By Holly Holmes-Meredith, D. Min., MFT, Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Hypnotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

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

There are several styles of hypnotherapy that are commonly adopted by practitioners and not all styles work well for all clients. One way to access what style might work best for you is to respond to this question: How do you normally respond to people telling you what to do? If you are the type of person who feels secure when you have instructions and direct requests, the directive approach will most likely work for you. If you find you are rebellious when people tell you what to do, a more permissive approach will suit you better. When you interview a prospective hypnotherapist you might want to question her about her training and style to discover if you will feel comfortable and be responsive to her approach. The following is a basic overview of the different styles of hypnotherapy to help you understand your options.

Directive Approach

In the directive approach, the hypnotherapist guides the client into a state of hypnosis and the hypnotherapist gives the client suggestions. People are most familiar with this approach to hypnotherapy because it is the technique that is most similar to what we witness with stage hypnosis and see in the movies. And, clients expect that if they go for a hypnotherapy session that the hypnotherapist will give direct suggestions. Read the rest of this entry

By Dana Vince, LMHC, Infidelity Topic Expert Contributor

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

Where do you begin when you’ve just found out your spouse has had an affair? Or, what if you are the one who’s had the affair and your partner has just found out?

If you’ve just found out your partner has had an affair, be prepared for the roller coaster of emotions. It is not a time to make any permanent life-changing decisions. Here are some important things to consider:

• You do not have to know right now if you are going to stay or go. You are in crisis and may feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you. Give yourself time to make important decisions. Emotions are very raw right now so it’s okay to not know which direction to go yet. Read the rest of this entry

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.

By Elinor Nygren Szapiro, MA, LPC

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

Although we no longer expect to see a hypnotist wearing a top hat and swinging a watch on a chain, hypnosis still conjures up images of mystery and loss of control. Don’t worry; you won’t be leaving your therapist’s office clucking like a chicken. However, you may be surprised to find some very pleasant changes occurring after a hypnotherapy session.

An often-asked question is: What actually happens in a hypnosis trance? How does it feel to be in one? Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The push for greater licensure measures and controls across the country has been given diligent effort in recent months and years, as professionals work towards encouraging the integrity of the mental health professions and creating a national standard for identifying effective, positive training and professional support. As reported by the California Coalition for Counselor Licensure on Monday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed SB 788, a measure that will require all counselors operating within the state to obtain regulated licensure before working with clients. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

There have been many studies and proposed programs suggesting that the incorporation of exercise into one’s regular routing can go a long way towards both warding off depression and treating it in those already exhibiting symptoms. The positive effects of exercise on mental health are well-documented, but the precise ways in which physical activity can aid in the fight against depression may not always be exactly clear. It is for this reason that a study conducted at the University of Nottingham in the UK has been especially well-received. The study worked with a selection of women indicated for feelings of depression, and chose a certain number to participate in regular exercise treatment routines, while the study group was introduced to a supportive regimen of counseling and exercise.

The study was in part established based on the notion that standard gym exercise routines often fail to produce positive results for those with depression because of the relative isolation of the activity. To counteract this isolation, the study group was given extensive motivational counseling sessions before each period of physical activity, and participants took part in low-impact exercise on treadmills in communicative, supportive groups. Emotional support was on-hand throughout the exercising segments to allow for extra encouragement and help as needed. Read the rest of this entry

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

By Roni Weisberg-Ross, L.M.F.T., Abuse Topic Expert Contributor

When we think of children who have been sexually abused, we think of fear, anger and violence. Most sexual abuse survivors talk of the terror and disassociation surrounding the abuse. Many still feel that way as adults and don’t enjoy sex now, even in a loving relationship. But there are those who have a more complicated story to tell. These survivors may have hated their abusers but experience an unspeakable shame over the fact that their bodies responded sexually to the abuse. They cannot live with the knowledge that they were sexually stimulated even as they were being raped. Now they are not only healing from the abuse but from the additional belief that they were partially responsible for the abuse - and that they may even have deserved it.

