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

“A Social Problem Does Not Exist For A Society Until It Is Recognized By That Society To Exist” – H. Blumer

The following is the first of a three-part series of articles:

It was in a high school literature class that I was first introduced to the Oedipus Complex, defined as “a boy’s unresolved desire for sexual gratification through the parent of the opposite sex, especially the desire of a son for his mother”. It was in a college film class that I was shown a famous French film entitled “Murmur of the Heart” which took the Oedipal theme and played it out in a contemporary middle class setting. In this film, the sensitive youngest son of a beautiful, tempestuous Italian woman is ushered into manhood by her as he recovers from a heart murmur at a countryside sanitarium. The film would have you believe that although mother and son both realized that they had crossed a forbidden line, neither was scarred by the experience, and that in fact the son was now able to go on and become a man. At the time, I never questioned the implications of this theme. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

There are scores of reasons why a given individual might think about or consider suicide, and many of them are deeply personal. But sometimes, the cause of such thoughts and overwhelming feelings may have a lot to do with the local environment, an issue which mental health professionals, public health workers, and governments are especially concerned about addressing. Recently, an extensive survey was carried out in parts of China which described a strong link between various uses and storage methods of common pesticides and incidences of suicidal thoughts. The survey was conducted following rising concerns over national suicide rates and outcry over the use of organophosphates, pesticides which have been banned in most Western countries but which are still employed in many parts of the world.

The survey examined the mental health and suicidal ideas primarily in farmers and their families living in rural areas. With large amounts of the organophosphate pesticides used to grow various crops, those living in such areas are easily able to absorb low dosages through the lungs and skin. Farmers and others who live in rural environments are exposed to the pesticides through the consumption of contaminated crops, and may also receive unhealthy dosages by storing the pesticides in unsafe ways or in excessive amounts. Over time, this exposure may lead to mental health issues, a side effect which has resulted in the discontinuation of organophosphates in the west. Read the rest of this entry

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

GoodTherapy.org Featured Column written by Judith Barr, MA, LMHC

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

“Every form of power can be used well or misused.
The law has been used to manipulate as well as to serve justice.
Parenthood has been used as a means of captivity, and it has been used to nourish a soul, helping it grow into fullness.
Sexuality has been used as a weapon to rape and dominate, as a substitute for unmet childhood bonding and physical touch, and as an exquisite sacred expression of love and union.”*

The recent events related to film director Roman Polanski bring up a lot of questions for us to examine as individuals and as a world culture. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The high stress and potentially traumatic conditions of war are well known by those who have experienced its difficulties, and sometimes the ability to overcome various images and experiences gained in wartime is a challenge to retain; many of those who have seen action develop symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Rates of PTSD among returning veterans deployed multiple times in the Iraq war have been noted as exceptionally high, but a new study performed at the Naval Postgraduate Institute and Stanford University suggests the rate will be higher than previously expected, at around 35% of those returning. The data may be useful for Veteran Affair and government offices as they prepare to help rehabilitate returning military personnel.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The prevalence of online interactions and communications means that many young people are experiencing a greater portion of their social lives over the internet, a trend which researchers from the University of Victoria posit may be of use to suicide and violence prevention efforts. The researchers have developed a keyword-parsing model which identifies phrases and words associated with risky behaviors, and offers those social networking bloggers identified the option to respond to the question of how they’re doing. A response that they’re not doing well and need help leads them to a site containing appropriate information and resourceful links, in an effort to prevent harmful actions.

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

GoodTherapy.org Featured Column written by Judith Barr, MA, LMHC

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

So much is being said and felt about healthcare reform. But do we know if our fears surrounding the issue of healthcare reform are from the here-and-now, or from once-upon-a-time long, long ago?

As a psychotherapist I see how often our ancient terrors are enmeshed with our current fears, such that the fear we feel over current events is magnified by the unresolved fears from our childhood. This happens not only on an individual scale, but also a cultural, national, and even global scale. This enmeshment of ancient and current fears (and other feelings) blinds us to the truths that are present today and to making wise decisions for lasting solutions. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

With persistent stigmatization over mental health services as well as the individuals who seek treatment, society can put a lot of undue pressure on those who experience mental health concerns. Combating this trend, a group of major athletes including Frank Bruno, Tony Adams, and Marcus Trecothick have joined the Time to Change campaign for spreading awareness about the issue and helping the public understand that mental health concerns can affect anyone –even sports celebrities. The athletes have shared their own experiences with mental health as part of Time to Change’s advocacy efforts surrounding Mental Health Awareness Week.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Commonly-held ideas about the superiority of mental health and personal well-being in many European countries are often backed up by statistics about the average workweek in such countries, and among the nations with the most coveted working conditions, France is typically vetted as the best. With shorter, thirty five hour weeks, ample time for lunch breaks, and generous vacation packages, French jobs are often considered to be especially luxurious and beneficial for the avoidance of stress and other taxes on mental health. A recent series of suicide incidents, both attempted and successful, at a major French organization, however, has brought the national working conditions into question, under a particularly bright media spotlight.

