“A Word With Dr. Warren” is a thought-provoking series by Dr. Warren A. Kass, a Consulting Clinical Psychologist at Magdala House with over 51 years of experience. In each segment, Dr. Kass shares his insights on personal growth, leadership, and community engagement, offering valuable wisdom to inspire positive change within Magdala House and the broader community.
As we enter 2025, there seems to be a noticeable shift in social values across the country. Many people are focusing more on how to improve their own lives and becoming less preoccupied with pleasing others or avoiding conflict. Striking the right balance between prioritizing our personal needs and caring for the needs of others plays a vital role in our individual well-being and the strength of our communities.
Finding the Right Balance
We all fall somewhere on a spectrum between focusing on ourselves and focusing on others. At one end are those who prioritize their own needs, sometimes to the detriment of empathy and cooperation. At the other end are those who prioritize others so much that they experience stress and anxiety, often trying to avoid any form of conflict.
A healthy balance allows people to meet their own needs while being considerate of others. Life circumstances naturally shift this balance, but moving too far to either extreme can make relationships and interactions less healthy and fulfilling.
The Impact of Mental Health and Trauma
For individuals with mental health challenges or substance use disorders, maintaining this balance can be even more difficult. Symptoms like hallucinations, overwhelming urges, and emotional instability often place people at the extremes of this spectrum. With proper treatment and care, however, they can better navigate social interactions and relationships.
At Magdala House, we serve a population that faces higher rates of mental health and substance use challenges than the general public. Many of our residents have also endured trauma associated with poverty and discrimination. These experiences can push them toward extremes in social functioning, making it harder to maintain stable and healthy relationships.
How Magdala House Supports Residents
To help our residents transition to permanent homes, Magdala House provides comprehensive support. We partner with community health professionals to address mental and physical health challenges and ensure ongoing care beyond their stay with us.
Our dedicated staff works closely with residents to:
- Identify and overcome personal barriers
- Reinforce the importance of continuing mental health and wellness services
- Encourage self-reflection and personal responsibility for building positive relationships
By fostering courage and growth, we aim to help our residents develop the skills and resilience they need for healthier, more balanced lives.
