A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

In many different specific fields, counselors can provide their clients with valuable mental health services that can have a positive and profound impact on personal health and well-being. But sometimes, those without proper training, education, and experience are allowed to practice professionally in situations that may be misleading or dangerous for potential clients. In an effort to create a standard of quality for counseling and to ensure that professionals receive the resources and background they’ll need to effectively meet their clients’ needs, many public administrations are considering tighter regulations for counselors. In the state of Oklahoma, it was recently announced that certified drug and alcohol addiction counselors will soon be subject to a new set of regulations that the state says is designed to improve the quality of care and create a rational schedule of pay rates.

The regulations are set to come into effect at various intervals, some as early as July of 2010, and focus on the need for certified counselors to provide only basic services, allowing those with more advanced degrees and qualifications to offer more involved treatment. In particular, the regulations describe a need for counselors hoping to provide psychotherapy services to obtain licensure, which itself requires a master’s degree. Some opponents of the measure suggest that the move is merely a problem of semantics and will prevent local clients from receiving the care they need as specialists become more rare and many area professionals return to their schooling. But supporters note that a higher level of understanding, experience, and knowledge can only ultimately be of benefit to those who receive help from counselors. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, has been gaining attention recently as its prevalence among military personnel becomes more widely known, but this mental health concern is certainly not limited to men and women in the armed forces. Able to effect people of all ages in many different situations, the issue is often addressed with psychotherapy or medications, or some combination therein, but more effective treatments are actively being sought. In a newly-published study, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have investigated the brain’s responses to unexpected and unpleasant audio stimuli, mapping how people react to events and how anticipation plays a role in these reactions. The researchers found that emotional responses were far stronger when events were unexpected, and hope to be able to use this information to help shed light on the specific etiology of PTSD.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The late summer and early fall seasons in the Philippines were especially cruel in terms of weather this year, inundating the region with a series of tropical storms and floods that killed scores of people and left many others in a state of devastation. That state, unfortunately, still persists in the areas affected by the disasters, as over a million people live in homes and shelters still racked with floodwaters and debris. While there are many concerns over the potential for bacterial infections and other health concerns to take a toll on those living with the stagnant waters, the World Health Organization has recently noted that the potential for mental health issues to become prominent in the area is great.

Citing the stress and frustration of living in an environment soaked with floodwaters, with little hope of restoring hopes to a dry state before the end of the year, the organization suggested that mental fatigue, depression, and other mental health concerns were likely to take hold of many of those struggling on a daily basis to reclaim their property-–and their lives–from the disasters. Along with local residents and business owners, the organization expressed concern for the emergency aid workers and other helpers assisting in cleanup and provision distribution efforts, many of whom have been working seven day weeks with little to no rest since September. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Having a stroke is an event that’s likely to cause mental and emotional difficulties; whether it’s apprehension at being hospitalized, loss of memory or function, or any number of associated issues, stroke can greatly impact mental well-being. In some cases, stroke sufferers may develop thoughts and feelings of depression after the incident, and a research team from the University of Toronto has recently revealed review results suggesting that this occurs significantly more often in women than in men. The review focused on a total of fifty six studies and presents strong evidence for a need to provide better mental health services to female stroke sufferers to help prevent the onset of depression, which can make post-stroke living far more difficult.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The World Health Organization, in an effort to identify health issues in need of reform around the globe, has recently released a report on the state of women’s health, particularly in poor and middle-income countries. Citing broad instances of medical health issues such as death during childbirth, the report also notes that stigmas against women participating in mental health services results in a lowered ability of women to take good care of themselves and of their families. The report is hoped to contribute to global efforts to bring mental health accessibility to a larger audience and to focus on the particular needs of women.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Of the several million emergency calls that were made in the UK between 2008 and 2009, a significant portion involved mental health difficulties. While ambulance professionals and other caregivers are often able to identify such difficulties in clients, they are not typically endowed with the training or understanding to provide meaningful services, and simply refer people experiencing mental health crises to emergency room and general practice physicians. Many workers note having observed that on the whole, those clients seeking help for mental health issues are forced to wait longer to receive treatment, and if that if they do remain within emergency room waiting areas until they’re seen, they are less satisfied with the treatment given.

In effect, this creates a “revolving door” for mental health clients who, despite earnestly requesting professional care, may not be given the attention or tools needed to aid in recovery or find a specialist who can. Such are the issues outlined in a recent report tendered by the Ambulance Service Network and the Mental Health Network, published with the NHS Confederation. The report, a joint effort contributed to by both agencies, suggests that collaboration between emergency service responders and mental health specialists, including better education about mental health concerns for ambulance personnel, may greatly improve the quality of care received by those in need. Through curtailing the consistent use of emergency services due to a lack of adequate treatment, the measure may also help the UK cut health care costs. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has just released the results of a much-anticipated survey entitled, “Gaps and Guideposts” on its site. The survey involved scores of Americans in three distinct categories: those who did not know anybody affected by depression, those who identified as caretakers of adults with depression, and depressed adults themselves. Seeking to discover Americans’ familiarity with depression and treatment options, the survey also uncovered a rising rate of acceptance of depression’s ability to affect people of all profiles and lifestyles, and of psychotherapeutic treatment to help conquer symptoms.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

There are hardly ever circumstances in which someone hopes to become sad or be overcome by a bad mood, but new research developed at the University of New South Wales may give some people pause when considering how their mood affects their performance. A group of researchers tested news store patrons on their recollection abilities regarding a few odd items left on a counter inside the store, and found that their recall was superior on wet and gloomy days as opposed to bright and dry ones, just one of several experiments suggesting that minds may gain an advantage through the experience of a less than sublime emotional state. Though performance-enhancing sadness isn’t exactly being recommended to the masses, those troubled by bad moods may be able to find something good about their challenges as a result of the work.

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Efforts to help people understand the nature of mental health difficulties and of the services available to assist them are crucial aspects of modern efforts within the professional community. Though increasing numbers of people are beginning to accept mental issues as health difficulties and are relying less on social prejudice and stigma, such blocks to understanding are still prevalent in much of the world, and may contribute to the prolonged suffering of clients and their families. A great number of efforts have been made to illustrate mental health and related issues to the public, but on Wednesday, an illustration of a much more straightforward sort was announced. The launch of “the road to god knows…,” a graphic novel by Von Allan, is taking place both on and offline to provide a range of formats and accessibility for those interested in the subject.

Raised by a mother who suffered from schizophrenia and often finding himself without context or reason with which to understand his mother’s behavior, Von Allen has incorporated his life experience into the graphic novel, which seeks to help explain mental health difficulties to readers. The comic-like format is likely to interest a younger crowd, and may perhaps appeal to those uninterested in learning about mental illness from traditional non-fiction manuals or textbooks. “the road to god knows…” will be carried in a number of comic shops, and can also be purchased online, though readers can download and share freely-distributed copies of the work in PDF format, a measure Von Allen hopes will help his graphic novel reach a wider audience. Read the rest of this entry

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

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

There are many pressures and emotional difficulties associated with school, and the issue of bullying is certainly among them. Searching for ways to address this common problem with efficacy and meaningful attention, researchers at the University of Warwick have recently studied the potential of a virtual reality program to decrease victimization among school children. The study administered three weeks of three sessions per week involving the FearNot! virtual school environment, in which children could participate in simulated bullying scenarios and offer solutions for the characters. The program is said to require a longer duration and reminder sessions over time, but may be a good choice for school curricula.

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