behalf.
When sending a TherapyPortal™ invitation, practices can designate one of two access types:
Full Access: The patient accesses TherapyPortal™ directly using their own account information.
Proxy Access: A parent, legal guardian, or other caregiver accesses TherapyPortal™ on the patient’s behalf using their own email address.
The patient’s Portal tab displays a Full Access or Proxy Access badge so practices can identify the type of access currently assigned. Portal activity is also associated with the individual using the account, providing greater visibility into who completed actions.
For patients under age 13, practices will see a recommendation on the patient’s Portal tab to provide Proxy Access to a parent or guardian.
This update is an initial step toward more flexible TherapyPortal™ access. Each patient will continue to support one Full Access or Proxy Access user at this time. Caregivers with multiple dependents can continue accessing their associated patients using a single TherapyPortal™ login. The new account model lays the foundation for future enhancements, including the ability for multiple caregivers to access the same patient and more granular permissions.
In-Person vs. Telehealth Appointment Requests
With the new session type selector, patients can choose whether they prefer an in-person or Telehealth session, so your team knows their preference when reviewing the appointment request. For Telehealth requests, patients can also specify the state where they’ll be located to help select a clinician in that state.
To offer Telehealth for appointment requests, your practice must have Telehealth enabled in Practice Settings and at least one clinician with Telehealth configured on their Work Schedule. Clinicians can use the new Telehealth Service States setting on the Work Schedule tab of their Staff profile to specify the states where they provide Telehealth services. For convenience, states associated with the clinician’s Work Locations and active licenses will be automatically populated.
When requesting a Telehealth appointment, the patient selects the state where they’ll be located during the session. The available options are based on the Telehealth Service States configured for the clinician selected in the request. The patient’s assigned clinician is selected by default, and if they choose another clinician, the available states update accordingly.
The appointment request now includes the patient’s preferred session type and, for Telehealth requests, the state where they’ll be located during the appointment.
By capturing these preferences upfront, practices have the information they need to review appointment requests while helping patients request care based on clinician availability.
* The content of this post is intended to serve as general advice and information. It is not to be taken as legal advice and may not account for all rules and regulations in every jurisdiction. For legal advice, please contact an attorney.
There comes a time in life when a young person is no longer a child but not yet an adult. It is a season filled with change, growth, questions, and self-discovery. This stage, known as adolescence, is one of the most important periods of human development.
During this time, young people begin to ask questions that will help shape the rest of their lives:
Who am I?
Where do I belong?
What do I believe?
What kind of person do I want to become?
Psychologists and developmental researchers have spent decades studying this stage of life. Although they approach it from different perspectives, most agree that adolescence is a critical period for developing identity, values, relationships, and independence.
A Bridge Between Two Worlds
Adolescence can be compared to standing on a bridge.
On one side is childhood, where parents make most decisions and provide protection and guidance. On the other side is adulthood, where people are expected to take responsibility for their choices and actions.
Young people spend years crossing that bridge.
As they do, they experience major changes in their bodies, emotions, relationships, and thinking. These changes can feel exciting one moment and overwhelming the next. Many adolescents want more freedom while still needing support and guidance from trusted adults.
This tension is normal. In fact, it is part of healthy development.
Erikson: The Search for Identity
Psychologist Erik Erikson believed the most important task during adolescence is developing a clear sense of identity. He called this stage Identity vs. Role Confusion. According to Erikson, young people begin exploring who they are and who they want to become. They may try new activities, develop different interests, form new friendships, or question beliefs they have always accepted.
This process is not rebellion for the sake of rebellion. It is often a search for identity.
When adolescents successfully develop a sense of who they are, they gain confidence and direction. When they struggle to find that identity, they may experience confusion about their place in the world.
Piaget: Learning to Think in New Ways
Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget focused on how thinking changes throughout life.
According to Piaget, adolescence marks the beginning of the Formal Operational Stage, where individuals become capable of abstract thought. This means they begin thinking about ideas rather than just facts. They can consider:
Justice and fairness
Morality
Politics
Faith and spirituality
Future careers
Life goals
A child may ask, “What happened?”
An adolescent is more likely to ask, “Why did it happen?” or “What should have happened instead?”
This new ability to think deeply helps adolescents understand the world, but it can also create stress as they become more aware of life’s challenges and uncertainties.
