A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Working through a mental health difficulty can be personally challenging for the self, but most people who confront such concerns also encounter issues within their families. In extreme cases, some people may become separated from their loved ones, as is the case of many women in Los Angeles with criminal backgrounds and indications of mental health concerns. But the rate of reunification is distinctly on the rise in the city, as women with feelings of depression, anxiety, and other issues are receiving assistance from programs aimed at meeting the needs of local families torn apart by conflict and a misuse or absence of effective treatment.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Grappling with the symptoms of mental illness can be challenging for therapy clients and their families, with issues ranging from poor emotional feedback on a daily basis to problems with the maintenance of a house and declining personal relationships. Recognizing the need to help therapy clients and their families understand these challenges from a more experienced point of view, a Wisconsin chapter of NAMI has developed two convenient group courses for local community members. The courses, taught by specially trained NAMI representatives (some of whom are themselves diagnosed with mental health concerns), are aimed at limiting the potential for the negative impact of mental health issues in homes, and are a great example of mental health action being taken at the community level.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

While here have been scores of studies on the causes and effects of post-partum depression, a researcher from the University of Queensland recently set out to uncover the effects of mothers’ mental health during the long process of child rearing. Focusing her research on a study performed at the Mater University of Pregnancy, the researcher found that those mothers who exhibited signs of mental health concerns were significantly more likely to raise children with behavioral and other issues, while those with recurring issues such as feelings of depression or anxiety showed a dramatic increase in these rates. The effective treatment of mothers experiencing mental health issues may in fact prove valuable for more than just the client herself.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

There is growing evidence that introducing children and adolescents to therapy can prove beneficial in a host of areas; in fact, recommendations have been made that most if not all young people undergo some sort of professional screening for feelings of depression. The effort to help curb unnecessary suffering in youth is undoubtedly important, and mental health professionals from many different fields are keen to lend their knowledge and expertise to the health and well-being of kids. But as for engaging in actual therapy sessions, there is some contention between those who assert that the child is the most apt representative of their person, and those who prefer to glean the most information from the parents.

This issue has recently come up for a professional in Israel, who has discussed the virtues of meeting with parents prior to meeting with the child, and adds that meeting with the child may not be necessary at all. While it is generally accepted that parents who are concerned about their relationships with their children can benefit from meeting with a therapist, the idea that a child who could realize greater well-being from therapy can treated in a vicarious manner is cause for questioning for some professionals. With that said, experienced marriage and family therapists have known for years about the positive impact made on the lives of children as a result of their parents being in therapy or marriage counseling. And although family therapy has gained in popularity over the last 40 years, treatment absent of the person for whom the treatment is intended is not nearly as accepted by professionals outside the realm of marriage and family therapy. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Feelings of depression can be disruptive for many people in various areas of their lives, but it can also have a serious impact on those with whom they’re especially close, including their family. The National Research Council and Institute of Medicine has released a report identifying the need to address feelings of depression within the context of entire families rather than limiting perspective to the individual, with special urgency afforded in cases involving children. source: http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=119782&cn=5

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

By Marti Granizo-O’Hare

“I became a lawyer 20 years ago to represent children’s rights. I became a mediator to assist partners restructure their lives in the face of a divorce, and in doing so minimize the deleterious effects of separation.”

More and more couples are participating in divorce mediation to effectively communicate about their financial and parenting matters. Particularly where families are involved, all other dispute resolution processes are dwarfed by the advantages and benefits of the mediation process. The legal fees, costs and emotional strain entailed in starting a court action against a life partner can be daunting. Although, mediation has been in existence for decades, in the past 10 years it has progressively gained recognition as a preferred alternative dispute process to litigation and attorney negotiated settlements. Among the reasons for its growth, is the fundamental objective of the mediation process: to assist both parties in effectively communicating and negotiating solutions which are best for them, their family and their situation. Mediation seeks to empower both parties by providing information in a neutral manner, respecting and supporting each individual’s rights and feelings, acting as a resource for professional referrals, and ultimately facilitating what often can be a difficult-and at times, tumultuous situation.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a dispute resolution process which assist parties’ communications for agreement. (See: mediate.com/articles/what.cfm). It is voluntary and confidential, and is conditioned on the informed consent of parties to actively participate in the process. It is a dispute resolution process which honors and is predicated on the self -determination of the participants involved. The parties have control over how they want the process to proceed and they have total control over what agreements are reached as a result of their participation in the process. Mediation is an all-inclusive process. The active involvement of the parties’ attorneys, third party professionals such as financial advisors or therapists, is always available to the parties and at the parties’ discretion. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