While adult survivors can intellectually understand that as children they were victims of their abuse, they don’t always feel that way. And they certainly can’t accept that fact if they responded sexually. Many of them can’t imagine how a child could respond sexually. So they believe that not only are they dirty, but that they are freaks as well. Yet children do have sexual feelings. Toddlers can sexually arouse themselves. And as they get older, many of them experiment and discover that their bodies respond. The myth that hormonal changes occurring at adolescence are the beginning of sexual feelings is just that, a myth. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The weight loss industry is one which attracts several billion dollars each year from the United States alone, a fact which speaks to the national preoccupation with feeling and looking slim. A percentage of these funds are spent by those who suffer from obesity, which goes well beyond a basic inclination to lose a few pounds in preparation for a special event or to fit back into a favorite outfit. the quest to understand how those with obesity can best achieve healthy and successful weight loss has been ongoing for several years, and many different aspects of dieting, exercising, and daily living have been examined. The quest has had a particularly interesting spotlight recently in Japan, where researchers at Doshisha University have studied the effects of personality traits on weight loss among the obese.

The study administered a series of questionnaires to participants aimed at evaluating their psychosocial profiles prior to beginning supervised weight loss regimens. For a period of six months, participants worked through a weight loss program, including diet and exercise assistance as well as counseling, after which they were once again asked to complete a survey evaluating the same aspects of personality. The results found that those participants who exhibited an ability to improve their self-awareness through counseling were more successful with weight loss. Read the rest of this entry

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

By Joyce A. Thompson, MS, LMFT, Abuse Topic Expert Contributor

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

Many survivors have heard the terribly painful comments from others who just did not ‘get it’, telling them that their abuse was in the past and to basically ‘get over it’. But sadly, childhood abuse causes many difficulties for those survivors, and it’s not simply a matter of ‘forgiving and forgetting’. Not everyone experiences the same after-effects of childhood abuse, but there are many commonalities among survivors in what they suffer. Read the rest of this entry

By Holly Holmes-Meredith, D. Min., MFT, Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Hypnotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

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

Hypnotherapy is effective, short term, and very result oriented. When you choose your practitioner, make sure he or she is well-trained and qualified to support you in safely and ethically getting the results you want and need. The following are guidelines for potential hypnotherapy clients to consider before getting started.

What is the difference between a hypnotist and a hypnotherapist? Hypnosis is a state of consciousness that occurs naturally, can be self-induced, or facilitated by a guide that allows the hypnotee to access an expanded state of consciousness. In the hypnotic state, there is a heightened ability to respond to suggestions, recall memories, access creativity, experience imagination, and activate mind over matter through self-healing and pain management. When therapeutic interactive processes take place in the hypnotic state, the client participates in the form of therapy called hypnotherapy. Read the rest of this entry

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

Of the entirety of homeless people across the United States, upwards of thirty percent are veterans. Sometimes suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder and often grappling with alcohol or substance abuse, some homeless veterans find themselves leading violent lives. Recently, a joint study between the University of Cincinnati and the city’s Veterans Administration Medical Center brought solid rationalization for an increasingly popular method of treatment: group therapy. The study found that the participating homeless men, all of which had admitted to committing acts of physical or emotional abuse against their partners, were less than half as likely to continue the trend following a course of group therapy led by a social worker. The information may do a great deal to help veterans in need get more precise care.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Oakland 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 Becki A. Hein, MS, LPC, Anxiety Topic Expert Contributor

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

One of the most common requests I get from clients in my psychotherapy practice is “Please help me get rid of this anxiety!” I then get to explain the Bad news and the Good news. The Bad news is that you are not going to get rid of your anxiety. In fact, it would be harmful to not be able to feel anxious. Anxiety and fear come with being alive. Anxiety can be useful when it causes you to be extra alert or careful, such as when you are walking to your car in a dark parking lot or when you are taking a test. Human beings were designed to feel anxious when faced with danger or a challenge. The fight or flight response is triggered causing adrenaline and other chemicals to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, narrow our focus of attention, and enable us to do what we need to do to stay alive. However, human beings were not designed to be chronically anxious. Recent studies have shown that chronic anxiety plays a major part in either causing or exacerbating several physical illnesses, including heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and chronic respiratory disorders. Therefore, it is a good thing to learn to manage your anxiety. That brings us to the Good news. Read the rest of this entry

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

Much of modern society is often termed as “shameless,” especially in terms of media and product promotion. But shame is still very much a part of the average human experience, and while some people may quickly and easily be able to overcome the feeling of shame, others may become debilitated. Shame, whether arising from a perceived faux-pas or other shortcoming, or from a traumatic event, can sometimes take hold of a person’s self-image and cause them to feel powerless and essentially wrong or bad, elements that are significantly detrimental to the enjoyment of life, work, and relationships.