Kohlberg: Developing a Moral Compass
Psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg studied how people develop moral reasoning.
As children grow into adolescence, they often begin moving beyond simple ideas of right and wrong based on rewards and punishments. Instead, they begin considering values, fairness, and ethical principles.
For example, rather than asking, “Will I get in trouble?” an adolescent may ask:
Is this fair?
Is this the right thing to do?
How will this affect others?
This growing moral awareness helps young people form personal values that can guide them throughout adulthood.
Marcia: Exploring Different Identities
Psychologist James Marcia expanded on Erikson’s work by studying how people develop identity.
Marcia found that adolescents often move through different stages of exploration before settling on a stable identity.
Some follow beliefs and goals chosen by others. Some explore many possibilities before making decisions. Others struggle to decide who they want to be.
These periods of exploration are often necessary because identity is not something that appears overnight. It develops through experience, reflection, and personal growth.
Bronfenbrenner: The Power of Environment
Psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner believed development cannot be understood without looking at the environment around a person.
According to his ecological systems theory, adolescents are influenced by many different systems, including:
Family
Friends
School
Community
Culture
Society
Each of these environments shapes development in important ways.
A supportive family can provide stability during difficult times. Positive friendships can strengthen confidence and self-esteem. Good schools and mentors can help adolescents discover talents and future goals.
Bronfenbrenner’s theory reminds us that young people do not grow alone. They grow within relationships and communities.
Attachment Theory: The Need for Secure Relationships
Psychologists John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth developed Attachment Theory, which emphasizes the importance of secure relationships.
Many people assume adolescents stop needing their parents as they get older. In reality, research shows that strong, supportive relationships continue to play a vital role in healthy development.
Even when adolescents seek independence, they still benefit from trusted adults who provide:
Encouragement
Stability
Guidance
Emotional support
Healthy attachment helps young people develop confidence, resilience, and healthy relationships later in life.
The Adolescent Brain
Modern neuroscience has added another important piece to our understanding of adolescence.
Research shows that the brain continues developing well beyond the teenage years. The areas of the brain responsible for judgment, planning, and impulse control mature more slowly than areas responsible for emotions and rewards.
This helps explain why adolescents can sometimes make decisions that seem irrational to adults.
It is not because they lack intelligence.
It is because their brains are still developing.
Understanding this can help parents, teachers, and mentors respond with patience rather than frustration.
Preparing for Adulthood
Developmental psychologist Jeffrey Arnett proposed that the process of becoming an adult often continues into the twenties. He called this stage Emerging Adulthood.
According to Arnett, many young people continue exploring:
Careers
Education
Relationships
Personal values
Life goals
The identity questions that begin during adolescence often continue well into early adulthood as individuals work toward becoming the people they hope to be.
More Than Growing Older
All of these developmental theories point to the same conclusion:
Adolescence is far more than a stage of physical growth.
It is a time when identity is formed, values are developed, beliefs are tested, and character begins to take shape.
Young people are learning how to think for themselves, make decisions, build relationships, and understand their place in the world.
They are not simply getting older.
They are becoming the adults they will one day be.
For parents, teachers, mentors, and communities, this stage provides a unique opportunity to offer guidance, encouragement, and positive examples. The lessons learned during these years often remain with people for the rest of their lives.
The bridge between childhood and adulthood can sometimes feel uncertain, but it is also filled with possibility. Every question explored, every challenge faced, and every lesson learned helps build the foundation for the future.
About the Author
John S. Collier, MSW, LCSW-S is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor, behavioral health executive, writer, and advocate for individuals, families, and communities facing life’s challenges. He serves as the Executive Director of Southeast Kentucky Behavioral Health, LLC, where he oversees behavioral health, substance use, developmental disability, and community support services throughout Kentucky.
John began his career in human services with a bachelor’s degree while serving in multiple roles within Kentucky’s public and community-based systems. In 2004, he became a Certified Social Worker and continued expanding his clinical expertise, eventually earning his Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential and Supervisor designation. Throughout more than two decades of service, he has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families affected by trauma, mental illness, addiction, disability, grief, poverty, and systemic barriers to care.
His professional experience includes outpatient behavioral health, case management, crisis intervention, child welfare, developmental disabilities, substance use treatment, and organizational leadership. These experiences have provided him with a unique perspective on human growth and development across the lifespan.
