A GoodTherapy.org News Update

GoodTherapy.org was born out of the desire to reduce harm to consumers of therapy. The more training, consultation, and personal work therapists do, the less likely clients will suffer an abuse of power or a boundary crossing. Although there are many healthy and conscious therapists providing safe and ethical psychotherapy services, there unfortunately remains a large number of therapists who unknowingly cause harm to their clients, often as a result of the therapist getting their own emotional needs met at the expense of a client.

In the short 2.5 years GoodTherapy.org has been present on the web our association has made great strides in advocating for healthy therapy and reducing harm. By providing a wealth of information to the public about psychotherapy and making the process of psychotherapy less mysterious to non-professionals, we’ve helped millions of people to become better equipped to start therapy and to evaluate the quality of therapy they are already receiving. So, we’ve made a dent and we’re happy about. Yet, there’s more our organization wants to do. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Plano Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

In the medical professions, making an exact diagnosis can sometimes be a difficult task. But a team of researchers from the University of Leicester has recently stumbled upon a remarkable fact: general practice doctors mis-diagnose cases of depression more frequently than they correctly identify it in their patients. While feelings of depression traditionally present a challenge for health professionals in terms of diagnosis, the study, which worked with over fifty thousand patients, shows that a close attention to the diagnostic process is crucial to ensure that people get the help they need –and that they aren’t medicated unnecessarily.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Irvine Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

It’s generally agreed among most teachers, coaches, mentors, therapist and related mental health professionals that the benefits and results of positive reinforcement are far more effective than punishment. However, there are clearly some influential circles of professionals who continue to advocate for the use of punishment in the behavior modification of children or adults. Recently, a study produced in part at the University College London has firmly sided with positive reinforcement through showing that when people are presented with positive results or rewards when learning or performing, they are more likely to improve. The study, which focused its investigation on adults, may help to establish a greater adoption of rewards-based learning and training, especially in critical rehabilitation and therapy environments.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Washington, DC Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

A short period, such as a few days or weeks, without a natural amount of sunlight and exposure can produce a gloomy mood in many people, and some may experience especially low thoughts and feelings during the winter months. But while feeling a little blue when the weather won’t clear up may be common, losing a fair amount of cognitive ability during such periods may seem far-fetched. A new study performed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has found that people who report feelings of depression are likely to become disoriented and experience a drop in memory and other basic cognitive abilities when briefly deprived of sunlight.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist San Francisco Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The consequences, both physical and mental, of domestic violence and related abuse can be debilitating for many people, and the addition of substance abuse problems can make it an incredible challenge to extricate oneself from a harmful situation and seek help. Still more challenging is the ability to organize a group dedicated to discussing these issues and supporting those concerned about themselves and family members, yet this is the precise mission of an organization in North Carolina that has recently celebrated its first year of operation. Tea Talk Thursday, facilitated by former substance abuse and domestic violence sufferers, has been bringing a non-judgmental place to vent, along with tea and snacks, to the local community for twelve months, a noteworthy achievement in the progression of the power of people to grow from even the most difficult of circumstances.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Minneapolis Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

First aid training is a great way to add something extra to a resume, prepare for potentially dangerous situations, and to enable a greater opportunity to be of service to others, and many people have decided to participate in training workshops for these benefits. But mental health first aid is a less popular prospect, in part owing to the relative novelty of the idea. Recently, a charity organization in Wales has developed a specialized course for businesspeople interested in bringing the concept of first aid to the mental health arena.

The program, largely designed to help professionals in supervisory roles learn about mental health and possible related challenges in the workplace, has been delivering basic knowledge about the field of psychology to participants for many months. The charity notes that while traditional first aid training is commonly found in office and other professional environments, the ability to understand and effectively interact within the context of mental health concerns is usually lacking. The program hopes to help those in management positions be prepared for potentially stressful situations, such as changes in work, disciplinary action, and other aspects of professional life that can leave some employees feeling less than enthusiastic about their jobs. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Baltimore Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

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Trust is essential for a good enough relationship. It is possible to be naïve and trust someone too much while at the other end of the continuum is not being able to trust someone. Building trust in a relationship with a partner is a process that takes time.

Most of us learn to trust in others during our formative years. Our beloved parent leaves, then returns; the repetition of this experience helps us build trust that we will be taken care of, and that we are lovable and loved. Our parents scold us when we make a mistake, then give us a hug to reassure us that we are loved even though we make mistakes. It is during those early years that we learn that we are lovable and build the self-esteem we need for our adult years. When we have a strong sense of self-esteem and know that we are lovable, trusting others comes in a natural, easy manner.

Two basic truths concerning trust are: (1) most people will do whatever they believe they need to do, in the moment, to take care of themselves; (2) each individual must trust him or herself to take care of him or herself.

Research has shown that most people who have affairs do so because they are looking for love. Being part of a good enough relationship is part of self-care, and helps us build positive self-esteem. If we become aware that we are in a relationship that is hurtful and damaging to our self-esteem, we will be tempted to become engaged in a relationship with someone else when the opportunity presents itself. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

While the majority of people who report symptoms associated with post traumatic stress disorder confront challenging and sometimes life-threatening difficulties requiring extensive therapy and other treatments, there is a growing concern over the ability of others to claim such symptoms in a sheer effort to receive compensation money. Taking a look at the history of PTSD as well as its recent appearances in the news (many of which are associated with large sums of money for what might seem like fairly regular or expected events), a UK publication raises the question of whether the medical health professions should be given a more active and intense role in discerning the well-being of those who have experienced high stress and trauma.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Hollywood Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

Though an increasing number of people are approaching psychotherapy as an enlightening way to learn more about themselves and their environment, others work with therapy for specific concerns or events, and in the case of children and teens, this later situation is often the case. Coming forward to a therapist about having been abused is a large and mature step for a young person, note the authors of a recent study on England’s postal code waiting list system for victims of child abuse. The system creates a kind of lottery for access to state mental health care. To have courage met with the promise of a long wait for the attainment of professional mental heath care and services –spanning over a year in some instances– is an understandably negative experience.

The study, which sought to examine exactly how long children and young adults were having to wait to receive proper care from the limited number of England’s providers. While sexual abuse, which served as the primary focus for the study, can be very difficult for children to process and healing may benefit extraordinarily from quality mental health services, the study found that the issue is not held as a priority in the country and within its public health sector. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Fort Collins Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

There are many industries devoted to helping people reduce stress surrounding certain events and in the course of day to day life, and with good reason; too much stress can have significantly adverse effects on mental and physical health. But a new study performed at the University of Buffalo with the use of laboratory mice has shown that some instances of stress can actually be beneficial for memory and performance. Aiming to provide evidence for the idea that short bursts of stress, during which the hormone cortisol is released, can be a positive event, the research team found that mice submitted to a brief forced swim were better able to complete a maze both shortly after the stress and a day later than were their unstressed counterparts. While therapists will likely continue to counsel clients on reducing stress, complete obliteration may not be the best answer.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Fresno Bureau - All Rights Reserved.