Hoping to help those suffering from debilitating feelings of shame as well as mental health professionals who work with shame-affected clients, Jessica Van Vliet of the University of Alberta has recently published a study that sought to examine how shame can be confronted and released. Van Vliet’s work suggests that some of the most promising avenues towards overcoming feelings of shame include distancing oneself from a shameful event or situation and taking on a new perspective, as well as considering the source of the shame in light of the experiences and lives of others. In fact, making social connections is one of the strongest prescriptions in Van Vliet’s discussion. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Throughout popular culture, a common idea is that the college years are among life’s best. The branching out into a new and somehow freer world, without the direct supervision of parents, leads many young people to expect they’re headed for bliss, and conventional wisdom supports their idea with tales about the “good old days” of school. But for a large number of college students, the years between high school graduation and entrance into the working world are anything but “the best.” Many college students find themselves struggling with feelings of sadness, depression, or loneliness, and sometimes these feelings can have a profound impact on academic performance. In an effort to help curb the trend of sad students, a recent study has investigated ways to create a more positive outlook while improving performance.

The study, which was conducted at the University of Missouri and published in the journal Education Psychology Review, has taken a look at which factors are most beneficial for the improvement of mood, interactivity, and schoolwork in general. A review of extant material on the subject has made a strong case for the power of positive connections; having meaningful relationships with teachers, parents, and the school itself are excellent indications for happiness at school and steady progress in academic study. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Anti-depressant medications, which have experienced a sharp rise in popularity in recent years, often fall short of providing a truly meaningful or long-term solution to those experiencing difficult mental health concerns. While many may take anti-depressant medications in an effort to quell suicidal thoughts and behaviors, a recently released study has suggested that the substances provide little if any deterrent to those under the age of twenty five. While adults over the age of sixty-five showed a notable decrease in “suicidality,” based on a review of statistics and literature recently provided to the US Food and Drug Administration, young adults and children exhibited the same increase in such thoughts and behaviors as those not taking the medications. The research supports the need for greater inquiries into the efficacy of anti-depressants, particularly for children and adolescents.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The benefits of being outdoors have often been documented in terms of the healthy effects of sunlight. Despite concerns over too much sun exposure, a reasonable amount of regular sunshine can help boost Vitamin D levels and support a greater mental well-being, leading many mental health professionals to recommend that their clients enjoy more time outdoors. Adding a new dimension to this piece of advice recent research about the potential of soil elements to boost mood are breaking into the mainstream.

Based on original research that introduced cancer patients to a mycobacterium, a naturally occurring and harmless element present in many types of soil around the world. The participants subsequently reported feeling an overall boost in mood and outlook, a result that may not have been expected, but which has prompted a great body of research to date. As the facts and figures recorded in the lab continue to surface, ideas about the evolutionary role of dirt in human existence have sprung forth to support the notion that with our modern aversion to getting dirty and an increasing tendency to stay inside, our modern brain chemistry may be greatly skewed from that of our ancestors’. 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

While the effects, for both clients and their families, of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD can have far-reaching consequences that greatly impact elements of everyday life, many who grapple with the mental health concern remain untreated, even during the normal course of therapy. In an effort to deliver specialized care from professionals and peers alike, the annual Obsessive Compulsive Foundation’s conference is set to stage another empowering event. The conference will include keynote speeches as well as several therapeutic activities, such as a fashion show focusing on mis-matched buttons and messy hairdos for those focused on keeping a meticulous appearance, and a trashcan touching and hugging session for clients with debilitating aversions to germs. The conference, which has enjoyed a fair measure of success in the past, hopes to continue to grow and reach more people affected by the mental health concern.

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