As a clinician and leader, John has developed a special interest in understanding how people grow, adapt, and overcome adversity. Much of his writing explores the intersection of psychology, personal growth, faith, character development, relationships, and resilience. Through both clinical practice and leadership, he has witnessed how childhood experiences, family relationships, community influences, and life transitions shape the adults people eventually become.
John is also the author of The Mind’s Trestle Board, a collection of articles and reflections that examine life’s challenges through the lenses of psychology, personal experience, and timeless principles of growth and wisdom. His writing seeks to make complex psychological concepts understandable and relevant to everyday life while encouraging readers to pursue self-awareness, purpose, and healthy relationships.
When writing about adolescence and human development, John draws upon both established developmental theories and his extensive experience working with young people and families. He believes that understanding the challenges of each life stage helps individuals, parents, educators, and communities better support one another during times of change and growth.
Through his clinical work, leadership, and writing, John remains committed to helping others build stronger foundations for mental health, meaningful relationships, and personal fulfillment.
References
American Psychological Association. Identity versus identity confusion. APA Dictionary of Psychology.
American Psychological Association. Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. APA Dictionary of Psychology.
Arnett, J. J. (2015). Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties.
Bowlby, J. (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development.
Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis.
Kohlberg, L. (1981). The Philosophy of Moral Development.
Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego-identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3(5), 551-558.
Piaget, J. (1972). The Psychology of the Child.
Ragelienė, T. (2016). Links of adolescents’ identity development and relationship with peers: A systematic literature review. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 25(2), 97-105.
“The journey from childhood to adulthood is not merely a passage of time. It is the formation of identity, character, values, and purpose. The adults we become are often shaped by the questions we ask, the challenges we face, and the guidance we receive during these formative years.” – John S. Collier, MSW, LCSW-S
Every relationship has arguments. No matter how deeply two people love each other, there will be moments of frustration, misunderstanding, disappointment, and hurt. The difference between healthy relationships and unhealthy ones is not whether conflict exists. The difference is how conflict is handled.
The image above presents five simple but powerful rules for couples during arguments. At first glance, they seem obvious. Yet these principles address some of the most common mistakes that damage trust and intimacy. They remind us that being angry with someone is not a license to stop loving them.
Research consistently shows that conflict itself is not the greatest threat to a relationship. Rather, it is destructive communication patterns, contempt, criticism, stonewalling, and defensiveness that place relationships at risk (Gottman & Silver, 2015).
Rule #1: Be Mad at Me, But Don’t Insult Me
“Anger is not a ticket to speak carelessly.”
When emotions run high, words often become weapons. People say things they never truly mean because they want the other person to feel the same pain they are feeling.
The problem is that arguments eventually end, but hurtful words often remain.
You may forget what the disagreement was about, but you rarely forget being called worthless, stupid, selfish, or unlovable. According to relationship researcher John Gottman, contempt and personal attacks are among the strongest predictors of relationship dissatisfaction and eventual separation (Gottman & Silver, 2015).
Healthy couples understand an important truth: attack the problem, not the person.
You can say:
“That hurt me.”
“I am disappointed.”
“I feel ignored.”
Without saying:
“You’re pathetic.”
“You never do anything right.”
“You’re just like your mother.”
Respect should not disappear simply because peace has.
Anger can be temporary. The damage caused by contempt can be permanent.
Rule #2: Be Mad at Me, But Tell Me Why
“Don’t assume I know.”
One of the greatest relationship myths is that people should automatically know what is wrong.
The truth is that nobody can read minds.
Many arguments grow larger because one partner believes the other should already understand the issue. Meanwhile, the other person is confused and becomes frustrated trying to guess.
Clear communication is one of the strongest predictors of relationship success. Research by Markman, Stanley, and Blumberg (2010) found that couples who communicate concerns directly and clearly are better able to resolve conflict and maintain emotional intimacy.
Instead of saying:
“You know exactly what you did.”
Try saying:
“When this happened, it made me feel unimportant.”
People cannot fix problems they do not understand.
Love requires communication, not telepathy.
As marriage and family therapist Virginia Satir observed, communication is to relationships what breathing is to life. Without it, connection slowly deteriorates (Satir, 1988).
Rule #3: Be Mad at Me, But Don’t Broadcast It
Conflict belongs between the people involved.
