A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Whether one writes with the left or the right hand has been suggested to have an impact on various personality traits and other aspects of the life of the mind, but a study recently performed at the University of Virginia with collaborators from other colleges has found that this seemingly simple characteristic can have a great influence over body image. Participants in the study were asked to estimate the lengths of their arms, and to guess how far they could reach with either limb. Left-handed participants tended to rate both arms as being of equal length and reaching ability, but those who were right-handed scored their right arms as being significantly longer and more able than their left arms. The research may inspire further inquiry into how body usage affects perception, in turn helping mental health professionals to gain insight about their clients.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Weight loss is something that scores of people attempt to achieve each year, and some approach the topic with a more positive outlook than others. Though there are options available for rational weight loss, many programs focus on treating non-idealized bodies as wrong or unacceptable, and suggest the restriction of certain foods –sometimes entire food groups– in order to cause a drop in pounds. The “Healthy at Any Size,” or HAES program, has recently been tested on women attempting to lose weight, and has taken a health, rather than a weight, centered approach. Concentrating on healing emotional issues surrounding eating, the program was found to be successful compared to a control group, but still needs further research to distinguish it from basic social support offerings.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Those who experience visible skin lesions and irritations due to the skin condition psoriasis are often faced with negative reactions from others, as the appearance of the dermatological issue can be surprising and unusual. Though people with psoriasis often exhibit symptoms of insecurity or concern over their appearance, a study recently performed at the University of Manchester suggests that those with the skin condition may adapt to negative social reactions by registering them in a much more shallow way than those without psoriasis. The researchers, who used MRI brain imaging to examine how the brain handled images of disgusted faces in test and control groups, may help explain how the mind overcomes some psychological difficulties.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Society at large has been praising the merits of thinness for many years, with super models and silver screen stars proudly strutting svelte figures. But recently, as awareness grows about worldwide “obesity epidemics,” media is becoming ever more harsh on the matter, and a recently released report on eating disorders among children suggests that this surge may be responsible for significant increases in dangerous diets and poor body image. Some mental health professionals have suggested that children abstain from watching television shows such as “The Biggest Loser,” but others note that the concentration on being thin and losing weight extends far beyond the TV. Instilling positive self-image ideas in kids may hold the key to warding off harmful eating habits.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update

Check into a given health-related news portal these days and you’re likely to find a wealth of material about obesity. Calling the increasing number of people who grow up overweight an “epidemic,” some medical professionals and reporters have represented the increase with a fair amount of shame and guilt directed towards those people who struggle with their weight. But what such news pieces often fail to highlight is the emotional and mental damage dealt to people who are frequently barraged with talk about the negativity and unhealthiness of fat. Thanks in part to the rare occurrence of such unbiased discussion of the growing weight issues in developed countries, a recently published article in a major UK periodical has gained plenty of attention among medical and mental health professionals alike.

The article focuses on the presence of additives and other unnecessary substances in modern convenience foods, as well as the convenience culture itself, and its role in the creation of a substantial number of overweight people. Touching upon psychological impulses that lead people to eat mindlessly or compulsively, the article provides insight into the mental health perspective on nutrition that is rarely delivered in pieces geared towards the public. This attention to the awareness of practical problems in weight management rather than unorganized blame and negativity directed towards overweight people has great potential to help heal and restore the confidence of those who suffer from difficult body image issues.

As therapists and other mental health professionals work to deliver more quality care to people in need of self-esteem development as well as assistance in nurturing themselves properly with food, a culture obsessed with making a scandal of overweight persons may experience a worthy change.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

It’s fairly common knowledge, and particularly plain to see with a bit of insight and experience, that the women typically depicted in fashion and beauty magazines have had their pictures significantly altered by digital artists. Steps to improve skin tone, remove any fatty appearances, and cover up blemishes have been a mainstay of such photography for decades. But a group in the UK has decided that this mainstay is a hazard to the mental health of teenage girls. Citing the annual rates of hospitalization for anorexia and bulemia, the group hopes to ban airbrushing from magazines in an effort to present growing girls with more reality about body image, and less unrealistic ideals.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Update Presented by Jolyn Wells-Moran, PhD, MSW

Teenagers who are overweight, or believe they are, appear to be at higher risk of suicide, according to a new study published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health. This was found to be the same for girls and boys.

While the research results certainly can’t be said to be reliably predictive of any one teenager’s suicide risk, the study does help to support the view that teenagers with real or perceived weight problems should be particularly assessed for depression and suicidal thoughts – and that all teens should ideally be screened. Teenagers with depression and/or suicidal thoughts should then be referred for psychotherapy geared to these issues, and medically evaluated for possibly discernible physiological causes and treatments. The study included 14,000 US high school students, their body mass indexes (BMI) and beliefs concerning whether of not they are overweight, along with the rate of suicide attempts within the group. The analyses controlled for demographics and possible confounding variables.

Monica Swahn, an associate dean for research at the College of Health and Human Sciences and an associate professor in the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University was the lead researcher. “We cannot only focus prevention strategies on those who are overweight and who are concerned about their weight, but we also need to include youth who feel that they are overweight even though they may not be,” Swahn said in a news release. Read the rest of this entry

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 Ondina Nandine Hatvany, MFT

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

If you tend to struggle with food, weight and body image, holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas can be particularly challenging, because they revolve so much around food and mealtimes. For someone who is addicted to food, it can feel like there is no escape. Unlike other addictions food is not something you can simply go cold turkey (pun intended) especially this time of year.

Following are some tips for dealing with the food, family and holidays dilemma:

1) Identify your trigger foods and situations:

A ‘trigger food’ is food that when eaten makes someone feel out of control or compulsive with food. Figuring out which foods put you in that “I can’t stop” mode is really important. For some, it’s the first taste of sugar that gets them craving for more. For others, it’s the carbs (bread,cake etc.) that jump starts the “bottomless pit feeling.” Surprisingly, trigger foods are often linked to allergies. It’s worth getting a nutritional evaluation just to be sure. For now just try and avoid your trigger foods altogether. There is a catch, however. Ironically we often crave our trigger foods or those foods to which we are most allergic! Here’s a quick tip if you find yourself dealing with an irresistible craving for that trigger cookie: eat some protein (especially important for sugar/ carb addicts) or a fresh piece of fruit or vegetable and drink lots of water. Read the rest of this entry

By Jeanette Raymond, Ph.D.

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

Flora was proud of herself. Her stomach felt flatter. Her new diet and exercise regimen was paying off. She ate things she liked and found exercises that fitted in with her energy levels- not the self flagellation she inflicted on herself in the gym the last time she tried to lose weight. She was amazed at how easy it was to follow her program and how much she was enjoying it.

A couple of weeks into the project Flora was part of a decision making team at work. There were disagreements and heated opinions flying around making her feel uneasy. She wanted to let them know what she thought but couldn’t fight her way into the conversation. She didn’t want to be the center of attention by yelling her way into the debate. Nor did she want to be ignored. Suddenly Flora sensed something was missing. She grabbed a pillow and put in on her abdomen. What a relief! At that very stressful moment Flora missed the ‘padding’ that her fat had provided. The cushion smothered her conflict, removing the need for making a choice. Driving home she felt annoyed that no one had invited her to comment or made room for her opinion. Demeaned and diminished Flora’s anger frothed up. She stopped at a store and bought a quart of vanilla ice- cream and a large bag of corn chips. Read the rest of this entry