http://www.goodtherapy.org/psychotherapy-issues-article.html Latest articles Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:45:14 GMT en-us http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/impulsivity-african-american-girls-bulimia-0209123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/impulsivity-african-american-girls-bulimia-0209123/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:00:33 GMT Bulimia has been linked to psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, and substance misuse. Other behavioral problems, including aggression, oppositional defiance, and impulsivity, have also been shown to increase the risk for disordered eating and bulimia in White American girls. However, to date there has been little research focusing on how these behaviors and mental health issues contribute to the development of bulimia in African American girls. Previous studies have demonstrated that externalizing behaviors predict eating issues, but this relationship has not been examined longitudinally. To address this gap, Lindsay P. Bodell of the Department of Psychology at Florida State University recently led a study that looked at how conduct behavior and impulsivity influenced the onset of bulimia in African American girls over a period of 9 years. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-social-support-adults-0209122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-social-support-adults-0209122/ Thu, 9 Feb 2012 22:00:55 GMT Social support is crucial for the development of autonomy and self-esteem. Individuals rely on social support during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, particularly if they do not have a strong support system in their own families. Facebook has become the predominant social networking site used by young adults and has exponentially increased the number of ?friends? an individual has. Strong social support has been linked to increases in well-being, and a lack of a supportive social framework often predicts negative psychological health and the onset of depression and other mood problems. However, understanding how these audiences of friends, both private and public, affect the development of self-esteem by way of social support has yet to be fully explored. Because this phenomenon has drastically changed the social evolution of the current generation of young adults, Adriana M. Manago of the Department of Psychology at the University of California in Los Angeles wanted to examine this dynamic more closely. In particular, Manago was curious to find out how the social networks developed on Facebook impacted intimacy and overall well-being in this segment of the population. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-cant-be-cured-0209124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-cant-be-cured-0209124/ Thu, 9 Feb 2012 18:55:54 GMT Depression doesn?t go away for everyone. For most people, depression is temporary and passes naturally or passes once the person has expressed the feelings and resolved the thoughts causing the depression. But there are a small percentage of people who can talk about their issues, express their feelings, take very good care of themselves emotionally, even take medication and have a great life and still be depressed throughout their entire lives. They may have periods of feeling good, periods of feeling less bad, and periods of feeling horrible, but the depression never goes away permanently. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/6-genetic-risk-factors-schizophrenia-0209121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/6-genetic-risk-factors-schizophrenia-0209121/ Thu, 9 Feb 2012 16:42:04 GMT One of the primary risk factors for schizophrenia is a family history of the illness. Having a relative with schizophrenia increases one?s risk for other mental health problems as well. However, dissecting the exact genetic relationship between schizotypal personality disorder and other mental health risk factors is convoluted because most psychological illnesses are heritable. To better understand what co-occurring and varying genetic factors exist in individuals with a family history of schizotypal personality disorder, Sarah I. Tarbox of the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh examined 640 Americans with a family history and 43 individuals with no genetic risk factors. The goals of her study were to identify accurate genetic risk factor measurements and predictability of schizotypal personality disorder. She also wanted to measure the specificity of the scales used to measure genetic risk present in schizophrenia families against measurements used to assess substance misuse and depression, mental health problems that are often comorbid with schizophrenic disorders. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-abstinence-drugs-alcohol-0208122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-abstinence-drugs-alcohol-0208122/ Wed, 8 Feb 2012 22:00:55 GMT Abstinence self-efficacy (ASE) is one?s ability to abstain from alcohol or drug use and is a strong indicator of how an individual will respond to treatment. Although there are many factors that influence ASE, symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) are thought to be among the strongest factors that can impair one?s recovery. Existing research examining this relationship has focused on adults in general. But Brenna L. Greenfield of the Department of Psychology and Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions at the University of New Mexico wanted to discover how MDD affected ASE in a particularly vulnerable segment of the population: emerging adults. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 are more likely to engage in experimentation than any other age group. Young adults first begin to experience intimate relationships, career pressures, and independence during this time. And many of them also begin to explore drug and alcohol use. It is during this time that individuals are at the highest risk for the onset of psychological problems as well. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-therapy-blame-contempt-0208125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-therapy-blame-contempt-0208125/ Wed, 8 Feb 2012 19:37:01 GMT This case description is the first in a two-part series on Pragmatic/Experiential Therapy for couples. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dealing-with-troubled-youth-bullying-0208124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dealing-with-troubled-youth-bullying-0208124/ Wed, 8 Feb 2012 17:51:45 GMT ?Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.? This cliché does not hold true for children, teens, and young adults who are bullied on a daily basis. Words do hurt. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed in our communities and society at large. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/discrimination-harmful-psychological-effects-0208121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/discrimination-harmful-psychological-effects-0208121/ Wed, 8 Feb 2012 16:58:40 GMT 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 and psychological health, Que-Lam Huynh of the Department of Psychology at California State University recently led a study that examined the effects of this type of prejudice on Latin American participants. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cannabis-psychosis-sexual-abuse-0207123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cannabis-psychosis-sexual-abuse-0207123/ Wed, 8 Feb 2012 03:00:30 GMT The development of psychosis is often the result of a traumatic childhood event. Sexual abuse is one factor that has been shown to increase the likelihood of psychosis. Emerging research is suggesting that cannabis use is another factor that significantly increases the risk for psychotic symptoms. However, there is little research devoted to examining how early sexual trauma and cannabis use influence each other and an individual?s risk for psychosis later in life. J. E. Houston of the Division of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K. wanted to find out how these two distinct experiences would affect one?s chances of developing psychosis. Houston recently led a study that examined information from 7,403 individuals who participated in the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey of 2007. Specifically, Houston and a team of researchers looked at individuals who had experienced a sexual trauma or sexual abuse prior to the age of 16. Additionally, participants who used cannabis before age 16 were also identified. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resiliency-maladaptive-ptsd-behaviors-0207122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resiliency-maladaptive-ptsd-behaviors-0207122/ Tue, 7 Feb 2012 22:00:27 GMT Resiliency is seen as one?s ability to adaptively cope with stressful events. Individuals who have survived childhood traumas learn how to cope in various ways. Some engage in dissociative behaviors to protect themselves from emotional distress during childhood. Other children rely on different strategies to survive. But when these children reach adulthood, the once adaptive coping methods can become maladaptive in the absence of ongoing abuse. The resilient behaviors of childhood can become pathological, and, conversely, pathological behaviors exhibited during traumatic times may evolve and develop into resilient techniques that allow survivors to function in a healthy way. It is this ?braiding? of behaviors that was of interest to Nicola R. Brown of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada. She theorized that clinicians could better serve trauma survivors, specifically those struggling with posttraumatic stress (PTSD), if they could disentangle maladaptive coping strategies and those that promoted resiliency by listening to client narratives more closely. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/a-season-of-grieving-0207125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/a-season-of-grieving-0207125/ Tue, 7 Feb 2012 20:01:10 GMT ?For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/put-them-chiefs-desk-0207124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/put-them-chiefs-desk-0207124/ Tue, 7 Feb 2012 18:47:11 GMT 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): http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-baby-sibling-opposition-0207121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-baby-sibling-opposition-0207121/ Tue, 7 Feb 2012 17:14:35 GMT Sibling rivalry is a term that is casually used when describing the unharmonious relationship between siblings. When an only child is about to become a big brother or sister, parents are often concerned about sibling rivalry and, in particular, how their child will react when they are no longer the only child. Most children, nearly 80% in the United States, have at least one brother or sister. This transition to siblinghood (TTS) is seen by some experts as one of the most traumatic events a child experiences. Mothers and fathers of only children express concern about their child?s behavior prior to the arrival of a new baby and often worry about how their child will react and respond. Because most children who experience TTS do so at a critical time for emotional development, between the ages of 2 and 3, experts have suggested that this stage is a time of extreme stress for children and parents, with some even stating that many children experience a crisis during TTS. To determine if TTS poses a threat to the well-being of a child, Brenda L. Volling, of the Center for Human Grown and Development at the University of Michigan, recently analyzed 30 studies devoted to child development and behavior during TTS. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/postpartum-anxiety-depression-infants-0206123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/postpartum-anxiety-depression-infants-0206123/ Tue, 7 Feb 2012 03:00:01 GMT Postpartum depression and anxiety can severely impact the relationship between a mother and her child. Long after the symptoms have waned, the child can still struggle with the psychological impact of the experience. Some studies have examined how specific postnatal maternal mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and eating issues, can affect a child?s psychological well-being. But very little research has examined how a mother?s thought patterns, specifically worry and rumination, two behaviors common in anxiety and depression, influence a child?s development. Alan Stein of the Department of Psychiatry at Warneford Hospital at the University of Oxford in the U.K. was curious to find out how these issues affected the type of parenting a mother provided. People with anxiety and depression are often stuck in a negative mood, which can limit the amount of attention they provide their children. During infancy, the bond between mother and child is critical and lays the foundation for many aspects of a child?s psychological development and well-being throughout their lifetime. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-phobia-anxiety-italian-children-0206122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-phobia-anxiety-italian-children-0206122/ Mon, 6 Feb 2012 22:00:45 GMT Social phobia (SP) is one of the most common anxiety problems that American adults suffer from. Anxiety in general, and SP in particular, usually first develop during early adolescence and are more common in children who struggle with inhibition and extreme shyness. This can cause these already emotionally fragile children to withdraw from social settings, including parties, sports, and other activities that involve performing or speaking in front of others. Children with early anxiety and SP are more likely to experience psychological problems than their peers and are at increased risk for later substance misuse. Adults who suffered with SP as children often continue to have difficulties in social settings and exhibit poor relationship skills and psychological well-being as a result of their anxiety. Identifying SP in childhood, therefore, is critical to healthy social adjustment throughout the teen years and beyond. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/price-for-being-perfect-child-0206125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/price-for-being-perfect-child-0206125/ Mon, 6 Feb 2012 19:05:38 GMT Being considered a ?perfect child? by one?s parents feels fantastic. Basking in the glow from parents? approval and love can feel safe and special, like one is living in a magical world where everyone is happy and satisfied. These feelings are very seductive. The child is usually not aware that they pay a price in order to maintain the parents? continued extraordinary approval. That price is the giving up of one?s unique sense of self in order to comply and be the child and then the adult that the parents adore. Being kept on a pedestal distracts from being aware that one has wants and needs that are not defined by one?s loving parents. This interference with developing an individual self can result in difficult and/or empty relationships as one becomes an adult. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-have-i-done-for-me-0206124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-have-i-done-for-me-0206124/ Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:28:46 GMT All too often, women and some men  (in my experience, mostly women) experience the fatigue of ?having it all.? More and more women, by choice or necessity, work a full-time job in addition to family and home responsibilities, leaving little, if any, time for them. Likewise, many of us in the helping professions struggle or have struggled with the balance of giving so much emotionally to not only clients, but also family and friends, and find ourselves depleted. In both cases, it is very easy to face burnout. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/white-matter-cannabis-users-schizophrenia-0206121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/white-matter-cannabis-users-schizophrenia-0206121/ Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:22:22 GMT Reductions in white brain matter have been linked to cognitive impairments. Decreased white matter is one symptom of schizophrenia and has also been found in people who are at risk for psychosis. This same symptom has also been discovered in individuals with long-term cannabis use. However, little research has examined whether or not extensive cannabis use increases the risk for psychotic symptoms, or if schizophrenic individuals who use cannabis experience poorer cognitive functioning than those who do not use cannabis. In an attempt to address this gap, N. Solowij of the School of Psychology at the University of Wollongong in Australia conducted a study looking at how white brain matter varied in different classifications of individuals. Solowij recruited 15 cannabis users without schizophrenia, 8 with schizophrenia, 9 individuals with schizophrenia alone, and 16 healthy, nonusing individuals. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-isolates-schizophrenia-markers-0204121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-isolates-schizophrenia-markers-0204121/ Sat, 4 Feb 2012 17:00:03 GMT One of the primary symptoms of schizophrenia is severely impaired cognitive functioning. Prior to the onset of the illness, during a stage referred to as the prodrome, cognitive abilities, including sensory information processing abilities, can begin to deteriorate. During the prodrome, individuals often exhibit behaviors that differ significantly from their normal behaviors and responses. One domain that is affected in clients with schizophrenia is auditory and visual processing. However, little attention has been focused on the levels of auditory and visual processing in clients at risk for or in the early stages of schizophrenia. Understanding how these domains are affected in the earliest stages of schizophrenia could help clinicians better diagnose and treat the illness. In an attempt to examine this dynamic in early onset and at-risk clients, C. Jahshan of the Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center of the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System led a study that focused specifically on event-related responses (ERP). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teaching-children-language-deficits-0203123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teaching-children-language-deficits-0203123/ Sat, 4 Feb 2012 03:00:49 GMT Children with learning difficulties require special attention from caregivers and teachers. Understanding the particular needs of these children is imperative to ensure that they achieve academic and social success. Memory and language are two separate elements of cognitive developmentthat influence the overall well-being of a child. Research has shown that deficits in these two domains can overlap, creating an even more complicated framework in which these children must be taught. Lisa Archibald, of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department of the University of Western Ontario at Elborn College in London, led a study in an attempt to identify how teachers address these issues, separately and collectively, in the classroom. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotionally-focused-couples-therapy-0203122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotionally-focused-couples-therapy-0203122/ Fri, 3 Feb 2012 22:13:46 GMT Emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT) is an emotional approach used to help couples address problems within their relationships. Clinicians who deliver this type of therapy undergo intense training to be able to effectively use all of the components of the treatment in a productive way that maximizes treatment outcome. EFT training strives to increase a therapist?s ability to process emotions and identify and address attachment styles, and it enhances self-compassion. However, most clinicians report that their own personal development has not been addressed in previous EFT training sessions or through supervision. Because a clinician?s emotional intelligence and relationship skills are critical factors that directly influence treatment, Michelle Montagno, Ph.D., of the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California, conducted a study that evaluated the knowledge and competence levels of clinicians following a 4-day intensive EFT training session. The skills and growth achieved in EFT training can enhance a clinician?s curiosity and acceptance and increase his or her motivation to explore issues that are pertinent to clients. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/guide-to-multicultural-competence-0203125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/guide-to-multicultural-competence-0203125/ Fri, 3 Feb 2012 21:42:29 GMT 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. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/toxic-friends-break-up-0203124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/toxic-friends-break-up-0203124/ Fri, 3 Feb 2012 19:29:58 GMT Toxic friends come in many forms?they can take much more than they add to the friendship; they can be a chronic complainer; they can tear you down?but the bottom line is that when you walk away from time spent with a toxic friend, you probably feel worse for the wear. If you think you might have a toxic friend in your life, take a moment to reflect on how you usually feel after being with this friend; if what you come up with includes words like drained, tired, unmotivated, worthless, or even downright depressed, you quite likely have a toxic friend. While it might be easy to identify the toxic friends in your life, it is often difficult, and sometimes painful, to decide what you want to do about them and even more difficult to actually do it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/premature-babies-risk-depression-anxiety-0203121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/premature-babies-risk-depression-anxiety-0203121/ Fri, 3 Feb 2012 18:28:36 GMT According to a new study led by A.C. Burnett of the Department of Psychology at the University of Melbourne in Australia, children born prematurely and with low birth weights (LBW) are three-and-a-half times more likely to develop mental health problems such as depression and anxiety than normal birth weight (NBW) children. Children born prematurely are already at increased risk for physical health problems, learning disabilities, and other cognitive challenges. Some research has provided evidence that children who are born prematurely are at a higher risk for behavioral problems and even attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But until now, there has been little evidence suggesting that these children are also more vulnerable to mood disorders and mental health problems later in life. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/b-vitamin-depression-anxiety-0202123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/b-vitamin-depression-anxiety-0202123/ Fri, 3 Feb 2012 03:00:27 GMT National statistics for the prevalence of adult depression vary but suggest that at least 15% of all adult Americans have had at least one depressive episode in their lives. Depression can be a severely debilitating illness that results in decreased physical health, impaired functioning, lost productivity, and overall negative well-being and quality of life. There are many different treatments for depression including therapy, diet, exercise, and medication. Vitamins, specifically folate and B12, are commonly used in conjunction with other treatment methods to help clients with depression improve their moods. Although there has been extensive research on depression and medication, until now, there has been little attention given to the rate of vitamin use in clients suffering with depression. In an effort to better examine this trend, Guixiang Zhao of the Division of Adult and Community Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta conducted a study analyzing how often vitamins were used in female and male clients with depression. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obsessive-compulsive-behavior-eating-disorders-0202122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obsessive-compulsive-behavior-eating-disorders-0202122/ Thu, 2 Feb 2012 22:54:32 GMT Eating disorders (ED) can manifest in different ways and most often develop during adolescence. Anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia, and binge eating are just some of the problems that teens struggle with when they develop eating and food issues. Existing research has demonstrated a link between obsessive-compulsive behaviors and disordered eating, but little attention has been given to how the presence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children affects the development of ED in adolescence. In order to provide evidence of the relationship between OCD and ED from childhood through young adulthood, N. Micali of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Kings College in London conducted a study that followed 126 children over 9 years and assessed them for symptoms of ED. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-and-recovery-take-time-0202125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-and-recovery-take-time-0202125/ Thu, 2 Feb 2012 22:16:55 GMT Quick, would you prefer 100 million dollars right now or a penny that that doubles every day for a year? Next question, would you like to be cured of your depression, relationship problems, eating disorder, or addiction immediately or would you like to work on it? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/time-to-separate-family-0202124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/time-to-separate-family-0202124/ Thu, 2 Feb 2012 18:32:52 GMT Families need to be together. After all, the family as a group exists to provide support, nurturance, food, shelter, resources, and a stable future to each member. While most families have their ups and downs, even stressed, impoverished, chaotic families want to live with one another. When is it in the family?s best interest for members to separate from one another? Can leaving the family home for a short while ever bring healing to the relationships in the long run? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-based-treatment-anorexia-teens-0202121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-based-treatment-anorexia-teens-0202121/ Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:34:25 GMT Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an approach that is used to treat many mental health challenges, including anorexia nervosa in teens and adults. Anorexia, which usually develops during adolescence, is seen by some as an individual?s method of gaining control over something in their lives during a time in which they feel controlled by parents, teachers, peers, and society in general. CBT has been seen as an appropriate treatment because it addresses the cognitive and behavioral processes, the thinking and eating habits of the teens. However, in a new study, James Lock, professor of Child Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the Stanford University School of Medicine, tests the validity of family-based treatment (FBT) for the treatment of anorexia. FBT aims to bring the teen to a healthy weight with the assistance of the parent and then relinquishes the maintenance of that weight back to the teen while examining the emotional and social challenges facing the teen. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-predicts-bipolar-children-0201122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-predicts-bipolar-children-0201122/ Wed, 1 Feb 2012 22:57:28 GMT Individuals with bipolar disorder struggle with many issues, including poor treatment outcome and overall decreased functioning. Anxiety is common among individuals with bipolar disorder and can exacerbate the negative symptoms, resulting in suicidal ideation, poorer quality of life, more severely impaired functioning, and even nonresponse to medication. But little research has examined how the comorbidity of these two mental health problems affects teens and children. Additionally, there is a narrow body of evidence examining the relationship between the two issues. Understanding the correlates between anxiety and bipolar in young people can significantly benefit their treatment. Children with bipolar who exhibit symptoms of anxiety alone may be prescribed medication that can increase their depressive states, causing their conditions to deteriorate rather than improve. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/letting-go-fear-of-loss-0201125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/letting-go-fear-of-loss-0201125/ Wed, 1 Feb 2012 20:46:25 GMT Not long ago, a friend of mine suggested that the greatest fear humans experience is the fear of death. I disagreed, saying that I believed their greatest fear is fear of loss. Death is something that is very abstract to most people, in my opinion, unless they have recently tended to a dying loved one or been otherwise exposed to the actual end of life. However, most people, in my experience, live in fear of loss, to a greater or lesser degree. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gifts-of-trauma-survivors-0201124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gifts-of-trauma-survivors-0201124/ Wed, 1 Feb 2012 18:28:07 GMT Traumatic experiences along with the mending process can expose the shrapnel from what feels like perpetually open wounds. Time lost to history and recovery, missed opportunities, broken relationships, and a delay in building life?s foundation are side effects of these experiences. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/risk-factors-illicit-drug-use-0201121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/risk-factors-illicit-drug-use-0201121/ Wed, 1 Feb 2012 17:23:47 GMT 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 history. In order to identify which factors pose the highest risk to teens, Michael Harrington, a psychiatrist with the Health Sciences Center of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg examined data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a longitudinal study designed to assess mental health issues in adults over several years. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/does-sexual-distress-indicate-dysfunction-0131123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/does-sexual-distress-indicate-dysfunction-0131123/ Wed, 1 Feb 2012 03:00:59 GMT According to the International Consensus Development Conference, female sexual dysfunction (FSD) must be characterized by anxiety about sexual performance together with feelings of distress and other symptoms of dysfunction. However, according to a new study led by A. Burri of the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King?s College in London, many women who experience sexual distress are not sexually dysfunctional. To understand why distress is present in some women with FSD and some women without, Burri examined data collected from 930 British female twins. The twin model was chosen because it allowed the research team to examine similar environmental and genetic risks. Based on questionnaires filled out by the twins, Burri also assessed the participants for history of abuse, relationship status, obssessive-compulsive disorder, general anxiety, emotional functioning, personality, and sexual distress. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/victims-dont-acknowledge-stalking-0131122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/victims-dont-acknowledge-stalking-0131122/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:00:30 GMT Acknowledgement of victimization is the first step on the road to recovery. Yet many individuals who are victims of stalking don?t ever acknowledge that they have been victimized. Although there is much research examining this phenomenon in sexual assaults, little research has been devoted to the psychological ramifications of unacknowledged victims of stalking. To address this void, Christine M. Englebrecht, Ph.D., in the Criminal Justice Program at Bowling Green State University in Ohio led a study examining what conditions men and women deemed necessary to warrant the acknowledgement of stalking. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/taking-love-in-0113125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/taking-love-in-0113125/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:41:57 GMT Love is one of the most elemental of emotions?it is a building block to some of our deepest relationships and a component in many of our happiest days. Yet the ability to freely give and receive love is a fragile skill, which traumatic experiences can all too easily dent or damage. Learning how to be loved is a vital part of your healing, and here are a few tips on how to regain your ability to accept someone?s care, concern, and nurture. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/risk-factors-for-ocd-0131121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/risk-factors-for-ocd-0131121/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:46:12 GMT One risk factor for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is something known as neurological soft signs (NSS). These minor disturbances in brain functioning have been shown to be present in people with OCD more often than in people without OCD. Some studies have isolated NSS and discovered that individuals with OCD and NSS have impaired reflexes and motor coordination, as well as more severe symptoms of the disorder. Other risk factors that have been suggested are decreased intelligence, temperament, childhood trauma, and emotional functioning. In order to identify how each of these specific domains influences the vulnerability for OCD, J. R. Grisham of the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales in Australia led a study examining data collected over 30 years. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-and-friendship-0131124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-and-friendship-0131124/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:23:29 GMT I was talking to one of my colleagues about the age of my son and the age of his daughters. His daughters are much older than my almost 1 year old, but he was able to give me some great wisdom. The wisdom was that ?friendship comes later.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/football-boys-bullying-connection-0130123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/football-boys-bullying-connection-0130123/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:00:55 GMT With football season nearing end, emotionally charged teen boys, who are taught how to use aggression on the field, will no longer be able to use that physical outlet for their youthful frustrations. Because of the high level of violence in the sport, experts have wondered if these teens, who are encouraged to use coercion, intimidation, and other aggressive tactics during play, are more likely to engage in bullying behaviors off the field than their nonathlete peers. Nearly half of teens today report that they have been either the victim or perpetrator of bullying. And although football does not endorse bullying, players are encouraged to aspire to masculine norms and conformity. Therefore, researchers have asked, do these factors make the players more vulnerable to bullying behaviors? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-environment-gender-affects-response-0130122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-environment-gender-affects-response-0130122/ Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:18 GMT One method for measuring reactivity to stress is to assess the level of autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning. In a recent study, Lisa M. Diamond of the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah used skin conductance (SCL) to measure ANS among 110 children 14 years old. The purpose of her experiment was to determine if teens? reactions to stress were influenced by their own predisposition or by their environments. Specifically, Diamond wanted to find out if boys and girls differed in how they handled stressful situations based on their baseline ANS and if the environments in which the teens lived, single-parent or dual-parent households and parents with internalizing or externalizing behaviors, would affect the way the teens reacted. Previous research has shown that negative environments negatively affect children who are sensitive to stress. These same children have also been shown to react positively to positive environments. To clarify if the outcomes realized in past studies were the result of the children?s sensitivity, the result of the environment alone, or a combination of both, Diamond evaluated all of these factors. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/calming-emotional-chaos-grief-0130125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/calming-emotional-chaos-grief-0130125/ Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:20:06 GMT A death, divorce, illness, sudden unemployment, or any major loss, creates chaos in your life. This emotional fracturing, as well as the practical aftershocks of dealing with estates, lawyers, housing, finances, doctors, etc., often yields intense feelings that can be overwhelming. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/age-matters-in-the-client-therapist-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/age-matters-in-the-client-therapist-relationship/ Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:16:38 GMT 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. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-healthy-boundaries-013012/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-healthy-boundaries-013012/ Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:55:04 GMT 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. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rural-men-avoid-counseling-0127120/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rural-men-avoid-counseling-0127120/ Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:00:48 GMT 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 as the primary reason that men from rural areas do not reach out for help. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-survivors-handle-stress-0127122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-survivors-handle-stress-0127122/ Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:00:37 GMT The emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis is overwhelming. People who undergo cancer treatment come through recovery having learned how to deal with an immense amount of stress. Some individuals cope better than others. Research examining reactions to stress in cancer survivors has provided mixed results. Several studies suggest that cancer survivors are more resilient than their healthy counterparts, due to the fact that they have faced enormous stressors during their ordeal. Other evidence implies that people who have overcome cancer are hypersensitive to life stressors as a result of being traumatized from the course of their treatment. Because stress is known to have negative physical and psychological consequences, both extremely deleterious to recovery and future health, Erin S. Costanzo of the Department of Psychiatry and Carbone Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison wanted to find out if this segment of the population was at increased risk for negative stress outcomes. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/protecting-spouse-with-cancer-0127125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/protecting-spouse-with-cancer-0127125/ Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:14:44 GMT ?Sam? and ?Ellen? have been married for 42 years. They have had a good life together. They?ve raised 4 children and have 11 grandchildren. They?ve had their ups and downs but have always managed to get through the hard times, until now. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/predictors-ptsd-depression-after-trauma-0127121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/predictors-ptsd-depression-after-trauma-0127121/ Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:46:10 GMT Experiencing a traumatic event can cause an individual to develop significant mental health problems, most commonly posttraumatic stress or depression. Many times, individuals who have been exposed to trauma develop varying degrees of both of these issues. Early detection is critical for diagnosis and treatment. In a recent study, Birgit Kleim of the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College in London examined the specific factors used in cognitive models designed to assess PTSD and depression to determine their validity and predictive accuracy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-compassion-defends-against-helplessness-0127124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-compassion-defends-against-helplessness-0127124/ Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:30:47 GMT After having worked in a residential treatment facility for abused and neglected girls for 8 years, I observed that the phenomenon of learned helplessness had become an all-to-common denominator for these children. It was very rare that an abused child was placed with us for a single incident of abuse. By the time these children reached our facility, many of them had already been physically or sexually abused numerous times throughout their childhood and adolescence. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-multimedia-multitask-cost-0126123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-multimedia-multitask-cost-0126123/ Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:00:12 GMT 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 how use of media outlets in general, and multitasking between such outlets in particular, affected the social well-being of young girls. He was particularly interested in determining if relationships forged online or over texting and video chatting were stronger and more intimate than those developed through in-person communication. Pea also looked at rejection coping, positive and negative affect and hours spent using media in relation to total sleeping hours per day. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facts-about-male-body-satisfaction-0126122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facts-about-male-body-satisfaction-0126122/ Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:34:35 GMT According to a new study led by Michael B. McFarland of the Department of Psychology at the University of North Texas, men primarily gauge their body satisfaction on three specific body parts, and they are not what one might think they are. Men who have body image issues struggle with a low sense of well-being and often develop mental health problems such as depression, muscle dysmorphia, and eating issues. Men are influenced throughout their lives by images of an ideal male body, which is depicted as lean and muscular. Media, peers, and even family members may pressure young boys in ways that are unproductive and unhealthy, causing these adolescents to feel dissatisfied with themselves and eventually leading them to engage in negative behaviors, including steroid abuse, extreme weight lifting, or restrictive dieting. The Body Parts Satisfaction Scale for Men (BPSS-M) is a measure used to gauge a man?s body satisfaction, based on 25 factors. However, in this most recent study, McFarland and his colleagues sought to isolate the factors that were most significant to a man?s perception of ideal body image. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mood-challenges-during-pregnancy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mood-challenges-during-pregnancy/ Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:06:21 GMT A lot of attention has been paid to postpartum depression, due in part to celebrities such as Brooke Shields, Marie Osmond, and Gwyneth Paltrow helping to destigmatize the most common complication of childbirth. As an advocate, therapist, mother, and survivor of postpartum depression, I am happy that medical communities and the public at large are becoming familiar with perinatal mood/anxiety disorders (PMADs, the clinical term). However, there is still much work to be done. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/partner-aggression-female-veterans-0126121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/partner-aggression-female-veterans-0126121/ Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:46:09 GMT The number of women who serve in the military and engage in combat is at an all-time high. The serious negative psychological consequences of being exposed to combat situations are well documented in male and female veterans. Those who return from war zones are at increased risk for many mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress, depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and intimate partner aggression. Although there have been many studies that have shown links between combat service and aggression in intimate relationships, few studies have examined how psychological problems resulting from combat influence this behavior in male and female veterans independently. Additionally, until now, there has been little research examining how childhood traumas combined with combat outcome affects the potential for a veteran to engage in aggressive behaviors. In order to address this gap, Lissa Dutra of the Women?s Health Sciences Division of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Massachusetts led a study that looked specifically at female veteran aggression and if specific mental health conditions predicted that behavior. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-rituals-with-children-0126124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-rituals-with-children-0126124/ Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:38:49 GMT The decision has been made. You and your spouse are divorcing. There are a multitude of decisions to be made, and it is often difficult to know where to begin. You will be making decisions regarding when the children are with you and when they are with your spouse, whether to keep the family home and, if so, who keeps it. There will also be a host of other decisions you did not realize you made automatically on a daily basis that will now become conscious decisions because living in two different homes requires more coordination. While you are addressing these decisions and working to manage your own emotions, you and your spouse may also want to think about how to help your children make the transition from your predivorce to your postdivorce family as simple, conflict-free, and understandable as possible for their developmental ages. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/socio-evaluative-threats-compromise-health-0125123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/socio-evaluative-threats-compromise-health-0125123/ Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:00:21 GMT One of the primary risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is stress. Whether psychological or physiological, stress can elevate ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in healthy individuals, posing a risk factor for CVD. This dynamic has been replicated in some research studies conducted in laboratory settings. Socio-evaluative threats, which include threats to appearance, self-esteem, ability, and inclusion and acceptance by others, affected both men and women similarly in these studies. However, Timothy W. Smith of the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah wanted to determine if these same socio-evaluative threats would pose the same risk for CVD in healthy adults in a real world setting. Smith and colleagues theorized that healthy adults would have momentary fluctuations in ABP as they experienced threats to their confidence or physical appearance and threats of other nature. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-related-distress-children-012512/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-related-distress-children-012512/ Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:00:35 GMT Attachment bonds are formed in early childhood. Relationships with nurturing attentive caregivers result in secure attachment bonds in children as they age. However, dismissive caregivers who neglect or avoid relationships with their children tend to cause insecure and dismissive attachment behaviors and perceptions in these children. The attachment bonds directly shape children?s internal working models (IWMs), the way in which children see the world and others around them. But little attention has been given to how these attachments predict a child?s behavior and IWM in the absence of the caregiver. To address this issue, Lars O. White of the Yale University Child Study Center and the University of Leipzig in Germany conducted an experiment to determine how children?s IWMs would predict their behaviors and perceptions in new social settings. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-regression-sex-therapy-0125124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-regression-sex-therapy-0125124/ Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:18:40 GMT From sex and relationships, to confusion about career and life choices, to those persistent and pesky maladies of the mind like anxiety and depression, past-life regression therapy can heal the mind and body. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-personality-affect-memory-mood-0125121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-personality-affect-memory-mood-0125121/ Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:05:57 GMT Autobiographical memories (AMs) are personal memories that individuals have of different events and experiences that occurred in their lifetimes. Evidence suggests that men retrieve AMs differently than women. Some studies have shown that individuals with extroverted personalities tend to retrieve more positive AMs than negative AMs. In contrast, individuals with introverted personalities and traits, such as neuroticism, retrieve more negative AMs. However, there are few studies that have examined how AM appraisal or suppression, specifically related to gender, affects emotional regulation (ER) and mood state. Because women are far more likely than men to develop negative mood states such as depression and anxiety, Ekaterina Denkova of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta in Canada led a study to determine if the appraisal or suppression of positive or negative AMs would influence affect and further risk for affective disorders. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/be-with-someone-grieving-0125125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/be-with-someone-grieving-0125125/ Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:01:50 GMT Your best friend?s beloved cat just died. Your favorite coworker was just laid off. Your elderly aunt, who suffered from cancer for many years, just died, and your cousin is bereft. In any one of these situations, you might likely be uncomfortable and not know what to do. You are certainly not alone with this dilemma. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internet-therapy-for-tinnitus-0124123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internet-therapy-for-tinnitus-0124123/ Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:00:20 GMT Tinnitus is a disabling condition that causes an individual to perceive sounds that are not present. Over 10% of the population suffers with this condition, with nearly 2% of the entire population struggling with tinnitus in the extremely distressing ranges. People in this category have symptoms similar to those who struggle with chronic pain or diabetes. When tinnitus gets severe enough it can lead to loss of concentration, cognitive impairment, emotional distress, and even insomnia. Nearly half of those who have tinnitus also have a clinical diagnosis of mood or anxiety problems. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/moral-identity-determines-power-trip-0124122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/moral-identity-determines-power-trip-0124122/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:04:59 GMT Power can cause even the most level-headed individuals to act in self-serving ways. Many individuals believe that power is a corruptive force and that most people who gain vast amounts of power inevitably use it for ill. However, a recent study, led by Katherine A. DeCelles of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in Canada, suggests that power may have positive and negative effects. In work environments, disparities in power can cause a division in collaboration. People in positions of power can overlook the needs and interests of their subordinates in favor of their own interests. But power can also create a feeling of empathy and may even cause an individual to place the needs of others before their own. Research on power has demonstrated a link between one?s self-interest and their moral identity. The more aware one is of their values and self-concept, the stronger their sense of moral identity, and in most cases, the more empathetic and attentive to other?s needs. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovery-workbook-exercise-1-012412/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovery-workbook-exercise-1-012412/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:15:18 GMT Now that you understand how codependency develops in a family surrounding a dysfunctional person, what are you supposed to do next? Many clients have said, ?Joyce, now that I understand where my fear of abandonment comes from, how do I stop being so scared of it that I mess up my relationships?? You can learn to do this, but it certainly isn?t easy. As you go through this workbook, you may feel uneasy when you try on new behaviors. It?s okay. Try to give yourself permission to be awkward. You don?t have to do everything perfectly. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gaze-perception-influences-schizophrenic-symptoms-0124121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gaze-perception-influences-schizophrenic-symptoms-0124121/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:03:02 GMT Several studies have been conducted in an attempt to determine the exact relationship between gaze perception and symptomology in schizophrenia (SCZ). However, the results of the studies were rather ambiguous and did not provide evidence that could positively influence interventions and treatments for clients suffering from SCZ. In particular, eye gaze direction and perception are strong indicators of intention and attention. Because the ability to accurately perceive eye gaze direction is directly related to social behavior, a trait that is impaired in those with SCZ, Ivy F. Tso of the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, conducted a study that assessed the eye gaze perception of SCZ clients as compared to healthy controls (HC). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/avoiding-exercise-addiction-with-awareness-0124124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/avoiding-exercise-addiction-with-awareness-0124124/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:27:59 GMT Okay, the holidays are over and it is the beginning of a New Year and you want to work on the new you. You have created an idea of how you want to move forward with your exercise plan and have bought a membership to your local gym or fitness studio. What could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot could go wrong if you are not aware of the imbalances in your life. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compassionate-or-cautious-adolescent-development-0123123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compassionate-or-cautious-adolescent-development-0123123/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:00:44 GMT 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, specifically, socioeconomic status (SES), neighborhood cohesion, family construct, and age and gender of the teens. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-reduces-risky-sexual-behavior-african-americans-0123122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-reduces-risky-sexual-behavior-african-americans-0123122/ Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:11:22 GMT It is well established that racial discrimination can have negative emotional consequences, including depression and anxiety. But understanding how racial discrimination influences risky sexual behavior, both directly and indirectly, has not been fully explored until now. Megan E. Roberts of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College wanted to find out how racial discrimination affected the sexual behavior of African -American youths and what factors could protect these teens from this type of behavior. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/three-truths-about-marriage-0123125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/three-truths-about-marriage-0123125/ Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:02:47 GMT ?When two people are under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive, and most transient of passions, they are required to swear that they will remain in that excited, abnormal, and exhausting condition continuously until death do them part.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-influences-ethnic-identity-0123121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-influences-ethnic-identity-0123121/ Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:58:55 GMT 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 than those who enroll in 2-year colleges. Tsai?s study, one of the first to examine which factors influence the exploration of ethnicity in college students, focused specifically on three areas: ethnic search, ethnic belonging, and ethnic labels. The study also compared how choice of residency (home or away) influenced ethnic identity. Lastly, the study considered the level of extracurricular involvement in relation to ethnic search. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gravity-of-autism-part-2-0123124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gravity-of-autism-part-2-0123124/ Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:30:09 GMT In my efforts as a counselor, helping couples and individuals raise children with autism, I've combined what I learned in school with what I've learned in my own journey. My last blog talked about that gravitational pull autism has on a family. I'd like to address a few ways we can limit that pull from affecting every aspect of our lives negatively. These are not quick fixes, and you won't find a step-by-step guide here. It's a process that requires daily practice, much like yoga. There is no end point, and you will not have ?arrived?; it's ongoing. I like to call it living mindfully and with intention. Mindfulness simply means that you're paying attention to or are aware of what you're doing, thinking, saying, and believing. Living with intention means you're not just going through the motions of life, allowing autism or any other problem to control you. You are purposefully making decisions that lead to the goals you set in your life. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-with-anxiety-or-depression-0117114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-with-anxiety-or-depression-0117114/ Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:30:21 GMT Psychotherapy is the first form of treatment for depression or anxiety and involves a variety of treatment techniques. During psychotherapy, the person experiencing depression or anxiety speaks with a licensed psychologist or therapist who helps him or her to identify and work on the causative factors. These factors trigger depression or anxiety by working in combination with chemical imbalances in the brain or heredity factors. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-affirmations-help-teens-0119123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-affirmations-help-teens-0119123/ Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:00:52 GMT Value affirmations, also known as self-affirmations, are positive assessments of one?s abilities, traits, and personality qualities. Value affirmations can increase self-esteem, self-worth, and fulfillment of one?s needs. When an individual recognizes their own worth and has a strong sense of identity and autonomy, they are more willing to help others meet their needs. This relationship between self-worth and prosocial behaviors has been examined in the past, but until now, few studies have looked at the effect of value affirmations on prosocial attitudes in adolescents. Sander Thomaes of the Department of Psychology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands recently conducted a study that sought to determine if subtle value affirmations could have a short-term and long-term positive effect on adolescents? prosocial behaviors and attitudes during the crucial years of identity formation. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/old-lover-connects-on-line-0119125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/old-lover-connects-on-line-0119125/ Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:58 GMT What would you do? An important romantic figure from your past finds you on an internet social media site. Perhaps this was your first love. This renewed connection brings to mind the passion and enthusiasm of youth?before children, financial problems, and middle age. In your mind, you travel back to a time before career worries, mortgage problems, and thinning hair to a time of anticipation, optimism, and more energy. What would you do? Is it a wrong choice to maintain contact on-line? Is it wrong to have a texting relationship? Where do you draw the line? What is the line that would determine that this is an inappropriate relationship? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eldercare-affects-job-performance-0119122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eldercare-affects-job-performance-0119122/ Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:54:33 GMT Caring for an aging parent can cause increased stress and decreased mental health. In recent years, the number of people who provide eldercare services for family members while employed outside of the home has increased dramatically. Studies have shown that the demands of eldercare have negative impacts on mental health, which in turn results in lower work performance. But until now, no study has directly examined the link between eldercare demands and job performance. Additionally, no previous studies have identified why some people who provide eldercare services do not experience negative work-related outcomes and others do. Hannes Zacher of the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland in Australia hopes that the results of her recent study will help organizations and clinicians better understand the relationship between eldercare demands and work performance so that they can target interventions and strategies that will enhance both. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/wishy-washy-relationships-bad-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/wishy-washy-relationships-bad-health/ Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:02:47 GMT According to a new study led by Bert N. Uchino of the Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program at the University of Utah, ambivalent interpersonal relationships cause telomeres, chromosomal structures that maintain a person?s biological balance, to shorten. Short telomeres have been linked with increased risk for heart disease, infection, and decreased cellular life. Research has supported the theory that negative relationships are directly related to increased stress and blood pressure, but this new study is among the first to closely examine the link between ambiguous relationships and telomere length. Ambivalent relationships may not have the detrimental consequences of negative relationships, but the ambiguous nature of the relationships can cause unpredictability, stress, and anxiety. Additionally, almost half of the relationships people have are considered ambiguous, raising the question of whether or not these relationships should be evaluated more closely. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/is-marriage-really-over-0119124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/is-marriage-really-over-0119124/ Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:23:20 GMT Anthony kind of slumped into the office and comfortably settled himself into the easy chair. ?Doc,? he said, ?I?m here to find out if my marriage is over. To me, it seems like it really is.? He went on to explain that his wife, Julie, and he had been living two separate lives for as long as he could remember. She was very involved with the children?s activities; she worked full time and had a rather hectic schedule as a corporate attorney. They rarely ate together and their conversations, though cordial, were impersonal. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marital-education-heals-infidelity-wounds-0118123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marital-education-heals-infidelity-wounds-0118123/ Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:00:22 GMT Although infidelity is a difficult problem to address, marriage therapy has been shown to be highly effective at treating this painful issue. Marriage education, which teaches communication and compromise, is another form of treatment. But until now, its effect on marital satisfaction for couples dealing with infidelity had not been examined. Elizabeth S. Allen of the Department of Psychology at the University of Colorado in Denver, and lead author of a study that looked specifically at this treatment, explained that marriage education does not offer couples the personal experience of working directly with a therapist and is less invasive and intense than marriage counseling. Because many couples who receive marriage education may be struggling with overcoming infidelity issues, it is important to determine if the help they are receiving will actually benefit them in the long run. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rape-victims-benefit-from-emdr-0118122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rape-victims-benefit-from-emdr-0118122/ Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:00:02 GMT Nearly one in 12 women who suffer with posttraumatic stress do so as a result of being raped. Although many therapies have been shown to help reduce the symptoms of rape-related PTSD, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and prolonged exposure (PE), a small number of these women still do not see significant relief. Recently, researchers have looked at the coping techniques these women use as a method of predicting treatment response. Specifically, women with rape-related PTSD tend to engage in avoidant or approach coping behaviors. But research has shown that avoidant coping strategies are most likely to impede treatment outcome. ?In fact, cognitive-behavioral theories of PTSD and its treatment posit that recovery is associated with decreases in trauma-related avoidance,? said Amy S. Leiner of the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Georgia. Because of this, Leiner and her colleagues conducted a study to determine if women who use avoidant coping behaviors would benefit more from EMDR and PE than women who used approach coping strategies. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/expressive-arts-therapy-benefits-0118124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/expressive-arts-therapy-benefits-0118124/ Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:12:51 GMT Expressive Arts Therapy bridges the gap between the conscious and the unconscious. It can bring light to areas of therapy that are blocked, inhibited, and stuck, as well as bringing greater focus to those areas of concern. The primary focus is on the process, which allows the client to discover new insight and meaning that might not be achieved with traditional talk therapy. Appropriate for all ages, it can enhance each person?s emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and physical well-being. While no talent in the use of expressive arts is required, several modalities available to the client within Expressive Arts Therapy magnify and deepen the process. The purpose of this article will explore five common benefits associated with the use of Expressive Arts Therapy with clients. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/expressive-writing-crosses-cultural-lines-in-breast-cancer-0118121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/expressive-writing-crosses-cultural-lines-in-breast-cancer-0118121/ Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:22:27 GMT Asian-American women are just as likely to develop breast cancer as European-American women but are far more likely to die as a result. Women of Asian descent also struggle with mental health issues because of their cancer but are not as likely to find culturally and socially assimilated mental health professionals as their non-Asian counterparts. Due to this, and other factors, breast cancer has become the leading cause of mortality for Asian-American women. Psychological health is crucial for recovery from physical illness, and the scant availability of Asian-American clinicians equipped to address the language barriers that accompany this group of women increases their risk for elevated physical and psychological symptoms. However, Qian Lu of the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston believes that there may be an avenue of treatment that could address the emotional turmoil of breast cancer while crossing cultural boundaries. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rose-colored-glasses-benefit-emergency-dispatchers-0117121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rose-colored-glasses-benefit-emergency-dispatchers-0117121/ Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:42:58 GMT Peritraumatic emotional distress is a psychological condition that puts an individual at increased risk for depression and posttraumatic stress (PTSD). Specifically, peritraumatic emotional distress has been linked to increased negative self-perceptions and occurs when someone experiences a traumatic event and after. First responders and emergency personnel are especially vulnerable to peritraumatic emotional distress, and the ensuing PTSD and depression, because of the sheer volume of traumatic events that they witness. World assumptions also contribute to the development, or prevention of, peritraumatic distress. People who assume that the world is good and life has meaning are less likely to fall victim to distress from trauma. In addition, those who have a high sense of self-worth are also more resilient and tend to rely on adaptive coping mechanisms after experiencing trauma. It is well documented that both peritraumatic distress and world assumptions can lead to PTSD and depression. However, there is little research examining how these two unique factors relate to each other in the development of psychological problems. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gravity-of-autism-0116124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gravity-of-autism-0116124/ Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:30:38 GMT Definition: Gravitational Pull; The attraction that one object has for another object due to the invisible force of gravity. The mass of an object affects its gravitational pull. The gravitational pull of the Sun keeps the planets in orbit around it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-risk-factors-warning-signs-0116124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-risk-factors-warning-signs-0116124/ Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:30:00 GMT Suicide, or the intentional ending of one?s life, is a topic that often causes significant anxiety to both professionals and the general public. Often, knowing some of the key risk factors that elevate and lower suicide risk can assist in working with a suicidal person and help them stay alive. In addition, if you are a professional, it can help you feel more confident in making decisions related to treatment and referral. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parents-illness-related-depression-disrupts-families-0113123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parents-illness-related-depression-disrupts-families-0113123/ Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:00:46 GMT Parents who struggle with a chronic illness are at increased risk for mental health challenges, particularly depression. Adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), a degenerative neurological disorder, have statistically high rates of depression, upwards of 59%. Because the illness often first manifests in early adulthood, the debilitating effects can impair child-rearing abilities and have a negative impact on parenting. Kenneth I. Pakenham of the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland in Australia recently conducted a study to determine if aspects of child and family functioning, including responsibilities, role distribution, stress, and stigma, were influenced more by the illness itself or by the accompanying depression. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-women-seeking-safety-effectively-0113122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-women-seeking-safety-effectively-0113122/ Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:00:45 GMT Seeking Safety is a brief therapeutic treatment that incorporates cognitive behavioral techniques in order to decrease substance misuse in people suffering from post-traumatic stress. Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are common in individuals who have experienced a traumatic event, and the majority of women being treated for SUDs have reported prior traumas. Because SUD and PTSD are commonly comorbid, many new treatments designed to address both issues have begun to emerge. Seeking Safety is one such a treatment. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/media-creates-narcissists-0113121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/media-creates-narcissists-0113121/ Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:21:58 GMT 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, Los Angeles, wanted to find an answer to this question.  Culturally, there are different views of fame. For instance, Uhls noted that boys from wealthier countries envision a successful man as one who is relaxing or engaged in sports. In contrast, boys from economically disadvantaged countries see an ideal adult man as one with a career and responsibilities. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/starting-over-january-0112124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/starting-over-january-0112124/ Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:00:41 GMT But home is far away http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disordered-eating-weight-loss-bone-health-0113126/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disordered-eating-weight-loss-bone-health-0113126/ Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:15:08 GMT 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. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rejection-sensitivity-affects-workplace-sexism-0112123/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rejection-sensitivity-affects-workplace-sexism-0112123/ Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:00:56 GMT In competitive workplace environments, women often aspire to achieve status equal to their male counterparts. But a new study suggests that women who are sensitive to rejection by male superiors may engage in self-silencing behaviors that actually promote, rather than prevent sexism. Self-silencing occurs when an individual refrains from verbalizing their opinions or beliefs for fear of being rejected by a person in a position of power or authority. To determine if this act impairs a woman?s ability to achieve equality in a work environment, Bonita London of the Department of Psychology at Stony Brook University led a study examining this unique phenomenon. ?We propose that, to the extent that normatively stressful situations in institutions that have historically limited women?s participation activate concerns about gender-based rejection, women will more readily detect gender-rejection threat and, to protect against rejection, will cope by self-silencing,? said London. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cannabis-use-prolongs-ptsd-symptoms-0112122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cannabis-use-prolongs-ptsd-symptoms-0112122/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:00:48 GMT Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) is on the rise among military veterans with PTSD. ?Indeed, rates of PTSD diagnoses among veterans increased 60% between 2002 and 2007, and rates of CUD diagnoses within the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital system increased more than 50% between 2002 and 2009,? said Marcel O. Bonn-Miller of the National Center for PTSD and Center for Health Care Evaluation at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California. However, when these vets enter treatment and discontinue their cannabis use, their symptoms linger. Anxiety increases when individuals stop using cannabis to cope with their symptoms, but until now, the cessation of cannabis in relation to PTSD symptoms had not been explored fully. To address this gap, Bonn-Miller and his colleagues conducted a study on veterans who entered treatment for PTSD with a CUD and theorized that they would have smaller treatment gains after abstaining from cannabis use than veterans without a CUD. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-helps-suicidal-lgb-youth-0112121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-helps-suicidal-lgb-youth-0112121/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:31:36 GMT Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) teens are at increased risk for suicide due to peer victimization and minority discrimination. These actions can have serious psychological consequences for teens, including plummeting self-esteem, anxiety, hopelessness and depression. ?No experience, however, is more pernicious than parental rejection,? said Gary M. Diamond of the Department of Psychology at Ben-Gurion University in Israel, and co-author of a study examining treatments to reduce suicide among LGB youth. ?Societal homophobic messages, cultural values and religious beliefs lead some parents, at least initially, to perceive their child?s same-sex orientation as perverse, immoral, disgusting, and/or dangerous,? said Diamond. This type of disapproval from parents can lead to intense negative feelings, including shame, anger and guilt, which often manifest through maladaptive behaviors. Teens that experience this type of rejection often behave violently or engage in humiliating or abusive acts. Many times the tension is so severe that the children are forced out of the home or leave voluntarily. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/being-mindful-empathy-building-play-therapy-0112114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/being-mindful-empathy-building-play-therapy-0112114/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:30:53 GMT 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 or disruption in naturally cultivating this inherent trait. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/working-with-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-clients-0111124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/working-with-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-clients-0111124/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:30:33 GMT As you would with any client, be sure to conduct a complete and comprehensive interview. Be sure to ask about what they thought life would be like, versus what reality is. Is there a loss of a dream? Any traumas? Are they ?out? or in process of coming out? It is wise to remember and even educate folks that ?coming out? is a lifetime process and not a discreet event. People may ?come out? at different levels in different settings (e.g. family, friends, work, etc). Be prepared to ask questions over time, as answers will change as clients feel more comfortable and safe. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/does-race-affect-working-alliance-0111122/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/does-race-affect-working-alliance-0111122/ Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:00:36 GMT Working Alliance (WA) describes the relationship between a client and therapist and the underlying bond formed during the therapeutic process.  The majority of researchers believe that a strong WA is essential to a positive treatment outcome. Ethnic and racial differences between clients and therapists can impair the working alliance and therefore influence the outcome as well. ?Members of racial/ethnic minority groups may experience greater challenges in establishing a trusting therapeutic relationship due to perceived or actual cultural differences or cultural biases,? said Sherry Muterspaugh Walling of the Department of Psychology at Fresno Pacific University. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-eating-0111126/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-eating-0111126/ Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:22:51 GMT We all, at one time or another, use food for soothing. Eating is a pleasurable experience. The problem lies in using food for comfort rather than dealing with our emotions because food only provides a temporary escape only to have emotions resurface again and again. For may people, they are taught from a young age that emotions are not meant to be expressed, but just dealt with on their own and to move on with a brave face. This is, in most cases, not done in malice, but for the sheer fact that we are uncomfortable with emotion. We are uncomfortable with our own emotions and certainly more uncomfortable with that of others. This begins a dangerous cycle, especially if you are trying to manage your weight. When we eat to soothe feelings while trying to lose weight, it begins a cycle of shame, guilt and self-loathing that pushes us further into the emotional abyss. So, let?s HALT the BS! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/light-at-the-end-0111125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/light-at-the-end-0111125/ Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:48:05 GMT The dawning of the New Year brings with it more than just a change in numbers. It brings a promise of longer and warmer days in contrast to the early arrival of night in wintertime. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/socioeconomic-status-linked-to-physical-psychological-health-0111111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/socioeconomic-status-linked-to-physical-psychological-health-0111111/ Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:00:48 GMT Socioeconomic status (SES) influences many facets of a person?s life. Researchers have theorized that low SES is associated with poor physical and mental health throughout life, but few studies have examined the long-term effects. Even fewer studies have examined how positive or negative mood, resulting from SES, influence physical health. ?Given this background, the present study examines inter-individual differences in the development of positive and negative affect and physical health as well as in the dynamic associations between emotions and physical health in the second half of life according to education as one aspect of SES,? said Ina Schollgen of the German Centre of Gerontology in Berlin, Germany, and lead author of a recent study exploring SES, affect and physical health. Previous studies have have shown that positive affect (PA) decreases in old age and negative affect (NA) decreases until age 60, then stabilizes. But Schollgen?s study is among the first to link NA and PA, as a result of SES, directly to physical health. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/can-couples-recover-from-infidelity-0111114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/can-couples-recover-from-infidelity-0111114/ Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:30:07 GMT I was counseling a couple recently and as the session was coming to a close I was asked point blank, ?How many couples come to see you with infidelity?? I had to stop for a moment and think, ?About 30% of the couples I treat work with infidelity issues,? I answered. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-dependence-scale-translation-0110113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-dependence-scale-translation-0110113/ Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:00:34 GMT Exercise dependence is a form of addiction, similar to alcohol, drug, shopping, or pornography addiction. ?Exercise dependence, exercise addiction, obligatory, compulsive, obsessive, or excessive exercise have been some of the terms describing the same negative phenomenon when people overuse exercise, neglect other life domains, and exercise even if ill or injured,? said Irini S. Parastatidou of the Laboratory of Sport Psychology at the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at the University of Thessaloniki in Greece. Currently there are 14 tools that are used by clinicians to identify behaviors of exercise dependence, some of which are quite old and of questionable validity. ?Among the plethora of scales to assess exercise dependence, the Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS) followed by the Exercise Dependence Scale Revised (EDS-R) shows sufficient reliability and validity values, and it is based on a strong theoretical background relative to exercise dependence and the respective DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence,? said Parastatidou. But researchers have questioned the Greek version of the EDS because certain elements may have gotten lost in translation. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/more-men-more-debt-0110112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/more-men-more-debt-0110112/ Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:00:11 GMT According to a new study, men are more likely to overspend and go into debt when available women are in short supply. Sex ratio, the number of available men to available women, directly influences the quality of family life and mating patterns in adults. ?There are reasons to believe, however, that sex ratio has an even broader impact, affecting many other areas of human life,? said Vladas Griskevicius of the Department of Marketing at the University of Minnesota and lead author of the recent study examining how sex ratio impacts economics. ?Sex ratio is likely to influence consumer behavior by affecting the intensity of same-sex competition for mates.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vitamin-b12-folic-acid-applications-with-mental-physical-health-0110115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vitamin-b12-folic-acid-applications-with-mental-physical-health-0110115/ Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:45:52 GMT Everyone seems to be talking about the Bs lately. Specifically, B12 and folic acid (or folate) are making headlines for their roles in mental health and illness. Both of these vitamins play an essential part in a number of key bodily processes. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disgusted-with-violence-0110121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disgusted-with-violence-0110121/ Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:30:22 GMT Aggressive and violent behavior is the result of strong negative emotions. However, individuals who experience avoidant negative emotions, such as fear and anxiety, tend to be less aggressive. ?The current research focuses on one trait that is linked to both negative affect and behavioral avoidance?individual differences in disgust sensitivity?that should be associated with lower levels of aggression,? said Richard S. Pond, Jr. of the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky and lead author of a recent study examining which emotions mediate aggressive behavior. ?Because disgust is a defensive emotion, people who are highly sensitive to it should be oriented towards avoidant or withdrawal types of behavior,? said Pond. ?This orientation towards behavioral avoidance is in direct conflict with physical aggression, which is approach oriented.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/learning-healing-through-elections-01101224/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/learning-healing-through-elections-01101224/ Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:26:44 GMT Right after the new year begins, the elections process will ramp up again... bombarding us with news at each and every step, building to a series of feverish pitches.  One at each caucus or primary. One when the Republican nominee is selected. One at the Democratic convention. And one on election day. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/understanding-parallel-process-in-supervision/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/understanding-parallel-process-in-supervision/ Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:00:14 GMT Parallel process is one of many elements included in psychotherapy supervision. In supervision, a therapist relays their client?s issues to their supervisor. The supervisor then takes on the role of the therapist and the therapist in training; the trainee then assumes the role of the client. ?Without endorsing unconscious determinants, parallel process is also recognized as an important aspect of supervision in developmental and interactional models of supervision,? said Terence J.G. Tracey of the Counseling and Counseling Psychology Department of Arizona State University and lead author of a recent study. ?The focus of the present study was on examining the processes of supervision and therapy conjointly. Specifically, we sought to determine whether parallel processes existed in supervision, and if so, their relation to therapy outcome.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapists-comfort-critical-for-success-of-multisystemic-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapists-comfort-critical-for-success-of-multisystemic-therapy/ Mon, 9 Jan 2012 22:00:45 GMT Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is a home-based method of therapy that is designed to meet the needs of disadvantaged clients, in particular, youth from poor socioeconomic backgrounds with drug or alcohol problems, domestic violence issues and HIV, among others. ?MST interventions integrate empirically supported clinical techniques (e.g., family therapy, behavior therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy) into a broad-based social ecological framework, that addresses relevant risk and protective factors across individual (e.g., positive attitudes toward delinquency and drug use), family (e.g., poor monitoring, inconsistent or lax discipline), peer (e.g., association with drug-using and/or delinquent peers), school (e.g., behavioral problems at school, truancy, academic difficulties), and community (e.g., availability of weapons and drugs, high instability, and psychosocial stress) systems,? said Tatiana Glebova of the Couple and Family Therapy Program at Alliant International University, and lead author of a new study examining the effectiveness of a tool to measure therapists? comfort in MST delivery. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/detecting-lies-0109121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/detecting-lies-0109121/ Mon, 9 Jan 2012 16:00:56 GMT Little white lies are seemingly innocuous, but high-stakes lies can be a matter of life or death. Understanding the facial expressions of people who tell high-stakes lies (deceivers) could be crucial to aiding criminal investigations, and even saving lives. ?High-stakes lies can be accompanied by powerful emotions?fear, remorse, anger, or even excitement?that must be inhibited or convincingly faked,? said Leanne ten Brinke of the Department of Psychology at the Centre for the Advancement of Psychological Science and Law at the University of British Columbia. ?In particular for high-stakes lies, a deceiver must construct a consistently detailed story and communicate the deceptive information?via facial expression, speech, and body language communication channels?in a way that will maximize his or her apparent credibility.? Emotional leakage is a term used to describe the unconscious expression of suppressed emotions, and occurs when deceivers experience intense emotions. Additionally, lies are also associated with an increased blink rate and verbal deception. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-impairment-linked-with-schizophrenia-0106113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-impairment-linked-with-schizophrenia-0106113/ Sat, 7 Jan 2012 02:00:25 GMT The majority of clients diagnosed with schizophrenia have an IQ that resides below the normal range, or declines below the normal range as the disorder progresses. ?In apparent contradiction to this view, some patients with schizophrenia have been documented to have an overall IQ in the normal range, and a few have above-average performance, at least in some neuropsychological domains,? said James. H. MacCabe of the Department of Psychosis Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry at King?s College in London. ?If it were truly possible to have schizophrenia with no cognitive impairment, then this would have important implications for current etiological and neuropsychological models of schizophrenia, since cognitive deficits could not be regarded as a necessary condition for the illness.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healthy-identity-intimacy-prevents-mid-life-crisis-0106112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healthy-identity-intimacy-prevents-mid-life-crisis-0106112/ Fri, 6 Jan 2012 22:00:40 GMT Is it possible to avoid a mid-life crisis? According to a recent study led by Joel R. Sneed of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University, it is possible. Identity formation is an essential part of adolescence. Many studies have examined the impact of healthy identity formation on adulthood. But few studies have examined how identity formation throughout adulthood affected well-being in mid-life. ?Identity develops as individuals transition into adult roles, such as gainful employment, committed partnerships, and parenting,? said Sneed. ?Identity can be developed either through thoughtful consideration of alternative options, or through internalizing ideals espoused by others. In either case, a strong sense of identity appears to facilitate well-being and satisfying committed relationships in adulthood.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/24-new-years-resolutions-0106127/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/24-new-years-resolutions-0106127/ Fri, 6 Jan 2012 20:51:53 GMT Traditionally, New Year's resolutions are about changing oneself to become better. My impression is that people break these promises to themselves about as often as they hang clothes on their home exercise machines. Making New Year's resolutions and not following through on them just makes people feel bad about themselves, and doesn?t make anything better, just as buying home exercise equipment doesn?t help improve health when it?s only used to hang clothes. In fact, when broken New Year's resolutions cause people to be very self-critical and decide they are failures, these resolutions are actually destructive, and can cause depression. Of course making realistic?really realistic goals for changing things you want to change can work?if it works for you, and if it has only a positive effect on you. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-years-resolutions-0106125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-years-resolutions-0106125/ Fri, 6 Jan 2012 17:07:24 GMT Everyone talks about resolutions and starting fresh at the beginning of a new year. It is, in fact, an auspicious time to renew ourselves, symbolically and energetically. A fresh calendar year gives us a sense of hope and new-found control over the course of our life. Who knows what 2012 will bring? We want to be strong, clear-thinking, and psychologically ready to handle every challenge and emotion that comes our way! To meet this goal, I have targeted a few areas where old ?stuff? tends to accumulate and I have provided simple steps to help you cleanse and prepare for all that the new year has to offer. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-treatment-and-recovery-problematic-0106114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-treatment-and-recovery-problematic-0106114/ Fri, 6 Jan 2012 16:43:24 GMT The decision to contact a therapist, set up an appointment, interview the therapist and agree to move forward with treatment might seem to imply that a client is ready to pursue their goal of feeling better. Unfortunately, ambivalence surrounding the therapeutic process as well as its outcome occurs far more commonly than clarity around this pursuit. Healing would presumably be the obvious goal for all of us; why wouldn?t we want that, right? Clients have offered fairly good reasoning as to why not; if we hope to be able to move beyond the ambivalence and into confronting the trauma, providing a space to acknowledge where the individual is in regard to their process would be a necessary first step. Common reasons for not pursuing treatment from the client?s perspective will be discussed here as a means of normalizing hesitation while validating concerns about process and outcome. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anorexic-women-categorical-learning-deficiencies-linked-0106111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anorexic-women-categorical-learning-deficiencies-linked-0106111/ Fri, 6 Jan 2012 16:00:26 GMT Recent research has focused on examining the cognitive abilities of people with eating issues and in particular, of women with anorexia nervosa (AN). ?These studies are important for a better understanding of AN given the possibility that cognitive deficits may (a) contribute to the development and persistence of AN, (b) result from neurological changes associated with the disease, or (c) influence the choice of treatment approaches,? said Megan E. Shott of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado. More recent studies have discovered that although individuals with AN may have deficits in cognitive functioning, many of them also have very high IQs. ?These results suggest that difficulties in cognitive functioning in AN may be more specific than an impairment in general intellectual functioning, and raises the possibility that AN might impact only certain neural systems,? said Shott, who recently led a study designed to identify which types of learning were most impacted in people with AN. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thinking-about-stress-can-kill-you-0105113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thinking-about-stress-can-kill-you-0105113/ Fri, 6 Jan 2012 02:00:48 GMT According to a new study, perceived stress can increase the risk of premature death by as much as 43%. ?The perception that stress affects one?s health is conceptually distinct from the amount of stress an individual experiences; indeed, one could report experiencing very little stress but still believe it to have a great impact on their health,? said Abiola Keller of the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and lead author of the study. ?This study aims to examine the relationship between the perception that stress affects health and current health, mental health, and mortality.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/discussing-spirituality-in-therapy-0105112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/discussing-spirituality-in-therapy-0105112/ Thu, 5 Jan 2012 22:00:14 GMT The majority of Americans believe in a higher power or God. Eighty percent of people living in the United States are affiliated with a structured form of religion, and the majority of those people consider their faith a significant aspect of their lives. ?Thus, religion is likely to impact the lives of many counseling and therapy clients in the United States and may even play an integral part in their therapy,? said Marilyn A. Cornish of the Department of Psychology at Iowa State University. ?A number of studies have found the large majority of mental health professionals to believe that religion and spirituality are relevant to the therapeutic process.? And yet, Cornish noted, not many therapists initiate the topic of religion or spirituality in their sessions. Therefore, Cornish led a study to determine why, even though therapists believe the use of spiritual or religious interventions are appropriate, they are underutilized. ?The current online-questionnaire study was designed to describe how group counselors view and approach religion and spirituality in group counseling,? she said. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hypnotism-for-sexual-concerns-0105115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hypnotism-for-sexual-concerns-0105115/ Thu, 5 Jan 2012 20:15:16 GMT Hypnotism can be a useful and versatile tool for addressing sexual concerns, including several types of sexual problems (such as non-medically caused erectile dysfunction and low desire) and negative body image, shame, and sexual inhibitions. Hypnotism can help discover and correct inner obstacles to sexual health and pleasure. As a skill set, hypnotism is used in a complementary way by many types of helping professionals. Hypnotism also provides the foundation for a growing group of professional practitioners variously known as consulting hypnotists and hypnotherapists. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/helping-children-cope-with-divorce-0105114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/helping-children-cope-with-divorce-0105114/ Thu, 5 Jan 2012 18:58:44 GMT Divorce may be one of the worst moments in your life, and it will impact everything happening in yours and your children's lives. Many children will experience the pain, frustration, stress, and loss that divorce brings to their lives.  While kids are very resilient, they need help adjusting to a new life when their parents are separated. There are many things that parents can do to help their children with the divorce process. Often, how parents deal during the divorce impacts how children handle their loss. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/secret-affairs-causes-hostility-in-relationships-0105111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/secret-affairs-causes-hostility-in-relationships-0105111/ Thu, 5 Jan 2012 17:00:13 GMT Extradyadic involvement (EDI), also known as infidelity, occurs in many relationships. At times, the infidelity is known to both partners, and at other times, only the participating partner is aware of the EDI. Regardless, EDIs have significant negative consequences. ?Many negative emotional and behavioral correlates of EDI have been documented including partner violence, acute anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and symptoms similar to those of posttraumatic stress disorder,? said Christina M. Balderrama-Durbin of the Department of Psychology at the University of Colorado. ?Relationship distress and dissolution are also commonly associated with EDI, with infidelity being the most frequently cited cause of divorce.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-need-direct-answers-after-interparent-violence-0104113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-need-direct-answers-after-interparent-violence-0104113/ Thu, 5 Jan 2012 02:00:04 GMT Over 15 million children live in homes in which intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs. ?A sizable proportion of these children experience significant mental-health problems, but many appear to experience only mild distress, especially those drawn from community samples,? said Renee McDonald of the Department of Psychology at Southern Methodist University. ?Parent? child communications about interparent conflict may represent another important dimension of parenting for children who have been exposed to IPV.? Children who witness interparent conflict often express curiosity about the conflict. A number of mothers have reported that if asked, they would explain to their children about the conflict. However, to date, few studies have looked at that behavior to identify the influence it would have on the child?s adjustment. ?It seems plausible that mother? child communications about interparent conflict affect children?s understanding of the conflict, and theorists often point to the importance of children?s understanding of their parents? conflict in influencing children?s adjustment,? said McDonald. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/natural-lighting-increases-productivity-0104112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/natural-lighting-increases-productivity-0104112/ Wed, 4 Jan 2012 22:00:52 GMT According to a new study, people who spend more time in natural lighting than in artificial lighting have increased productivity and alertness. Light directly influences the amount of melatonin a person produces, which indirectly affects alertness. ?Most people spend their days within buildings under different lighting environments, which range from daylight to artificial light only,? said Mirjam Münch of the Solar Energy and Building Physics Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland. ?At most workplaces, there is a mixed situation between the two principal light sources.? Münch added, ?For the impact of light perception on nonvisual functions such as alertness, mood, and performance, those lighting conditions are likely to significantly contribute to modulation of alertness and productivity via the retinohypothalamic tract and melanopsin-dependent pathways.? Because few studies have examined the effects of lighting on cognitive performance, Münch and her colleagues conducted a study to determine how natural and artificial light affected cognitive functioning in the evening. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-affect-asian-americans-contemplating-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-affect-asian-americans-contemplating-suicide/ Wed, 4 Jan 2012 17:00:41 GMT Asian Americans face different social stressors than their American counterparts. Some of the factors that can cause particular sensitivity include discrimination, nativity and family conflict. Yusuke Kuroki and Jacqueline L. Tilley of the Department of Psychology at the University of Southern California evaluated Asian Americans at risk for suicide to determine which cultural and social factors impacted their suicidal ideation the most. They gathered data from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) on Asian American mental health and analyzed it using the classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. ?Ultimately, CART analysis identi?es subgroups, in which people are homogeneous in terms of dependent variables and independent variables, and creates a tree model that predicts the value for each subgroup,? said Kuroki. ?Our aims were to (a) determine the most important predictors of suicidal ideation using random forest, and (b) generate a decision tree using CART that closely mirrors the clinical decision-making process and identi?es the factors that best classify suicide attempters from non-suicide attempters.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-years-resolutions-and-addiction-the-strength-of-weakness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-years-resolutions-and-addiction-the-strength-of-weakness/ Wed, 4 Jan 2012 16:45:07 GMT I just read in a newspaper article that health clubs see a nice jump in membership at this time of year, due to all those New Year?s resolutions to lose weight. Of course, many new members will make a concerted effort for a month or two, and then slowly drift away. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unsexy-in-vitro-fertilization-0104124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unsexy-in-vitro-fertilization-0104124/ Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:30:31 GMT Technology can have a marvelous effect on sexuality in many ways. One example is the vibrator, which has helped countless women discover that we can indeed pleasure ourselves to orgasm. This in turn leads many of us to become orgasmic with a partner, so everyone?s happy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/supportive-fathers-reduce-daughters-stress-0103113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/supportive-fathers-reduce-daughters-stress-0103113/ Wed, 4 Jan 2012 02:00:53 GMT Adolescence can be an especially stressful time. However, a series of recent studies suggests that having a supportive father may help reduce that stress, especially for teen girls. ?Recent research indicates that father attributes are associated with psychobiological activity in young children,? said Jennifer Byrd-Craven of the Department of Psychology at Oklahoma State University, and lead author of the study. ?The present studies examine the association between the quality of father? daughter relationships and daughters? morning stress system activity, baseline stress system activity, and stress response to self-disclosure with a friend.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mother-daughter-relationship-affects-sexual-behavior-in-african-american-girls/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mother-daughter-relationship-affects-sexual-behavior-in-african-american-girls/ Tue, 3 Jan 2012 22:00:25 GMT Strong mother-daughter relationships provide many positive psychological benefits for teen girls. For African-American girls with mental health problems, this relationship may also serve to prevent risky sexual behavior that could lead to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). ?Relative to other ethnic groups, African-American girls tend to initiate sex earlier, report higher rates of sexual activity during adolescence, and they account for the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea,? said Erin Emerson of the Department of Psychiatry, Community Outreach Intervention Projects at the University of Illinois. ?African-American girls in psychiatric care are at even greater risk because teens with mental health problems report more sexual risk-taking than do their untroubled peers.? Emerson recently led a study to identify what factors would influence sexual activity in this segment of the population. She said, ?Guided by a social-personal framework, this study explored three mechanisms that may be associated with sexual behavior among African-American girls in psychiatric care: attachment to mothers, attachment to peers, and perceived peer norms.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/contemplating-new-year-0103125/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/contemplating-new-year-0103125/ Tue, 3 Jan 2012 21:53:21 GMT This post is made up of the flotsam and jetsam that have been washing around in the ocean of my mind, waiting to be shared. May it be of benefit to you. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creating-new-years-aspirations-0103114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creating-new-years-aspirations-0103114/ Tue, 3 Jan 2012 19:21:08 GMT Resolutions are a popular topic at this time of the year, and with predictions that the year 2012 may be our last (if the ancient Mayan calendar is to be believed!), perhaps a greater number of us than usual are at least contemplating how best to make sure we go out on a positive, rather than sour, note. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-bullying-changes-with-maturity-0103121/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-bullying-changes-with-maturity-0103121/ Tue, 3 Jan 2012 18:15:26 GMT Bullying has become an epidemic among American youth. Adolescents are especially vulnerable to the negative mental and academic effects of bullying. ?Name-calling, which can involve homophobic epithet use, is the most frequent form of victimization experienced by sexual minority youth,? said V. Paul Poteat of the Department of Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology at Boston College, and lead author of a recent study examining the pattern of bullying throughout the high school years. ?Being called these epithets is associated with elevated mental health concerns and lower sense of school belonging for sexual minority and heterosexual youth.? Additionally, students who report being victimized also exhibit poorer academic performance and increased truancy and absenteeism as a result of the patterns associated with bullying behaviors. Poteat said, ?The identification of these patterns of change is critical to develop effective programs to counter this behavior, provide adequate resources, and foster environments that promote the psychological, social, and academic development of students.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-growth-0102124/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-growth-0102124/ Mon, 2 Jan 2012 15:30:52 GMT We all have this wall around us. It is a very defined wall that protects us from harm. At times, it prevents us from opening our eyes to something we might need but don?t necessarily want to hear. Resistance within us is very thick and it gets even thicker as we move along in our daily lives. Our daily routines become redundant, predictable and too comfortable until we become unknowingly complacent. We feel there are no other alternatives, the feelings of sadness, disappointment and annoyance creep. These emotions seem to not to want to go away even if and when we try to entertain ourselves, be it with friends and outings or any extracurricular activities. Many times, alcohol, gambling and other mood-altering substances take the place of healing, a means to self-medicate. A means to escape the vicious cycle we have created. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marital-problems-linked-with-heart-health-issues-1231113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marital-problems-linked-with-heart-health-issues-1231113/ Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:00:31 GMT According to a new study, couples who have high levels of marital discord are at increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). ?Marital disruption (i.e., separation, divorce) and strain (i.e., conflict, dissatisfaction) predict the development of CHD (coronary heart disease) and poor prognosis for heart patients,? said Timothy W. Smith of the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah. ?The uncertain role of marital quality in early stages of coronary artery disease (CAD) before the onset of clinically apparent CHD complicates the design of CHD risk assessments and risk-reducing interventions.? Marital discord can be strongly impacted by levels of affiliation and control and gender. ?Women are sometimes more distressed by low affiliation in close relationships than are men, whereas men are often more troubled by concerns involving status or control,? said Smith. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/motivation-predicts-college-graduates-well-being-1231111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/motivation-predicts-college-graduates-well-being-1231111/ Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:00:23 GMT Motivation is one of the core concepts of individual agency and has been shown to have a direct impact on psychological well-being. For students who are leaving college and entering the workforce, well-being is of paramount importance as they make this life-changing transition. ?Previous studies on the transition into work have yielded important insights demonstrating that young adults? agency has important consequences for their well-being, mental health, and career success,? said Claudia M. Haase of the Institute of Personality and Social Research at the University of California, Berkeley, and lead author of a recent study. ?In the present study, we focus on university graduates, who, despite an advantaged position in the labor market, face increasing challenges in terms of finding a permanent, career-ladder job commensurate with their education.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/long-term-treatment-effects-study-women-with-ptsd-1230112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/long-term-treatment-effects-study-women-with-ptsd-1230112/ Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:23 GMT Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is treated in a number of ways, the most common of which is through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). ?The specific CBT protocols of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE) have both been demonstrated to be efficacious in ameliorating PTSD and comorbid depression, anxiety, guilt, and anger,? said Patricia A. Resick of the Department of Psychiatry at Boston University, and lead author of a recent study examining the long-term effects of PTSD treatment in women. ?One important remaining question is whether PTSD symptom reductions resulting from CBT are long lasting.? The majority of research on the subject has only examined results extending one year or less after treatment. ?The purpose of this study is to report the findings from a long-term follow-up (LTFU) assessment of a randomized controlled trial comparing CPT with PE as the control condition because it was the most established treatment at the time, as well as a waiting list control.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mothers-little-helper-motherhood-itself-1229113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mothers-little-helper-motherhood-itself-1229113/ Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:00:18 GMT Mothers are better able to handle stress than females who have never experienced motherhood, according to a new study. ?Indeed, several studies report that new mothers are better able to learn to navigate in their environment, a behavior that would more often than not have positive consequences for survival of the offspring,? said Lisa Y. Maeng of the Department of Psychology and Center for Collaborative Neuroscience at Rutgers University and lead author of the study. ?We have also noted enhanced learning as a consequence of motherhood. In this case, the act of maternal behavior itself prevents a learning deficit that occurs in virgins after exposure to a stressful life event.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surviving-suffering-1229116/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surviving-suffering-1229116/ Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:00:23 GMT Last month, one of my readers felt shortchanged by my article on suffering. Not to be defensive about it, but the editors changed my original title [Ed. note: "Suffering" was the original title of November's article]. Nevertheless, perhaps it would be worthwhile to give my suggestions on how to survive painful and difficult periods in our lives whether they are physical, emotional, spiritual, financial or a combination of the above. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/warning-messages-may-help-decrease-ohigh-risk-gambling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/warning-messages-may-help-decrease-ohigh-risk-gambling/ Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:00:52 GMT Casual gamblers and gamblers with addiction issues think differently when they gamble, but all gamblers appear to hold unrealistic beliefs when they gamble. ?Since erroneous beliefs tend to be directly related to risky gambling behavior, helping individuals maintain a rational perspective during gambling may protect them from taking unreasonable risks and developing a gambling problem,? said Bianca F. Jardin of the Department of Psychology at the University of Albany, State University of New York. ?Based on this reasoning, several policymakers around the world have begun to implement harm minimization strategies, such as displaying warnings in the form of pop-up messages on gambling machines.? The messages are designed to make the gambler aware of the risks associated with their behavior and also to dispel any false beliefs the gambler may hold. However, the effects of these warnings have not been researched adequately. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/avoiding-sex-addiction-after-breakup-122920115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/avoiding-sex-addiction-after-breakup-122920115/ Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:30:03 GMT In many ways it would appear that breaking up is similar to falling in love. I know what you are thinking, and you are right - it?s not quite the same thing. However, in terms of the physiological effects that it has on your mind, psyche and body, it would appear to have quite a significant effect as it can potentially turn your world upside down. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resiliency-in-men-raised-in-abusive-homes-1229111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resiliency-in-men-raised-in-abusive-homes-1229111/ Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:00:51 GMT ?Estimates from the U.S. Department of Justice indicate between 21% and 38% of households with partner violence had children under the age of 12 years living in the home and, among urban households, 60% of children witnessed the violence,? said Gerald Gonzales of the Department of Counseling Psychology & Human Services at the University of Oregon, and lead author of a recent study examining resiliency in men who experienced abuse in their childhoods. ?While the effects can vary based on frequency and severity, evidence suggests EPV places children at risk for poor physical health, increased aggression, conduct problems, antisocial behavior, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, future perpetration of violence.? However, not all children who are exposed to inter-parental violence (EPV) experience psychological or social difficulties in adulthood. ?The purpose of this study was to examine the contextual factors that contributed to the resilient development of adult men who experienced exposure to inter-parental violence (EPV) as children.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reclaiming-holidays-122920114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reclaiming-holidays-122920114/ Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:30:32 GMT Holiday traditions can be excruciatingly difficult for individuals who have experienced traumatic events, and yet finding a way to decrease this difficulty is an often neglected topic. Many individuals take a ?grin and bear it? attitude and argue that the holiday season only comes once a year. While the final months of a calendar year do have a large helping of holidays, holidays occur throughout the year, and birthdays and seemingly minor holidays can sometimes be harder than the big ones. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/casual-context-influences-psychopathology-diagnosis-12281/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/casual-context-influences-psychopathology-diagnosis-12281/ Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:00:50 GMT Clinicians rely on varying factors to assess a client?s level of mental health. Past events, such as abuse or trauma, can help a clinician determine if the behavior a client exhibits in the present tense warrants psychological treatment. But exactly how does a clinician decide what is normal or abnormal behavior?  ?The concept of psychological abnormality has long been, and continues to be, a central concept in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and in a wide range of clinical evaluations,? said Nancy S. Kim of the Department of Psychology at Northeastern University. ?Judgments of psychological abnormality most directly speak to the fundamental issue of uncovering clinicians? true beliefs about what constitutes psychopathology.? In a recent study, Kim asked how casual context influenced a clinician?s judgment. ?Our central aim is to propose and test a proportionate-response hypothesis, such that clinicians? judgments of abnormality are influenced by whether a person?s behaviors are perceived to be a disproportionate response to past events, rendering them difficult to understand or explain.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/integrated-therapy-provides-hope-against-eating-disorders-1228112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/integrated-therapy-provides-hope-against-eating-disorders-1228112/ Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:00:55 GMT Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a difficult issue to treat and many clients who begin therapy to overcome their food issues drop out before they have reached their goals. At the core of any successful therapy is the treatment alliance, the working relationship between the therapist and the client. ?Researchers suggest one of the leading reasons for high drop-out in AN treatment trials is the difficulty patients with AN and therapists have in establishing a treatment alliance,? said Dana A. Satir of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) at Boston University. ?Higher quality treatment alliances have been consistently associated with better outcomes across different forms of psychopathology.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reward-children-with-food-alternates-1228114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reward-children-with-food-alternates-1228114/ Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:17:54 GMT Society has centered itself around food. Graduations, parties, get-togethers, family and life events - all of these are surrounded by food. Individuals may use food to reward themselves on a job well done, or to console themselves when things are not going well, or if they are feeling bad about something. Each person is different on how they use food in their lives. Nonetheless, food is a part of our lives and will continue to be so. This article is not about making a person feel bad about themselves at all; it?s about raising awareness for parents on other ways to reward children, and if anyone else can be open to these ideas, then that?s even better. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trustworthiness-self-disclosing-therapists-1227112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trustworthiness-self-disclosing-therapists-1227112/ Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:00:03 GMT Self-disclosure by therapists, a practice that was once frowned upon in psychoanalysis, has become a commonly accepted practice. Therapists who self-disclose believe that they are benefiting their clients by sharing similar problematic situations and offering experienced resolutions. However, the effects of specific types of self-disclosure countertransference (CT) have not been examined until now. ?The definition of CT that has been used in most research, and that was employed in the present study, views CT as the therapist?s reactions to the client that are based on the therapist?s emotional conflicts and vulnerabilities,? said Yun-Jy Yeh of the Department of Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology and Rehabilitation Services at Penn State University, and co-author of the study. ?In addition to lack of agreement about how to define CT, controversies also exist about its therapeutic virtues.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/religiosity-affects-teen-substance-use-1227111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/religiosity-affects-teen-substance-use-1227111/ Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:00:02 GMT Adolescents who have thrill-seeking personalities are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol. ?Among risk factors in the individual domain, sensation seeking consistently has been identified as a positive predictor of health risk behaviors (Zuckerman, 2006), including substance use,? said Alex W. Mason of the National Research Institute for Child and Family Studies in Boys Town, Nebraska, and lead author of a recent study. ?An important adolescent protective factor in the individual domain is religiosity.? Previous research has shown that religious values and church attendance heavily influence a teen and can prevent them from engaging in risky behaviors. To test this theory further, Mason led a study examining how the various aspects of religiosity affected teen substance use. ?In summary, this study examines thrill-seeking measured in early adolescence and two dimensions of religiosity, religious salience and religious attendance, measured throughout the teen years in relation to late adolescent substance use frequency among a sample of rural youth,? said Mason. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loneliness-financial-strain-predict-elder-stress-1226113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loneliness-financial-strain-predict-elder-stress-1226113/ Tue, 27 Dec 2011 02:00:14 GMT Older adults face unique life conditions that can contribute to stress, including declining health and loneliness. Conversely, stressful conditions can cause people to become physically and psychologically ill. ?Specifically, prior to determining which characteristics of an individual may modify the effect of perceived stress, it is useful to explore which features of a person?s life contributed to him or her appraising life as stressful in the first place,? said Stacey B. Scott of the School of Psychology at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. ?Certain aspects of later life may be especially noxious. For example, regardless of how well or poorly an individual fares in other life domains, the presence of chronic health problems may distinguish those who are highly stressed from those who are not.? Scott, who recently led a study to determine which factors influenced stress in older adults the most, believes that combinations of factors may also increase stress. ?In an effort to address these questions, the present study explores the patterns by which life events, neighborhood strain, age-related discrimination (i.e., ageism), social isolation (i.e., loneliness), financial strain, and physical health affect the extent to which older adults perceived themselves as generally ?stressed,?? said Scott. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/readiness-ruler-best-tool-for-adolescent-alcoholism-1226112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/readiness-ruler-best-tool-for-adolescent-alcoholism-1226112/ Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:00:52 GMT Adolescents who enter treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUD) must be ready to change their behavior in order for treatment to work. Unlike adults, many adolescents are sent to treatment against their will and do not desire to make the changes necessary to overcome their problems with alcohol. Measuring the motivation level of the adolescents, and determining what stage of readiness they are in, is a critical component to ensuring a positive treatment outcome. The three primary measures used to assess readiness to change in the adult population are the Stages of Change and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), the Readiness Ruler (RR) and the staging Algorithm. The SOCRATES measures readiness to change through scaling, the RR is a ten question scale, and the algorithm bases its evaluation of readiness on a five stage scale. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/item-response-theory-for-depressed-youth-tested-1226111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/item-response-theory-for-depressed-youth-tested-1226111/ Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:00:28 GMT ?For clinical researchers, the closest thing to a gold standard for the assessment of child and adolescent depression is a semi-structured clinical interview, typically administered not just to the child but to a parent or other caregiver as well,? said David A. Cole of the Department of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, and lead author of a new study examining the validity of the IRT for adolescent depression. ?The application of item response theory (IRT) to semi-structured clinical interview data can simultaneously advance the understanding of psychopathology and enhance the fidelity of its measurement.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effectivenew-years-resolutions-1220112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effectivenew-years-resolutions-1220112/ Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:00:22 GMT How often have you made a New Year?s resolution only to have it fail by February? You are definitely not alone. The concept of a New Year?s resolution sets you up to fail. Consider this: between Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year?s, we are bombarded with food, food, food, drink, excessive spending and stress. Resolving to make change after six weeks of this madness would set anyone up for failure. It is the Fat Tuesday before Lent. We load ourselves up with unhealthy behaviors in preparation for the ultimate sacrifice. We then tell ourselves that our lives will be different next year. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/income-and-education-predict-african-american-couples-stability-1223112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/income-and-education-predict-african-american-couples-stability-1223112/ Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:00:04 GMT Intimate relationships provide emotional support and companionship that can result in many positive psychological health benefits. But often, marriage can be a source of stress. For African-American couples, the success of their relationships can be significantly influenced by specific factors, including income and education. In a recent study, Carolyn E. Cutrona of the Department of Psychology at Iowa State University used the vulnerability-stress-adaptation model of adaptive processes, stressful life events and enduring vulnerabilities to gauge marital stability in African-American couples. ?Of particular interest in the current study was the cascading influence of enduring vulnerability factors,? said Cutrona. ?Enduring vulnerabilities are characteristics (e.g., low education level) that influence peoples? susceptibility to stressful life events and their ability to interact effectively in their relationships.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/embracing-opposites-effecting-healthy-change-1223115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/embracing-opposites-effecting-healthy-change-1223115/ Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:02:46 GMT Some would say the winter solstice is a moment of equality, in which there is equal light and equal dark. It is also a moment of reversal. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. I like metaphors, so to me, winter solstice is about embracing opposites, or seeming opposites like light and dark. Like the yin yang symbol, they are parts that go together, equal parts of a whole. Like phases of the moon, there is a shifting from light to dark and back again. At the moment we embrace opposites, or shifting between complementarities, there is reversal.  Embracing opposite thoughts can decrease stress or ?stuckness? and open you to making changes. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bigger-not-better-regarding-work-team-size-1223111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bigger-not-better-regarding-work-team-size-1223111/ Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:00:34 GMT Employers have long recognized the benefits of work teams. Rather than relying solely on the output of individual employees, organizations have compounded the effectiveness of their staff members by grouping them together for maximum productivity. ?The popularity of teams in organizational settings can be attributed to the numerous advantages ascribed to them,? said Caroline Aube of the Department of Management at HEC Montreal in Canada. ?In effect, the presence of work teams may contribute to improving not only the performance, the creativity, and the ?exibility of employees, but also the satisfaction of the members and the quality of life at work.? However, research has shown that the design of the team is a crucial element to its success. ?It appears, for example, that large-size teams encounter more problems of absenteeism and turnover, and that their members are less satis?ed with their work, experience more negative emotions, and present a lower level of mental health,? said Aube. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/motivation-goal-setting-1223114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/motivation-goal-setting-1223114/ Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:25:18 GMT Whether you have short term or long terms goals, lifestyle goals such as a healthy diet, exercise, career changes or even finding time for yourself have to become a habit. Like with everything else, repetitive action will yield positive results. Often times, our goals lead to failure because we become frustrated. Sometimes we set long term goals and/or projects with very short term expectations and when they do not come to pass, we simply, out of frustration give up. With no end in sight, we feel as though the light at the end of the tunnel is, in fact, the train coming to hit us. Everything takes time and planning. It starts with a positive attitude and the willingness to understand and groom yourself to knowing that you "deserve" great things. Many do not understand this concept. There is a huge difference between saying you ?want? something and understanding that you deserve it. Just like the difference between being in love and just simply loving someone. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-style-affects-group-setting-social-support-1222112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-style-affects-group-setting-social-support-1222112/ Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:00:09 GMT Group therapy is an effective treatment method due in part to the high levels of social support that exist between the group members. ?Recently, researchers have argued that the provision of support is as important for the provider as it is for the receiver, because providing support to another increases one?s personal meaning,? said Yoni Harel of the Department of Education, Counseling and Human development at Haifa University in Israel. ?Group members seek support for their stressful events and provide support to each other.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fix-one-big-relationship-mistake-1222114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fix-one-big-relationship-mistake-1222114/ Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:05:05 GMT As a Relationship Therapist of over 20 years, I have seen clients make one mistake that causes an otherwise non-threatening conversation to turn into one that is fraught with misunderstanding and dissatisfaction. While the importance of this one behavior is intuitive, it is not always obvious. Science has shown the powerful and crucial role it plays in understanding our partner, getting our needs met, and making our romantic relationships more solid and stable. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychologists-examine-factors-that-contribute-to-cultural-clashes-1222111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychologists-examine-factors-that-contribute-to-cultural-clashes-1222111/ Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:00:15 GMT Social psychologists have long examined the influences that lead groups to eliminate one another. ?Competition over a valued, scarce resource has been at the root of many struggles between ethnic groups, religious groups, nations, and other groups in close proximity to each other,? said Sterling McPherson of the Department of Psychology at Washington State University, and lead author of a recent study examining this dynamic. ?Issues related to war and mass elimination are arguably some of the biggest problems facing the world today, and are open to investigation by social psychologists.? Understanding what factors contribute to the decision to eliminate competitive groups of people could provide the foundation for interventions to prevent these types of actions that often end in violence. McPherson said, ?The ultimate goal is for social psychologists to be able to work together with other social scientists and develop a comprehensive picture of the forces at work during intergroup competition resulting in violence.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/oxytocin-increases-empathy-1221113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/oxytocin-increases-empathy-1221113/ Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:00:02 GMT Empathy is an emotion that is directly related to the bonds that were formed in childhood. ?Children from secure and loving backgrounds develop enhanced motivation and competencies for empathy and compassion for self and others, in comparison with children from insecure backgrounds,? said Helen Rockliff of the Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology at the University of Bristol in the UK, and lead author of a recent study. ?Feeling that one is the recipient of care and support from others creates a feeling of safeness and soothing linked to well-being, whereas feeling uncared for is linked to mental and physical health problems.? She added, ?The degree to which people feel secure and wanted in their current relationships is positively associated with positive affect and negatively associated with cyclothymic and dysthymic temperament in both student and bipolar disorder groups.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eastern-western-culture-happiness-compared-1221112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eastern-western-culture-happiness-compared-1221112/ Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:00:54 GMT According to a new study, individuals from Western cultures are more willing to express positive emotions than those from Eastern cultures. ?All around the world, people should generally want to feel positive emotions and avoid feeling negative emotions,? said Yuri Miyamoto of the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. ?Depending on individuals and situations, people sometimes try to down-regulate positive emotions. For example, when experiencing positive emotions, people low in self-esteem tend to become anxious and dampen their positive emotions compared with people high in self-esteem.? Miyamoto believes that cultural differences influence how people regulate their response to positive emotions. ?In Western culture, the dominant cultural script is to maximize positive emotions and minimize negative emotions,? said Miyamoto. ?Although positive emotions are generally considered to be more desirable and appropriate than negative emotions are across cultures, positive emotions are considered to be more desirable in Western cultures than in Eastern cultures, whereas negative emotions are considered to be more undesirable in Western cultures than in Eastern cultures.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-love-reduces-stress-1221111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-love-reduces-stress-1221111/ Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:00:41 GMT The formation of interpersonal bonds is critical to the maintenance of a healthy relationship. In romantic relationships, bonds are formed through a series of emotional events when people first fall in love. Although there is little research exploring exactly how autonomic reactivity affects emotional states in relationships, existing evidence has demonstrated a link. ?Autonomic reactivity and emotion regulation play an important role in the partners? communication within a romantic relationship and were found to predict marital dissatisfaction and even divorce,? said Inna Schneiderman of the Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, and lead author of a study examining how autonomic reactivity affects emotions in new lovers versus single people. One way to measure the level of autonomic reactivity and vagal regulation is to gauge Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA). Therefore, for their study, Schneiderman and colleagues from the Bar-Ilan University measured the RSA of 55 people who had recently fallen in love and 57 single people after they watched two positive films, two negative films and two films that were emotionally neutral. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reduce-stress-increase-self-esteem-1221114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reduce-stress-increase-self-esteem-1221114/ Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:36:44 GMT How many things can you think of that are free, make people feel better, and empower the giver? I can only come up with a few, and they all involve saying something nice. I?m not suggesting you lie, but if you pay attention, there is almost always something you can find to say that is heartfelt and positive. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/remission-supersedes-response-in-children-with-anxiety-1220113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/remission-supersedes-response-in-children-with-anxiety-1220113/ Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:00:45 GMT Remission and response are two different measures used to gauge how well a client responds to treatment for anxiety disorders (AD). Children, in particular, are usually evaluated based on how their symptoms have improved, known as response. Remission, however, is a term used to describe the absence of symptoms altogether. ?An important question for clinicians, patients, and families is, what are the chances of becoming nearly symptom free?? asked Golda S. Ginsburg of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland. Because the majority of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) use response rates to gauge their results, Ginsburg wanted to examine how the RCTs fared based on remission. ?Identifying remission rates in RCTs is thus an important index of treatment outcome.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cue-intervention-reduces-obese-children-cravings-1220112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cue-intervention-reduces-obese-children-cravings-1220112/ Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:00:05 GMT Over one third of American children are overweight. The standard method of treating these children is behavioral therapy designed to provide the child and parents with education, nutritional knowledge, exercise techniques and the skills necessary to modify behaviors. Statistics have shown that these methods are effective and that one in three children responds positively to this type of treatment. However, two thirds of children do not. ?It is possible that the effects of biological and environmental factors cannot be overcome through behavioral therapy or that people who are overweight or obese are a heterogeneous group who do not respond to a single treatment,? said Kerri N. Boutelle of the Department of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of California in San Diego. ?Thus, it is imperative to develop additional approaches to treat overweight and obese children in order to maximize efficacy for a larger number of patients.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/integrated-cbt-reduces-addicted-adolescent-suicide-rate1220111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/integrated-cbt-reduces-addicted-adolescent-suicide-rate1220111/ Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:30:44 GMT Adolescents who struggle with alcohol or drug use disorders (AOD) are at increased risk for suicide. ?In a review of the adolescent suicide literature, rates of any AOD were found to range from 27% to 50% among adolescents who died by suicide and were associated with 6- to 8.5-fold increase in risk of suicide,? said Christianne Esposito-Smythers of the Department of Psychology at George Mason University. ?Rates of AOD among adolescents who attempted suicide ranged from 12% to 50%, and an AOD was associated with a three- to four-fold increase in the likelihood of suicide attempts.