France Telecom, a major employer, has recently been hit with thirty eight suicides–-twenty four of which have been successful–within the past twenty months. A remarkably high number of attempts and successful suicides, the figures have created an outrage amongst the public as well as throughout the company itself, where workers complain that a new modernization and globalization scheme has created excessive stress and disappointment among employees. Some of those who ended their lives and their careers-–or attempted to do so–at the company left notes or otherwise described unacceptable management and excessive criticism. Throughout the country, in fact, a push towards integrating traditional French business values and practices with those of the United States and other leading economies has suggested that workers are enjoying their famously relaxed conditions less. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Tempe 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 academic journal PloS Medicine is set to launch the first of six issues in a series that will explore the needs of those with mental health concerns, as well as those with careers in the mental health disciplines, in areas with little or no relevant resources. The series has been created in response to a growing need to address the problems experienced in such areas, as access to quality mental health care is low if not non-existent, and the use of any available services may face significant cultural prejudices and stigmas. Reflecting on the fact that over ninety percent of people experiencing mental, neurological, and substance abuse issues do not receive any treatment, the series hopes to spark new discussions on the possibilities for improving care and to introduce potential innovations in the quest to bring mental health care to impoverished locations.

The journal will open the series with a feature on the aspects of depression in parts of the world with poor access to mental health services. Subsequent features are planned for epilepsy, schizophrenia, alcohol abuse issues, dementia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. As the series’ organizers hold that these mental health concerns constitute the primary issues for which many people may benefit from quality care, published pieces will ostensibly cover suggested ways to bring services for each issue to areas without treatment resources. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

There has been a great deal of talk about how the economic crisis and recession have had a negative impact on the happiness of people across the United States and in many places throughout the world, and rising rates of the prescription of anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications would seem to support such stories. As a matter of course, it is expected that difficult financial times will lead to higher levels of stress and create difficult situations that lead to feelings of sadness, worry, and anger, and there are doubtless many people who are struggling to recover not only financially, but mentally and emotionally, from the recession. Yet it may not be wise to characterize the health and happiness of the population as unilaterally “bad” during sour economic times. A study performed at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor has uncovered the fact that Americans were actually prone to higher rates of longevity and greater overall health during past recessions, an unexpected and seemingly counter-intuitive finding that might also shed light on the status of mental health worldwide.

The study looked at death rates and causes of death across a broad spectrum of citizens during the period of 1920 to 1940, years which experienced significant financial difficulty. The researchers found that despite the commonly-held belief that health suffers during economic downfall, these medical factors were significantly more optimistic than in times of greater financial prosperity. Possible explanations that have been offered in the wake of the study include the idea that during times of growth and expansion, people are pressured to work harder and longer, and may feel over-exerted or resort to substance abuse or other destructive behaviors, all of which can have negative consequences on overall health. Changing attitudes about the effects of the recession may help further improve how people feel as they work their way towards brighter days.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

There have been many positive effects reported by those who maintain strict Mediterranean diets, from lowered cholesterol and related heart problems and risks to greater longevity and beyond. Recently, however, a study has suggested that this specific type of diet –rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish–, may have a major impact on mental health, as well.

The study examined participants from Spain and obtained self-reported information on diet, ranking each participant’s adherence to the ideal Mediterranean meal plan. Those participants who exhibited a strong link with this ideal were thirty percent less likely to develop depression in a follow-up session than those who ate differently. While the mental health industry has long been aware of the potential of diet to influence mood and behavior, this study may make the case for better eating even stronger.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

In the modern media environment, in which reports of terrorist attacks are more frequent than in earlier years, the way in which such information is presented and certain aspects of the information itself are bound to play important roles in how people react. Seeking to investigate the factors that may contribute to certain reactions to these reports, a specialized team at the University of Colorado at Boulder has recently conducted a study involving simulated reports of various terrorism activities. While some differences in reactions among the participants were expected, precise results have produced clear cues for divergence in perspective.