For many therapists and other mental health professionals, the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, are fairly clear. But for parents of children who suffer from related difficulties, it’s not always a straightforward matter to distinguish between positive and unhelpful behaviors, and sometimes parents’ efforts to help their children can have the opposite effect. Validating the behaviors associated with OCD is a common, and often unintentional, result of parents’ reactions to their children’s symptoms. But through consultation with a mental health professional and a better understanding of how OCD tends to work, parents can provide the care they seek to bestow upon their children without worsening symptoms.

A study recently published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology has revealed that a large number of families engage in what the study terms as “accommodations,” which typically take place when parents wish to soothe upset over a particular worry or concern experienced by a child. Such accommodations can include assistance in carrying out obsessive rituals, or the verbal assurance of certain conditions about which the child is worried. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

Though there have been many positive trends in the worlds of therapy and mental health treatments over the past few years, not all areas have been improving. Amidst a chaotic and stressful society with increasingly tight demands on youth, eating disorders have become a more prominent issue in the United States and around the world than many had imagined, touching the lives of children –especially adolescent girls– with alarming frequency. A great deal of treatments and programs have been developed in an effort to help curb the development and pervasiveness of anorexia, bulimia, and other sufferances, but one approach proposed by Houston psychotherapist Mary Jo Rapini takes an angle that’s close to home.

Specifically, Rapini’s focus is on the relationship between girls and their fathers. While it’s well known that healthy relationships between children and their parents are essential for positive childhoods and the creation of many proactive behaviors, the specific interactions of fathers and daughters as they relate to issues of body image are less often discussed. Rapini notes that fathers can help their daughters achieve a more positive body image by participating in healthy family activities and being open about the paternal love a father feels for his child. Read the rest of this entry

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

By Anne Ream ATR-BC, LPC

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

Some years ago psychologists were pointing out the unrealistic expectation that some people have that their partners “should” be able to know what they want or “read their mind”. Indeed that is an unrealistic expectation and gradually we are learning the importance of speaking up and telling our partners what we need, want, feel or think. Being attuned to another person, however, is a vital skill for a good enough relationship.

Researchers report that nonverbal communication makes up between 80 to 93% of our communication process. Because nonverbal messages express emotions more genuinely, being attuned to others and ourselves results in more effective communication and better relationships. As relationships mature, we become more attuned to the nonverbal communication of our partner.

The ability to be attuned to others begins to develop when we are infants. If our caregivers are well attuned to us, understanding and responding appropriately to our nonverbal communications, we will learn how to be attuned to others, gradually, as we grow up. Attunement is a social skill that we learn best during early childhood. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. For instance, a mentally ill, depressed or alcoholic mother or father will not be able to be well attuned to her or his children. Their children will often grow up without being appropriately heard, understood or empathized with. Because of this, the children’s ability to recognize and understand their own emotions (self-awareness) will not develop well enough for them to recognize, understand and empathize with other’s emotions. Read the rest of this entry

By Lois V. Nightingale, Ph.D.

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

Many adults acknowledge the benefits of having a supportive therapist as they face the inevitable challenges of divorce. But many parents are unsure at what point their child may be exhibiting signs that indicate a need for professional counseling. Many of the following indicators are similar to the symptoms adults experience when undergoing severe stress. Please note that the following indicators are not all inclusive and should not be used as an assessment tool to determine whether or not your child is in need of assistance. Evaluating an individual’s need for therapy is best left to a licensed professional.

Sleep disturbances

Some children wake with nightmares or have great difficulty going to sleep, saying they are afraid (of monsters, burglars, ghosts, etc.). Other children may regress to earlier sleeping patterns, such as sleeping with a favorite object, wetting the bed, or sleeping in a parent’s room. Children may also withdraw and hide in sleeping, which is more likely in teenagers and sleep longer hours than usual.

Eating changes

Some children under severe stress have difficulty with appetite. They may find their stomach hurts or feels upset and they may appear more picky than usual or refuse to eat at certain meals. Other children may find solace in food and try to nurture themselves by eating sweets and high fat foods. Both are signs that a child is not addressing directly their feelings of stress, anxiety or possible depression.

