A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Feeling down during the winter may be a fairly common experience, yet for many people, the experience is especially pronounced, seemingly uncontrollable, and potentially debilitating. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a major concern among much of the world’s population that lives in areas receiving low levels of sunlight during the winter, and clients facing this challenge have traditionally had to choose between psychotherapy and medications, both of which may be effective yet may also be difficult to access. The easy access and simple format of light therapy for the treatment of SADhas been celebrated, and has also recently been gaining support and popularity among professionals and clients alike.

Consisting of a portable unit, light therapy can help some people affected by SAD avoid the impact of low sunlight levels on neurochemistry, and may also receive a boost from the positive aspects of the light itself, even in as little as three days. Of course, some clients report that simply spending time outside during the day –whether to take a walk or engage in another activity– can have the same benefits. But in areas where sunlight may be especially low, or for those on extremely busy schedules, personal light units may prove invaluable. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Fort Collins Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

One of the most important aspects of clinical practice, outcome scales provide practitioners and clients alike with key information about client progress and response to various stimuli and treatments. While there are many self-reporting scales for anxiety, one such scale recently developed at Rhode Island Hospital has been created to allow for swift reporting and processing times, and to deliver a consistent and reliable accuracy. The scale has proven successful in resisting test-retest variance and is able to be completed in less than two minutes by a client, while scoring can take under thirty seconds. The scale may become popular in a number of clinical environments, especially those with demanding case loads.

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist West Hollywood Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

By Susanne M. Dillmann, Psy.D., Post Traumatic Stress / Trauma Topic Expert Contributor

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

People who have been exposed to a traumatic experience know all too well that severe stress has a significant impact upon the body. Unfortunately many people do not know that this physical reaction is normal and to be expected, which leads many a survivor to conclude that they are falling apart or permanently damaged. Therefore, increasing your understanding of the physical impact that extreme stress has is vital to one’s healing from a traumatic experience.

The brain receives information about the status of the world through your five senses and receives information about the status of your internal world i.e. what is going on inside your body through various nerves. All of this information travels through our spine into our brain. Once this information reaches the brain the first stop is a ‘danger detection center’ which determines whether the incoming information indicates that there is a danger or threat. If the ‘danger detection center’ perceives that there is a danger or threat then it sets off a series of alarms, which lead the body to begin preparations to protect itself. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Typically, psychotherapeutic services and other forms of treatment are considered within a context of the face to face meeting, but as the popularity and agility of the online world grows, an increasing number of specialists are becoming interested in the psychological nature of virtual social environments such as Second Life, and how services might be delivered in such mediums. With the potential for clients to create avatars of themselves that differ from their true nature, some skeptics question the validity of any assessment and healing work, while others may find this new form of expression deeply telling.

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Fort Lauderdale Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The physical presence of a therapist during sessions may seem to have an impact on the efficacy of care to some, but others have long suspected that it is the exploratory and healing work itself that is responsible for a great deal of the basis of recovery, along with the client’s effort and will. As a growing number of people are seeking therapeutic treatment for a wide variety of issues, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, some professionals are wondering whether difficulties in providing in-person treatment might be aided by the use of long-distance care. Videoconferencing is among the new techniques being considered, and a recent study conducted by the Office of Veterans’ Affairs has shed a positive light on the medium.

The study involved a number of military personnel following their return home from war, and placed some in traditional in-person group therapy programs, while others were randomly directed into groups in which the therapist was connected via a monitor. The researchers noted that they took reasonable measures to ensure that both types of treatment were conducted in the same manner save for the manifestation of the presence of the therapist. Read the rest of this entry

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