Participants were shown any number of reports on the simulated attacks, and were given a battery of tests to gauge responses and evoked thoughts and feelings as a result of the exposure. The study found that one of the most significant factors that has an impact on the emotional response to the report of a terrorist attack is personality type; those with predominantly feminine personalities were likely to exhibit less anger than those identified as masculine. In terms of actual gender, women displayed a greater degree of anger and criticism in response to simulated reports in which terrorists hailed from enemy countries; men showed more intensely angry responses when presented with reports concerning terrorist activity from allied nations. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist St. Louis 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 Summary

Going through the symptoms and far-reaching personal, professional, and social consequences of depression is often a difficult experience, prompting many people to seek the care of mental health workers in one capacity or another. In Germany, a large number of people afflicted with thoughts and feelings of depression begin and end their report of the concern with their general practice physician. This trend is often capable of helping to provide specialized care when needed, but can also fall short of delivering the attention and tools that can help clients overcome depression. Recently, a team of German researchers has tested the efficacy of a simple intervention measure that can be used by general practice offices to help those with depression.

The study instructed trained personnel from participating practices to follow up with clients a month after their general practice visit, assessing depression-related issues and engaging in a discussion about relevant events, thoughts, and feelings. The intervention measure was designed to reinforce the idea that clients are not alone and have a clear path towards assistance if desired. The researchers posit that the phone calls may also be an important element of encouraging self-care, helping to cut down on rates of self-harm and destructive or negligent behaviors. Read the rest of this entry

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

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

By Sherry Gaba, LCSW and Life Coach

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

Viewers cannot turn on the television today without a story depicting pop icon Michael Jackson and his un-timely death. It has brought to the forefront of everyone’s mind a reminder of the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. What parents may not realize is although overall teen drug use is down nationwide; prescription drug abuse is on the rise, as one of the fastest growing addictions amongst teenagers today. Since 1992, the number of teenager’s ages 12 to 17 years old abusing controlled prescription drugs has tripled and nearly one in five teens reported that they are able to get prescription drugs such as Vicodin or OxyContin in one hour. In fact, nearly all poison deaths in the country are attributed to prescription drugs. In the last ten years, the number of teens going into treatment for addiction to prescription pain relievers has increased by more than 300 percent. In fact, most of the clients I see today are struggling with prescription drug abuse, specifically pain medications. Although it is understood heroin is dangerous and that overdoses are common, what parents don’t understand is that narcotic painkillers mimic the same effects of heroin on their bodies and can be just as lethal. Teens turning away from street drugs and moving towards prescription drugs is rampant and the myth that these drugs are safe because they are legal must be squashed or this trend will continue to grow. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Growing up in a foster care environment can be a rough experience, especially for the many children who are placed in homes under Britain’s public health and social services. Often coming from broken homes and traumatic events and circumstances, children placed in foster care may receive the basic necessities from their new homes, but many may be given inadequate resources for establishing happy and healthy lives. Recently, a report from the House of Commons decried the treatment of children receiving care and aid from the state, noting that children are moved frequently from one place and one family to the next, often miss out on significant portions of academic work, and are released into society at large prematurely.

In tandem with addressing these issues, two mental health professionals from the UK have advocated a model they produced to help caregivers of disadvantaged children not only provide the basic strategic necessities that children in their care deserve, but to help them understand and integrate meaningful pathways towards loving care and emotional bonding. The pair note that while many caregivers experience an impulse to reach out to the children they serve, many may feel restricted by the prejudices of modern society, which can sometimes view any sort of emotional caring and touch as inappropriate. 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

Spending a given amount of time at a mental health facility, whether to address an emergency or over a sustained period of time, can present diverse challenges and create many opportunities for clients. But feeling unsafe shouldn’t be part of the stay, a fact in contrast with recently collected results showing that NHS mental health trusts across the country fail to make their clients feel safe in their facilities. Compounded by complaints of perceived unfairness and a lack of availability of talk therapies and other activities, the reports of fear for client safety are triggering renewed dedications from industry professionals and lawmakers alike to provide quality care to those in need in Britain.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Cognitive health is one of the most exciting and fascinating fields of modern science –that is, if you’re interested in how the mind works in the first place, or if you’re connected with the resources to learn about advances make in the past and the directions for the future. Most mental health professionals have a certain degree of interest in the field of cognitive science, but the population at large is not necessarily as well-informed about the topic, and may hold greatly diverging ideas about its principles and possibilities. In order to discern how different groups of people view cognitive science, research recommended and supported by the Centers for Disease Control has recently been conducted and published in the latest issue of The Gerontologist.

The study separated a large group of nearly five hundred people into fifty five distinct focus groups, working over the course of two years to establish how factors such as age, language, location, and other essential demographic information is related to specific ideas about cognitive science. The results showed that different groups held diverse ideas about the field and the way in which it might become more prevalent among the public. But some ideas remained the same across the demographic spectrum. Most participants noted that education about cognitive science by community leaders in localized areas with topics targeted to area issues and concerns would be ideal, and commented that conceptions of the topic in popular media were confusing. Read the rest of this entry

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