School problems

Teachers can often tell when there are problems at home just by observing a child’s behavior at school. A child who was once very social may isolate or even push peers away. Children can become aggressive, exhibiting the interaction styles they have witnessed between their parents.

Withdrawal

Some children withdraw and isolate when they are afraid or upset. When isolating children may be doing things that help them feel better, such as writing, drawing or listening to music. But a child may be feeling alone, left out, frightened and obsessing about how out of control their life feels.
Outbursts of anger or destructive behavior

Children who have been holding in how they feel will let it out at some point. If outbursts of anger (verbal or physical) are modeled by either of the parents, children are more likely to let this anger out in similar ways. Children’s anger and frustration need to be heard, not “fixed” or reasoned away.

Trying hard to get parents to reconcile

It is very normal for children to want their parents back together, but if a child becomes fixated on this activity it can be a sign of severe stress and fear. Some children try to get their parents back together by being exceptionally good so parents won’t fight about them, others will act out to try to get parents to focus on them rather than the separation.

Becoming the “perfect” child or confidant

Some children cope with the stress of a divorce by trying to take the place of the absent parent. They may try to make life easier for a parent, and in return deny their own natural needs as a child. This robs a child of having a healthy childhood and can cause serious problems later on in life.

Coping with a difficult custody battle.

Custody battles can take a grave toll on children. Often they are pulled this way and that and may even be asked by the court with which parent they wish to live. A child entangled in a complicated custody battle can almost always use some outside help and counseling.

While some of these signs may appear for a short period of time and in mild forms during any divorce, if they are present for a significant period of time (weeks or months) it is important for the child to be evaluated by a professional therapist. Children usually feel comfortable with a therapist who specializes in treating children or has children of their own. A therapist working with children should also have supplies on hand to help children feel comfortable sharing their feelings. Some common therapy tools are, drawing materials, such as crayons, markers, colored pencils, puppets, books, sand tray and toys.

Remember it is always appropriate to ask several therapists questions about how they conduct therapy before choosing one for your child. A therapist with experience in working with children should help your child feel comfortable in their office. Both parents and children need extra support when going through the challenges of divorce.

©Copyright 2009 by Lois V. Nightingale, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Permission to publish granted to GoodTherapy.org. The following article was solely written and edited by the author named above. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the following article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment to this blog entry. Click here to contact Lois and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

Being sick or injured is a serious drag, as far as popular consensus is concerned, and with good reason: physical and mental capabilities may slow down, pain can become an incessant problem, and the feeling of “missing out” on life are all common components of the negative experience of being sick. Add a hospital stay to the equation, and these issues can easily multiply and take on new and depressing forms. A significant number of hospitalized people experience depression during and/or following their stay, and traditional approaches tend to placate the symptoms with a battery of medications. But in addition to being expensive, sometimes ineffective, and potentially addicting, these medicines may not be the best path to emotional recovery for those in the hospital.

To investigate the efficacy of new approaches, a study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics has put family therapy to the test. As many hospital patients feel isolated from the world and can quickly acquire feelings of loneliness, the potential for family therapy to make a positive impact was wisely assessed. The study’s researchers used both single-family and multi-family therapy approaches to determine which kind of sessions had the greatest results.

Incorporating eighty three hospitalized patients, the study provided a portion with multi-family therapy, while assigning others single-family therapy and providing the control group with physician-directed traditional care only (test group subjects received this basic care as well). After a period of fifteen months, patients in the multi-family therapy group showed a forty nine percent treatment responder rate and a twenty six percent drop in the use of anti-depressant medications, compared with twenty four and sixteen percent for the single-family therapy group, and nine and zero percent for the control group.

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

By Tom Badzey, M.A., MFTI

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

As a therapist who offers counseling for teens and their families, I’ve become aware of some of the biggest issues facing young people today. While depression and anxiety remain two of the major reasons why parents seek my help, often these are not the first issues that drive them to consult a therapist about their child. Usually, it’s one of the “Big 3” teen issues of our day – Sex, Drugs and Body Image issues (which includes eating disorders and steroid use).

