WELCOME!  

     "Every life has a measure of sorrow. Sometimes it is this that awakens us."    --- from Buddha's Little Instruction Book ---

     All of us have known the turns in the road that is our life. We all try to face these encounters squarely ... with courage, with dignity, and with a calm resolve that comes only from accepting that everything that has a beginning has an ending and to make peace with that. We struggle with the idea that while we cannot avoid change we can come to better accept it when it is our uninvited guest ... that our happiness will come from how well we are able to maneuver through those changes.

     This is no more true than for the older adult -- those among us who face the fluctuating landscape that defines our failing health, who embark on a retirement that is the end of a beloved career, who confront the sorrow that is the loss of a life partner, or for those older adults among us who struggle with memory problems, cognitive decline, and the possible or even probable diagnosis of Alzheimer's Dementia.

     But faced with those crises that are the benchmarks of our existence, there is also hope in what we can imagine for ourselves. There is also faith in what we believe can be borne anew. There is also the awakened possibility of our own growth and development ... at any age. This is no less true for the older or elderly adult than it is for any of us. As the Buddha has said, even on a withered tree a flower can bloom. No matter how great the struggle, there is always a chance to begin again ... today.

     Imagine for a moment an internal world free from struggle and suffering. Imagine that you've awakened to the possibilities of a life yet unlived, that your life is growing and blossoming into what you've wanted for yourself and thereby facing head-on and without fear this magnificent endeavor that is our life. Imagine that by doing so, you or someone you love can now open your heart and with courage, experience the genuine emotional freedom that comes from conquering the battle. Imagine that you now can extend your loving kindness to yourself, find your compassionate center, and cherish the sacredness of you.

     No matter what crisis you or someone you love is facing, there is always the possibility of transformation and renewal. This is the philosophy of my practice and how I approach working with older adults ... especially those with Alzheimer's. If this sounds like what you want for yourself or for someone you love, come in and look around.

     With love and kindness ... George Kraus, Ph.D.

Hear Dr. Kraus' radio interview at WYSO! Just click below!

WYSO Interview (MP3 format)