Too often people rush to social media, group texts, friends, family members, or coworkers to discuss relationship problems before discussing them with their partner.
While outside support can sometimes be helpful, publicly shaming a partner almost never improves the relationship.
Once private details become public, they cannot easily be taken back.
Strong relationships protect each other’s dignity, even during difficult moments. Maintaining emotional safety and mutual respect helps partners feel secure enough to resolve disagreements constructively (Tatkin, 2012).
This does not mean remaining silent about abuse, manipulation, or situations involving safety concerns. Those circumstances require outside support and intervention. However, ordinary relationship disagreements generally benefit from privacy, maturity, and direct communication.
A couple should be teammates solving a problem together, not opponents recruiting spectators.
Rule #4: Be Mad at Me, But Don’t Forget My Good Qualities
Conflict has a way of shrinking our perspective.
When we are hurt, our minds naturally focus on the thing causing the pain. Suddenly one mistake feels larger than a thousand acts of kindness.
Psychologists often describe this tendency as negative filtering, where attention becomes focused on a person’s flaws while overlooking their strengths.
A healthy relationship requires balance.
Remember:
The person who forgot an anniversary may also be the person who supported you through difficult times.
The person who made a mistake may also be the person who loves you deeply.
The person frustrating you today may be the person who has stood beside you for years.
Research from the Gottman Institute has found that successful couples maintain a strong ratio of positive interactions to negative interactions, even during periods of conflict (The Gottman Institute, 2024).
A moment of failure should not erase a history of goodness.
Rule #5: Be Mad at Me, But Remember Grace
“Remember all the times I’ve forgiven you.”
This final point may be the most powerful.
Every person who has been in a long-term relationship has needed forgiveness. No one is perfect. No one gets everything right.
Healthy couples recognize that relationships are not scoreboards.
Love is strengthened when both people remember that they have received grace as often as they have given it.
Research from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley indicates that forgiveness is associated with stronger relationships, better emotional health, reduced stress, and greater overall well-being (Greater Good Science Center, 2023).
Forgiveness does not excuse harmful behavior or remove accountability. Instead, it acknowledges that human beings are flawed and that lasting relationships require compassion.
The question is not whether your partner will eventually disappoint you.
They will.
The question is whether there is enough humility, understanding, and forgiveness to move forward together.
The Real Secret Behind Healthy Arguments
Many people believe successful couples avoid conflict. The truth is quite the opposite.
Successful couples argue.
They disagree.
They become frustrated.
They occasionally hurt one another.
What separates them from struggling couples is that they continue fighting for the relationship while addressing the problem.
They remember that the person sitting across from them is not the enemy.
The problem is the enemy.
Relationship experts consistently emphasize that couples who approach conflict as a shared challenge rather than a battle to be won are more likely to experience long-term satisfaction and stability (Markman et al., 2010; Gottman & Silver, 2015).
The argument should never become a contest about who wins. It should become a conversation about how both people can heal, learn, and grow.
Because at the end of the day, the healthiest relationships are not those free from anger.
They are the relationships where love remains present even when anger arrives.
“Being angry with someone is not the opposite of loving them. Treating them without respect is.”
About the Author
John S. Collier, MSW, LCSW-S is the Executive Director of Southeast Kentucky Behavioral Health, LLC and author of The Mind’s Trestle Board. Through his writing, he explores relationships, personal growth, emotional wellness, morality, and the challenges people face as they seek meaningful connections with others. His work blends professional behavioral health experience with practical life lessons intended to encourage reflection, healing, and personal development.
References
Chapman, G. (2015). The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts. Northfield Publishing.
Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (2015). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work (Revised ed.). Harmony Books.
Greater Good Science Center. (2023). The Science of Forgiveness. University of California, Berkeley.
Harvard Health Publishing. (2022). Communication and Conflict Resolution in Relationships. Harvard Medical School.
Markman, H. J., Stanley, S. M., & Blumberg, S. L. (2010). Fighting for Your Marriage (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023). Healthy Communication and Relationship Wellness. Mayo Clinic.
Satir, V. (1988). The New Peoplemaking. Science and Behavior Books.
Tatkin, S. (2012). Wired for Love: How Understanding Your Partner’s Brain and Attachment Style Can Help You Defuse Conflict and Build a Secure Relationship. New Harbinger Publications.
The Gottman Institute. (2024). Managing Conflict in Relationships.
