A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Around the world, bullying in schools presents problems that can range from the slight to the serious, with many children suffering from chronic, violent behaviors that can detract from academic performance as well as happiness. Finding ways to combat this issue is largely dependent on the attitudes of children, suggests the work produced by a Spanish study on bullying. Unfortunately, the study’s findings suggest that children accept that bullying has been and always will be part of life, thereby justifying it to themselves and creating a psychological block against its addressing and prevention. The study may, however, help the mental health professional community understand how to help children overcome bullying issues.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

When the issue of problem gambling –an addiction that can have dire consequences for individuals and families– comes to mind, many people think of those in the middle or later years of their lives, but as with all mental health issues, problem gambling doesn’t limit its potentially debilitating effects to a single age group. Young people, even adolescents, can find themselves grappling with the complications of problem gambling, and young boys especially may be at particular risk. Recently, a study was conducted which links occurrences of problem gambling with other signs of conduct issues, giving parents, general practice doctors, and mental health professionals a more distinct ability to screen for a variety of difficulties often experienced by modern boys.

The study found that boys were significantly more prone to developing conduct issues, such as vandalism, impulsive behaviors, lying, shoplifting, aggression, and substance abuse, than were girls, though as a collected group, the surveyed youth revealed that those with conduct difficulties had a twenty three percent chance of also experiencing difficulties with risky gambling and addiction. The researchers noted that for each additional symptom of conduct issues that was reported, participating youth had another eighty percent jump in likelihood to have an issue with problem gambling as well, a strong correlation that provides ample persuasion for cross-screening young clients. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The prevalence of anti-depressants and other psychiatric medications has experienced a great increase recently, and many concerns are rising in response to the growing dependency on such substances. While there are some medications that have proven to be helpful in improving the quality of life for pregnant mothers and young children, some in the mental health professions remain skeptical over the ultimate utility and safety of such medicines. Adding support to this camp, a study at Georgetown University Medical Center has recently suggested that medicines indicated for mood issues, pain, and epilepsy, when administered to pregnant women or to infants and young children, may cause mental health concerns at a later age.

The study focused on animal models, specifically working with rats in a laboratory setting, but suggests that the issue is likely a prominent one for humans, as well. After administering various modern treatments for mood issues, as well as those indicated for pain and for epilepsy, researchers monitored laboratory rats, finding that those animals which had been treated with the medication were more likely to exhibit signs of mental health complications as adolescents and adults. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Substance abuse disorders, including difficulties with the regulation of alcohol intake and retaled behaviors, affect many people at different stages of life, though a significant portion of those who grapple with these issues are in their mid to late years. It may seem inconsistent, then, that a study supported by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has searched for signs of substance abuse risks in children, but the gathered data may serve the primary purpose of helping to identify children who may benefit from additional education and training to prevent substance abuse issues later in life. Risk factors considering both environment and neurobiological factors were studied.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Citing the idea that children exposed to an excess of media violence may interpret violent acts and thoughts as being acceptable, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently delivered two reports calling for greater measures to control media intake. The group has noted that today’s children spend an average of over six hours each day taking in media, from televisions as well as the internet and other mediums. Hoping to improve mental health on a national scale, the statements advise against allowing children under the age of two to be exposed to media, and suggests strictly limiting the time allotted to adolescents for watching TV, browsing online, or playing video games.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

There are numerous stereotypes associated with teenagers. The idea that all or most teenagers engage in forbidden or risky behavior, including underage drinking and smoking, is prevalent throughout society, but this very prevalence may be adding to occurrences of mental health issues and related distress among teens. A study conducted at Wake Forest University has recently found that those teenagers whose mothers expected them to take part in high-risk activities were in fact more likely to do so. The study also found that teens who expected poor performance from themselves acted consistently with the expectation a year later. The research highlights the idea of the self-fulfilling prophesy and may encourage more positive expectations among parents.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The University of Cincinnati’s psychiatry team has recently announced that parents should be on the lookout for the establishment of mood difficulties and feelings of depression and anxiety in their young children as the new school year emerges from its short “honeymoon” phase. The professionals have noted that while the establishment of a routine can lead families to feel secure about school, many children develop mental health concerns after the novelty of the new year wears off, and have suggested that mental health treatments be considered for children who exhibit signs of suffering during this time. Mental health professionals in Cincinnati and across the country may experience an increased young client base as a result.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Those who have spent a fair amount of time with a teenager are likely to agree that adolescents can often perform cognitive tasks on par with adults. But when it comes to emotional, maturity, this age group is less developed than those in their twenties. A study performed at Temple University has found that cognitive maturity does not necessarily signal emotional maturity, a conclusion the authors suggest may support rational decision making in medical environments but which may prove to “mitigate [the adolescents'] criminal responsibility” within the context of law-breaking. The study examined the emotional and cognitive qualities of participants aged ten to thirty, finding significant increases in the latter area through the age of sixteen, while emotional maturity appeared lacking until teens reached their twenties.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Rampant on the news both specific to the mental health community and delivered to the public at large, over-prescription of psychiatric medications has been developing as a major problem for several years. With scores of reports highlighting suspicious links between high-prescribing and endorsing individuals and pharmaceutical company pay-offs, a growing mistrust of the eagerness with which some medications are prescribed is largely responsible for a surge in interest in non-invasive therapies such as psychotherapy. Over-prescription remains an issue in America and many parts of the world, however, and is especially disturbing in the case of children, who are often subjected to drugs that combat ADHD, depression, and other issues even when a clear need has not been established. In response to such activities, a conference on the psychiatric abuse of children has been organized for the venue of Syracuse, New York from the ninth to the tenth of October.

