Xoonco

Phoenix is a fascinating city that has its own unique personality. Sports fans here have everything to be proud of; they’ve been home to a championship caliber basketball team for the past decade. The Arizona Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001. And as for the Arizona Cardinals, well, you can’t win them all, but they did have a Super bowl run in 2008. Really though, what more could a city ask out of their professional teams?

Sports aside, the city offers any other activity imaginable. Downtown is packed tight with museums, parks, theaters, pools and fun zones for family time. The nightlife scene is there for the taking, with the best clubs and bars in the Southwest. For all arguments, Phoenix is one of the best places to live. So the question is, why does this city struggle so much attracting visitors, especially to the downtown area?

Maybe we should dig a little deeper into this phenomenon. Could it be the demographics of the city? The Phoenix area is infamous as a retirement destination and is one of the best places to live. Seniors love hitting the over one hundred golf courses that surround the city.

Could it be the economy? This one might ring a little truer. There’s no denying it, the whole nation has felt the burdens of the latest economic climate. But even that doesn’t necessarily detail why a smaller city like Salt Lake City with roughly a quarter of the population of Phoenix, received 10 times the amount of visitors last year.

Maybe it’s just the heat, and people in this oasis have become far too air conditioned. It’s just too hot to get out there. Of course, the hockey team seems to manage staying cool just fine. That’s right, Phoenix can bring ice to the middle of the desert for hockey teams, but still no visitors.

Truth is, there are huge discrepancies between other “like” cities and visitor statistics. Undoubtedly, Phoenix is still one of the best places to live on the map. They’ve also seen the biggest growth in population over the past decade, which makes it even more troubling to see the downtown area going the way of Tombstone. Well, like most economies that fail there is usually a government picking their teeth behind some curtain. Of course they’ll just make up excuses like these, nod, and say everything is grand. Maybe a further look behind the curtain will tell these imbalances better.

Counsellors are just like their patients: they come in all shapes and sizes. And like most helping professions, if you decide to be a counsellor, you can branch off into a speciality area, helping patients with specific problems. If you are thinking of a career in counselling, here are some worthy specialities to look into.

Eating disorders

With Hollywood and the fashion industry still primarily pushing a size 0 as the ultimate weight goal and the idea that the skinnier you are, the more attractive you are, it’s no wonder that eating disorders are becoming an epidemic. And it’s not just girls who are getting caught in its grip. Boys and men are also vulnerable to the disease. By specializing in counselling those who are struggling with an eating disorder you will be helping them to get back the true sense of who they are as a person and help them realize that they are more than a number on the scale.

Alcohol treatment

For many, consuming alcohol every once in a while is a way to unwind. But for some drinking becomes a problem. They find that they need alcohol every day in order to cope. And they drink more and more in order to escape their life. As an alcohol treatment counsellor you’ll be working with alcoholics, helping them work through their issues, get sober and stay sober.

Couples

Not all couples who are having problems automatically jump to divorce. Some will choose instead to seek out a qualified couples counsellor who can help them deal with what they feel is wrong with their relationship. And you don’t have to be married to go to a couples counsellor: if you are dating, engaged or have any kind of a relationship that is in trouble, you can benefit from it.