Understanding the Adolescent Brain
Adolescence seems to be a time when these 3 issues surface more commonly than at other ages. That is not by accident. From what we now know about the developing brain - and what we are continuing to discover – dramatic changes occur during adolescence. These changes include forming a sense of identity, acquiring the ability to think critically, testing judgments about risk and reward, conceptualizing the world in abstract ways and forming lasting social relationships, among others.

These are all critical skills that will prepare young people to become independent and autonomous adult individuals. However, these changes – and the rapid, sometimes “herky, jerky” pace at which they happen – also leave many teens vulnerable to the lure of unhealthy sexual activity, dangerous abuse of alcohol and other drugs, frightening problems with food and eating, as well as the use of steroids and other “body enhancers.”

Often, teens are expected (by both adults and their peers) to be able to handle life’s unpredictable events as an adult would, even though they have yet to fully master the skills necessary to do so. Therefore, when stressful, traumatic or depressing events occur – sometimes exacerbated by high performance expectations in school or athletics, physical or sexual abuse, loss of a loved one, problems with romantic relationships, etc. – teens often find the attraction of sex, drugs, steroids and other behaviors too good to ignore. Read the rest of this entry

By Jason Wasser, LMFT

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In the midst of a world economic crisis, millions of families will be challenged in ways that can cause significant negative effects to their lives. As a Marriage and Family Therapist here in South Florida, economic stress is one of the main reasons why a couple or family will initiate therapy with me. In fact, Viktor Gecas, professor of sociology and head of the Department of Sociology at Purdue University notes that “research shows that this kind of stress can lead to changes in family members and in family dynamics, such as husbands becoming irritable and wives becoming depressed, as well as more extreme problems such as mental health issues, alcoholism, drug abuse and family violence.”

How we learn to cope with this present situation is based on the resources that we have access to. Families that were already struggling before the present crisis may be hit the hardest. The friends and family members that they usually can count of in times of need may also be affected by their own economic woes. Read the rest of this entry

By Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D.

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

Many adopted and foster children have had very difficult and painful histories with their first parents. These children have experienced chronic early maltreatment within a caregiving relationship. Such a history can lead to the development of Complex Trauma (Cook et. al., 2003; Cook et. al., 2005), disorders of attachment, and Reactive Attachment Disorder. Children with histories of maltreatment, such as physical and psychological neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, are at risk of developing severe psychiatric problems (Gauthier, Stollak, Messe, & Arnoff, 1996; Malinosky-Rummell & Hansen, 1993). These children are likely to develop Reactive Attachment Disorder (Greenberg, 1999; Lyons-Ruth & Jacobvitz, 1999). Approximately 2% of the population is adopted, and between 50% and 80% of such children have attachment disorder symptoms (Carlson, Cicchetti, Barnett, & Braunwald, 1995; Cicchetti, Cummings, Greenberg, & Marvin, 1990). Many of these children are violent (Robins, 1978) and aggressive (Prino & Peyrot, 1994) and as adults are at risk of developing a variety of psychological problems (Schreiber & Lyddon, 1998) and personality disorders, including antisocial personality disorder (Finzi, Cohen, Sapir, & Weizman, 2000), narcissistic personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and psychopathic personality disorder (Dozier, Stovall, & Albus, 1999). Therapeutic Parenting is often necessary to help these children heal (Becker-Weidman, A., & Shell, D., 2005/2008). This approach to parenting is often not familiar to most parents and requires a significant amount of work and preparation. Attachment facilitating parenting is grounded in attachment theory and is based on a set of principles that include: Read the rest of this entry

By Sherry Gaba, LCSW

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You may be a single parent by choice, divorced, widowed, never married or thinking about what parenting would be like without a partner. Many of the single parents who enter my office are often overwhelmed, stressed out, guilt-ridden, and full of angst. Mindfulness single parenting allows you to parent in the moment in a non-judgmental way on purpose with grace, wisdom, and compassion for yourself and your children. Guilt melts away into un-conditional acceptance that your are doing the best you can. Becoming reactive when your child misbehaves is replaced with seeing clearly what is really going on underneath the surface of your child’s acting out. You become more attuned with what your child is truly feeling. By parenting consciously and looking at your child’s point of view, you let go of your own agenda. You begin to see that sometimes your children’s behavior could be a manifestation of feeling different. Instead of labeling yourself as “less than” because you are a single parent, you surrender to the loss without trying to fix or enable your child’s discomfort so that you can run away from the pain. You face the truth with your child head on with self love and empathy. You cultivate an acceptance of what you and your child are experiencing right now in the present moment. Read the rest of this entry

By Peggy Gold, MS, NCC, LMHC

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This video was submitted by Craig. See his comment here.