The conference will examine the ways in which children are subjected to needless drugs, and how these drugs create additional problems both during childhood and later on in life. Encouraging participants to take action against over-prescription in their own communities and professional fields, the conference is sure to inspire new ways to help families overcome uncertainty over medications when emotional and behavioral issues are present. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Many would describe the modern media as at least somewhat sensationalist, with scores of threats being reported on a relatively constant basis. The way in which such reports can be dangerous, suggests a new study conducted at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The study examined participant responses to a range of reports and media materials containing emotionally charged threats about travel in different areas, finding that rather than the true degree of danger, participants reacted most strongly to whatever they had most recently absorbed. The research may help contribute to making news reports more balanced.

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

By Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D., Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

Click here to contact Arthur and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile

In this first article here I will describe what Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy is. Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy began as a family-therapy approach, grounded in attachment theory, for the treatment of children with disorders of attachment. It has developed over the past decade into a broader approach for treatment and has been found to be an evidence-based, effective, and empirically validated treatment.

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy has as its central therapeutic mechanism the maintenance of a contingent, collaborative, sensitive, reflective and affectively attuned relationship between therapist and child, between caregiver and child, and between therapist and caregiver. Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy focuses on and relies upon the intersubjective sharing and joint development and organization of emotional experience. Intersubjectivity refers to shared emotion (also called attunement), shared attention, and shared intention. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Though a great deal of effort has been poured into the prevention and addressing of bullying in childhood, an unfortunate number of children experience bullying while growing up. Sometimes resulting in emotional difficulties or an embarrassing experience, and sometimes causing severe physical issues, bullying can take on many forms, but a study recently performed in Turku, Finland defines bullying as “an aggressive act embodying an imbalance of power in which the victims cannot defend themselves accompanied by an element of repetition.” The study, which worked with over five thousand Finnish children, sought to take a closer look at the potential link between bullying during childhood and the manifestation of mental health concerns later on in life.

The research found that participating children who were victims of bullying –even those who themselves participated in bullying others– were more likely to develop perceivable mental health issues between the ages of thirteen and twenty four, and were also more likely to be prescribed with anti-depression or anti-psychotic medications or hospitalization. Interestingly, the data for girls showed a closer relationship between bullying and the use of psychiatric medications and professional care than did the data for boys. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

With the expected release of the DSM-V slated for 2012, there has been some deliberation within the mental health communities over whether to jointly classify childhood depression and anxiety issues. The extant version of the DSM classifies these concerns in a distinct manner, one which is recommended to be upheld by a recent study to be published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. The study examined symptoms of depression and anxiety among secondary school children over the course of a five-year period, and found that though the issues are often related, they are justifiably distinct and should be classified and treated as such.

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

By Sherry Gaba, LCSW and Life Coach

Click here to contact Sherry and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

Viewers cannot turn on the television today without a story depicting pop icon Michael Jackson and his un-timely death. It has brought to the forefront of everyone’s mind a reminder of the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. What parents may not realize is although overall teen drug use is down nationwide; prescription drug abuse is on the rise, as one of the fastest growing addictions amongst teenagers today. Since 1992, the number of teenager’s ages 12 to 17 years old abusing controlled prescription drugs has tripled and nearly one in five teens reported that they are able to get prescription drugs such as Vicodin or OxyContin in one hour. In fact, nearly all poison deaths in the country are attributed to prescription drugs. In the last ten years, the number of teens going into treatment for addiction to prescription pain relievers has increased by more than 300 percent. In fact, most of the clients I see today are struggling with prescription drug abuse, specifically pain medications. Although it is understood heroin is dangerous and that overdoses are common, what parents don’t understand is that narcotic painkillers mimic the same effects of heroin on their bodies and can be just as lethal. Teens turning away from street drugs and moving towards prescription drugs is rampant and the myth that these drugs are safe because they are legal must be squashed or this trend will continue to grow. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Growing up in a foster care environment can be a rough experience, especially for the many children who are placed in homes under Britain’s public health and social services. Often coming from broken homes and traumatic events and circumstances, children placed in foster care may receive the basic necessities from their new homes, but many may be given inadequate resources for establishing happy and healthy lives. Recently, a report from the House of Commons decried the treatment of children receiving care and aid from the state, noting that children are moved frequently from one place and one family to the next, often miss out on significant portions of academic work, and are released into society at large prematurely.

