Category: Cultural & Social Issues
The Good Therapy Blog
February 8th, 2012 |
People who are discriminated against can suffer significant negative consequences. General well-being, self-esteem, self-worth, and social relations can be severely impacted as a result of discrimination. But recognizing exactly how perceived discrimination affects an individual is much less understood. Previous research has suggested that perceived discrimination can lead to mental health problems such as increased stress, depression, and anxiety. In an effort to better comprehend the exact relationship between perceived discrimination... Read More
© Copyright 2012 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Laguna Beach Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
February 7th, 2012 |
How is this a story of triumph and choice from an anonymous inmate in an anonymous prison in an anonymous year? First, the story (as written by the inmate):
"Martin Luther King said, 'The true mark of growth isn't how a man acts when or during times of comfort and happiness, rather how he acts during times of trials and controversy.' I put that to the test last week. On my way to chow the Asst. Chief of Security pulled me aside and searched me. My shoes had a hole in the heel from daily wear. He accused me of using it as a hiding spot for contraband. He told me to go to my room and don't leave... Read More
February 3rd, 2012 |
It seems impossible to be multiculturally competent: There are an infinite number of cultures to be learned with limited time, and cultures evolve constantly. Books on multiculturalism are getting thicker every day, and that thin line between stereotyping and having cultural knowledge is extremely challenging to walk. Many people’s eyebrows furrow, feel anxious, or worry about being incompetent when they think about being multiculturally competent.
What if I tell you that multiculturalism is, actually, fun?
Below you will find my secret guide to multicultural competence that I have presented... Read More
February 1st, 2012 |
Experimentation is a common behavior during adolescence. Young adulthood is a time when individuals begin exploring new relationships, activities, and even substances. Drug use among young adults is not uncommon. However, adolescents who continue to abuse drugs and alcohol are more likely to engage in risky sexual activity, aggression, and unlawful behaviors. There are many factors that have been shown to increase the likelihood of substance abuse during this time, including anxiety, depression, childhood trauma or abuse and family... Read More
© Copyright 2012 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Plano Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
January 30th, 2012 |
A strong therapeutic bond is imperative in order to achieve a successful outcome in psychotherapy. This bond must begin with the initial intake session. Research indicates that clients who feel disconnected from the clinician due to cultural, ethnic, or even religious differences, are more likely to terminate treatment as early as the first session.
To understand what factors influence this dynamic, Daniel C. Rosen of the Counseling and Health Psychology... Read More
© Copyright 2012 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Mountain View Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
January 30th, 2012 |
Many people, but primarily young, educated, Western women, struggle to sustain a positive body image—for a multitude of reasons that have been discussed in previous posts. Often a negative body image leads to a poor relationship with the body and other aspects of self. It is associated with impoverished self-care and unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits.
Having a negative body image is related to general low self-esteem and depression or anxiety. Women with poor body image often struggle with boundaries in relationship to self and others. In this post, I will attempt to shed some light on... Read More
January 27th, 2012 |
Men, in general, are far less likely than women to seek professional help for mental health problems. But a new study, led by Joseph H. Hammer and David L. Vogel of the Department of Psychology at Iowa State University, suggests that men from rural communities are even more resistant than urban-dwelling men when it comes to getting psychological counseling. The study expands upon previous research by the team and explores the factors that create barriers to treatment. For example, in the study, Hammer and colleagues identified self-stigma... Read More
© Copyright 2012 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Dallas Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
January 26th, 2012 |
Half a dozen years ago, less than one-fifth of 12-year-old girls had a cell phone or iPod. Now, according to recent statistics, more than half of our young women own one if not both of these devices. Our culture has taken a dramatic technological shift over the past decade. And although there has been much research dedicated to examining the effects of multimedia on college students and adults, little attention has been given to the effects this has on the social skills and academic functioning of our young girls. Roy Pea of the School of Education at Stanford University wanted to find out exactly... Read More
© Copyright 2012 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Roswell Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
January 23rd, 2012 |
Adolescents receive various messages from their mothers. But a new study, led by Laura Wray-Lake of the School of Behavioral and Organization Sciences at Claremont Graduate University, suggests that messages of caution and compassion have a particularly significant influence on the socialization and behaviors of teens. Compassion messages are inferences that people should all be treated with respect and value, whereas caution messages teach children to be wary of the world and people around them. Wray-Lake and her colleagues looked at several factors that influenced the value messages of the mothers,... Read More
© Copyright 2012 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Austin Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
January 23rd, 2012 |
The transition from high school to college is a major milestone that evokes many emotions for teens. For adolescents with multicultural ethnic identities, this time represents a period in which they can explore their ethnicity more freely. However, a new study led by Kim M. Tsai of the Department of Psychology at the University of California in Los Angeles suggests that students who enroll in 4-year colleges are more in tune with their ethnic identity... Read More
© Copyright 2012 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Farmington Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
January 13th, 2012 |
Reality television depicts average people rising rapidly to instant fame. Other media outlets, including YouTube and Facebook, provide people with the opportunity to gain the attention of a virtual audience with the push of a button. Young people today are bombarded with images of fictional fame, as in the case of Hannah Montana and other television characters, and real fame, through reality programming and media coverage of athletes, musicians and actors. But how has this phenomenon affected the aspirations of our youth? Yalda T. Uhls, of the Department of Psychology at the University of California,... Read More
© Copyright 2012 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Carlsbad Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
January 13th, 2012 |
But home is far away
In the Dark, we can’t make out the sea.
No stars point our ways to the shore
Wind comes from all directions
Cutting our bones.
By Wang Ping
January is a time of brisk, crisp, sparkling skies and clean air— an inspiration to get outside and get some exercise. January is cold wind and early darkness that feels likes an assault.
Sometimes I revel in the snappy skies, sometimes I grouse about having to wear shoes and boots and socks and sweaters. . . It can be depressing. I’m thinking about those times when the glass is less than half empty— it isn’t even there,... Read More
January 13th, 2012 |
I had my first DXA scan a few weeks ago. My gynecologist felt that it was time I had one, as I’m officially post-menopausal. While I was curious about the results, I wasn’t worried—I’ve done yoga, including various crazy postures that involve balancing my body’s weight on my arms, for many years. I used to teach “aerobics,” as we called group cardio fitness classes back in the day. I mix up my cardio workouts with regular resistance training. I take calcium supplements and try to get my leafy greens in as often as I can remember to go grocery shopping.
And although there were a... Read More
January 12th, 2012 |
It is not a surprise that we have heard much stirring in the last several years about the importance of empathy and its role in everything from attachment, to neural development, to world positivity. There is an empathy shortage in the world, and we are seeing the far-reaching effects. Bullying. Violence. Insensitivity. Selfishness. In practice, we often see the damage done with children who are traumatized because of early life experiences characterized by a lack of empathy. Abuse, neglect, emotional bankruptcy, painful attachments and a violation of trust all contribute to a child’s ability... Read More
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