A few months ago, I was confronted with an issue that no parent wants to tackle. My 3-year-old daughter became constipated, was scared to go to the bathroom, and subsequently began soiling her underpants. All this was occurring shortly after I’d given birth to our second child, and life was feeling very overwhelming for both of us.

It was important to me that I preserve my daughter’s sense of self confidence, refrain from doing anything that would damage her future toileting rituals, and also find a quick solution to the problem. I was changing underpants as often as I was changing diapers, and I wanted to get on with taking care of a newborn without experiencing the monotonous whining and crying associated with my daughter’s fears, discomfort, and neediness that went along with her constipated state. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org Featured Column written by Mary Ellen Barnes, Ph.D. & Ed Wilson, Ph.D., MAC

Click here to contact Mary Ellen and/or see her Profile
Click here to contact Ed and/or see his Profile

We work with clients very intensively – four or more hours a day for five to seven days – and with a well defined presenting problem – alcohol abuse. Following this initial treatment phase, during the ninety days of follow-up, we frequently see family members sabotage progress once clients return home. Undermining progress is rarely intentional, but nonetheless it is the second most common factor in clients reverting to old behaviors. Only clients’ self-sabotage is more destructive. Combine the two and any progress will be stopped dead in its tracks.

Why do spouses in particular, but other family members as well, attempt to drive clients back to their old drinking behaviors – behaviors they claimed they wanted changed, and whose elimination they frequently demanded? The answer is that, unhappily, we all tend to find that we really like what we refer to as “the security of familiar miseries.” Read the rest of this entry

By Chesley C. Swanson, LMSW
Click here to contact Chesley C. Swanson, LMSW and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

If you or anyone you know wants to end a marriage with minimal emotional damage to the family, I suggest serious consideration of collaborative divorce. A simple explanation of collaborative divorce is: “A highly structured process in which to express and resolve conflict without going to court”. Two of the web sites that have a more thorough explanation of collaborative divorce and a list of local attorneys, mental health professionals and financial professionals are www.collablawtexas.org and www.Divorcenet.com . My intention is to give information about what Texas collaborative professionals call “The Texas Model” of collaborative divorce. Texas collaborative professionals are dedicated and available to assist divorcing couples to successfully restructure their lives, so as to minimize the potential negative effects of divorce. Read the rest of this entry

An Excerpt from ‘Bring Yourself to Love: How Couples Can Turn Disconnection into Intimacy’
By Mona Barbera, Ph.D.

Click here to contact Mona Barbera, Ph.D. and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

What to Expect in Internal Family Sytems (IFS) Couples Therapy

Hopefully the ideas and exercises in this book have been helpful to you, and you feel confident that you can improve your relationship. Or perhaps you feel that you and your partner could use some professional help.

This chapter will tell you what to expect from a couples therapist who uses the IFS model. Since there are so many IFS therapists in the United States and in other countries, there is a lot of variety in the way IFS is practiced. This chapter gives the basics of the IFS approach. Read the rest of this entry

By Delyse Ledgard, MA, RCC

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

“For each person who volunteers to live the life of a tool, lest he turn out to be a knife, there is another who threatens to become a wound.” ~Sheldon Kopp.

In coming across the above quote recently I was reminded of the pain caused by being caught up in this cycle. Back in my mid twenties I was a walking wound, and to compensate I tried to take care of others and become the tool to their healing. Thankfully I have come a long way over the years even though there are times when I can get drawn into this dynamic. I have found this description a useful way to understand how we are caught up in being dependent on each other’s happiness. Partners will move between these three positions creating relationships based on powerlessness and fusion.

When I began my training I was first acquainted with this system in relationships as having three positions, persecutor, victim and rescuer. It is useful to conceptualize each position as a separate person for description, but more accurately they are aspects within our psyche that are activated in relationships. We express them in reaction to what we perceive and experience in others. However, you may recognize that you gravitate towards one characteristic in particular. Here is a description of each of these positions. Read the rest of this entry