Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Welcome and an Introduction

This is my first blog, so I humbly ask for your understanding and patience. I am a mentor, a counselor, a husband, a father, a small business owner, and a friend. My main occupation is being a mentor to startup adults, ages 18 and up, and their parents. My business is Strongbridge Associates LLC and you can visit our website at http://www.strongbridgeassociates.com/.

My work involves helping startup adults acquire self-knowledge, know their dreams, overcome obstacles, take healthy risks, and gain the confidence, serenity, and self-determination to embrace life and achieve long-term success. I have been working with struggling adolescents, startup adults, and their parents for more than 30 years. I love the work.

Though my work is important and I enjoy it, being a husband and a father is my greatest joy. My wife and I have been happily together for 38 years. Our two children are adults now, and are doing well on their own paths.

My friend John Robison http://jerobison.blogspot.com/, author of Look Me In The Eye, encouraged me to create this blog. I am the “insightful therapist” that introduced him to Asperger’s Syndrome ten years ago. John was not a client then and has never been. At the time, we were friends who enjoyed discussing a broad range of topics over lunch or dinner, and occasionally going on off-road trips in our Land Rovers. We still enjoy the same things, and our friendship has grown over the years.

In the future posts, I hope to express some thoughts about adolescents, health (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual), imagination, society, family, honesty, love, reality, spirituality, and whatever else seems related to the "glue" keeping us stuck together on this warm and wonderful rock. I would like to hear from you, and to know your thoughts and comments.

Healing Bear refers to the bear totem of healing through introspection and the darkness. As we look within ourselves may we discover the healing nourishment provided by Mother Earth.

15 comments:

Irene said...

Howdy TR!

What a great intro., my interest has been piqued and I look forward to reading your insights. I've never heard of such a profession but am glad to know that something like that exists. Is it sort of like a "life coach?" I'm off to add you to my Google reader list....

Holly Kennedy said...

Welcome to the blogging world, TR. Nice to have you join us. :)

Your chosen profession sounds intriguing. I wish you lived down the street to offer guidance when my boys hit their teens -- I've been through those 'unsettling' years with my stepkids already and know it isn't easy for kids these days.

Kim Rossi Stagliano said...

Welcome, TR! I've added you to favorites.

Kim Stagliano, John's autism Mom/writer friend.

Carolyn Burns Bass said...

Would you believe I've never heard the term "start-up adult." What a brilliant description, much more specific than the generic "young adult." In two months I will be sending my son off to college a half-continent away. I'll be watching your blog with open eyes.

I'm going back to John's blog to thank him for the nudge.

John Robison said...

Well, you're off to a good start.

Woof!

Liane Gentry Skye said...

Welcome to Blog-ville!

Liane

kristen spina said...

Hello and welcome! I'm intrigued by your first post. I'm just getting to know John's blog, but am happy to have yours to add to my favorites as well.

I can't wait to read more.

Tena Russ said...

Hi TR,

BTW, my younger son is called TR! (A very fine name.) His full name is Thomas Robert. BTW, his older brother is a child psychiatrist.

"My main occupation is being a mentor to startup adults, ages 18 and up, and their parents."

I LOVE your term, startup adults. Never heard it before.

I'm a writer (novelist) and I just started blogging too. I'm involved in animal assisted therapy with my German shepherd dog. One of the places we visit is a school for young autistic children.

Good luck with your blog! I'll be back to see you.

PS Could you be prouder of John??

Trish Ryan said...

Welcome to the blogsphere! I like your comment about the glue that holds us together - examining that makes for a fun life :)

Kanani said...

Hey, isn't this nice?
Your little part of the blogosphere!
Here's my writing group site:
The Writerly Pause.

Michelle O'Neil said...

Welcome to blogging! I look forward to reading your words.

Anonymous said...

welcome welcome !! i emailed you at the suggestion of john and we had a nice exchange re: my son and his aspergers. we'll be moving to the northampton area in the fall and i hope to have the chance to meet with you in person.

i love what you say here about Healing Bear. thank you for what you do.

PJ said...

So glad to read your Blog. Keep it coming. I am a mother of a wanna be adult that has Aspergers.
He ran away last Sat. I have provided much help through many services but he struggles with the searching and accepting part. Keep it coming.

TR said...

Thank you all for your comments. I am encouraged and optimistic. I am working on my next posting which hopefully will happen this weekend.

LitPark said...

Hi TR. Found you through Carolyn's blog, and I'm intrigued already.

~Sue
http://www.litpark.com/
http://www.myspace.com/susanhenderson