In tandem with addressing these issues, two mental health professionals from the UK have advocated a model they produced to help caregivers of disadvantaged children not only provide the basic strategic necessities that children in their care deserve, but to help them understand and integrate meaningful pathways towards loving care and emotional bonding. The pair note that while many caregivers experience an impulse to reach out to the children they serve, many may feel restricted by the prejudices of modern society, which can sometimes view any sort of emotional caring and touch as inappropriate. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Ideas about the sources of aggression in youth are varied, with some pointing to violence within the media while others focus on communication issues within the home. Adding to the great field of possibilities, a study recently completed in Japan tested the ability of detained adolescent males with behavioral issues to identify the emotions of others through facial expressions, in contrast with the same ability in children without conduct concerns. The study found that aggressive boys were significantly more likely to misinterpret expressions of disgust as anger, an emotion that can often make a situation seem hostile. The research may help mental health professionals train children to learn how to differentiate between hostile and non-hostile interactions.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Those with concerns over the risks of suicide and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among young people who are given anti-depressant medications may be alarmed at recent news that the EMEA, or European Medicines Agency, has given its stamp of approval to prescriptions of Prozac for children eight years of age and older. The approval comes after the the British government asked Prozac’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly, to apply for the approval from the EMEA. Despite acknowledgment that some children will benefit from the move, opponents worry that long waiting lists for psychotherapy and a tendency to over-prescribe medications may result in negative consequences.

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

By Lissa Hunsicker, LCSW

Click here to contact Lissa and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

When a child gets killed, it gets our attention. Consider the words of Nicholas Scopetta, former Executive Director of The Administration of Children’s Services: “people may not understand the intricacies of the system, but they certainly know when a child is killed.”

It’s true. We put down our coffee cup, lift our heads from the paper, take pause in our morning commute. With friends and co-workers, we debate (institutional reform vs. personal responsibility); at home, we reconsider our practice of discipline; in our minds, for the briefest of moments, we become aware of the horror of losing a child and we are enraged. But in time—in a week or two—we move on. As we have to. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Though there are certainly some children who experience developmental, learning, and social difficulties due to symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and who can realize remarkable benefits through the use of prescription medications, it may seem that an excessively large number of youths are diagnosed with the issue and given pills. Concerns about the over-use of drugs geared towards children with symptoms of ADHD has risen in recent years as some parents and mental health professionals note the potential of therapy and other treatment types to provide a more meaningful and long-term solution for kids with difficulties focusing.

This issue has been given its own spotlight recently with the release of a report showing that abuse of prescription medications for ADHD has risen over 75% in the last eight years. The steep incline in abuse may correlate with increasing amounts of prescriptions being written for children who may not truly need the medication. Concerns about proper education about the medications and misunderstandings spread among youths as to potential benefits of taking excessive amounts of the pills are also being voiced in response to the discovery of the surge in abuse. A low number of deaths –precisely four– were connected with the abuse of such medications, but over forty percent of teens who reportedly abused the drugs exhibited moderate to severe side effects, and were prone to receiving hospitalization or visits to the emergency room. Read the rest of this entry

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

By Pátzia Gonzalez-Baz D-CEP; EFT-Adv
Clinical member, OSP  

Click here to contact Patzia and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

Unfortunately, second marriages have an even worse track record than first marriages. Part of this has to do with the kids, yours, his/ hers. Don’t get me wrong, it has nothing to do with the kids as people, the kids are all right. It has a lot to do with our feelings about them. And I mean kids all ages, including adults. So here are some basic tips to help your children, you and your new spouse adjust:

1) Remind your kids that they were conceived in love.

It’s important to remind your children that you love them and that you once loved your ex very much. And that every time you see the child, you are reminded of how much you loved him/ her. And then things changed. Whatever happens between both parents has nothing to do with them. The divorce wasn’t their fault, you will always love them. Saying “You’re just like your mother (or father)” should be the highest praise! If you need to vent about your ex, do so in therapy.

2) Prepare your kids

Read the rest of this entry