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/client-therapist-communication-1220111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/client-therapist-communication-1220111/ Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:41:33 GMT Story: ?Once at the end of a first session, my client asked for some ?homework? so I suggested she do some journal writing about a habit she had discovered during the session. When she arrived for the next session, she sat down, looked at me, and immediately began almost screaming that she ?couldn?t trust me?I was just like all the others?she knew this wasn?t going to work?I had a formula that I applied to all my clients?and I wasn?t going to take a personal interest in her??. ?My goodness, you certainly have strong feelings!?, I replied. ?Yes, I do! I just can?t believe you gave me journal writing. I hate journal writing, and I bet you do that with everyone!.? ?Well, I guess I?ve learned something about you. I?ll never ask you to journal again!? She then burst out laughing at the absurdity of this much anger. Soon we were both laughing. I let her know I understood how important my personal attention and care were to her. She sat back and said, ?I can?t tell you how touching it is that you are interested in learning about me and willing to change how you are in response. And, even more amazing that you didn?t just reject me as a client.? My intention with journaling homework was to offer her something to think about and help her get more involved in therapy. The impact was that she felt distanced and uncared for. Her unconscious intention in her anger was to prove to herself that once again therapy wasn?t going to help. The impact of my response was that she got treated the way she had longed for. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fatty-food-bingeingincreases-addictive-behaviors-in-rats-1219114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fatty-food-bingeingincreases-addictive-behaviors-in-rats-1219114/ Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:00:11 GMT Eating problems, such as binge eating disorder (BED), occur in nearly 5% of the American population, while drug misuse affects nearly four times as many people. ?Substance abuse and binge eating are both characterized by loss of control over consummatory behaviors. Not surprisingly, these disorders share high comorbidity, particularly in relation to alcohol and cocaine dependence,? said Matthew D. Puhl of the Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, at Penn State University College of Medicine. ?For example, a correlation between preference for sweets and drugs of abuse has been identified in humans. In addition, several studies in rats suggest that repeated exposure to sucrose enhances behavioral sensitization to cocaine, and increases cocaine self-administration.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-style-predicts-infidelity-1219113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-style-predicts-infidelity-1219113/ Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:00:04 GMT Individuals who have avoidant attachment personalities struggle with intimacy and closeness. In romantic relationships, this type of personality can cause a partner to distance themselves from their loved one, and avoid physical closeness. ?Because avoidantly-attached people feel most comfortable with distance and detachment from their partner, they may have less of the commitment-inspired inhibition that normally prevents people from showing interest in alternatives and from engaging in infidelity,? said C. Nathan DeWall of the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky. ?Therefore, avoidant attachment may relate to a broad pattern of responses indicative of interest in alternatives and propensity to engage in infidelity, associations that should be mediated by a lack of commitment to one?s partner.? DeWall and his colleagues conducted a study to find out how avoidant attachment affected commitment in romantic relationships, and if the level of commitment would influence the desire to cheat. He said, ?We focus on commitment because prior evidence suggests that commitment is the most direct mediator when predicting behaviors that relate to the persistence of one?s relationship and engagement of behaviors meant to strengthen one?s relationship, accounting for variance beyond relationship satisfaction and investment in one?s relationship.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attitudes-toward-agin-affects-well-being-121911/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attitudes-toward-agin-affects-well-being-121911/ Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:02:28 GMT The saying, ?You?re only as old as you feel,? may be more than just wishful thinking. According to a new study conducted by Steven E. Mock of the Department of Health Studies and Gerontology at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, peoples? attitudes toward aging directly influence their psychological well-being. Previous research has shown that positive beliefs about aging lead to feeling younger and negative beliefs make people feel older. ?To be specific, those who report feeling relatively old experience lower positive and higher negative affect, lower life satisfaction, lower self-esteem, lower self-efficacy, lower meaning-focused coping, higher pessimism about aging, and higher work strain than those who feel younger relative to their chronological age,? said Mock. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/taking-responsibility-enabling-healing-1219111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/taking-responsibility-enabling-healing-1219111/ Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:52:45 GMT Here we are in the holiday season and so many are thinking about gifts ? what they would like and what they want to give. For most, it?s impossible to focus on gifts in these times without being aware of the impact of the financial economy on themselves and others in our country and our world. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prosper-successful-with-community-interventions-1216113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prosper-successful-with-community-interventions-1216113/ Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:00:55 GMT The quality of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) is directly related to the overall success of the community programs. ?First, low-implementation quality is associated with poorer EBI outcomes,? said Richard Spoth of the Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute at Iowa State University, and lead author of a new study examining the effectiveness of EBIs. ?Second, the quality of EBI implementation tends to drift over time. That is, the longer service providers are implementing a given EBI with successive cohorts of youth, the more likely the implementation is to drift to lower quality levels, absent quality controls.? Community EBIs rely on many factors to be successful. ?Thus, it is critically important to examine the ability of community-based efforts to sustain quality implementation of EBIs with successive cohorts of youth, particularly with community-based teams,? said Spoth. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-criticism-risk-factor-for-adolesecent-bulimia-1216112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-criticism-risk-factor-for-adolesecent-bulimia-1216112/ Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:00:12 GMT Perfectionism is multi-dimensional, including evaluative concerns (EV) and personal standards (PS) of perfectionism. ?Whereas PS perfectionism is primarily defined by the setting of high standards per se, EC perfectionism is primarily defined by self-critical features such as concern over mistakes and doubts about actions,? said Liesbet Boone, faculty member of the Department of Developmental, Social and Personality Psychology at Ghent University in Belgium. ?Both clinical accounts and empirical studies suggest that perfectionism is strongly involved in the development and maintenance of eating disorder (ED) symptoms.? In a recent study, Boone attempted to address two specific questions relating to perfectionism and eating problems. ?Do both PS and EC perfectionism have unique relations with ED symptoms? Or is only EC perfectionism uniquely associated with ED symptoms?? asked Boone. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/managing-holidays-1216115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/managing-holidays-1216115/ Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:43:52 GMT Your home is festively decorated, exactly as you want it to be ? every ornament is carefully positioned on the tree, and strings of garland and lights frame the doorways. The sweet smell of freshly baked cookies and the warmth from a crackling fire reach to every corner. Your children are filled with gleeful anticipation as they wonder what is inside the biggest packages under the tree. As you stand back to take it all in, you are filled with pride that you have created such an idyllic Christmas for your family to enjoy and cherish in their memories for years to come. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/public-disclosure-more-psychologically-beneficial-1216111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/public-disclosure-more-psychologically-beneficial-1216111/ Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:00:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-therapist-client-connection-12161/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-therapist-client-connection-12161/ Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:21:57 GMT Last month I discussed the dilemma of a psychologically wounded person who feels torn between a yearning to get his deepest needs met ? a need for connection, safety and love ?  and a terror that those needs will be rejected (subtly or otherwise), leading to a traumatic abandonment, or re-abandonment in most cases. This creates dueling goals: to be loved and to maintain connection through inevitable ?bumps? on the relational road, which in the person?s life has proven impossible. Thus the faith that lasting relational intimacy can be found is slim to none, assuming it exists at all. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/frequent-mild-psychosis-risk-factor-for-clinical-psychosis-1215113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/frequent-mild-psychosis-risk-factor-for-clinical-psychosis-1215113/ Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:00:32 GMT Adolescents who exhibit mild psychotic episodes will rarely go on to develop full blown clinical psychosis. ?Longitudinal studies in general population samples, using follow-up intervals from 6 months to 8 years, have shown that, in most adolescents, psychotic experiences disappear over time and do not persist into adulthood,? said J.T. Wigman of the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. ?However, in a minority of adolescents, subclinical psychotic experiences progress to clinical psychotic illness.? In an attempt to determine what factors contribute to the later development of psychosis in teens with subclinical psychosis, Wigman conducted a study that examined minority status, cannabis use, stress, social adaptation and attention. He used parental reports to gauge the teens? behavior and also considered childhood trauma as a risk factor. Additionally, Wigman examined how often the teens received mental health care for their psychotic episodes, as previous research has shown this to be a significant predictor of further psychosis. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/physical-exercise-provides-cognitive-somatic-benefits-1215112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/physical-exercise-provides-cognitive-somatic-benefits-1215112/ Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:00:22 GMT Numerous studies have proven that physical exercise can improve both physical and mental health. The most commonly used tool for gauging decreases in anxiety resulting from aerobic activity is the state anxiety sub-scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (SAI). However, because anxiety is often related to feelings of threat, the results of the SAI, when self-reported, may not be entirely accurate. ?One logical way to examine the construct validity of the SAI in response to exercise would be to assess the two dimensions of the SAI (cognitive and somatic) separately,? said Walter R. Bixby of the Department of Exercise Science at Elon University in North Carolina, and lead author of a recent study. ?Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the two-dimensional nature of the SAI before, during, and following acute bouts of exercise.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/boys-with-adhd-focus-better-with-music-1215111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/boys-with-adhd-focus-better-with-music-1215111/ Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:24:52 GMT Teachers and parents of children with ADHD know all too well how easily these special children can get distracted. The majority of research has shown that children with ADHD focus better and stay on task more when they are in an environment free from stimulation. But there is some evidence that specific stimulation can have a positive effect on these children. ?Other studies have shown that background music significantly improves performance on cognitive tasks for children with ADHD but does not impact or negatively impact the performance of non-ADHD controls,? said W.E. Pelham, Jr. of the Department of Psychology at the Center for Children and Families at Florida International University, and lead author of a study on distraction among ADHD boys. ?Despite these research findings, classroom teachers and the committees that revise the DSM continue to report and conclude that children with ADHD are more easily distracted than children without ADHD, and that distractors have only negative effects.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/verbal-abuse-defined-1215115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/verbal-abuse-defined-1215115/ Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:45:47 GMT There are ways of handling things that just shoot you in the foot, and then there are ways that have the other person willingly and happily eating out of your hand. Which would you rather it was? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindful-awareness-over-multi-tasking-1215114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindful-awareness-over-multi-tasking-1215114/ Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:30:24 GMT How many of us go through our busy lives only half-paying attention? Driving down the same freeway, going through the same ritual after dinner (cleaning up, washing the dishes, etc), we find that our bodies our doing one thing while our minds are doing another. Research shows that no one multi-tasks well. In fact, in a study conducted by researchers, Nass, Ophir, and Wagner at Stanford, they found that the more people multi-tasked, the more their subjects became focused on what they had previously been working on. And, as people became more mentally fatigued, the harder it was for them to filter out what was important and what was not (Gorlic, 2009). This has important implications for how we live our lives! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/race-based-stress-scale-identifies-discrimination-effects-1212113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/race-based-stress-scale-identifies-discrimination-effects-1212113/ Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:00:25 GMT Racial discrimination and racism can have serious negative psychological effects. Many studies have been conducted examining the relationship between racism and stress, racism and anxiety and racism and depression. However, until now, there has been no tool available to measure all of the mental health consequences of racial discrimination. In an effort to bridge this gap, Robert T. Carter of the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Teachers College at Columbia, conducted a study testing the accuracy of the Race Based Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale (RBTSSS) on 330 Asian, Black, Hispanic and White participants. Previous research has shown that many black Americans do not seek professional help for mental health issues because they believe the clinicians won?t understand their feelings about racism. Carter believes that the RBTSSS could help not only these clients, but clinicians as well. He said, ?We contend that an instrument to assess the presence of race-based emotional reactions to a specific encounter with racism or racial discrimination that could show whether the stress experienced reflected a trauma reaction would be useful to mental health professionals in several ways.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-leadership-influences-therapy-stigma-1214112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-leadership-influences-therapy-stigma-1214112/ Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:00:11 GMT Military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have reported high levels of psychological problems, according the Department of Veterans Affairs. ?This data revealed that in 2008 rates of PTSD were at 21.8%, rates of depression were at 17.4%, rates of alcohol abuse were at 7.1%, and rates of drug abuse were at 3.0%,? said Thomas W. Britt of the U.S. Army Medical Research Unit of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Germany. ?Although many veterans report adjustment problems following combat, only a minority of soldiers get help for their dif?culties.? Statistics show that as few as one in four soldiers that need help actually receive it. Some of the barriers that prevent military personnel from seeking help are the stigma attached to mental health problems, the affect it could have on their careers, and the availability of services. Britt believes that commissioned officers (Officers) and non-commissioned officers (NCO), both of whom are in a position of authority in the military, directly influence the stigma and access to mental health services. ?In the present research, we investigate the role positive and negative leadership behaviors have in predicting stigma and practical barriers, both between combat veterans and within combat veterans over a 3-month time period.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/predicting-smokers-negative-affect-reduction-1214111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/predicting-smokers-negative-affect-reduction-1214111/ Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:08:19 GMT Work and family problems often cause people who have quit smoking to relapse. Many people who smoke, or have recently quit, believe that smoking relieves negative affect (NA) and anxiety that are caused by stressful situations. One tool that is used to measure a smoker?s mood is the Negative Affect subscale of the adult Smoking Consequences Questionnaire (SCQ-A). This tool gauges how much relief from NA a smoker believes they will receive from smoking, based on a hypothetical situation. But Kenneth A. Perkins of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh believes presenting smokers with an impending mood induction scenario will provide more accurate predictions of NA reduction. To test his theory, Perkins and his colleagues conducted a study on smokers using the SCQ-A and the Immediate Negative Affect Relief (INAR), which provides a hypothetical mood induction that is much more likely to happen rather than a completely hypothetical situation. Perkins said, ?We hypothesized that the INAR would better predict actual change in NA during each context (mood-induction condition), as compared with the standard SCQ-A measure of expectancy for NA relief assessed only once and well before experiencing the context.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-traditions-different-with-autism-1214115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-traditions-different-with-autism-1214115/ Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:30:47 GMT We spend most of the year teaching our kids with autism how "things are supposed to be"; how to behave, how to make friends, how to clean up, etc. Then, once a year, we turn it all on its head and expect our kids (who don't deal well with change, and take everything we say literally) to buy into the "magic and wonder of the holidays". Let's take a moment to look at a few of our holiday traditions and what they might look like through they eyes (and brain) of a child with autism. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-with-infertility-during-holidays1214114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-with-infertility-during-holidays1214114/ Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:30:37 GMT T.S. Eliot called April the cruelest month, but if you are undergoing fertility treatment or recently had a pregnancy loss, then you?re probably finding December far more cruel than April. Perhaps you made it through last Christmas or Chanukah by promising yourself a baby by this December. Or maybe your New Year?s Resolution was to be pregnant or expecting an adoption placement by the end of 2011. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/religious-behavioral-intervention-reduces-college-student-depression-1212113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/religious-behavioral-intervention-reduces-college-student-depression-1212113/ Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:00:13 GMT Colleges today are faced with many obstacles that can limit treatment to depressed college students, such as budget restrictions, time constraints and too few clinicians. In order to determine if an alternative intervention, the behavioral activation of religious behaviors (BARB), would be an effective tool for treating depression in college students, Maria E. A. Armento of the Department of Psychology at the University of Tennessee, enrolled students from the university into a two-week pilot program and evaluated their progress. ?The current study involved direct manipulation of religious behaviors to assess the impact on depression symptoms in college students,? said Armento. ?Behavioral activation therapy systematically increases overt behaviors to expose patients to reinforcing environmental contingencies and corresponding improvements in thoughts, mood, and quality of life.? Previous research in this area has shown that this approach provides long-term benefits, with depressed clients experiencing relief even two years after the intervention. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parkinsons-linked-with-apathy-depression-1213112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parkinsons-linked-with-apathy-depression-1213112/ Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:00:46 GMT Parkinson?s disease (PD) is a degenerative illness that can affect motor functioning, produce tremors and also lead to the development of psychological problems such as apathy, psychosis, sleep problems, anxiety and depression. ?Depression is one of the most common non-motor features of PD, with average prevalence rates in cross-sectional studies in PD reaching 40% in most populations,? said Laura B. Zahodne of the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida, and lead author of a new study examining depression and apathy in people with PD. ?Apathy refers to a lack of motivation and occurs in up to 60% of patients with PD. While apathy is a common symptom of depression, it can also manifest as an independent syndrome in up to 30% of patients with PD.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/birthplace-affects-alcohol-treatment-outcome-hispanic-adolescents-1213111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/birthplace-affects-alcohol-treatment-outcome-hispanic-adolescents-1213111/ Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:01:07 GMT Alcohol and drug use are widespread among American adolescents, but even more prevalent among Hispanic youth in the United States. ?Familias Unidas is a Hispanic-specific, family based, substance use (including alcohol and drugs) preventive intervention,? said David Cordova of the Center for Family Studies at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. ?Consistent with Hispanic cultural values, Familias Unidas places parents in positions of leadership and expertise in helping to prevent alcohol and drug use in youth by increasing positive parenting, family support of the adolescent, parental involvement, general parent-adolescent communication and parent-adolescent communication regarding substance use.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-season-depression-1213114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-season-depression-1213114/ Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:15:16 GMT My 17-year-old son asked me the other day, ?Why do people get depressed around the holidays? This time of year is full of great food, presents, music, lights, families being together, time off?it?s great. What?s there to be depressed about?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/experienced-therapists-treat-dissociation-similarly-1212113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/experienced-therapists-treat-dissociation-similarly-1212113/ Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:00:00 GMT Dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS) and dissociative identity disorder (DID) have been studied greatly over the past decade. Experts agree that these psychological challenges are most often the results of traumatic events and clients with DID or DDNOS respond best to treatment that targets the trauma. ?Cross-sectional and longitudinal data from a large, observational international sample of DID and DDNOS patients indicated decreased symptoms of dissociation, posttraumatic stress, depression and general distress, reductions in rates of self-injury, suicide attempts, and hospitalization, and improvements in adaptive functioning over 30 months of treatment,? said Bethany L. Brand of the Psychology Department at Towson University, and lead author of a new paper outlining the most effective forms of treatment for DID and DDNOS. ?In this article, we use unification to describe the process of a person?s sense of self shifting from that of having multiple self-states to that of a unified self.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-parenting-mediates-domestic-violence-effects-1212112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-parenting-mediates-domestic-violence-effects-1212112/ Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:00:41 GMT Young children who witness intimate partner violence (IPV) are at an increased risk for psychological difficulties, including emotional regulation. ?Emotional security theory suggests that witnessing violence is distressing and dysregulating for children, and repeated exposure to inter-parental conflict undermines their sense of security in the family,? said Hanna C. Gustafsson of the Center for Developmental Science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and lead author of a new study examining the effects of parenting on a child?s ability to consciously suppress negative emotional responses. ?Thought to emerge during the first year of life, this type of volitional control has been shown to become more stable during the preschool years,? said Gustafsson. ?Learning how to focus attention and effectively regulate behavior is important for a successful transition to school, and self-regulatory skills at the transition to school have been shown to be predictive of both short- and long-term outcomes for children.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loss-gratitude-during-holidays-1212115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loss-gratitude-during-holidays-1212115/ Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:30:35 GMT The arrival of the Thanksgiving and winter holiday season each year asks us to harvest our blessings: to be grateful, to celebrate, and to spend time with friends and family as we shift towards winter. It can be a time of comfort or stress, security or drama, or all of the above and more. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-therapists-dont-apply-cbt-1212111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-therapists-dont-apply-cbt-1212111/ Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:00:20 GMT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported treatment strategy for people struggling with eating problems, such as bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. However, research suggests that many clinicians do not adhere to, but rather drift from, the core principles of CBT for eating issues. ?Why do many clinicians fail to apply empirically supported treatments?? asked Glenn Waller of the Eating Disorders Section of the Institute of Psychiatry at King?s College in London. ?They often state that the research does not apply to their patient group.? But evidence shows that CBT is very effective for eating problems. Waller believes that many clinicians do not follow the guidelines set forth in treatment manuals for eating disorders and that this omission leads to compromised results. He also theorizes that the clinician?s own anxiety about upsetting their client adds to the likelihood of drift. He said, ?Therefore, it can be hypothesized that anxious clinicians are less likely to require patients to adhere to core behavioral elements of CBT (e.g., changing eating patterns).? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/being-yourself-during-holiday-visits-1212114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/being-yourself-during-holiday-visits-1212114/ Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:45:56 GMT For adult children, going home for the holidays may be problematic. While it can be wonderful to see parents, siblings, and extended family, it can also be an occasion that brings up old, unresolved conflicts. One of the most typical unresolved conflicts is related to separation and individuation: while growing up at home, some children found it difficult to develop and assert their unique individual selves in the face of parents who (though usually well-intentioned) were controlling, critical, and/or hurt by their children?s differences from themselves. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/romantic-ideals-on-paper-differ-in-person-121020111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/romantic-ideals-on-paper-differ-in-person-121020111/ Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:00:52 GMT With the advent of internet dating, romantic partners are often first experienced on the page rather than in person. In a new study, Paul W. Eastwick of the Department of Psychology at Texas A&M University examined how romantic ideals change from the printed profile to the in-person encounter. ?Specifically, these studies tested whether the match between one?s ideal partner preferences and the traits that one perceives in a romantic partner predicts relational outcomes across several different contexts,? said Eastwick.  ?The present research examined the circumstances under which relational outcomes (e.g., romantic desire, commitment) are predicted by the match between (a) the traits that characterize one?s ideal romantic partner and (b) one?s perception of the traits of a specific individual who is or has the potential to be a romantic partner. We refer to this predictive association between ideal-perceived trait match and relational outcomes as the predictive validity hypothesis for ideal partner preferences.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daily-functioning-with-schizophrenia-affects-verbal-skills-1209112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daily-functioning-with-schizophrenia-affects-verbal-skills-1209112/ Fri, 9 Dec 2011 22:00:48 GMT One of the most debilitating elements of schizophrenia is the erosion of neurocognitive skills. People with schizophrenia often struggle with social adaptation, employment and other areas of daily functioning as a result of diminished neurocognition. Research has shown that verbal capacity is an effective measurement of intelligence and cognitive abilities in people who have neurocognitive disorders and those who do not. ?In healthy populations, oral vocabulary scores correlate highly with overall measures of IQ and are considered the single best predictor of overall IQ,? said Matthew M. Kurtz of the Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience and Behavior at Wesleyan University. ?Studies that have investigated the relationship of intellectual capacity and neurocognitive function have most often done so in the context of similarities and discrepancies between estimated premorbid and postmorbid IQ and their relationship to neurocognitive function revealed that individuals with schizophrenia with low estimated premorbid IQ and low current full-scale IQ show most severe  neurocognitive de?cits with particularly marked impairment in executive function and memory in some studies, and attention, executive function, language and visuospatial function in others.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/who-gets-which-friends-120920115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/who-gets-which-friends-120920115/ Fri, 9 Dec 2011 21:51:07 GMT You're getting a divorce. In addition to the friends you brought into the relationship, you and your ex have made many friends together through your children's activities, your jobs and the places you have volunteered. You both rely on their friendships to help with childcare and have established a social circle that meets both your needs. In addition, you have been talking to these friends about the difficulties you have been having in your marriage and want to be able to keep this support system. It has been so important for you to have close friends to talk to about all the things that have been difficult as your marriage is ending and you work on transitioning to your post-divorce family. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-styles-determine-caregivers-choices-1209111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-styles-determine-caregivers-choices-1209111/ Fri, 9 Dec 2011 17:30:53 GMT More people will care for an aging parent in the coming years than ever before. Advances in modern medicine have extended life expectancy and the relationship between the aging and their caregivers, whether they are family members or not, is of critical importance. ?Arguably, at no time is understanding care-seekers? wishes more important than when care-seekers are incapacitated, especially when life-or-death decisions about medical interventions are required,? said Bulent Turan of the Department of Psychology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and lead author of a recent study. ?In this study, we assessed surrogates? decision makers? accuracy in predicting their older relatives? end-of-life health care wishes?whether they would choose intensive and painful life-sustaining procedures or would refuse those treatments in order to maximize the quality of their remaining life.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/achieving-better-health-emotional-balance-contentment-1208114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/achieving-better-health-emotional-balance-contentment-1208114/ Fri, 9 Dec 2011 16:00:30 GMT Around this time of year, many of us reflect on the triumphs and tribulations of the past twelve months and begin thinking of what we hope to manifest in the coming year. At the most basic level, I think what a lot of us want falls under the broad headings of good physical health and emotional balance. Thus, I?ve come up with a list of six low-to-no cost complementary medicine strategies for achieving the above. Each approach addresses at least one of the following: mind, body, or spirit. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/swearing-creates-social-distance-1208113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/swearing-creates-social-distance-1208113/ Fri, 9 Dec 2011 02:00:13 GMT Swearing, an almost involuntary behavior for some, is a phenomenon that has received little attention from researchers. Studies have been conducted on the effects of swearing on pain, suggesting that swearing can actually reduce pain. But the research that exists is narrow and does not explore biological or social factors related to swearing. To fill that evidentiary void, Megan L. Robbins of the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, recently led a study examining the social consequences of swearing. ?Based on these ideas, this study explored the degree to which swearing can have deleterious consequences for health, despite any potential for immediate (pain relieving) benefits,? said Robbins. ?The current project investigated the relationship between swearing and adjustment to coping with illness.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/helping-shy-children-academically-1208112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/helping-shy-children-academically-1208112/ Thu, 8 Dec 2011 21:50:10 GMT Shy children may be at a disadvantage in the classroom, in part due to their shyness, but also as a result of how they are perceived by their teachers. ?Teachers? attitudes and beliefs directly and indirectly influence children?s social, emotional, and academic development,? said Robert J. Coplan of the Department of Psychology at Carleton University, and lead author of a new study exploring shyness in the classroom. ?Moreover, teachers? beliefs about children?s social characteristics may influence their inferences about other child traits, such as intelligence and academic skills.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surrogate-families-show-healthy-functioning-1208111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surrogate-families-show-healthy-functioning-1208111/ Thu, 8 Dec 2011 19:13:38 GMT The number of children born through surrogacy has increased dramatically in the past several decades, up from 2,000 just fifteen years ago to over 17,000 in 2007. Susan Golombok of the Centre for Family Research, Faculty of Politics, Psychology, Sociology and International Studies at the University of Cambridge, has conducted prior research on surrogacy and preschool-aged children, but recently led a new phase of the study examining the effects of surrogacy on older children. ?There are two types of surrogacy: traditional surrogacy, in which the surrogate mother and the commissioning father are the genetic parents of the child, and gestational surrogacy, in which the commissioning mother and father are the genetic parents,? said Golombok. ?Thus, children born through gestational surrogacy lack a gestational link with their mother, and children born through traditional surrogacy lack both a gestational and a genetic link.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/changing-brain-chemistry-changing-paradigms-1208114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/changing-brain-chemistry-changing-paradigms-1208114/ Thu, 8 Dec 2011 18:09:16 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-eating-fear-weight-gain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-eating-fear-weight-gain/ Wed, 7 Dec 2011 21:27:06 GMT Thanksgiving is a holiday for cultivating gratitude for all the good in our lives. It?s also an opportunity to participate in a ritual of breaking bread with loved ones, a celebration of our connection to others, sharing the plentiful food that we are fortunate enough to have. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/externalization-trauma-ptsd-symptoms-healthy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/externalization-trauma-ptsd-symptoms-healthy/ Wed, 7 Dec 2011 20:25:21 GMT Trauma symptoms are often experienced and viewed as invasive and malevolent.  Helplessness, hopelessness, confusion and a condemnation of self for their existence also appear thematic.  The initial layer of trauma treatment is frequently the unraveling of self-loathing for the expression of symptoms themselves; survivor and therapist collude in their endorsement of them as being inherently destructive and are to be eradicated.  A divergent perspective could be that symptoms are an expression of health versus illness.  Viewing the manifestation of PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) as having utility may offer an alternative understanding of the client?s presentation as offering direction to treatment, internal compassion, decreasing fear of symptoms and can foster a relationship between survivor, therapist and Trauma.  Additionally, the externalization and personification of Trauma may illuminate the individual functions of client presentation while offering precise direction for treatment. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ability-imitate-risk-factor-infant-autism-127112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ability-imitate-risk-factor-infant-autism-127112/ Wed, 7 Dec 2011 20:00:23 GMT Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have an impaired ability to imitate sounds and gestures. This behavior is one of the early signs of ASD, but has rarely been examined in children under the age of 24 months. ?Examination of early developmental trajectories of imitation between 12 and 24 months, when imitation increases so dramatically in typical development, could illuminate the process of imitative development in ASD and could reveal important relationships with motor development, language, and other social behaviors,? said Gregory S. Young of the Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (M.I.N.D.) Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis and lead author of a recent study examining imitation in children at risk for ASD. ?Thus, one of the primary aims of the current study was to collect prospective longitudinal data on imitation skills from 12 to 24 months in children who are later diagnosed with ASD at 36 months.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/civility-intervention-improve-workplace-morale-127111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/civility-intervention-improve-workplace-morale-127111/ Wed, 7 Dec 2011 17:23:17 GMT Uncivil and hostile work environments impede productivity. Employees rely on a healthy exchange of ideas, energy and knowledge to be able to work together in a positive and constructive way and uncivil attitudes and behaviors stifle that atmosphere. ?Research has linked incivility to numerous negative outcomes for both individuals and organizations, such as stress, anxiety, depression, lost productivity, and even retaliation against the organization,? said Michael P. Leiter of the Psychology Department at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, and lead author of a recent study examining the effects of a civility intervention. ?The prevalence of incivility in organizations calls for effective interventions to enhance the quality of working relationships.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rumination-manic-depressive-episodes-bipolar-126113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rumination-manic-depressive-episodes-bipolar-126113/ Wed, 7 Dec 2011 00:00:44 GMT Rumination is often associated with depression. People who ruminate about negative events tend to be more susceptible to develop depression. But little research has been conducted to explore how rumination affects the manic or depressive states of bipolar disorder (BD). To fill this void, June Gruber of the Psychology Department at Yale University, led a study to determine how negative and positive rumination influence the onset of episodes in people with bipolar. Emotional regulation is a main component of bipolar and strategies used to regulate emotion directly impact how an individual will respond to a mood induction. ?The cognitive model of BD proposes that the use of amplification versus dampening strategies largely depends on one?s appraisals of changes in one?s internal or external state,? said Gruber. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-people-dishonest-126112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-people-dishonest-126112/ Tue, 6 Dec 2011 20:00:34 GMT According to a new study led by Francesca Gino of the Harvard Business School, creative people tend to rationalize dishonest behavior more than less creative types. Creativity has been examined through a psychological lens for many years. The act of thinking creatively requires cognitive flexibility and divergent thinking. ?Divergent thinking refers to the ability of individuals to develop original ideas and to envision multiple solutions to a given problem,? said Gino. ?Cognitive flexibility, by contrast, describes the ability of individuals to restructure knowledge in multiple different ways depending on changing situational demands (i.e., the complexity of the situation. Typically operating together, divergent thinking and cognitive flexibility help people find creative solutions to difficult problems, which may be interpreted from different points of view.? The challenge arises when creative people are faced with a situation that will benefit them if they cheat or lie just a little. ?When facing the opportunity to behave dishonestly, in fact, most people cheat, if only by a little bit, but not as much as they possibly could,? said Gino. For her study, she theorized that if creative people were put in such a situation, they would be more dishonest than non-creative individuals. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lean-on-partners-make-it-through-holidays/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lean-on-partners-make-it-through-holidays/ Tue, 6 Dec 2011 18:34:52 GMT I don?t know anyone who is not feeling greater stress during this time of year. Even terrific moments with people we love can cause us stress, and that?s if family and extended family are individuals we WANT to see. It?s even more stressful if we are acting out of obligation. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relate-relax-relish-holidays-with-partner/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relate-relax-relish-holidays-with-partner/ Tue, 6 Dec 2011 17:34:38 GMT "The time to relax is when you don't have time for it." http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-gender-personal-identity-concepts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-gender-personal-identity-concepts/ Tue, 6 Dec 2011 17:22:11 GMT During a recent staff workshop at my school, the presenter shocked and confounded most of the crowd when she used the word ?pansexual?. Most of the teachers in the room had never before heard this term. ?Bisexual? they could wrap their heads around: someone sexually attracted to people of both genders. But pansexual... someone sexually attracted to people of all genders? A handful of the workshop participants were unable to resist scratching their heads and looking around quizzically. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-turning-point-provide-positive-benefits-126111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-turning-point-provide-positive-benefits-126111/ Tue, 6 Dec 2011 16:37:28 GMT Turning points are life experiences that permanently change the course of one?s life. The death of a parent, a divorce, or even a geographical move are all examples of turning points that can have a positive or negative affect on an individual. ?The most defining characteristic of a turning point, however, remains that the event is perceived as significant or life-changing to the individual,? said Royette Tavernier of the Department of Psychology at Brock University, St. Catharines in Canada, and author of a recent study. How individuals process those turning points is referred to as meaning-making and is theorized to affect well-being. ?The purpose of this study was to examine whether meaning-making within turning point narratives, as well as the timing of these turning points, would be associated with psychological wellbeing among a sample of Grade 12 high school adolescents,? said Tavernier. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/race-colorblind-dreams-125112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/race-colorblind-dreams-125112/ Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:00:11 GMT Dreams have long been the subject of psychology. ?Studies of dream content have often relied on diaries collected as part of a therapeutic context,? said Steven J. Hoekstra of the Department of Psychology at Kansas Wesleyan University and lead author of a new study. ?This study wanted to explore the racial dimension of dreams, particularly the degree to which the dreams? social demographic characteristics re?ected the experiences of the dreamer.? Hoekstra and his colleagues wanted to determine if people dream in racial color and if so, to what extent. They also wanted to know if the racial content of a dream was based on experience, exposure to media, or other influences. ?The identity of the individual also could serve as a source of dream content, where the self would serve as a referent and inner self issues could be expressed in one?s dreams,? said Hoekstra. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/help-date-night-erectile-dysfunction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/help-date-night-erectile-dysfunction/ Mon, 5 Dec 2011 18:28:08 GMT In my neck of the woods the majority of therapists see mainly women (probably about 80% of their clients). Not so for me - more than half my clients are male, and when I work with a couple it is more often the men who initiate conjoint therapy. I think this is because many guys tend to become very uptight about their penis, what Paul Joannides (author of The Guide to Getting It On) calls ?deadwood - the bummer in your pants". Many of the men I work with are concerned about their system crashing when their pants are off! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ways-be-present-practice-everyday-mindfulness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ways-be-present-practice-everyday-mindfulness/ Mon, 5 Dec 2011 17:15:41 GMT I don?t know about you, but today, unplanned items on my agenda added up to distractions that resulted in an overwhelming urge to tear my hair out. As often happens, I had loaded way more into my schedule than could be accomplished by a reasonable person within a day. It?s now 7:40 pm DST and I?m feeling grateful that the destination for this article is 3 hours behind my time zone; therefore, my missive will officially arrive in time, by sheer luck. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sudden-gains-improve-long-term-therapeutic-outcome-125111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sudden-gains-improve-long-term-therapeutic-outcome-125111/ Mon, 5 Dec 2011 16:47:22 GMT Every individual responds to therapy in their own way. Some people have sudden enlightenments during therapy, while others see a gradual reduction in symptoms little by little between their therapy sessions. These reductions in symptom severity are called sudden gains and are common among people receiving treatment for depression and anxiety. Previous research has shown that one of the biggest benefits of sudden gains is the residual effect they have. ?Individuals who experienced sudden gains reported lower levels of depressive symptoms at post-treatment, 6 months following treatment and 18 months following treatment, compared with individuals who did not experience sudden gains,? said Idan M. Aderka of the Department of Psychology at Boston University, and lead author of a recent analysis of sudden gains. ?These findings suggested that sudden gains were related to better treatment outcome at termination and at follow-up.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/skills-based-interventions-effective-youth-chronic-illness-1203111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/skills-based-interventions-effective-youth-chronic-illness-1203111/ Sun, 4 Dec 2011 16:00:31 GMT Living with a chronic illness is challenging at any age, but can be especially daunting, physically and psychologically, for teens. ?For adolescents and young adults (AYAs), the ongoing management of chronic illness can impose physical, emotional, and financial dependence at the time when increasing autonomy is the developmental goal,? said Ursula M. Sansom-Daly ofthe School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales in Australia. ?During this stage, individuals engage in identity formation, establish social competence, balance family and peer influences, develop and explore sexuality, and adapt to emerging intellectual abilities. Not achieving these significant milestones places individuals at heightened risk for poor adaptation within their future adult roles.? Additionally, pain from the illness and side effects resulting from treatment, also impair the teens? ability to achieve normal levels of social functioning. Sansom-Daly said, ?It appears that a young person?s capacity to negotiate the effects of their illness, while navigating complex social relationships, is key to successfully managing these developmental disruptions.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/finding-source-energy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/finding-source-energy/ Sat, 3 Dec 2011 18:00:19 GMT Part One: Finding Source Energy http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effect-agency-jok-seeking-young-adults-during-recession-12-3111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effect-agency-jok-seeking-young-adults-during-recession-12-3111/ Sat, 3 Dec 2011 16:00:03 GMT Young adults face an extremely competitive job market as a result of the recession. Young people who may have once had high aspirations for an academic or professional career may struggle if they are not able to modify those aspirations if those jobs become unattainable. ?Whereas there is a large body of research on adolescent aspirations and achievement-related behaviors in the status attainment tradition and considerable interest in agentic action in the literatures of life course and life span development, little attention has been directed to the psychological orientations and behaviors in the post-adolescent period that foster achievement in the labor market in early adulthood and help young workers to weather turbulent economic times,? said Mike Vuolo of the Department of Sociology at Purdue University and lead author of a recent study exploring agency and aspirations. ?The maintenance of high aspirations, the crystallization of career goals, and intensive job search behavior may be particularly important in this regard. But even in the worst recessions, some individuals suffer great losses while others remain relatively unscathed.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/having-calling-affect-job-commitment-satisfaction-1202112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/having-calling-affect-job-commitment-satisfaction-1202112/ Fri, 2 Dec 2011 21:00:39 GMT Some people insist they have been called to a specific vocation, while others merely work a job. ?Scholars from a variety of disciplines have begun to explore what it means to have a calling and how this relates to outcomes, consistently finding calling to be associated with enhanced work-related and general eudemonic well-being,? said Ryan D. Duffy of the Department of Psychology at the University of Florida. ?Moreover, barriers may exist that limit people?s abilities to carry out their callings, thereby impeding the potential positive psychological effects of having one.? Duffy recently led a study to discover if people who were living their calling were more satisfied and committed in their jobs than those who were not. In other words, Duffy asked, ?More simply, what is it about having a calling that makes individuals more satisfied at school and work?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/understanding-online-gaming-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/understanding-online-gaming-addiction/ Fri, 2 Dec 2011 19:27:20 GMT Online gaming addiction is an addiction to online video games, role-playing games, or any interactive gaming environment available through the Internet.  Online games such as World of Warcraft, EverQuest, Halo, The Dark Age of Camelot, or Diablo ? dubbed "heroinware" by some players ? can pose much more complex problems. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovering-thriving-parent-after-perinatal-depression-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovering-thriving-parent-after-perinatal-depression-anxiety/ Fri, 2 Dec 2011 18:51:07 GMT I am particularly reflective at this time of year, as my youngest son is turning six years old. It was just that many years ago that I experienced the joy of his birth and then the ensuing terrifying abyss with postpartum depression. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bulimic-tendencies-rats-similar-adolescent-girls-1202111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bulimic-tendencies-rats-similar-adolescent-girls-1202111/ Fri, 2 Dec 2011 17:51:00 GMT Puberty is a time of emotional and physical development. It is also a time when many girls start exhibiting the first signs of eating problems. ?Rates of bulimic symptoms increase significantly with advancing pubertal development and predict the development of BN later in adolescence,? said Kelly L. Klump, Ph.D. of the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University, and lead author of a recent study exploring bulimic trends in adolescent rats. ?Early maturing girls are at increased risk for BN (bulimia nervosa) and binge eating both during and after puberty.? Most girls who develop food issues usually do so later in adolescence, but new research is suggesting that symptoms that are present prior to puberty and in early adolescence may predict the development of more severe food problems later on. Klump said, ?The presence of increased pubertal risk for binge eating in animals would provide strong confirming evidence of biological influences, as animals do not experience key psychological risk factors (e.g., increased body dissatisfaction) during puberty.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-perception-influences-how-people-cope-defeat-1211112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-perception-influences-how-people-cope-defeat-1211112/ Thu, 1 Dec 2011 20:00:00 GMT Feelings of psychological defeat are common symptoms of many mental health problems. In some research, psychological defeat has been linked to the onset of psychosis and other challenges. ?Defeat may also contribute to the development and maintenance of schizophrenia,? said Judith Johnson of the School of Psychology at the University of Birmingham in the UK and lead author of a recent study on defeat and emotion. ?Perceptions of defeat have been associated with the onset and exacerbation of a range of psychiatric conditions and disorders, including depression, anxiety, and suicide,? said Johnson. ?Thus, the aim of the current research was to investigate the extent to which the emotion regulation strategy of reappraisal moderated the impact of failure on perceived defeat among both a nonclinical sample and individuals diagnosed with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, for whom perceived defeat may be particularly important.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/saying-no-1201115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/saying-no-1201115/ Thu, 1 Dec 2011 17:30:59 GMT A friend of mine posted on Facebook that her 2-year-old son wanted to have candy for dinner. She directly said ?No?, and of course her son kept on asking and she continued to say it and so forth. I understand her frustration, but I responded differently. I asked her, "why not?" Yes, I know candy for dinner is not the healthiest, and that a child needs other foods, etc., but before you continue, look at the boxes of sugary cereal that you may be feeding your child in the morning and then think about your answer. Sometimes candy is the same as Trix, Frosted Flakes (which I love), Captain Crunch, and other cereals. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-energy-balance-kids-1202114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-energy-balance-kids-1202114/ Thu, 1 Dec 2011 16:30:28 GMT Do the holidays consume you with joy, merrily moving along, or do you find yourself rushing, pressed for time, anxious about getting it all done? Whichever way it unfolds for you, as we busily bustle through the holidays, it is important to remember that kids are doing the same thing right along with you, perhaps even to levels that create a sense of internal chaos and emotionality that they are unaccustomed to dealing with. This is especially true for those with sensitive natures or already existing anxieties. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/balanced-gratitude-1201114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/balanced-gratitude-1201114/ Thu, 1 Dec 2011 16:30:21 GMT With Thanksgiving behind us and the holiday season in full swing, it seems fitting to talk about gratitude. Gratitude captures both the verbal expression of thanks as well as an overall attitude of appreciation. This disposition of thanks brings obvious benefit to the recipient of gratitude, but it also enriches your life ? you being the giver of gratitude. All to say that growing gratitude is an important task to focus on. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/people-save-more-retirement-feel-morally-responsible-121111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/people-save-more-retirement-feel-morally-responsible-121111/ Thu, 1 Dec 2011 16:14:26 GMT The majority of Americans will not have enough money in retirement to maintain their current standard of living. ?One provocative explanation for this problem involves the notion, advanced by theorists in philosophy and economics, that a person at two different points in time is not really the same person,? said Christopher J. Bryan of the Department of Psychology at Stanford University. ?Moreover, the tendency to think about the future self as another is associated with a reluctance to make short-term sacrifices to ensure longer-term well-being, suggesting that this way of thinking may be a significant barrier to saving for retirement.? Bryan and his colleagues designed an intervention that would help motivate individuals to save more for retirement by tapping into their benevolent tendencies. Bryan said, ?We designed a message to appeal to people?s sense of social responsibility to a future self who is heavily dependent on them?a sense of moral responsibility closely akin to that felt toward other people, such as family members, friends, and others whose welfare is of concern.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregiving-styles-influenced-attachment-styles-1130113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregiving-styles-influenced-attachment-styles-1130113/ Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:03 GMT Evaluating and assessing someone?s need for care is a critical component of acting as an effective and objective caregiver. However, according to a new study led by S. Jeffrey Bailey of the Department of Psychology at the University of New Brunswick Saint John in Canada, the attachment style of a caregiver can influence how they respond to a patient?s needs. ?The Social Communication Model of Pain raised the possibility that characteristics of those observing pain may also in?uence evaluations of individuals experiencing pain and that these evaluations could in?uence caregiving responses directed to those in pain,? said Bailey. ?Attachment theory is a well-supported biopsychosocial framework for investigating reactions to others in distress that holds promise for developing a more complete understanding of factors involved in evaluating individuals experiencing pain.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/commitment-level-newlyweds-predicts-marital-persistence-1130112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/commitment-level-newlyweds-predicts-marital-persistence-1130112/ Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:00:20 GMT Just as death is ultimately always the result of a heart that stops beating, the death of a marriage is always the result of marital dissatisfaction. The unhappiness could be caused by infidelity, addiction, loss of trust, anger, or a number of other issues, but divorce usually occurs because one or both partners has reached a point where they no longer find any satisfaction in the marriage. Some committed couples, who are dependent on the marital bond, may eventually throw in the towel as a result of dissatisfaction, and yet others do not. Dominik Schoebi of the Department of Psychology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland theorized that perhaps commitment affected marital persistence even when a couple was dissatisfied. ?Dependence and commitment do go hand in hand in the investment model, but whereas dependence is theorized to be a structural property of dyads, commitment is viewed as a psychological state that captures more directly the experience of being in the relationship and being joined to another person within it,? said Schoebi. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deal-with-bullies-1130114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deal-with-bullies-1130114/ Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:30:29 GMT How do we equip our children with the skills to deal with bullies and the people who are going to try and make their lives difficult? Victims of bullying feel hurt, alone, scared, fearful, depressed, and they become desperate for help. Often, children end up in counseling because they have been bullied and they finally react with their own aggression or demand help; as adults, we can intervene sooner. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-moms-regret-short-maternity-leaves-1129113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-moms-regret-short-maternity-leaves-1129113/ Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:00:00 GMT According to new research, mothers who take longer maternity leaves are able to manage work related and family stress when they return to the workforce better than those who return to work immediately after giving birth. Additionally, the longer a mother spends with her newborn before returning to work, the more confident she is in her decision. Bettina S. Wiese of the Department of Psychology at RWTH Aachen University in Germany recently led a study that explored how stress and the length of maternity leave affected a woman?s confidence in her decision to return to work. ?Because, at present, most women return to paid work after becoming a mother, this transition must be considered as a rather normative developmental task,? said Wiese. ?The return-to-work transition, however, is not completed on the day of reentry but rather comprises the time until the women feel like and are seen as fully (re)integrated organization members. The present study concerns this later phase, when women must actually deal with the first weeks of dual affordances at the workplace and at home.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-intervention-improves-sleep-apnea-treatment-adherence-112911/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-intervention-improves-sleep-apnea-treatment-adherence-112911/ Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:00:45 GMT Sleep disruption caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects nearly 5% of people throughout the world and upwards of 15% of Americans. OSA is characterized by respiratory interruptions that cause a person to wake from sleep in order to begin breathing again. Medically, these conditions are referred to as hypoxia and sleep fragmentation. ?Daytime sleepiness and hypoxia of the brain are associated with cognitive deficits, such as impaired working memory, attention, and psychomotor problems,? said Sara Olsen of the Psychology Department at Royal Brisbane and Women?s Hospital in Australia. ?Hypoxia of the heart increases the risk of heart-related diseases, such as hypertension.? Overall, lack of sleep and impaired cognition can lead to decreased physical health and increased risk for injury, such as car accidents. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/goal-setting-may-predict-bipolar-manic-episodes-1129111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/goal-setting-may-predict-bipolar-manic-episodes-1129111/ Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:08 GMT A new study involving people with bipolar suggests that setting extrinsic goals may be a predictor for manic episodes. Individuals with bipolar disorder are aware that setting high goals can cause them to get overstimulated and result in a manic episode. ?The reward sensitivity model has been found to be useful in predicting the course of mania; indeed, increases in mania over time have been predicted by self-reported reward sensitivity, life events involving reward, and elevations in behavior focused on attaining reward and goals,? said Sheri L. Johnson of the Department of Psychology at the University of California at Berkeley, and lead author of a recent study examining the relationship between reward sensitivity and the development of bipolar. ?People with bipolar disorder appear to value goal pursuit more than do other people.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reflections-on-suffering-1129114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reflections-on-suffering-1129114/ Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:30:42 GMT Confession: I often get take-out from Whole Foods Market, which is just a short walk from my New York City apartment. Mostly it?s because I?m tired or lazy or haven?t been organized enough to stock my refrigerator. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adventure-therapy-provides-unique-experience-for-men-1128112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adventure-therapy-provides-unique-experience-for-men-1128112/ Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:00:11 GMT Traditional therapy does not always appeal to most men; therefore, unique approaches have been designed to encourage men to embark on the journey of self-discovery. One approach, Adventure Therapy (AT), has received little focus but offers traditional therapy strategies in an adventurous and active environment. ?Adventure activities range from short-term initiatives and trust-building activities lasting several hours to wilderness-based adventure experiences (e.g., camping, backpacking, rock climbing) lasting days, weeks, or months,? said David E. Scheinfeld of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. ?These experiential activities are opportunities for intra- and interpersonal development.? He added, ?Because of the challenge of living in the wilderness, participants have also shown progress in teamwork, communication, physical ?tness, and creative problem-solving.? Based on previous research that has demonstrated the positive effects of group therapy for men, Scheinfeld led a study to see if AT would provide similar results. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-girls-are-bullies-1128115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-girls-are-bullies-1128115/ Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:29:36 GMT Do you remember your first bully?the girl who called you fat, mocked your choice in clothes, or spread false rumors about you? Of course you do. It?s like a first kiss, a first drink, the first time you drove a car. Only this is a memory you wish you could forget. You may not recall her exact words, but you remember the girl, the time, the place. Did you ever wonder why she did it, what provoked her meanness, how she got to wield so much power? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/egg-sperm-donor-children-benefit-from-full-disclosure1128111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/egg-sperm-donor-children-benefit-from-full-disclosure1128111/ Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:00:41 GMT In the last several decades, more than 3 million children have been born with the help of an anonymous donor or gamete donation. These children are often raised by two parents, with whom only one of which they are biologically connected. ?Those who become parents through assisted reproductive procedures involving gamete donation tend not to tell their children about their donor conception; thus, the majority of children conceived in this way remain unaware that the person they know as their father (in the case of sperm donation) or their mother (in the case of egg donation) is not their genetic parent,? said Susan Golombok of the Centre for Family Research and faculty member of Politics Psychology Sociology and International Studies at the University of Cambridge in the UK. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thinking-connection-between-exercise-body-image-1128114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thinking-connection-between-exercise-body-image-1128114/ Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:22:29 GMT There are styles of thinking that are commonly related to anxiety and unhappiness. One patterned way of thinking that is identified by therapists who work with cognitions is the all-or-nothing style. It is very often a part of the negative body-image experience. This way of thinking can lead to a lot of unnecessary distress but is also a symptom of feeling overwhelmed. When the mind is faced with too much to deal with, a tactic it uses to conserve energy is to reduce its interpretation of experiences to simple categories: black or white, all or nothing, all bad or all good. In this effort to simplify and manage complex experiences, the mind protects itself in a short-term gain/long-term pain manner. Because life experiences can indeed be complex, we need to be able to tolerate the discomfort of staying open-minded as much as possible. The more we can withstand the discomfort, the more readily we can grow into new understandings, accommodating the complexity into our frame of thinking. This impacts relationships to self and others. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/learned-emotional-competence-1125112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/learned-emotional-competence-1125112/ Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:00:43 GMT According to a new study, emotional competence (EC), the ability to understand, manage, express and use emotions, is a skill that can be learned. There are three levels of EC that affect every area of one?s life, knowledge, focus and ability. Knowledge is how much an individual understands about their own emotions. Focus is how well someone is able to manage their emotions and emotional responses. And Ability refers to how a person uses their emotional knowledge to cope with a specific situation in order to achieve a desired outcome. ?At a psychological level, higher trait EC is associated with greater well-being and higher self-esteem as well as a lower risk to develop psychological disorders,? said Delphine Nelis of the Department of Psychology at the University of Liege in Belgium, and lead author of the study. ?Socially, higher ability?trait EC is related to better social and marital relationships and, all things being equal, to a greater likelihood of being chosen as a romantic partner. Workwise, higher trait EC is associated with greater academic achievement and higher ability?trait EC is associated with higher job performance,? said Nelis. ?Ability?Trait EC is also linked to the likelihood of adopting unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, excessive drinking, and reckless driving.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapists-apa-controvery-over-dsm-v-1125111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapists-apa-controvery-over-dsm-v-1125111/ Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:00:39 GMT The upcoming release of the newly revised DSM-V has spurred much debate in the past several months. A recent article, published an open letter from Dr. Don Locke, president of the American Counseling Association (ACA), to Dr. John Oldham, President of the American Psychiatric Association, which outlines the primary concerns the mental health community has with the proposed revisions to the diagnostic tool that has been relied on by medical professionals for decades. Locke summarizes the collective concerns by saying, ?Our concerns focus on empirical evidence, dimensional and cross-cutting assessments, field trials, the definition of mental disorder, and transparency,? says Locke, speaking on behalf of the 120,000 licensed mental health professionals within the United States. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/people-misestimate-future-reactions-1124111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/people-misestimate-future-reactions-1124111/ Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:00:18 GMT When someone is asked to predict their emotional reaction to a future, hypothetical event, they usually underestimate how they will respond, according to previous research. However, a new study, led by Heather C. Lench of the Department of Psychology at Texas A&M University, suggests otherwise. ?In past research the tendency to neglect context when predicting future emotions, called focalism, has been shown to result in overestimation of future emotion,? said Lench. ?In the present investigation, we address the possibility that people?s distress in this situation may actually be more intense than they predict because they fail to account for how the context of the party will focus their attention on the negative event.? The way someone predicts their emotional state impacts nearly every decision they will make. ?Thus, people should make better decisions and spend their time and resources more effectively if they can anticipate the intensity of their future emotional reactions.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-self-disclosure-decreases-therapy-stigma-1123112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-self-disclosure-decreases-therapy-stigma-1123112/ Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:00:18 GMT One of the primary reasons people neglect to seek treatment for their mental health problems is because they are concerned about the external and internal stigmas associated with mental illness. Public stigma is the external belief that one is defective if they receive therapy for their problems, while self-stigma is the perception that an individual has of his or herself as a result of struggling with a mental health issue. In a recent study led by Nathaniel G. Wade of the Department of Psychology at Iowa State University, researchers examined how therapist self-disclosure affected stigma. ?The goal of this investigation was to explore stigma before and after an initial session of group counseling and to examine aspects of the counseling process (e.g., session quality, working alliance, counselor self-disclosure) that may predict changes in stigma,? said Wade. Most therapists already self-disclose and share their moral beliefs, fears and hopes with their clients. ?Some of the main reasons therapists may choose to self-disclose are to make themselves more accessible to clients, to develop the working alliance, and to build greater trust in the therapeutic relationship.? Wade added, ?In other words, clients are likely to feel less self-stigma when working with a group counselor that they trust and view positively as, in such situations, the threat to one?s self-esteem and confidence is less likely.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-attributions-predicts-marital-engaged-couples-dissatisfaction-1123111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-attributions-predicts-marital-engaged-couples-dissatisfaction-1123111/ Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:30:31 GMT Engaged couples form patterns of positive and negative behavior that can predict their marital satisfaction. ?Serious marital dissatisfaction predicts increased risk for a major depressive episode, even when controlling for history of depression,? said Rebecca E. Osterhout of the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and lead author of a new study examining how engaged couples? interactions predict marital satisfaction. ?Marital distress and divorce are also associated with negative child and family outcomes (e.g., poorer parenting, increased parent-child conflict, increased risk for child conduct, emotional, and behavioral problems).?  Because the engagement period provides a map for the direction the marriage will ultimately take, it is a vital time for developing adaptive strategies. ?With this in mind, the current study examined the association of two empirically established predictors of relationship distress in married samples, dyadic behavior and maladaptive attributions, in a sample of engaged couples reporting high levels of relationship satisfaction.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/three-steps-for-panic-attacks-1123114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/three-steps-for-panic-attacks-1123114/ Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:52:06 GMT Panic attacks are usually initiated by a triggering thought or collection of thoughts that are anxiety-provoking in nature. These thoughts then cause an overly exaggerated anxiety response in the body (choking sensations, dizziness, tightness, tingling, etc). These physical sensations are then often misinterpreted as serious physical problems or are perceived as being a sign that the person is losing control and might end up getting hurt, hurting someone else, or causing an embarrassing situation in public. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-therapists-can-address-sleep-disorders-1122112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-therapists-can-address-sleep-disorders-1122112/ Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:00:33 GMT Chronic sleep problems are common, but can have serious mental and physical consequences. ?Sleep deprivation at its worst is literally torturous; even mild chronic sleep deprivation changes brain chemistry and physiology, leading to deterioration of cognition, memory, and mood,? said Dolores T. Puterbaugh, a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of a recent article emphasizing the therapist?s role in helping a client overcome sleep problems. Puterbaugh believes that many of the techniques being used for various mental health challenges can also be used to improve a client?s sleep patterns. ?Counselors are trained in addressing the intersection of cognition, behavior, and emotional distress; their code of ethics also emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary consultation in treating complex client problems whenever that is appropriate, said Puterbaugh. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/transphobia-fatal-effects-1122114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/transphobia-fatal-effects-1122114/ Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:41:58 GMT In May this year, 16 people lost their lives to transphobic violence and hate: 11 in Brazil, and one each in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Venezuela. I know, because just a couple of days ago I read aloud the names of each departed soul at the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) observance in Oakland, CA. Of course, not all the names were known. Most were women, transgendered women, and if their names were not known, we usually knew something of where they lost their lives: their apartments, the street, a bathroom, on a bus... In May, their ages (if known) ranged from 15 to 39. Mercifully, I did not have to read the details of how each person was murdered. After each name, or ?name unknown,? a small gong sounded, and I went on to the next person on the list. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/friendship-reduces-bullying-1122111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/friendship-reduces-bullying-1122111/ Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:00:41 GMT Being the target of bullying can cause a child to internalize and experience a decrease in self-worth. Many children who are victims of bullying become isolated and withdrawn, and often have a limited social circle of friends. ?Because many of the correlates and predictors of peer victimization are common in children with ADHD, it is not surprising that children with ADHD are at elevated risk for peer victimization,? said Stephanie L. Cardoos of the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. ?Although more is known about risk factors for victimization than about protective factors, one well-established protective factor for those at risk of victimization is friendship.? Cardoos and her colleague Stephen P. Hinshaw recently conducted a study to determine what affect friendship would have on bullying. ?The overall purpose is to understand factors that may both predict and protect  against peer victimization in girls with ADHD, with a particular focus on friendship as a protective factor,? said Cardoos. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-interventions-decrease-child-psychopathy-1121113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-interventions-decrease-child-psychopathy-1121113/ Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:00:42 GMT Identifying psychopathy in children is often the first step in predicting or preventing the development of further psychological and behavioral problems. Research has linked psychopathy to aggression, impulsivity and externalization in children. ?Such findings suggest that interventions that ameliorate child psychopathic features, in addition to child conduct problems, would offer a significant public health benefit,? said Renee McDonald of Southern Methodist University in Texas, and lead author of a recent study examining the effects of positive parenting on child psychopathy. ?Consistent with this, some reviewers have concluded?primarily from results of research with adults and adolescents?that interventions can indeed exert positive effects on psychopathic features.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/screening-tool-for-pediatric-bipolar-1121112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/screening-tool-for-pediatric-bipolar-1121112/ Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:00:20 GMT College in London theorized that self-reports and parent reports of symptomology would provide a more accurate picture of a child?s overall behavior. ?This study uses an alternative approach to the question of youth BP starting at the level of individual symptoms that occur during an episode of elated mood,? said Goodman of his recent study. Goodman and his colleagues were concerned mostly with bipolar not otherwise specified (BPNOS), a condition that previous research has suggested eventually develops into BPI or BPII. ?These findings suggested that BP-NOS?defined by having episode durations of less than 4 days?is important and may be on a spectrum with BP-I and BP-II,? said Goodman. ?However, the particularly poor agreement between parent- and child-reported episodes and the fact that they did not increase in duration with advancing age did cast some doubt on the validity of BPNOS and whether it was on a continuum with BP-I and BP-II.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-as-relational-disorder-1121115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-as-relational-disorder-1121115/ Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:01:06 GMT I?m struck by the fact that people with addiction issues, when confronted with the destructive effects of their behaviors, often find it harder to stop. This is especially true, in my clinical experience, when it comes to compulsive sexual behavior, aka sex addiction. Why is that? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/problem-solving-becomes-problematic-1121114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/problem-solving-becomes-problematic-1121114/ Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:52:47 GMT Many people come to therapy wanting to know why they have certain problems. They?ve been struggling with this problem for a long time and they want to understand why, because if they could just figure out the cause of the problem, they might be able to solve it. They might say something along the lines of: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hiv-counselor-stress-burnout-1119111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hiv-counselor-stress-burnout-1119111/ Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:00:02 GMT People who work in AIDS service organizations (ASOs) are at increased risk for stress from several factors, including heavy caseload, fear of contamination, poor working conditions and stress associated with delivering a life-threatening diagnosis. ?Recommended guidelines exist to help medical practitioners prepare for and communicate bad news, yet many individuals have still expressed stress,? said Zachary Y. Kerr, M.P.H., M.A., of the Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health at The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. ?In addition, at many ASOs, an HIV test counselor is usually a volunteer or staff person who holds other responsibilities. These individuals, although trained to HIV test counsel, may not have the advantage of a related educational background or hold a higher degree in clinical psychology/ therapy as those in previous samples exploring burnout.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-defense-programs-help-sexual-assault-survivors-1118112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-defense-programs-help-sexual-assault-survivors-1118112/ Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:00:32 GMT Sexual assault can significantly change how a woman lives her life. Many women who have been sexually assaulted look for methods of protection in order to avoid being victimized again. Some purchase guns, tasers or mace. Others acquire dogs for protection. And many women enroll in modern self-defense training (MSDT) classes in order to gain a sense of empowerment, strength and to reduce feelings of helplessness. ?The primary goal of MSDT programs is teach participants how to avoid and resist sexual assault,? said Kimberly Ball of Health Professions and Technologies at Oakland Community College. ?Traditional martial arts (TMA), boxing, and wrestling skills are typically taught, as well as preventative skills. Contrary to this misconception, karate, one type of TMA, is geared toward both ?ghting and tactics that can be used for escaping assault.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dealing-with-troubled-youth-part-1-1118115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dealing-with-troubled-youth-part-1-1118115/ Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:30:33 GMT Drug use in the United States is a serious problem among the adolescent population. At some point in your teen?s life, it is likely that your son or daughter may use drugs as a result of peer pressure or maybe even experimentation. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/can-article-reading-improve-relationships-1118114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/can-article-reading-improve-relationships-1118114/ Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:18:50 GMT As a Relationship Therapist of over 25 years, my answer to this question is ?Yes.? You may think you don?t have time to read relationship advice articles. You may think you don?t need to go to some ?outsider? about your personal relationship. But consider this: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prolonged-exposure-therapy-treating-ptsd-veterans-1118111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prolonged-exposure-therapy-treating-ptsd-veterans-1118111/ Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:00:51 GMT Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) has been identified as one of the most effective forms of therapy for veterans with PTSD resulting from combat. Veterans from Vietnam, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation New Dawn (OND), along with Gulf War Veterans, struggle with PTSD as a result of trauma experienced during their service. However, although these veterans may realize some relief of their PTSD symptoms with PE, the effectiveness of the therapy is directly related to the type of trauma the veterans experienced. ?The purpose of the current study is to compare PTSD and related outcomes in veterans from various combat theaters, OEF/OIF/OND, Gulf War, Vietnam, receiving a manualized Prolonged Exposure (PE) intervention for PTSD in a southeastern VA Medical Center,? said Matthew Yoder of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, and lead author of the study. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/repression-increases-risk-of-hypertension-diseases-1117112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/repression-increases-risk-of-hypertension-diseases-1117112/ Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:00:36 GMT Repressive coping is a strategy of self-protection that involves dismissing or ignoring strong emotions. People who use repression as a means of coping often do so out of self-defense and tend to experience the same negative emotional symptoms as those who struggle with anxiety. In a new study, Marcus Mund, of the Friedrich Schiller University in Germany, sought to determine if repressive coping also led to the development of physical symptoms associated with anxiety, such as hypertension, asthma, cardiovascular disease and cancer. ?If repressive copers repressed unwanted feelings permanently, and if repression of feelings was associated with the mentioned physiological features, it is close at hand to infer that a high proportion of repressors should be affected by pathologically high blood pressure or associated diseases like coronary heart disease (CHD). Indeed, there are numerous studies linking both and showing serologically an increased risk for severe cardiovascular diseases (CVD),? said Mund. ?Additionally, repressive coping is assumed to be associated with the development of cancer.? He added, ?The same is true for asthma and diabetes, which both can be linked to several immune features.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/navigating-between-workplace-truth-safety-1117114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/navigating-between-workplace-truth-safety-1117114/ Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:30:05 GMT A while ago I had an interchange with someone that got me thinking.  It went like this:  http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-examines-parenting-efficacy-1117111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-examines-parenting-efficacy-1117111/ Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:40:03 GMT Pregnancy is a time of anticipation for mothers and fathers. Both parents hold expectations of how they will succeed at accomplishing parenting tasks, and how they will adjust to the new baby and each other after the birth. ?As with most research on the transition to parenthood, the majority of the literature focuses exclusively on the mother while neglecting the perspective of the father,? said Susanne N. Biehle of the Department of Psychology at Kent State University. ?Because the transition to parenthood is typically experienced jointly by the mother and father, it is important to understand the potential interplay that can occur between partners and how it may impact the development of parenting efficacy.? Biehle looked at three specific factors relating to parenting efficacy: performance accomplishment, emotional arousal and verbal persuasion, to see how each influenced the development of parenting skills both pre- and post-partum. ?Parenting efficacy is a specific aspect of self-efficacy which examines how competent a parent feels about their ability to positively influence both the development and behavior of their child.? Biehle added, ?High levels of efficacy can increase a parent?s ability to engage in better parenting practices, whereas low levels of parenting efficacy have been associated with feelings of anxiety, depression, and distress.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-females-ruminate-more-than-males-1116112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-females-ruminate-more-than-males-1116112/ Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:00:28 GMT Nearly 20 percent of adolescents will have experienced a major depressive episode by the time they reach the age of 18, with twice as many girls becoming depressed as boys. ?One possible explanation for the emergent sex difference in depression is a sex difference in rumination, which is the tendency to respond to negative events with perseverative attention on negative stimuli,? said Jordan Simonson, M.A., of the Department of Clinical Psychology at Seattle Pacific University and lead author of a recent study examining the differences in rumination between males and females. ?Females report greater rumination than males, and this sex difference partially accounts for the sex difference in depression.? Simonson and a team of researchers sought to determine what role gender plays in trait rumination and state rumination, response to a particular event, in teens. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-breakups-1116115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-breakups-1116115/ Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:14:22 GMT Social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, as well as other means of electronic communications such as texting, are no longer the wave of the future: they are the here and now. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treatment-centers-social-climate-predicts-outcome-1116111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treatment-centers-social-climate-predicts-outcome-1116111/ Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:05:55 GMT The two most popular residential treatment settings for substance abuse recovery are therapeutic communities (TCs) and Oxford Houses (OHs). Both of these climates provide social support as a tool for recovery. ?Sharing a living space with others in substance abuse recovery might encourage mutual self-help participation and increase social support, which are associated with longer periods of abstinence,? said Ronald Harvey from the Center for Community Research at DePaul University in Chicago, and lead author of a recent study comparing the social climate of TCs versus that of OHs. ?Supportive social relationships within such settings might protect people in recovery from relapse and improve overall substance abuse recovery rates.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fight-cancer-with-social-suppor-1116114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fight-cancer-with-social-suppor-1116114/ Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:49:06 GMT ?Joanne? is 54 and has just been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. She finds this impossible to believe. She has only had a little back pain for a couple of months and figures she must have pulled a muscle in her aerobics class. Now, her oncologist is telling her she has a large tumor and metastases in her liver. He keeps talking but she doesn?t hear a thing he says. Something about chemo? Radiation? She?s too stunned to ask him any questions. She tunes back in just as he?s saying something about the cancer not being curable and her probably having less than a year to live. Joanne and her husband stumble out of the oncologists?s office and make their way home to their three children. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hope-decreases-youth-violence-1115113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hope-decreases-youth-violence-1115113/ Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:00:18 GMT At-risk youth are more prone to violence than children from higher socioeconomic conditions. ?Members of speci?c demographic groups, especially males and African Americans, are at particular risk for involvement in serious forms of violence and related negative health and social sequelae,? said S.A. Stoddard of the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan, and lead author of a recent study exploring the effects of hopelessness and violence. ?Youth who participate in violence are at risk for potentially life-threatening outcomes, including imprisonment, injury, and death.? Adolescence is a time of emotional change, and it is during this time that violence and aggression intensify, laying the groundwork for problems in other areas of a child?s life. ?Violence involvement during adolescence is also a potent risk factor for ongoing violence involvement into young adulthood,? said Stoddard. ?At the individual level, factors correlated with poor academic achievement, (e.g., impulsivity, attention and learning problems, and antisocial behavior) have been associated with higher levels of violence involvement.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-influences-failure-perception-1115112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-influences-failure-perception-1115112/ Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:00:29 GMT Failure is a part of life. How an individual perceives their failure gives an indication of their overall sense of well-being and adjustment. Reflecting on past failures through imagery can provide even further detail into the one?s coping strategies. ?As people recall and imagine life events, they often form mental images of those events and may do so from different visual perspectives,? said Lisa K. Libby of the Department of Psychology at Ohio State University. ?With the first-person perspective, one sees the event from their own vantage point, as an actor in the scene; with the third-person perspective, one sees the event from an external vantage point, watching the self. This subtle phenomenological variable can have powerful effects on responses to pictured events, influencing judgment, emotion, and behavior.? Libby was interested to see if this shift in perspective was influenced by self-esteem, or if self-esteem played a role in how perspective affected one?s perception of failure. ?One of the most well documented differences between low- and high-self-esteem individuals (LSEs and HSEs) is in how they react to failure: LSEs have more extreme negative reactions,? said Libby. ?In particular, LSEs are prone to overgeneralize, a response style that is characterized by ?a tendency to bring thoughts of personal inadequacy to mind and/or experience a reduction in the sense of self-worth.?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internet-based-therapy-helps-parents-children-1115111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internet-based-therapy-helps-parents-children-1115111/ Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:00:39 GMT Live coaching is a technique that is helpful to parents of children who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the traditional setting, live coaching is conducted with the therapist behind a one-way mirror. The therapist instructs the parent on how to interact and respond to their cognitively-impaired child. The parent then responds through an earpiece. Although this method of treatment has proven to be effective, it is not always logistically or economically feasible. ?Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of several complex, low-incidence conditions for which skilled providers may not be available in a given community,? said Shari L. Wade of the University of Pittsburgh. ?TBI can result in parental distress, as well as long-term changes in a child?s cognitive and academic abilities, behavior, and social skills.? Additionally, TBI can create significant behavior problems that cause immense stress on the parents. ?Parent skills training coupled with education regarding TBI may reduce parental distress and improve child outcomes.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thankfulness-with-autism-1114115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thankfulness-with-autism-1114115/ Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:18:53 GMT Thanksgiving is a time for family to come together and enjoy one another with grateful hearts. Or at least it's "supposed" to be that way. For families living with autism spectrum disorder, Thanksgiving can be a recipe for disaster. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/redefining-gender-rules-1114114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/redefining-gender-rules-1114114/ Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:15:27 GMT When we are born, and these days often even before, the big question is, ?Is it a boy or a girl?? The way this question was answered when we were born impacts us every day throughout our whole lives. This is the day we are assigned a gender. In our culture we treat boys and girls, and men and women, very differently. Everything is gendered, from toys and clothes, to emotions and ways of thinking. No one is off the hook from these gender scripts; they tell us how to dress, act, and even how to interact with other people (Bem, 1993; Gagne & Tewksbury, 1998; Gagne, Tewksbury, & McGaughey, 1997). Some people fit these scripts well, and some people don?t. But before we can talk about gender, we have to define it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-with-eating-disorders-life-quality-studied-1114111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-with-eating-disorders-life-quality-studied-1114111/ Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:00:09 GMT Eating and food issues can have a significant impact on someone?s quality of life (QOL). ?This is of particular relevance for the atypical eating disorders, called eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), thought to represent the majority of clinical presentations,? said Tracey D. Wade of the School of Psychology at Flinders University in South Australia, and lead author of a study examining the relationship between eating issues and QOL in women. ?This body of research would suggest that the presence of an eating disorder is associated with impaired QOL, by comparison with healthy controls, the general population, primary care patients with medical disorders such as arthritis and hypertension, and people with other diagnoses of psychiatric illness,? said Wade, referring to the data collected from the Medical Outcome Studies (MOS) Short-Form Scale (SF-36). Wade added that although there is little research on women with EDNOS compared to women with anorexia or bulimia, the small pool of evidence for EDNOS shows that these women have lower QOL than healthy women. ?Those girls with EDNOS had significantly higher levels of functional impairment, mental health service use, and emotional distress than those without eating disorders,? said Wade. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-attachment-affect-emotional-disclosure-1113111-2/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-attachment-affect-emotional-disclosure-1113111-2/ Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:00:25 GMT Sharing emotional experiences, or engaging in emotional disclosure, can be a cathartic process, resulting in reductions in stress, anxiety and tension. ?In an opposite manner, the active concealment of distressing information is associated with psychological distress and physical symptoms such as headaches and backaches,? said Angela M. Garrison of the Department of Counselor Education and Counselor Psychology at Western Michigan University. Similarly, people with depression or anxiety often suppress their emotions to avoid facing negative feelings. Research has shown that individuals who have attachment issues struggle with emotional disclosure as well. Because emotional disclosure is so closely linked to depression and attachment, it is difficult to determine how each condition affects emotional regulation. ?Specifically, depression symptoms and attachment are both associated with emotional disclosure, but depression symptoms and attachment are also related to each other,? said Garrison, lead author of a recent study on emotional disclosure. ?For theory clarification, it is therefore important to disentangle the effect of depression symptoms on emotional disclosure from the potential effects of attachment on emotional disclosure.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-variability-predicts-adolescent-mood-behavior-11111102/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-variability-predicts-adolescent-mood-behavior-11111102/ Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:00:24 GMT Emotional dysregulation can be a predictor of future psychological problems. People who experience overwhelming worry or fear may be at increased risk for the development of anxiety issues. Individuals who have difficulty managing their anger and repeatedly exhibit explosive outbursts may have aggressive tendencies later on in life. ?High levels and prolonged duration of negative emotions and heightened emotional variability may be signs of emotional dysregulation,? said Anna Neumann of the Department of Developmental Psychology at VU University in the Netherlands. ?Individual differences in emotion regulation and their relation with the development of psychopathology become especially relevant during the developmental period of adolescence.? Neumann recently led a study that examined how four emotions; happiness, anxiety, anger and sadness, influenced emotional regulation and emotional variability (EV), during adolescence. ?Several cross-sectional studies demonstrate that in adolescence, high levels of negative emotions, and high levels of EV are related to symptoms of depression and externalizing problems.? Neumann added, ?These findings are commonly interpreted as suggesting that emotion dysregulation influences the development of psychopathology.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/omega-3s-better-mental-health-1111115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/omega-3s-better-mental-health-1111115/ Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:50:27 GMT By now, most people have at least heard of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are commonly found in fish but are also in flaxseeds, walnuts, and products like eggs from hens who have consumed an Omega-3 rich diet. Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fats that are also essential nutrients ? this means that our bodies cannot produce them on our own, and we thus need to obtain them from dietary sources. Omega-3s are often described in terms of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and you may see these descriptors on fortified foods or supplements containing them. DHA is believed to play a role in the brain?s structure. EPA and EPA plus DHA supplementation have been associated with decreased inflammation and improved mood. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gifted-students-targets-for-bullying-1111111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gifted-students-targets-for-bullying-1111111/ Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:00:23 GMT The stereotypical high-achieving gifted student is no longer reminiscent of a character out of Revenge of the Nerds. In that movie, the academically gifted students were teased and bullied mercilessly. But in real life, gifted students blend in seamlessly with their peers. However, with all of the research available on the increasing problem of bullying, few studies have been conducted to determine if gifted students are more vulnerable to bullying because of their academic differences. The shallow body of scientific evidence provides mixed results thus far. Some studies have suggested that gifted students are at increased risk for victimization, while others suggest they are at decreased risk. And still other studies have shown that gifted students have higher bullying rates within their own groups as a result of the pressure they are under to compete with one another and achieve. To provide clarification on this issue, Megan Parker Peters, a school psychologist at Vanderbilt University, led a study on bullying among gifted students. ?In the current study, we sought to determine if rates of bullying and victimization among gifted high school students differ from those of high-achieving (HA), but not gifted, peers in Advanced Placement (AP) classes,? said Peters, who conducted the study with her colleague Sherry K. Bain of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dont-misuse-thankfulness-1111114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dont-misuse-thankfulness-1111114/ Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:20:58 GMT It?s October 29th.  There?s a snowstorm ? an early one. It?s taken out our internet.  And for some of us, our phones. It?s disabled the power for millions. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/distress-for-adolescents-with-funnel-chest-1110113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/distress-for-adolescents-with-funnel-chest-1110113/ Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:00:58 GMT Funnel chest is a term used to describe the medical condition known as Pectus excavatum (PE), a deformity of the chest wall that occurs in one of every thousand children. ?It is well known that children with PE are affected by their body image, that they often experience embarrassment, have low self-esteem and feelings of stigma,? said Susanne Habelt of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the University Children?s Hospital in Basle, Switzerland. ?These psychological criteria influence the patient's life deeply.? She added that although recent studies have looked at how surgery affects the quality of these children?s lives, few researchers have examined the psychological symptoms related to PE, both before and after surgery. ?With this as background the aim of our evaluation was to perform an extended psychological status in order to establish a psychological indication for treatment,? said Habelt. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/individual-family-therapies-cost-effectiveness-1110112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/individual-family-therapies-cost-effectiveness-1110112/ Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:00:46 GMT The mental health field is comprised of various disciplines that range greatly in cost and efficacy. But few studies have looked at how these different disciplines compare to each other with respect to overall large scale cost effectiveness and treatment viability. In an attempt to fill this void, D. Russell Crane, Ph.D., analyzed four years of mental health claims data from CIGNA healthcare. ?The purpose of the study was to explore the practice patterns and subsequent cost-effectiveness of different types of professionals providing individual and family therapy within one behavioral health care management system,? said Crane, Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. The data included over 5 million claims specifically for psychotherapy services obtained by members ranging in age from birth to 103. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fathers-post-adoption-depression-1110111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fathers-post-adoption-depression-1110111/ Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:00:33 GMT Post-partum depression occurs in nearly 15% percent of all new mothers and over 10% of new fathers. This psychological problem can affect not only the parents, but the children and the critical bond between the infant and the parent. ?Less is known about parental post-adoption depression (PAD) that may occur in the parents of the 1,782,000 children in the United States who are adopted,? said Karen J. Foli of the Purdue University School of Nursing and lead author of a new study looking at the prevalence of PAD. ?In the research reported thus far, the rate of post-adoption depression has a wide range, from 8%, 15.4% to 32%, with parents surveyed in varying contexts including inter-country and domestic.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survive-thanksgiving-while-not-feeling-thankful-1110114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survive-thanksgiving-while-not-feeling-thankful-1110114/ Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:08:24 GMT Picture it: Thanksgiving Day, 2011. You?ve just joined your family at the table to feast on turkey and stuffing when suddenly, a festive, well-meaning relative suggests that everyone go around the table and share something that they are thankful for. Ugh. If you are one of the millions of Americans who is suffering with depression, this may feel like an impossible, unanswerable question. If you've been feeling such deep despair that you haven't been able to get out of bed for the last several days, then you probably feel that you don?t have anything to be thankful for. You?re probably just trying to get through the day. And you probably want to push your chair away from the table, tell your relative to mind his own business, and crawl back into bed. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-thoughts-important-for-mood-regulation-1109112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-thoughts-important-for-mood-regulation-1109112/ Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:00:59 GMT Positive automatic thoughts (PATs) produce many beneficial byproducts, including increased functioning and elevated mood. But a new study suggests that PATs are also linked to increased life satisfaction which can decrease depression and anxiety and even lower the risk of death. ?Along with other positive constructs, life satisfaction has predicted not only lowered risk of all-cause mortality (the number of deaths in a population, relative to the total population, attributable to all causes) and natural-cause mortality (the number of deaths in a population, relative to the total population, attributable to natural causes such as failed physical health), but also unnatural-cause mortality (the number of deaths in a population, relative to the total population, attributable to causes such as suicide, homicide, accidents, and other causes that are not directly attributable to failed physical health) in both younger and older persons,? said Owen Richard Lightsey, Jr. of the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research at the University of Memphis. ?Conversely, life dissatisfaction at baseline has predicted increased instances of suicide among Finnish men over a 20-year follow-up. Clearly, ascertaining the factors that augment life satisfaction is vital,? said Lightsey, lead author of a new study examining the relationship of PAT?s on life satisfaction. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/harness-marriage-bond-power-1109114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/harness-marriage-bond-power-1109114/ Wed, 9 Nov 2011 21:05:58 GMT I knew a couple whose divorce cluttered up the Broward County Courthouse for 10 years. That was before I went back to grad school for my doctorate but I kept thinking, ?Surely something could have been done to release this couple from each other?s clutches.? There was. One party escaped the country and I never heard the rest of the story. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/classroom-participation-increases-emotional-intelligence-1109111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/classroom-participation-increases-emotional-intelligence-1109111/ Wed, 9 Nov 2011 16:00:37 GMT Emotional intelligence is recognized as an important factor in quality of life and outcome achievement. The body of evidence supporting this theory has increased dramatically in recent years. But little research has examined how education influences emotional intelligence. ?Some empirical findings suggest that emotional intelligence, unlike IQ, can be improved through learning and development opportunities,? said Jacqueline Landau of Salem State College, and lead author of a recent study on the effects of classroom participation on emotional intelligence. ?The purpose of the present study is to explore the role participative classroom environments play in the development of college student's emotional intelligence (EI), and whether EI is related to academic achievement.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/text-messages-help-depressed-people-1108113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/text-messages-help-depressed-people-1108113/ Wed, 9 Nov 2011 02:00:08 GMT Nearly everyone has a cell phone with text messaging capability. For people with depression, this method of communication may help them maintain their treatment regimen. ?Poor adherence to the elements of depression treatment presents a major barrier to effectiveness in real-world settings,? said Adrian Aguilera, Ph.D. and assistant professor of the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. ?Mobile phone-based text messaging (short messaging service; SMS) is a widely available and cost-effective tool, used by people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, that holds promise in improving adherence to mental health treatments.? Clients are often assigned homework between therapy sessions, and non-adherence to the work delays treatment. Practicing and monitoring mood regulation in real-life situations are necessary to move forward from a depressive state. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/violent-video-game-play-linked-with-aggression-1108112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/violent-video-game-play-linked-with-aggression-1108112/ Tue, 8 Nov 2011 21:00:51 GMT Many studies have examined the effect of violent video game play on adolescents? behavior. But few have looked at how violent video games influence aggression in these children long-term. Because almost all of American teens play some sort of video game, this trend warrants further investigation. ?What is concerning, however, is that over half of the adolescents surveyed reported playing violent video games, and five of the 10 most frequently played games were assessed as violent,? said Teena Willoughby of the Department of Psychology at Brock University in Canada. ?Similarly, it has been demonstrated in experimental research that playing violent video games temporarily increases aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, and physiological arousal.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acceptance-commitment-therapy-reduces-substance-user-shame-1108111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acceptance-commitment-therapy-reduces-substance-user-shame-1108111/ Tue, 8 Nov 2011 16:00:32 GMT Shame is an emotion that is exhibited by many people with addictions and substance use issues. ?Shame is also the emotional core of self-stigma, which has been associated with treatment-seeking delays, treatment dropout, and poorer social functioning,? said Jason B. Luoma, of the Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center in Portland, Oregon. ?Shame has long been seen as relevant to substance use disorders and their treatment, but the precise nature of the relationship and how best to address it clinically are controversial.? Luoma, lead author of a recent study, believes that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) may be helpful in addressing shame for people struggling with substance use issues. ?For substance abusers, acceptance and mindfulness might be adaptive responses to difficult internal experiences such as shame or negative self-judgment,? said Luomo, ?In an ACT approach, rather than trying to reduce or eliminate shame, psychological acceptance techniques encourage participants to notice and experience shame and other difficult feelings more fully, while reducing their conditioned link to overt action.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/three-depression-types-1108114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/three-depression-types-1108114/ Tue, 8 Nov 2011 15:00:55 GMT I want to mention three more types of depression experiences in this series describing the variety of ways people can experience depression. They are: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/active-mood-states-encourage-creativity-1107112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/active-mood-states-encourage-creativity-1107112/ Mon, 7 Nov 2011 21:00:36 GMT It has long been speculated that mood and creativity are linked. But there is little research examining how creative process engagement (CPE) affects creativity outcomes. Although there is some evidence of how mood affects immediate creative expression, few studies have looked at how one?s mood and CPE affects the creative outcome over the long-term. To address these gaps, March L. To, from the University of Queensland School of Business, led a study exploring mood and creativity. ?We also take a within-person approach, investigating the concurrent and lagged relationships between activating and deactivating momentary moods and CPE among individuals working on a long-term project requiring creativity.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/following-parents-footsteps-1107114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/following-parents-footsteps-1107114/ Mon, 7 Nov 2011 18:30:45 GMT ?Like father like son?; ?Like mother, like daughter?. These sentiments are often expressed with great joy and pride. Parents are delighted and honored when their children seek to emulate them. Boys and girls will follow dad around with their own hammers or bake cookies like mom. As children grow older and think about their choices of ?what they want to be when they grow up,? some choose to be in the same occupation as the parent. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/super-sizing-sex-1107113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/super-sizing-sex-1107113/ Mon, 7 Nov 2011 16:37:10 GMT Several years ago, researchers Wolak, Mitchell, and Finkelhor published a highly disturbing article in Pediatrics magazine about youth exposure to online pornography which highlighted its effects on youth aged 10 to 17. Very few kids or young teens find their way into my office, but I?m beginning to see more and more young adults who began early and now struggle with the compulsion to watch online porn. According to Wolak and his colleagues, ?rates of unwanted exposure to sexual material among youth increased from 25% to 44% from 1999 to 2006, despite similar increases in the use of protective filtering software over that period.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-therapists-help-clients-treatment-adherency-1107111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-therapists-help-clients-treatment-adherency-1107111/ Mon, 7 Nov 2011 16:00:53 GMT For clients with schizophrenia, maintaining their antipsychotic medication and clinical evaluations is sporadic and frequently results in non-compliance. ?Factors contributing to non-adherence and partial adherence include medication side effects, severity of psychotic symptoms, impaired cognition, and inadequate understanding of the role of medication in preventing relapse,? said Kathryn Puskar, Ph.D. and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. ?Non-adherence to antipsychotic treatment is associated with lower global functioning, impaired insight, and greater number of inpatient days (44.8 days versus 20.6 days) compared with those who adhere to their antipsychotic treatment regimen.? New research has suggested that relational agents can improve client compliance. ?Relational agents are typically deployed as software humanoid animated agents that can simulate face-to-face conversation with patients so that real-time dialogue, speech, gesture, gaze, and other verbal and nonverbal channels can be used to communicate therapeutic information,? said Puskar. These agents focus on caring and empathy and help clients stay on task with their medication and evaluations. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tics-adhd-impair-social-cognitive-functioning1103113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tics-adhd-impair-social-cognitive-functioning1103113/ Sat, 5 Nov 2011 01:00:08 GMT Tic disorders (TD), which are neurodevelopmental issues that cause physical tics, are commonly found in children who also have another psychological challenge. ?The majority of individuals with TD (up to 90%) have at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) being the most frequent co-occurring condition,? said Ellen Greimel of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen in Germany. ?ADHD has been shown to substantially account for impairments in social, cognitive and school functioning in individuals comorbid with TD and ADHD.? To date, research on the relationship between ADHD and TD has been mixed. ?A number of studies that have investigated attentional functions in subjects with co-occurring TD and ADHD have revealed unexpected results as they have shown superior performance in participants comorbid with both disorders compared to participants with ?ADHD only? in selective or sustained attention tasks.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/non-mental-health-professionals-increasingly-prescribe-antidepressants-1104112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/non-mental-health-professionals-increasingly-prescribe-antidepressants-1104112/ Fri, 4 Nov 2011 20:00:24 GMT A recent study has revealed an alarming increase in the amount of antidepressants being prescribed in America. ?Most of the recent increase in antidepressant use is a consequence of the growing number of prescriptions written by physicians who are not psychiatrists,? said Ramin Mojtabai, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-author of the study. ?In the United States, nearly four out of every five antidepressant prescriptions are written by such providers.? This dynamic has raised concern for the mental health field. ?In fact, antidepressants have been demonstrated to be clinically effective for only a limited number of psychiatric conditions-major depressive disorder, chronic depression (also known as dysthymic disorder), some anxiety disorders, and a few other well defined conditions,? said Mojtabai. ?In one study of privately insured plans, a majority (61.4 percent) of patients for whom antidepressants were prescribed did not receive diagnoses for any psychiatric disorders during the course of a year. In addition, there are concerns about side effects and costs of antidepressant use.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-not-place-for-romance-1104115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-not-place-for-romance-1104115/ Fri, 4 Nov 2011 16:37:53 GMT If Hollywood is an indicator of our most common fantasies, modern Americans want to sleep with their therapists. I am horrified that so many television shows and movies depict romantic relationships between therapists and clients as though they were perfectly normal! The truth is, romance within a therapeutic relationship is as far from normal, acceptable, healthy, and sane as you can possibly get. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ipod-aids-students-with-emotional-behavioral-problems-1104111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ipod-aids-students-with-emotional-behavioral-problems-1104111/ Fri, 4 Nov 2011 15:00:06 GMT Students can suffer negative consequences as a result of emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). These children often find themselves removed from class due to disruptive behavior, which leads to fewer opportunities for learning. Additionally, many of these children have difficulty making friends because of the labels put on them by other students and staff. Teachers find themselves frustrated and resentful that the student is taking time away from the other children. ?Consequently, teachers, as well as students with and without disabilities, would benefit from effective and feasible classroom-based interventions for students engaging in high rates of off-task and disruptive behaviors,? said Erika Blood, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor of Special Education at the Department of Teaching & Learning at Northern Illinois University. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-criticism-undermines-creativity-how-cognitive-restructuring-helps-you-go-on-creating-1104114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-criticism-undermines-creativity-how-cognitive-restructuring-helps-you-go-on-creating-1104114/ Fri, 4 Nov 2011 14:35:42 GMT ?I will never, ever sing again!? my client practically wailed as she flung the Arts section of the local newspaper down on the sofa of my counseling room. ?Just look at this: ?She had a pleasant voice, was poised and communicated well with the audience but her voice was less steady than that of the other soloist?. I am absolutely ruined - no one will ever hire me to sing again! I?m just quitting.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hippocampus-volume-linked-with-multiple-sclerosis-1103113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hippocampus-volume-linked-with-multiple-sclerosis-1103113/ Fri, 4 Nov 2011 01:00:17 GMT The volume of the hippocampus region of the brain has been linked to cognitive functioning, memory and mood regulation. ?More than 30 cross-sectional MRI studies have examined hippocampus volumes in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and several meta-analyses have con?rmed that hippocampal volume is about 5%? 8% smaller in patients with major depression than in healthy controls,? said Gevrey Kiy of the Department of Neurology at Klinikum Bremen-Mitte in Germany. Manual tracing, a method of measuring hippocampal volume, has yet to accurately demonstrate a link between hippocampal volume and cognitive functioning in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). ?This is somewhat surprising, because memory impairment is a core element of cognitive dysfunctioning in MS; it has been estimated that about 40% of MS patients su?ers from de?cits in this cognitive domain.? Kiy added, ?Manual tracing is necessary because the hippocampus is a cortical structure showing only graded grey di?erences in relation to surrounding structures and having no clear-cut borders in the posterior direction. On the other hand, because memory impairment and depression play a crucial role for the quality of life in MS patients, including work employment, it would be helpful to have a quick and relatively easy neuro-radiological evaluation in addition to the neuropsychological assessment.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/celebratory-violence-among-sports-fans-1103112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/celebratory-violence-among-sports-fans-1103112/ Thu, 3 Nov 2011 20:00:59 GMT Violent expressions often occur after a major sports team wins a competition. But fan violence has become increasingly common, even when the team is not well known. ?Celebratory violence is the celebration of a team's victory that involves the destruction of both private and public property, and fits the concept of exuberant celebration or an expressive riot,? said Dr. Jason Lanter of the Department of Psychology at Kultztown University in Pennsylvania. Previous research has shown that fans can be classified into two groups: those who react with anger and impulsivity after a sporting event, and those who act as peacemakers. These findings have been seen when sports fans have attended events, and also when they have viewed them on television. Based on this evidence, Lanter suspected what his study on fan violence would reveal. ?Therefore, increased aggression, as demonstrated by celebratory violence, was expected among the participants even though they did not attend the game (i.e., the game was held at a rival's campus approximately 350 miles away) and simply watched the game on television.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/help-your-children-exercise-1103116/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/help-your-children-exercise-1103116/ Thu, 3 Nov 2011 18:55:21 GMT Everyone knows that there is a significant connection between exercise and physical health, and now there is research showing a connection between exercise and mental health. The question then becomes, ?How do we get our children and teens to exercise, knowing it is so good for them?? Typically, younger children will get 30 minutes of exercise each day at school, but experts suggest that children should get 60 minutes each day. Many teens get little or no exercise at all. As parents, we can encourage our children to get up and move, exercise, play and invigorate themselves, as this helps them to become healthier and happier in several ways. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/living-with-relationship-frustration-1103115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/living-with-relationship-frustration-1103115/ Thu, 3 Nov 2011 16:26:03 GMT Many couples I work with come in with a large amount of stress and difficulty. The causes vary, but the behaviors people use to respond to the upset are often predictable. People who start out loving each other sometimes find themselves so burdened by stress and difficulty that they end up feeling frustrated in the relationship. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/previous-trauma-affects-adjustment-after-divorce-1103111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/previous-trauma-affects-adjustment-after-divorce-1103111/ Thu, 3 Nov 2011 15:00:31 GMT Divorce occurs in more than fifty percent of married couples. For some people, divorce causes an immense amount of stress that can result in negative health conditions, such as depression and decreased social functioning. ?Although most adults ultimately fare well following the end of marriage, which is consistent with humans? general capacity for resilience in the face of difficulty experiences, a subset of people become stuck on pathways of long-term stress and strain,? said Jessica L. Borelli, Ph.D., of the Department of Psychology at Pomona College in California. Curious as to why some people adjust better than others after divorce, she theorized that previous trauma affected this outcome. ?Said differently, we ask if people who have experienced trauma and who respond behaviorally to their divorce in a particular way are at unique risk for poor outcomes over time,? said Borelli, of her recent study investigating the relationship between trauma and divorce adjustment. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-buffer-compromised-with-ptsd-1102114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-buffer-compromised-with-ptsd-1102114/ Wed, 2 Nov 2011 20:00:56 GMT According to a new study led by Pelin Kesebir of the Department of Psychology at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, people who suffer with PTSD have an anxiety buffering system that is compromised. ?According to terror management theory (TMT), human awareness of mortality and vulnerability creates a potential for paralyzing anxiety. Effective management of this potential is essential for psychological well-being and adaptive functioning,? said Kesebir. ?The study reported here tests the idea that persons afflicted with PTSD display a disruption in their anxiety-buffering system.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treating-eating-disorders-individuals-couples-families-1102113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treating-eating-disorders-individuals-couples-families-1102113/ Wed, 2 Nov 2011 16:10:02 GMT Last Friday, I gave a presentation at my state professional organization?s fall conference entitled, ?Illicit Lovers and Unwanted Guests: Treating Eating Disorders in Individuals, Couples and Families.? My organization, the North Carolina Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, comprises Marriage and Family Therapists who address all sorts of different problems that bring people to therapy, including, but not limited to, issues that cause problems in relationships. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-abuse-alcohol-after-poor-grades-1102111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-abuse-alcohol-after-poor-grades-1102111/ Wed, 2 Nov 2011 15:00:30 GMT Maintaining a high grade point average (GPA) is just one of the stressors that adolescents struggle with.  How teens handle the issues they face during this emotional time is of concern to some researchers. ?Indeed, school achievement is a central normative pursuit for many teens, but adolescence is also a critical stage in the development of alcohol use and depressed mood,? said Nathan D. Shippee of the Mayo Clinic and lead author of a recent study examining the effects of academic stress and gender on alcohol use among teens. ?According to general strain theory (GST), the links between achievement, distress, and alcohol/substance use are multifaceted and dynamic. Strain arising from negative relationships and experiences can lead to various types of coping strategies, including behavioral or emotional responses.? The average teen begins drinking by age 14 and more than half of teenagers have already gotten drunk one time by the age of 18. Shippee said, ?Thus, teen drinking may function as behavioral coping and compensation for negative experiences; that is, strain may affect drinking frequency directly, rather than operating via increased distress.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pulling-alongside-distress-1102112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pulling-alongside-distress-1102112/ Wed, 2 Nov 2011 14:18:04 GMT We have been looking at compassion and how to increase the compassion you have for yourself. The first article in this series looked at the concept of compassion as a whole, the second explored how to recognize your limits and the third focused on how to have tenderheartedness towards your distress. This article focuses on the final part of the definition of compassion, namely the tendency to pull alongside the suffering with a proclivity to alleviate it (the definition of compassion we are using is: a recognition of pain/distress coupled with a tenderheartedness towards the distress and a tendency to pull alongside the suffering with a proclivity to alleviate it). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-pursuit-of-happiness-internal-or-external-1101114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-pursuit-of-happiness-internal-or-external-1101114/ Wed, 2 Nov 2011 01:00:58 GMT According to Randy P. Auerbach of Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, positive feelings and feelings of happiness are the result of intrinsic pursuits. ?Intrinsically-motivated goals are thought to be inherently interesting, pleasurable, and/or meaningful,? said Auerbach. ?In contrast, extrinsically-motivated goals are typically sought in order to attain a reward (i.e., material goods or money) or to avoid punishment.? Research has shown that pursuing both intrinsic and extrinsic goals can be beneficial, but not when one is at the expense of the other. Auerbach said, ?Guided by self-determination theory, the research posits that the neglect of intrinsic goals ultimately thwarts the satisfaction of core, inherent psychological needs for relatedness, competence and autonomy, which in turn contributes to negative psychological outcomes including depressive symptoms.? Additionally, people who value extrinsic goals over intrinsic goals may neglect their interpersonal relationships and exert all of their time and energy in the pursuit of material objects and money. Another concern is that children whose parents value extrinsic goals above intrinsic ones may not foster sufficient interpersonal skills in their children, creating maladaptive relationship models for them as adults. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addressing-mens-counseling-fears-increases-treatment-compliance-1101112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addressing-mens-counseling-fears-increases-treatment-compliance-1101112/ Tue, 1 Nov 2011 20:00:53 GMT Less than one fifth of college students who struggle with mental health issues ever seek help. ?Because reasons for the discrepancy between those who might benefit from mental health services and those who seek it can be numerous (e.g., effect of time, natural process of healing, and relief provided by a social network), scholars have sought to identify barriers to seeking treatment,? said Stefania Aigisdottir of Ball State University, and lead author of a new study examining the reasons why young adults avoid therapy. ?The search for barriers is grounded in the notion that the decision to seek MHC (mental healthcare) is influenced by two opposing forces: approach factors (e.g., positive counseling attitudes, experience of distress) and avoidance factors (e.g., fear of and negative attitudes to treatment).? Another main reason people refuse to reach out for help is because of the stigma attached to mental health issues. ?Public stigma refers to the negative social labels attached to persons who seek mental health services,? added Aigisdottir. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/certain-music-lowers-anxiety-1101111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/certain-music-lowers-anxiety-1101111/ Tue, 1 Nov 2011 15:00:45 GMT Anxiety can cause feelings of worry, panic and apprehension. Physically, people who experience high levels of anxiety also have elevated heart rates, muscle tension and increased cortisol production. Many of the treatments used for anxiety include relaxation and meditation techniques designed to address the physical and emotional symptoms of the problem. ?As well as being a potential benefit in circumstances such as those mentioned above, music as a relaxation aid is also used extensively within receptive music,? said Dave Elliott of the University of Cumbria in Carlisle, UK. ?Indeed, the American Music Therapy Association (2010) cites stress reduction as being one of the major goals of music therapy.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parents-negatively-influencing-children-regarding-other-parent-1101113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parents-negatively-influencing-children-regarding-other-parent-1101113/ Tue, 1 Nov 2011 14:23:14 GMT There are many ways in which one parent can influence how their children perceive their other parent. Often this is a positive experience for the children as they learn to appreciate both of their parents for what they each provide individually as a parent. Other times, this is a negative experience, especially during a divorce, making it very difficult for children to manage their feelings of loyalty and have loving relationships with both parents. It is sometimes the case where one parent is truly a danger to their children and should not have access to the children as determined by a court of law. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compassion-focused-therapy-for-self-injury-1031113/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compassion-focused-therapy-for-self-injury-1031113/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:00:04 GMT Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a coping mechanism that is rising at alarming rates. ?In Canada and the United States, prevalence ranges from 12% to 41% in community samples of adolescents and young adults,? said K. Jessica van Vliet, Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta. Most people who self-injure do so to cope with negative feelings, acceptance and social fears. ?In particular, there is a need for counseling approaches that strengthen client emotion regulation, self-acceptance, and positive ways of relating with others,? said van Vliet. ?Compassion-focused therapy (CFT), a form of cognitive behavioral therapy designed to help people relate to themselves with greater compassion, is proposed as an approach for addressing the most common underlying functions of non-suicidal self-injury.? This relatively new form of therapy is aimed at teaching self-acceptance, compassion, and emotional regulation. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/homemade-holidays-for-remembering-1031115/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/homemade-holidays-for-remembering-1031115/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:30:38 GMT The tradition of honoring the departed with rituals and sweets exists in almost every culture. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-reconcile-religious-spiritual-differences-1031114/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-reconcile-religious-spiritual-differences-1031114/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:08:49 GMT Every so often I will be treating a couple, one of whom says that the other doesn?t care about religion or spiritual matters. The complainant may cite a lack of support for his or her spiritual or religious activities. Sometimes the partner resents the time devoted to religious/spiritual pursuits.  Sometimes one or the other person feels alone when it comes to events that are more couple or family oriented (such as holiday celebrations). In my religion, the Yoruba/Lucumi faith, the activities, initiations, drumming, etc. are so labor-intensive, it is hard to imagine being with someone who isn?t in some way in the faith. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deviant-talk-impedes-adolescent-treatment-1031112/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deviant-talk-impedes-adolescent-treatment-1031112/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:45:16 GMT Deviant talk is a method of gaining attention from others, using sarcasm, jokes, or other tactics to evoke response. For adolescents, gaining the approval of peers is an important social behavior. For at risk youth, deviant talk as a method of gaining peer approval can be especially harmful when they are receiving treatment in residential facilities. ?It has been linked to escalation in adolescent substance use, violence, and child antisocial behavior,? said A.L. Zakriski of Connecticut College, and lead author of a new study examining the detrimental effects of deviant talk. ?Given the risk of harm, it is important for treatment programs to monitor deviancy training, especially when peer contact is high.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/choosing-holiday-memories-traditions-1031111/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/choosing-holiday-memories-traditions-1031111/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:30:48 GMT It?s the holiday season: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year!! A lot of things happen at this time of the year: parties, baking, family get-togethers, and creating a lot of fun memories. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-adolescents-exhibit-impaired-reward-processing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-adolescents-exhibit-impaired-reward-processing/ Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:00:18 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-effectiveness-for-depressed-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-effectiveness-for-depressed-children/ Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:00:29 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/autistic-children-siblings-feelings/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/autistic-children-siblings-feelings/ Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:00:34 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-bisexual-hyper-masculinity-increases-psychological-distress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-bisexual-hyper-masculinity-increases-psychological-distress/ Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:00:24 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/concrete-memory-processing-improves-depressed-mood/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/concrete-memory-processing-improves-depressed-mood/ Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:00:30 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/police-fire-prematurely-when-anxious/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/police-fire-prematurely-when-anxious/ Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:00:37 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/empowering-benefits-adhd-children-parents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/empowering-benefits-adhd-children-parents/ Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:00:59 GMT Parents of ADHD children experience elevated levels of stress and often find their role dissatisfying. Some exhibit depressive symptoms as well. But a new study suggests that it is not the hyperactive-impulsive, attention (HIA) behavior of the child that causes these emotions, but rather the lack of control a parent of an ADHD child feels. ?Theoretically, it has been suggested that children with ADHD often have an underactive behavioral inhibition system, which means they are unresponsive to cues of possible punishment,? said Terese Glatz of the Center for Developmental Research at JPS, Orebro University, Sweden, and lead author of the study. ?Given that HIA and ADHD are similarly connected to parenting, this theory suggests that parents of children who are high on HIA should experience problems getting their children to follow directions and they should find rule setting essentially ineffective.? This problem leaves a parent feeling powerless over their child. ?According to this model, parents with low perceived power will view their children?s behavior as threatening and respond by behaving negatively toward their children. In contrast, high perceived power is expected to buffer against negative parenting behaviors,? said Glatz. ?Thus, these results show that parents? attributions about their power or lack thereof may be critically important when explaining why parents behave negatively toward children.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compulsive-shoppers-experience-specific-brain-activity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compulsive-shoppers-experience-specific-brain-activity/ Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:00:03 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overcoming-perinatal-loss/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overcoming-perinatal-loss/ Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:03:41 GMT October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Month. Therefore, it seems a pertinent time to discuss the difficult topic of perinatal loss. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hiv-clients-need-family-support/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hiv-clients-need-family-support/ Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:15:51 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-intelligence-cuases-job-burnout/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-intelligence-cuases-job-burnout/ Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-style-influences-child-shyness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-style-influences-child-shyness/ Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:00:45 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happiness-levels-compared-humorous-somber-spouses/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happiness-levels-compared-humorous-somber-spouses/ Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:00:08 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marijuana-college-student-coping-strategy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marijuana-college-student-coping-strategy/ Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:00:26 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/startle-responses-differ-in-those-at-risk-for-anxiety-and-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/startle-responses-differ-in-those-at-risk-for-anxiety-and-depression/ Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:00:35 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/create-emotional-intimacy-engage-fear-anger-love/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/create-emotional-intimacy-engage-fear-anger-love/ Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:56:53 GMT ?...there's nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-after-miscarriage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-after-miscarriage/ Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:46:25 GMT The loss of a child before it is born naturally stirs intense and conflicting emotions. Women might feel an intense physical bonding and grief for a being with whom they have already grown attached. Whereas men might feel more ephemerally connected and cheated from the opportunity to begin their bond. When miscarriage affects couples, it may stimulate growth or, conversely, unearth an inability to support each other through troubling times. The confusion surrounding one's own feelings as well as how to be of real support to one's partner after the loss tends to disrupt the balance of our relationships. This is especially true if some of that balance lay in the shared anticipation of parenthood. The inability to share and understand each other's grief can be an isolating experience. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/boredom-causes-emotional-eating/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/boredom-causes-emotional-eating/ Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:00:35 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/religion-divorce-coping-strategy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/religion-divorce-coping-strategy/ Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:00:20 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/love-versus-object-personification-synesthesia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/love-versus-object-personification-synesthesia/ Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:01:32 GMT Perhaps you?ve come across one of the many articles or videos with titles like, ?In Love with the Eiffel Tower?, or a recent National Geographic Taboo program called ?Forbidden Love?? The topic is Objectum Sexuality (OS), a rare sexual orientation which includes affectionate, romantic, and sometimes erotic attraction and relationships with objects. The beloved objects can range from transport to landmarks, from sporting equipment to fisheye buttons. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/blackberry-study-examines-youth-texting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/blackberry-study-examines-youth-texting/ Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:00:04 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-benefit-from-higher-expectations/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-benefit-from-higher-expectations/ Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:52:28 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/interventions-help-women-with-eating-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/interventions-help-women-with-eating-issues/ Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:00:54 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-suppression-affects-bulimia-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-suppression-affects-bulimia-treatment/ Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:00:21 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-co-dependents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-co-dependents/ Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:24:28 GMT Sometimes co-dependents may be identified by their behavior in the workplace. You may think that is impossible, because co-dependents tend to be good employees. They work harder than anyone else, they anticipate the needs of management and the are very dependable. However, there are two types of behavior that often identify them. The first type of behavior may be identified by management and, in some instances, the referral to the Employee Assistance Program may be on a mandatory basis. The second type of behavior generally comes in as a self referral unless it is extreme. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/behavioral-approach-identifies-adolescent-bipolar/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/behavioral-approach-identifies-adolescent-bipolar/ Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:00:16 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/finding-right-therapist/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/finding-right-therapist/ Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:00:26 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-acceptance-becomes-enabling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-acceptance-becomes-enabling/ Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:30:19 GMT In couples and sex therapy, one of the common themes that come up is that of acceptance. I strongly encourage people to accept their partner, and accept each other. I believe that acceptance is at the core of a successful intimate relationship. I discourage long lists of expectations and/or changes that people often bring into their relationships, which may be ideals of who their partner should or should not be, perhaps based on how a previous partner may have been or how the perfect partner should be. These 'ideals' or 'shoulds' can be quite detrimental not just to the relationship as a whole, but affect other areas of the relationship along the way, such as a couple's sex life. Ideals and 'shoulds' can sound like judgments and criticisms, and there is just no room for hostility in the bedroom (well, in most cases). So limiting our lists to two very specific items is something I recommend; simply accept the rest. Acceptance conveys the message that we love our partner just the way he/she is, and that quite possibly we even admire them, look up to them, and still love and/or are in love with the same person when we met, and who we fell in love with. If we find we cannot accept our partner much of the time, and that we get angry too much, then taking a look at ourselves is the next step. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/honesty-during-job-interviews/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/honesty-during-job-interviews/ Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:00:11 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/is-%e2%80%9csluggish-cognitive-tempo%e2%80%9d-a-symptom-of-adhd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/is-%e2%80%9csluggish-cognitive-tempo%e2%80%9d-a-symptom-of-adhd/ Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:00:25 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-anxiety-treatment-preferred-over-pharmacology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-anxiety-treatment-preferred-over-pharmacology/ Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:00:08 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/forgiveness-effects/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/forgiveness-effects/ Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:57:29 GMT Forgiveness is often misunderstood. I recall asking a colleague to forgive me for my unskillfulness in handling a situation that affected him. I had made an important decision without consulting him. I was truly sorry.  His response to my request for forgiveness, however, surprised me: "If I forgive you, it will be as if it never happened. And it did happen so forgiveness wouldn't be right." Forgiveness, in fact, is a very deep feeling of reverence for life and willingness to somehow let go of past hurt. It does not require forgetting or condoning or even reconciling, as my colleague imagined and felt. In that moment with my colleague, I sat still. I wanted to explain what forgiveness was, as I understood it, but I had the sense that the core of the issue was not forgiveness, but my colleague?s need to hang on to the hurt. When you aren't forgiven, what CAN you do? With this man, what I found I could do was to feel compassion for his need to keep his hurt as part of his story. And then, with sadness, I could let go of my need to be cleared of the burden of this hurt, so that we could move forward with good will. I must say that as a result of this interaction, somehow our current working relationship dramatically improved, but I continued to feel a shadow waiting in the wings.  Was it mine? His? Ours? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-conflict-management-skill/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-conflict-management-skill/ Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:54:36 GMT Here?s a story related recently by one of my clients that shows how a couple?s simple conversation escalated into a shouting match that threatened to lead someone straight to a divorce lawyer?s office. See if you can relate to what?s being said. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-a-mood-anticipates-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-a-mood-anticipates-depression/ Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:00:33 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-therapy-with-adolescent-substance-abusers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-therapy-with-adolescent-substance-abusers/ Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:00:02 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disruption-of-unhealthy-pain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disruption-of-unhealthy-pain/ Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:24:44 GMT Nobody likes pain. It makes sense that we make every attempt to avoid it or make it go away. That?s just part of being human. But why do some humans seem to have less of it than others? There are two types of pain: clean pain and dirty pain. We don?t have a whole lot of choice about our clean pain. But we can create dreadful amounts of dirty pain throughout our lives in reaction to the clean pain. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-therapy-practice-suits-society/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-therapy-practice-suits-society/ Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:03:31 GMT For a while, it was the story that wasn't a story: Occupy Wall Street, where many people of different backgrounds took action to bring attention to the need for change in our political and economic systems. I found myself elated that large groups of people across the country had organized a way to ?do something? about situations that often seem intractable to me. I agree that many of our governing assumptions are skewed, and I see this way of functioning reflected in the microcosm in the autocratic ways of thinking that our brains often slip into. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/willingness-to-see-things-differently-may-decrease-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/willingness-to-see-things-differently-may-decrease-anxiety/ Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:00:10 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressed-out-%e2%80%93-think-about-it-and-you-might-not-be/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressed-out-%e2%80%93-think-about-it-and-you-might-not-be/ Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/employees-cope-better-when-engage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/employees-cope-better-when-engage/ Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:00:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/solution-focused-ideas-best-grades-school-year/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/solution-focused-ideas-best-grades-school-year/ Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:58:26 GMT Are you someone who feels a surge of optimistic energy at the beginning of a school year?  There is something about fall that makes students motivated and ready to start fresh.  The fall semester is a good example of how you can use Solution-Focused therapy ideas to get your best grades yet. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-influences-life-performance/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-influences-life-performance/ Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:00:59 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/feelings-stay-at-home-dads/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/feelings-stay-at-home-dads/ Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-tools-identifying-pediatric-bipolar/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-tools-identifying-pediatric-bipolar/ Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:00:32 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-with-cancer-linked-with-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-with-cancer-linked-with-ptsd/ Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:00:16 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/is-it-better-for-individuals-to-%e2%80%9ccome-out%e2%80%9d-sooner-or-later/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/is-it-better-for-individuals-to-%e2%80%9ccome-out%e2%80%9d-sooner-or-later/ Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:00:26 GMT A GoodTherapy.org Headline: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loving-someone-who-hurt-you/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loving-someone-who-hurt-you/ Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:05:45 GMT What?s ?falling in love? anyway? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/maternal-depression-paternal-reactivity-childhood-odd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/maternal-depression-paternal-reactivity-childhood-odd/ Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:00:48 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychologists-help-baby-boomers-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychologists-help-baby-boomers-mental-health/ Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:00:12 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counting-on-your-partner/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counting-on-your-partner/ Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:33:38 GMT When the chips are down and your back is to the wall, can you look to your spouse or relationship partner for backup? Do you have assurance that you can count on this person?no matter what?  Our romantic relationships have a high value. We want to trust our partner. Neuroscience tells us we are hard wired to want that close bond with another human. The couples I have seen in my therapy practice all want to know:are you there for me? But how do we know that we can count on our partner? As a relationship therapist for over 25 years, I have discovered three important factors that let us know, ?my partner has my back?: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compulsive-online-gambling-among-teenagers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compulsive-online-gambling-among-teenagers/ Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:29:20 GMT Internet Gambling has become an increasingly popular form of gaming. Through online web sites, users can gamble through interactive television and mobile phones. The convenience of 24-hour access, the ease of setting up an online account and the variety of sites from traditional betting, to casino gambling, to lotteries - all of this makes Internet gambling very appealing to some. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-addicted-partner-wont-stop/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-addicted-partner-wont-stop/ Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:05:05 GMT A very poignant comment to my article last month, from H. Hall, really struck a nerve. Again, I am very grateful for feedback of any stripe. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-affects-marital-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-affects-marital-health/ Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:00:14 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/underprivileged-children-conduc/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/underprivileged-children-conduc/ Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:00:00 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/culture-influences-depressed-individuals-memory/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/culture-influences-depressed-individuals-memory/ Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:38:00 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/processing-grief-over-autism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/processing-grief-over-autism/ Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:11:18 GMT I have just finished having my yearly tradition of what I like to call, "a good cry". It's my son's 14th birthday, and for the past ten years, I have set aside the morning hours of this day to participate in this cleansing ritual. My son, Ben, isn't deceased; he has autism. Not the "you-wouldn't-know-it-if-I-didn't-tell-you" kind. Ben has "full-blown-could-melt-down-any-moment-take-off-all-his-clothes-and-run-into-the-woods-requiring-search-helicopters-and-bloodhounds-to-find-him" kind. You get the picture. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/protecting-your-marriage-during-financial-downturns/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/protecting-your-marriage-during-financial-downturns/ Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:01:37 GMT Sometimes couples may feel they?re on the same money trail until an unforeseen event occurs. Whether it?s a sudden increase in expenses brought about by illness, childbirth, or damage to your car or home, you may abruptly discover that the two of you are miles apart. Maybe you?ve never before had your expenses outpace your income and you suddenly realize that one of you is all too ready to borrow at a high interest rate while the other one would rather scrimp and change your lifestyle. In such a scenario, it may feel like you are headed in opposite directions. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-people-and-those-with-mental-health-issues-share-common-traits/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-people-and-those-with-mental-health-issues-share-common-traits/ Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:00:20 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/group-sensorimotor-psychotherapy-for-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/group-sensorimotor-psychotherapy-for-trauma/ Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:00:49 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/irritable-angry-depression-experience/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/irritable-angry-depression-experience/ Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:56:31 GMT Many times, people who suffer from this particular experience of depression, and those around them, don?t recognize it as depression. The person experiencing the anger often believes the people around him/her are disappointing, irritating, or intolerable, and feels as uncomfortable emotionally as someone with severe poison oak feels physically. He/she may feel very frustrated that she/he can?t get the people who seem to be causing the suffering to change. The people around the person feeling angry may see that person as a mean or angry person, or a bully. It may not occur to them that this person could be depressed. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/testing-sociocultural-attitudes-towards-appearance-questionnaire/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/testing-sociocultural-attitudes-towards-appearance-questionnaire/ Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:15:03 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/shared-coping-helps-wives-with-breast-cancer/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/shared-coping-helps-wives-with-breast-cancer/ Sun, 9 Oct 2011 13:00:46 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parental-monitoring-decreases-teen-sexual-activity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parental-monitoring-decreases-teen-sexual-activity/ Fri, 7 Oct 2011 20:00:30 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/corporal-punishment-child-abuse-2/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/corporal-punishment-child-abuse-2/ Fri, 7 Oct 2011 19:28:42 GMT I?ve been thinking about my post, Great Job Anderson Cooper... But Don?t Stop There, and know there?s much more for us to understand in order to truly help end child abuse in our country and world. In fact, to help end not just child abuse, but abuse itself in our country and world. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vanity-myth-about-eating-disorders-beauty/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vanity-myth-about-eating-disorders-beauty/ Fri, 7 Oct 2011 16:00:44 GMT One of the most prevalent and harmful misconceptions about eating disorders is that they are all about vanity. Many people believe that sufferers are vain, beauty-obsessed brats that could easily recover if they'd simply stop looking in the mirror and get over their need to be pretty. This isn't even close to the truth. As someone who has been personally offended by this belief, I wanted to share my story and my thoughts to hopefully shed some light on the vanity myth. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-regulating-teens-develop-intimacy-well-being/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-regulating-teens-develop-intimacy-well-being/ Fri, 7 Oct 2011 15:00:06 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/individuation-issues-with-elderly-ailing-parents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/individuation-issues-with-elderly-ailing-parents/ Fri, 7 Oct 2011 14:03:19 GMT The degree to which we have separated/individuated from our parents has consequences when parents become elderly and /or ailing and no longer feel like the all knowing and all powerful people that we experienced in our earlier relationships with them. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/problem-gamblers-continue-drinking-during-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/problem-gamblers-continue-drinking-during-treatment/ Fri, 7 Oct 2011 01:00:44 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-depression-risk-factors/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-depression-risk-factors/ Thu, 6 Oct 2011 20:00:21 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-sexual-orientation-affects-lgb-clients/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-sexual-orientation-affects-lgb-clients/ Thu, 6 Oct 2011 14:00:05 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fatherless-children-with-behavioral-cognitive-disadvantages/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fatherless-children-with-behavioral-cognitive-disadvantages/ Thu, 6 Oct 2011 01:00:32 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pets-benefit-mental-physical-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pets-benefit-mental-physical-health/ Wed, 5 Oct 2011 20:00:07 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relief-divorce-trap/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relief-divorce-trap/ Wed, 5 Oct 2011 18:35:58 GMT I have been in practice long enough to see many couples and families develop over the past thirty years. While there are countless stories over a full range of topics, one that greatly interests me involves divorce. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/increasing-childrens-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/increasing-childrens-self-esteem/ Wed, 5 Oct 2011 14:37:21 GMT Self-esteem encompasses beliefs (for example, "I am capable", or "I am valuable") and emotions such as joy, despair, pride and disgrace. Self-esteem is learned through our accomplishments, failures, and the feedback we receive from others. Parents can have the greatest impact on our self-esteem as we are developing into adults. Children want to be valued and loved, eventually taking those messages and, if given positive messages, it increases their self-esteem. Self-esteem is not narcissism, but respect for one?s self and abilities; it helps us to endure the difficulties in life we will all face. How do we as parents foster good self-esteem and ensure that our children are prepared for their lives? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/non-suicidal-self-injury-nssi-%e2%80%93-should-it-be-included-in-dsm-v/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/non-suicidal-self-injury-nssi-%e2%80%93-should-it-be-included-in-dsm-v/ Wed, 5 Oct 2011 13:20:37 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/corporal-punishment-child-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/corporal-punishment-child-abuse/ Tue, 4 Oct 2011 20:47:38 GMT Recently, CNN?s Anderson Cooper did a sad but powerful exposé on child abuse in some fundamentalist Christian sects in our country. The report, Ungodly Discipline, was definitely a positive step... but our examination of this topic shouldn?t be limited to the abuse of children by religious fundamentalists. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acting-your-age-bad-for-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acting-your-age-bad-for-health/ Tue, 4 Oct 2011 20:00:01 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-parents-evaluate-family-therapy-differently/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-parents-evaluate-family-therapy-differently/ Tue, 4 Oct 2011 18:00:27 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/focalizing-loss-new-world-vision/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/focalizing-loss-new-world-vision/ Tue, 4 Oct 2011 16:30:59 GMT Last week, my eldest brother, Bob, died after years of health challenges. We were never really close; my brother and I had opposite worldviews. I dreaded his forwarded emails, which I politely asked him to stop sending. They came anyway; he was determined to save me. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-bias-modification-decreases-anxiety-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-bias-modification-decreases-anxiety-depression/ Tue, 4 Oct 2011 15:00:49 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-response/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-response/ Tue, 4 Oct 2011 14:31:37 GMT Bullying has been hitting headlines lately in strong force. Newspapers have been littered with horror stories of bullying, and states have attempted to address the issue through legislation. Historically, the impact of bullying has been minimized by the general public due to a general perception that being the recipient of such behavior is a rite of passage and that ?everyone goes through it?. This may be factually correct, but whether this rite of passage is something we want to maintain is being challenged, and rightfully so. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/occupy-wall-street/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/occupy-wall-street/ Mon, 3 Oct 2011 22:00:32 GMT What do sit-ins, protests, police officers and Susan Sarandon have in common? They are all in one place: New York City. Occupy Wall Street, a movement which has swept the nation and the world, began on September 17, 2011 in Manhattan. According to the mission of the movement, the organizers aimed at replicating the actions of fed up citizens in countries such as Egypt and Greece, and rallied thousands of Americans to appear in front of Wall Street to voice their distaste for the imbalance of wealth and power in our beloved country. Occupy members call themselves ?The 99%?, referring to the percentage of Americans who hold only one percent of the country?s wealth. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/supporting-gay-students/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/supporting-gay-students/ Mon, 3 Oct 2011 20:45:42 GMT I carry some pain with me from the times I have failed to be there for students when they really needed it. I have worked as a school counselor for over a decade, and I?ve always been particularly aware of students grappling with sexual orientation issues. Every situation has been different: some students have hinted that they may be ?uncomfortable? in their own skin; some have firmly rejected any insinuation they may not be one hundred percent straight; some students have come out to me before I had any clue they were even leaning in that direction. All of my interactions with gay students have left marks on my heart and soul. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-processing-deficit-for-schizophrenia-risk-men/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-processing-deficit-for-schizophrenia-risk-men/ Mon, 3 Oct 2011 20:00:46 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/growing-tenderheartedness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/growing-tenderheartedness/ Mon, 3 Oct 2011 18:29:44 GMT This article is the third in a series of articles looking at the concept and development of self-compassion (the definition of compassion being used is: a recognition of pain/distress coupled with a tenderheartedness towards the distress and a tendency to pull alongside the suffering with a proclivity to alleviate it). The first article looked at the concept of compassion as a whole while the second explored how to grow compassion by recognizing your human and personal limits. This article will look at having tenderheartedness towards your distress. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-poverty-trauma-predict-future-victimization/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-poverty-trauma-predict-future-victimization/ Mon, 3 Oct 2011 15:00:45 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pessimism-toward-goals-depression-symptom/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pessimism-toward-goals-depression-symptom/ Sun, 2 Oct 2011 15:00:23 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-sensitivity-alcohol-use-with-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-sensitivity-alcohol-use-with-ptsd/ Sun, 2 Oct 2011 01:00:40 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-men-want-from-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-men-want-from-psychotherapy/ Sat, 1 Oct 2011 01:00:25 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregivers-provide-poor-care-when-negative/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregivers-provide-poor-care-when-negative/ Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:30:43 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/elephant-marries-donkey-peace-despite-politics/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/elephant-marries-donkey-peace-despite-politics/ Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:21:56 GMT Ah, the time of year when political news is everywhere. The 2012 presidential election looms, and potential candidates travel the country looking for support week after week. It?s a time for thinking about where our country has been and where it should go. It?s a time when people get together and discuss the environment, healthcare, and unemployment. It?s a time when couples sit down and talk warmly about their hopes for the country and fill envelopes for the party they both are fervent members of. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/realistic-goals-decreases-depression-older-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/realistic-goals-decreases-depression-older-adults/ Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:00:38 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/similar-behaviors-found-in-women-with-food-and-substance-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/similar-behaviors-found-in-women-with-food-and-substance-issues/ Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:00:03 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-anxiety-depression-personality-traits/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-anxiety-depression-personality-traits/ Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:00:53 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/7-steps-better-sex-life/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/7-steps-better-sex-life/ Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:53:53 GMT Are you and your partner arguing about sexual issues in your relationship? Is there an ongoing issue that keeps coming up, in the process making your sex life rockier, or worse, non-existent? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressful-events-late-onset-ptsd-linked/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressful-events-late-onset-ptsd-linked/ Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:35:11 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/female-college-athletes-have-high-body-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/female-college-athletes-have-high-body-esteem/ Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:00:31 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexually-active-staying-safe/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexually-active-staying-safe/ Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:15:21 GMT Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) can happen to anyone: single, married, heterosexual or homosexual. A person may not have symptoms for a long time but may still have an STD. Some STDs are treatable and others are not. Whether you have symptoms or not, STDs  can still be passed on without your awareness, so it is important for you to get checked out because you may think you are having safe sex, but you may not be. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unconscious-avoidance-perceived-threats/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unconscious-avoidance-perceived-threats/ Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:55:48 GMT People avoid situations that present imminent threat. But a new study suggests that people also engage in avoidant behaviors when a threat is unconsciously perceived. Natalie A. Wyer and Guglielmo Calvini, both of the University of Plymouth, tested their theory that people would physically distance themselves from people who presented an unconscious threat. ?Upon encountering an individual who (by virtue of physical appearance or membership in a negatively stereotyped group) is associated with hostility or aggression, one?s spontaneous response is likely to be to move away (e.g., by crossing the street or taking a seat on the other side of the room),? said the researchers. In order to introduce the threatening scenario to the participants, the researchers showed 52 undergraduate students a picture of a man dressed in a hooded sweatshirt (the prime group) or a man in neutral clothing. After viewing the images, all of the participants completed an attention task to measure their anxiety levels. Upon completion of the task, the participants were then placed in a room and told they would be meeting another individual. The clothing of the individual, the hooded sweatshirt, was present in the room when they arrived. The team believed that the primed group would be sensitive to the sweatshirt and would distance themselves from the chair. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sad-music-chosen-when-sad/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sad-music-chosen-when-sad/ Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:07:21 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/clients-own-diagnosis-predicts-self-harm/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/clients-own-diagnosis-predicts-self-harm/ Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:00:40 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/controlling-behavior-may-increase-cardiovascular-risk-for-adolescents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/controlling-behavior-may-increase-cardiovascular-risk-for-adolescents/ Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:00:44 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/saying-sorry-not-enough/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/saying-sorry-not-enough/ Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:40:41 GMT I can?t tell you how many times I have heard this from couples during a session. Something big happens between them (for instance, one person cheated on the other), and the offending party apologizes; however, the difficulty continues, and the person who said they were sorry wonders why that is. The person who got hurt wants to feel better. The person who has apologized becomes exasperated because he or she feels they have done everything they can. ?I said I was sorry. What else do you want from me?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ethnically-diverse-friendships-benefitschildren/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ethnically-diverse-friendships-benefitschildren/ Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:00:59 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ancestor-healing-work/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ancestor-healing-work/ Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:43 GMT I took a break from writing my monthly article this past summer because I thought I was running out of things to write about. I also knew that it was going to be a tumultuous time for me, and I wanted to be fully in the experience and not have to be concerned about deadlines. It may seem that 600 words is not a lot, but when you?re struggling, it can be the same as having to write a novel. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sensory-integration-clues-behind-sexual-dysfunction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sensory-integration-clues-behind-sexual-dysfunction/ Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:21:32 GMT Non-demand touch, such as hand massage and other ?sensate focus? exercises, are still recommended by many sex therapists who want to help couples struggling with sexual difficulties. Non-demand touch exercises help take the pressure off partners who are too focused or anxious about penis-vagina penetration to stay present with their own or their partner's responses. These exercises are designed to build or restore emotional safety and sexual trust; cultivate awareness of sensual stimulation and preferences; and facilitate intimate communication through exploratory questions and answers as both partners experience giving and receiving touch. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-impulsivity-inhibition-predicts-gambling-problems/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-impulsivity-inhibition-predicts-gambling-problems/ Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:22:51 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voucher-program-for-drug-treatment-outcome/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voucher-program-for-drug-treatment-outcome/ Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:00:18 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-silencing-men-with-eating-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-silencing-men-with-eating-issues/ Sat, 24 Sep 2011 01:00:52 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-ptsd-linked-with-college-lifestyle/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-ptsd-linked-with-college-lifestyle/ Sat, 24 Sep 2011 01:00:04 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rights-children-have-in-divorce/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rights-children-have-in-divorce/ Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:46:15 GMT We know that when a marriage ends it is the parents who are divorcing. But do we think about the fact that our children aren?t getting a divorce, they are getting two households in which to continue living with their family. Their parents relationship is changing to something different than they have yet experienced. What do you need to think about so that your children are taken care of as well as possible? For some, the question is what rights do children have in a divorce? Here?s a list that is a good place to start. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obstacles-benefits-play-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obstacles-benefits-play-therapy/ Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:00:06 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/forgiving-oneself-increases-alcohol-abstinence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/forgiving-oneself-increases-alcohol-abstinence/ Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:00:34 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reclaiming-life-through-forgiveness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reclaiming-life-through-forgiveness/ Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:30:12 GMT Forgiveness is a word which can evoke conflicting thoughts and feeling. Images of turning the other cheek can arise in ways that keep you stuck in hurtful or even abusive situations, which in turn reinforce your experience of powerlessness and victimization. In light of this, I want to first address what forgiveness does and does not mean. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-increase-attention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-increase-attention/ Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:00:21 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/career-conflicts-may-influence-bullying/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/career-conflicts-may-influence-bullying/ Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:00:26 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/independent-thinking-affects-mental-health-through-narratives/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/independent-thinking-affects-mental-health-through-narratives/ Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:00:21 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/way-around-grief/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/way-around-grief/ Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:43:43 GMT Grief, a deep feeling of sadness over a loss, is one of the most difficult experiences a person can have. During the grief process, we may feel hopeless, out of control, dead inside, empty, pained, afraid, angry, or just about any other painful emotion one can name. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-nourishing-love-through-food/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-nourishing-love-through-food/ Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:40:25 GMT I was thinking about the phrase, ?Food is love;? thinking about how this idea came to be. I often hear people say that food was a means by which their mothers or grandmothers expressed their love for family members. Sometimes their stories conjure up images of warm kitchens filled with wonderful smells and family members connecting over delicious meals. But sometimes, they?ll tell me things like, ?She would keep putting food on my plate, even after I said I was full,? or ?It would hurt her feelings if someone didn?t eat everything she gave them.? When I hear things like this, I think not of love, but of boundary violations and invalidation of the eater?s feelings and needs. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happiness-expectations-increases-loneliness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happiness-expectations-increases-loneliness/ Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:00:21 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-rises-testosterone-increases/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-rises-testosterone-increases/ Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:00:54 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/identifying-depression-renal-disease/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/identifying-depression-renal-disease/ Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:00:04 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/special-needs-parents-families-resources/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/special-needs-parents-families-resources/ Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:24:26 GMT This last week, I had the honor and privilege of attending and speaking at Postpartum Support International?s 25th Annual Conference in Seattle, WA. I was moved and inspired by the amazing work gestating and being born in the perinatal world by so many compassionate professionals. (Refresher: ?perinatal? refers to the time from conception, through pregnancy, on through the first year after having a baby). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mother-knows-best-stressed-youths/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mother-knows-best-stressed-youths/ Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:00:03 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-feedback-increases-depression-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-feedback-increases-depression-anxiety/ Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:00:17 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/decreasing-poverty-increases-boys-violent-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/decreasing-poverty-increases-boys-violent-behavior/ Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:00:10 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-dementia-older-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-dementia-older-adults/ Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:00:33 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healthy-play-benefits-infant/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healthy-play-benefits-infant/ Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:00:27 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-therapist-determines-client-outcome/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-therapist-determines-client-outcome/ Sat, 17 Sep 2011 01:00:52 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treating-attachment-issues-help-food-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treating-attachment-issues-help-food-issues/ Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:00:58 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/please-disturb-creating-change-alcoholic-family/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/please-disturb-creating-change-alcoholic-family/ Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:41:11 GMT The great Buddhist teacher and author Pema Chodron once suggested in a recorded talk that we hang a sign in our kitchen that says, ?Abandon hope?. At the time, I agreed with the listener who exclaimed, ?That?s outrageous!? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/artlish-art-language-communication-911/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/artlish-art-language-communication-911/ Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:29:32 GMT Art is a language. For the sake of this blog, let?s call it ?artlish? (not to be confused or linked with the Artlish Caves Park in British Columbia). ?Artlish?, the language, can externalize experience, perception, hope, fear, rage or a combination of those feelings and others. On opposite ends of a spectrum, art language, or artlish, can be raw or it can be refined. It is influenced by culture, education, repetition and trends. But most often, artlish is spoken privately in the imagination, in dreams and nightmares, in a studio, on a stage, in a welding shop, in an edit suite, on paper, in found objects, on a computer, through a camera, drawn in the sand, through the written word, or through dance. Artlish doesn?t need an audience to be uttered but when it is taken in, a connection is made. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-tool-measure-cognitive-therapy-skills/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-tool-measure-cognitive-therapy-skills/ Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:53 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-gay-men-highest-percentage-hiv-cases/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-gay-men-highest-percentage-hiv-cases/ Fri, 16 Sep 2011 01:00:36 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/managing-fear-uncertainty-despite-cancer/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/managing-fear-uncertainty-despite-cancer/ Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:00:40 GMT ?David? is 62. He finished chemotherapy for colon cancer about a year ago. Physically, he feels strong; he exercises almost daily. Emotionally, however, things are more challenging. David wakes up every day wondering if he is going to have a recurrence. Thus far, his follow-up testing (which includes CT scans and blood work) has revealed nothing to worry about. His doctor has reiterated this fact, but David can?t shake a nagging feeling. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-helps-adults-sleep/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-helps-adults-sleep/ Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:00:52 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-identity-understanding/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-identity-understanding/ Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:45:46 GMT What did you first think of when you saw that an article titled ?Bodies and Identity? was posted on a mental health care blog? Likely, words such as ?anorexia,? ?bulimia,? and ?compulsive eating?, ran through your head. An article about bodies and body-image is often assumed to be about negative body-image. We?re so used to talking about bodies as problems that need to be overcome, addressed, or ?worked on?, that a direct relationship between bodies and negative body-image is almost a reflex. But what does ?body image? really mean? In what way does how we see our bodies impact how we see ourselves? And how does our identity impact how we see our bodies? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overweight-individuals-visually-focus-high-fat-food/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overweight-individuals-visually-focus-high-fat-food/ Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:00:42 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-well-911children-adjusted/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-well-911children-adjusted/ Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:00:48 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/life-path-influences-young-adults-personality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/life-path-influences-young-adults-personality/ Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:00:55 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/wisdom-happiness-awareness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/wisdom-happiness-awareness/ Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:00:47 GMT The final paramita, or practice leading to happiness, is Prajna, or Wisdom. This is not the wisdom that comes with age or long study. This is the wisdom of seeing what is actually happening in any given moment. This is discriminating awareness, which can tell the difference between our imagined storylines about what is going on, and what is true. It is the wisdom of clarity, and acceptance, and it requires more than a little awareness and courage. It is the wisdom of accurate reporting. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-affirming-beliefs-people-consume-less-alcohol/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-affirming-beliefs-people-consume-less-alcohol/ Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:00:41 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multicultural-kitchen-diversity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multicultural-kitchen-diversity/ Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:30:06 GMT Why is being multiculturally-minded vital for improving our clients? well-being? The answer, surprisingly, can be found in our kitchens. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressive-symptoms-persist-despite-positive-perspective/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressive-symptoms-persist-despite-positive-perspective/ Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:00:14 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stimulants-enhance-cognitive-abilities/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stimulants-enhance-cognitive-abilities/ Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:00:25 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/why-let-credit-downgrade-scare/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/why-let-credit-downgrade-scare/ Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:49:40 GMT Some may be done with the S&P downgrade of the United States? credit rating. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cannabis-use-higher-among-teens-poor-coping-skills/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cannabis-use-higher-among-teens-poor-coping-skills/ Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:00:54 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creatively-moving-from-grief-into-hope-and-renewal/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creatively-moving-from-grief-into-hope-and-renewal/ Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:00:05 GMT A person to whom I?ve been close for many years is going through the dying process. It?s been slow and painful, at times evoking for me one of the most beautiful and poignant musical pieces I've ever encountered. It is the ?Agnus Dei? of Samuel Barber, a choral version of his beloved and well-known Adagio for Strings. The text is from the Latin Mass and ends with the phrase, ?have mercy on us.? Now, mercifully, there is an end in sight for my loved one, but to those she leaves behind, the grief is palpable: at times dull and weighty, at others raw and biting, and frequently overwhelming. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/late-night-negative-thoughts-higher-levels-of-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/late-night-negative-thoughts-higher-levels-of-depression/ Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:00:21 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overcoming-barriers-evidence-based-ptsd-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overcoming-barriers-evidence-based-ptsd-treatment/ Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:00:15 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communicating-with-teens/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communicating-with-teens/ Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:41:10 GMT ?I don?t know.? Is it the stock answer teens give their parents for every question? Does it mean more than just a lack of an answer? How do we get them to speak to us and to have a conversation? There are ways to talk to teens, develop relationships through communication and not feel like an interrogator. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/environmental-genetic-influences-psychopathy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/environmental-genetic-influences-psychopathy/ Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:31:03 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/remembering-september-11/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/remembering-september-11/ Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:56:46 GMT I was sitting in my New York City office on 84th Street when the phone began ringing over and over. Clearly someone was trying to get in touch with me, but I generally don?t answer the phone during sessions, and we only had about 15 minutes to go anyway. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-underrepresented-psychological-research-studies/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-underrepresented-psychological-research-studies/ Sat, 10 Sep 2011 01:00:14 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/means-restriction-counseling-for-prevention-of-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/means-restriction-counseling-for-prevention-of-suicide/ Fri, 9 Sep 2011 20:00:17 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/september-11th-we-will-never-forget/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/september-11th-we-will-never-forget/ Fri, 9 Sep 2011 17:22:23 GMT A poll taken just this week reveals that 58% of Americans fear a terrorist attack. Ten years after the Dealey Plaza moment of my generation, people are still unnerved. We can no longer carry nail files, letter openers, matches, lighters, or even water bottles onto planes. We must raise our arms, take off our shoes, and empty our pockets before we can board a jet that is reinforced with locked cockpit doors and discreetly positioned air marshals. Gone are the days of unquestioningly embracing cultural differences and anticipating foreign exchanges with passengers from other countries. Instead, Americans peer suspiciously at the world around them with cautious eyes. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-middle-way/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-middle-way/ Fri, 9 Sep 2011 17:00:31 GMT When I hear the clients in my psychotherapy and grief counseling practice talk in black and white terms, or view their options in terms of extremes, I am reminded of the Buddhist concept of the Middle Way. When the Buddha was asked how one should meditate, he responded, "not too tight, not too loose." He analogized this to a string instrument, like a lute:  If the strings of the lute are too tight, they will break, and if the strings of the lute are too loose, they won't play. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/research-reveals-ethnic-trends-depression-older-americans/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/research-reveals-ethnic-trends-depression-older-americans/ Fri, 9 Sep 2011 16:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-care-eating-complexities/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-care-eating-complexities/ Fri, 9 Sep 2011 12:00:27 GMT Food, food everywhere, but don?t take a bite! We Americans may be unique in our relationship with food; we search endlessly for ultimate deliciousness while simultaneously self-flagellating for weight gains and illness. It?s madness, I tell ya! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/criminals-ptsd-receive-favorable-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/criminals-ptsd-receive-favorable-treatment/ Fri, 9 Sep 2011 01:00:56 GMT A GoodTherapy News Headline: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personality-influence-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personality-influence-parenting/ Thu, 8 Sep 2011 20:00:20 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/single-satisfied-life-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/single-satisfied-life-relationships/ Thu, 8 Sep 2011 19:00:22 GMT ?One is the loneliest number?.? ? Three Dog Night http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hopeless-experience-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hopeless-experience-depression/ Thu, 8 Sep 2011 17:38:00 GMT Next in this series of different types of depression experiences is the Hopeless Type. Hopelessness can be a passing part of a depressive episode or even a normal brief aspect of grief after a big loss. But the hopelessness can also be a long-term pattern of thinking and feeling. People with this type of experience expect the worst from life, other people and themselves. They may expect to fail what they try, to lose what they have, and to have no chance to have what they want.  If activities are suggested to them, they may experience them as too much effort, too little reward, or even as having the potential for disaster. The world often feels bleak and dark. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/repeated-trauma-increases-adjustment-difficulties-after-subsequent-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/repeated-trauma-increases-adjustment-difficulties-after-subsequent-trauma/ Thu, 8 Sep 2011 15:32:11 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/distant-spouse-ships-passing-night/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/distant-spouse-ships-passing-night/ Thu, 8 Sep 2011 15:06:48 GMT "I've made up my mind," Dana sighed deeply. "I'm going to stick it out--for the kids. I won't cheat. I have no intention of that and I don't believe he would either. We are two straight-arrow people. But there's nothing there. We have nothing, absolutely nothing to say to each other. The marriage is basically dead; we just didn't plan the funeral." http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/does-perception-stress-increase-physical-illness-older-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/does-perception-stress-increase-physical-illness-older-adults/ Thu, 8 Sep 2011 01:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veterans-prematurely-end-couples-therapy-increased-risk-divorce/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veterans-prematurely-end-couples-therapy-increased-risk-divorce/ Wed, 7 Sep 2011 20:00:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-shows-link-between-sinus-rhythm-depression-parent-child-interactions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-shows-link-between-sinus-rhythm-depression-parent-child-interactions/ Wed, 7 Sep 2011 18:01:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-suggests-mindfulness-beneficial-first-responders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-suggests-mindfulness-beneficial-first-responders/ Wed, 7 Sep 2011 01:00:12 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-use-linked-increased-intimate-partner-violence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-use-linked-increased-intimate-partner-violence/ Tue, 6 Sep 2011 20:00:04 GMT : http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reward-delay-influences-impulsivity-in-individuals-bipolar-schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reward-delay-influences-impulsivity-in-individuals-bipolar-schizophrenia/ Tue, 6 Sep 2011 17:42:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/joyful-solutions-to-relationship-difficulties/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/joyful-solutions-to-relationship-difficulties/ Sun, 4 Sep 2011 17:00:22 GMT Note: This article is for couples who have experienced love and compatibility but are having current challenges. This article is not for people who are in a relationship with someone who is abusive or unable to be present due to addiction. Abuse and addiction situations require other kinds of counseling. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-systems-therapy-psychological-benefits-decrease-hospital-stay/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-systems-therapy-psychological-benefits-decrease-hospital-stay/ Sun, 4 Sep 2011 15:00:54 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-inhibits-emotional-perception/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-inhibits-emotional-perception/ Sun, 4 Sep 2011 15:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-abuse-intimate-relationships-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-abuse-intimate-relationships-ptsd/ Sat, 3 Sep 2011 15:00:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-links-child-trauma-school-performance/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-links-child-trauma-school-performance/ Sat, 3 Sep 2011 01:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicidal-behavior-teen-self-harm/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicidal-behavior-teen-self-harm/ Fri, 2 Sep 2011 20:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-committed-relationships-lose-sexual-desire/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-committed-relationships-lose-sexual-desire/ Fri, 2 Sep 2011 18:21:21 GMT How often do you want sex? And is that enough? Not wanting enough sex is the big problem for most women who consult me as a clinical sexologist. And most sex therapists will agree that having a low level of sexual desire is a problem.  But the majority of these women are heterosexual with male partners who are ? you guessed it ? complaining. Lesbian couples don?t usually present with similar problems. So I guess I should say ?relatively low levels of sexual desire!? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/growing-self-compassion-recognizing-limits/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/growing-self-compassion-recognizing-limits/ Fri, 2 Sep 2011 17:49:39 GMT Most people would agree that having a compassionate stance towards oneself is desirable, yet exactly how to go about cultivating such a stance is less clear. Before discussing how to cultivate compassion, let?s quickly define the term. In this article, compassion is defined as: a recognition of pain/distress coupled with a tenderheartedness towards the distress and a tendency to pull alongside the suffering with a proclivity to alleviate it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/steering-marriage-cruising/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/steering-marriage-cruising/ Fri, 2 Sep 2011 17:27:54 GMT Let?s go for a ride. I am going to show you how the journey through marriage is analogous to the journey through life with a new car. This juxtaposition could really hit home for the guys; it may be a good way to help your spouse understand what happens to a marriage that is put on cruise control and why it is vital to take hold of the steering wheel and drive your marriage in the right direction. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-positive-emotion-boys-girls/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-positive-emotion-boys-girls/ Fri, 2 Sep 2011 14:32:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mr-wrong-feel-like-mr-right/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mr-wrong-feel-like-mr-right/ Thu, 1 Sep 2011 20:59:13 GMT Please note: This article does NOT apply in cases of violence or abuse. There can be nothing ?right? about such a relationship. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-defining-self/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-defining-self/ Thu, 1 Sep 2011 20:39:48 GMT How do you know what you are and what you are not, and why? Where did you gain this knowledge and experience that influences your current behaviour and choices? In the process of the development of your Self, did you consciously stop to think about if you wanted to be shaped in a particular manner while it was happening? Certainly there were moments where you may have wanted to stop an experience or avoid pain, but in retrospect can you say that it didn?t shape who you are today that in some way that has value to you?  Do you want to, and can you re-author your Self and hence shape your experiences? Some people look to the body to try to control their experience of self in the world. Does this have any merit? When does it become a problem? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/decreasing-binge-eating-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/decreasing-binge-eating-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/ Thu, 1 Sep 2011 01:00:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-sexual-factors-influence-bullying/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-sexual-factors-influence-bullying/ Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unified-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unified-parenting/ Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:16:12 GMT Kids are notorious for separating mom and dad. I am not talking about separation as far as divorce. I am talking about when a child asks dad about having ice-cream before dinner; knowing the answer will be ?NO? from mom, they go and ask dad who may say ?Yes?. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/shrine-altar-grief-healing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/shrine-altar-grief-healing/ Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:17:53 GMT Altars and Shrines?What are they? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/video-games-decrease-nightmares-soldiers-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/video-games-decrease-nightmares-soldiers-ptsd/ Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:44:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-working-memory/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-working-memory/ Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/herbal-natural-supplements-insomnia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/herbal-natural-supplements-insomnia/ Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:40:48 GMT Insomnia is among the most common complaints that people bring to healthcare providers. Approximately 20% of adults will experience insomnia in a given year. Of these, a small percentage will use one or more CAM treatments in an effort to get some shuteye. Women are more likely to experience insomnia than men; however, men still represent about 40% of those who have significant sleep problems. Additionally, insomnia becomes more common as we age; over time, it is more likely to coincide with other health problems. People who suffer from depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia often have difficulty sleeping. Poor sleep is associated with resultant mood symptoms, daytime sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating in both those with and without preexisting mental health issues, however. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/introduction-clinical-sexology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/introduction-clinical-sexology/ Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:51:37 GMT As a unique form of short-term, complementary and alternative modality (CAM), clinical sexologists are largely under-recognized and under-used. Though it's said we specialize in studying "what people do and how they feel about it," sexology touches on everything from erotology to anthropology, law, medicine, psychology, anatomy and physiology (naturally!), gender studies, public policy, history, and so on. That's because human sexual behavior is pervasive, it affects everything we collectively do and create. As a sexologist, my interests have included Asperger's Syndrome and sexuality, Native Hawaiian sexual traditions, objectum sexuality, parenting transgender children, the effect of sensory dysfunction on sexual behavior, and the use of hypnosis to address sexual concerns. Almost anything can provide delightful grist for a perpetual, intellectual mill and this has been my joy. Sometimes useful clinical insights emerge from regarding artifacts or incidents through a sexological lens. However, even when there is no immediate clinical application, the overall effect is a deepened respect for the unstoppable and endlessly creative human engagement with eros. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotionally-responsive-classroom/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotionally-responsive-classroom/ Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:10:51 GMT To be a teacher in the right sense is to be a learner. Instruction begins when you, the teacher, learn from the learner, put yourself in his place so that you may understand what he understands and the way he understands it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-reduce-stress-anxious-individuals/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-reduce-stress-anxious-individuals/ Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:22:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pediatric-diabetic-patient-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pediatric-diabetic-patient-mental-health/ Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:00:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapist-alliance-schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapist-alliance-schizophrenia/ Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/codependents-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/codependents-psychotherapy/ Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:14:42 GMT Co-dependents rarely have presented themselves for therapy with me by stating that they want help with their own co-dependency. Of course, as you might expect, they are focused on helping or saving somebody else. My last article focused on how people are identified as co-dependent through certain relationship issues. It focused on romantic relationships. Another way that they are identified is through family/child concerns. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-affect-brain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-affect-brain/ Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:53:48 GMT What does therapy actually do? How does it work? Does anyone really ever change? The field of neuroscience has exploded in recent years, revealing a number of findings about the human brain; how it develops, how it operates, and how it changes. Neuroplasticity explains that the brain is not a rigid organ, but is malleable, and changes throughout life, both in structure and function. This change happens through our experience. We actively change our brains by the way we respond to our environment. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spanking-discipline-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spanking-discipline-abuse/ Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:39:07 GMT I am guilty of spanking my children. My oldest has been spanked once, maybe twice, in his entire 17 years.  My seven year old has received a few prime swats, and other forms of discipline, in her short lifetime. My middle child, a fourteen year old boy, is much more intimately familiar with spankings. As an extremely hyperactive and unruly child, my son was constantly exploring things that were off limits, and often dangerous. Undeterred by the threats of toy removal, time-outs, and other non-physical forms of punishment, he pushed me to my limits and I resorted to the only other method I knew, spanking. At the tender age of five, he was quite adept at ?assuming the position.? He no longer covered his back end with his tiny hands, and as much as it drove me crazy, he developed a stoic resistance and would receive his spanking without so much as a tear. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/functional-family-therapy-at-risk-youth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/functional-family-therapy-at-risk-youth/ Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:01:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/female-adolescent-depression-share-negative-thoughts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/female-adolescent-depression-share-negative-thoughts/ Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:00:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-inflexibility-grief/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-inflexibility-grief/ Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hoarding-obesity-link/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hoarding-obesity-link/ Sat, 27 Aug 2011 03:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-anxious-associations-anxiety-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-anxious-associations-anxiety-issues/ Sat, 27 Aug 2011 01:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-adolescent-misinterpret-parent-moods/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-adolescent-misinterpret-parent-moods/ Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thin-line-diet-eating-disorder/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thin-line-diet-eating-disorder/ Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:38:28 GMT Let's face it, hardly anybody has a completely healthy relationship with food. Unfortunately for our society, disordered eating is the norm, whether it's crash dieting, stress-eating, or whatever else you want to call it.  Because of this, it can be really hard for someone in danger of developing an eating disorder to recognize the slippery slope of the diet they're on until they're well on their way down. Now clearly, not everyone who diets develops an eating disorder, but research does show that 35% of occasional dieters become pathological dieters, and as many as 25% of those diets will progress into full-blown eating disorders. So when does dieting become dangerous? What's the difference between a diet and an eating disorder? Sometimes the line is an awful thin one. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intrusive-motherhood-thoughts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intrusive-motherhood-thoughts/ Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:56:00 GMT Mandy nuzzled her 3 month old baby happily as she warmed his bottle. It felt so good to breathe in his sweet baby smell and touch his soft delicate skin, his little body curled in a warm embrace into the curve of her neck. Mandy was starting to feel like she had her ?sea-legs' as a new mom and was particularly enamored of the fact that her new baby was sleeping through the night. The rough night-time awakenings were beginning to subside as baby Noah matured and slept for longer periods. She was looking forward to meeting a new mom friend in the park with their babies after she gave Noah a bottle. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-low-income-mothers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-low-income-mothers/ Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:19:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-decrease-reabuse-citims/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-decrease-reabuse-citims/ Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:00:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/avoidance-veterans-domestic-violence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/avoidance-veterans-domestic-violence/ Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:00:57 GMT GoodTherapy.org News Headline http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-happy-face/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-happy-face/ Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:02:32 GMT Every one in a relationship wants to feel loved by their partner. To feel loved, many individuals will put on a happy face and maintain a persona that everything is fine, even when it isn?t. Often people are so good at acting like they are happy that the partner has no idea anything could be wrong. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-love-play-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-love-play-therapy/ Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:32:20 GMT I?ve learned to trust myself, to listen to truth, to not be afraid of it and to not try and hide it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intervention-could-increase-permanent-placement-for-foster-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intervention-could-increase-permanent-placement-for-foster-children/ Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/progressive-thinking-boost-mood/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/progressive-thinking-boost-mood/ Thu, 25 Aug 2011 01:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-benefit-ideal-body-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-benefit-ideal-body-image/ Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-battle/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-battle/ Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:44:41 GMT Did you know there are individuals who minimize sexual addiction as a disorder? Regardless, its impact, devastation and pain to the individuals who are struggling with it, their spouses and children along with many areas of their lives cannot be ignored. When we consider that the National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity describes sexual addiction as a progressive intimacy disorder characterized by compulsive sexual thoughts and acts. Like all addictions, its negative impact on the addict and on family members increases as the disorder progresses.  Over time, the individual struggling with sexual addiction usually has to intensify the addictive behavior to achieve the same results. With that being said, is it really worth the battle? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dialectical-behavior-imago-family-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dialectical-behavior-imago-family-therapy/ Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:17:25 GMT I am not formally trained in DBT. My knowledge of it coming from texts, watching trained practitioners do it and gradually incorporating it into my practice. I?m comfortable with its use due to my background and training in similar modalities and have found the skills to be valuable for those who have a difficult time with more traditional approaches. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-abuse-children-aggression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-abuse-children-aggression/ Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:28:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-consumption-intimate-partner-violence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-consumption-intimate-partner-violence/ Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/student-veterans-suicide-risk/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/student-veterans-suicide-risk/ Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:00:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/russell-armstrong-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/russell-armstrong-suicide/ Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:30:20 GMT I don?t watch reality TV. Well, that?s not exactly true. I do watch Intervention, Deadliest Catch, The Biggest Loser and I found myself surprisingly addicted to the televised trial of Casey Anthony. However, I have never been drawn to the over-the-top antics of reality television shows such as The Jersey Shore, Family Jewels, or, dare I say it, Keeping up with the Kardashians. As a matter of fact, they pretty much turn my stomach. And I?ve never watched an entire episode of The Real Housewives of (insert metropolitan area here). But the recent suicide of Russell Armstrong did catch my attention. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cycle-too-comfortable-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cycle-too-comfortable-relationship/ Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:06:46 GMT There is a place where most couples want to get and feel good about getting to, a place where most people would agree is what a wonderful long term relationship is all about. That lovely secure place is the feeling of comfort. Most couples would agree that it?s the small things that make the long- term relationship special. Shopping for groceries, fixing up the house, running errands together, doing laundry, waking up together, making breakfast, etc.. You get the idea, it?s the day to day, simple little things we do that we get to do together in a long term relationship that makes it special, and yes, comfortable. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personal-power-shift/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personal-power-shift/ Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:25:43 GMT Let's say you have an interest in power issues and dynamics. For example, you notice you are overly cautious in using the professional power that goes with your position of trust. Or, you are so well-boundaried that you can't be flexible with your power when it is appropriate. These two beliefs are toward the extreme on the "use of power continuum."  Holding any position that is extreme makes you extra vulnerable for making ethical mistakes. Right Use of Power calls us to examine and evolve our relationship with both personal and professional power. The health of this relationship is crucial to using power well and more significantly, to using power for the good of all.  I have been thinking about the process of evolving more satisfying and effective beliefs. Obviously, it is more complicated than just deciding you want a new belief or a new habitual response. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/theraplay-classroom-autism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/theraplay-classroom-autism/ Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:41:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mood-swings-weather/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mood-swings-weather/ Sun, 21 Aug 2011 15:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-sensitivity-genetic-environmental/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-sensitivity-genetic-environmental/ Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:00:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-balance-parenting-style/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-balance-parenting-style/ Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:50:22 GMT From infancy through young adulthood, our children?s consciousness of themselves in the world is being forged, tenuously dangling between entitlement, insecurity and, we hope, a third and better option. We have the responsibility as parents to provide a developmentally-rich context in which satisfied needs for closeness and belonging are counterbalanced by increasing experiences of self-direction and significance. Mature parents successfully nurture both secure attachment and responsible autonomy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marital-money-pit/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marital-money-pit/ Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:24:42 GMT It?s nearly impossible these days to pick up the paper or turn on the news without learning of yet another study or statistic indicating a weak recovery or a chronic recession. While it has taken its toll on families and communities in the way of foreclosures and bankruptcy, the recession has struck at marriages too. Many couples would admit that it has increased tension and even conflict in their relationship. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/becks-cognitive-integration-depression-theories/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/becks-cognitive-integration-depression-theories/ Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:45:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/visual-or-verbal-imagery-%e2%80%93-which-is-more-prevalent-in-people-with-anxiety-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/visual-or-verbal-imagery-%e2%80%93-which-is-more-prevalent-in-people-with-anxiety-issues/ Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/risk-factors-alcohol-misuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/risk-factors-alcohol-misuse/ Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:50:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/london-riots-groupthink/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/london-riots-groupthink/ Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:59:08 GMT The recent riots in London are the worst the city has seen in years. However, the psychology that lies at the root of the mob mentality is apparent every day, everywhere. What spurs thousands of young people to damage and destroy inanimate objects? What prompts groups of people who have never met to commit criminal acts in seemingly orchestrated unison? What emotions are elicited that cause individuals who are conscientious when alone, to become unconscionable when united? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-depression-socialization/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-depression-socialization/ Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:43:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-child-interaction-therapy-positive-outcome/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-child-interaction-therapy-positive-outcome/ Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-health-ptsd-depression-college-students/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-health-ptsd-depression-college-students/ Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:50:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-examines-risk-factors-for-ptsd-and-alcohol-misuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-examines-risk-factors-for-ptsd-and-alcohol-misuse/ Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:47:37 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sudden-gains-children-post-traumatic-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sudden-gains-children-post-traumatic-stress/ Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:50:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dating-after-divorce-blending-families/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dating-after-divorce-blending-families/ Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:30:57 GMT You?ve been divorced for three years and have been working at moving on in your life, establishing new relationships and feeling so much better about yourself than you have in a very long time. You are grateful for your friends and family and the support they have given you. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dissonance-treatment-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dissonance-treatment-eating-disorders/ Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:48:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-depressed-parent/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-depressed-parent/ Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:25:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-adolescent-delinquent-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-adolescent-delinquent-behavior/ Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/manual-guided-therapy-client-alliance/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/manual-guided-therapy-client-alliance/ Sat, 13 Aug 2011 15:00:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-marital-discord/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-marital-discord/ Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:36:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-progression-spectrum-symptoms/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-progression-spectrum-symptoms/ Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:00:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-therapy-therapist-likes-client/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-therapy-therapist-likes-client/ Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:55:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/angr-friend-not-attending-wedding/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/angr-friend-not-attending-wedding/ Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:09:36 GMT If you remember from last month, Ellen had to decide about attending her friend Robin?s wedding, to be held in a far away resort- it would be a lot of fun, but Ellen didn?t have enough money to go and couldn?t take time off from her new job, either- she was scared she might be fired- she liked the job a lot, and jobs can be hard to come by. On the other hand, even though Robin came from a big family and everyone planned to come, the most important people of all, Robin?s parents, had died several months earlier in a car crash and their absence felt like a giant hole in Robin?s world. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/entitled-patrons-damage-waiters/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/entitled-patrons-damage-waiters/ Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:34:21 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sharing-depression-symptoms-partner/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sharing-depression-symptoms-partner/ Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hand-washing-risk-taking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hand-washing-risk-taking/ Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:55:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-making-is-not-enough/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-making-is-not-enough/ Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:43:10 GMT Art making is not enough. Storytelling is not enough. Writing lyrics/music is not enough. Dancing is not enough to transform emotional pain and suffering into emotional freedom. If art making were enough, we wouldn't be reading about talented artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain and others who tragically slipped through a fissure in their lives to the other side because they succumbed to their demons. Demons, in this context are disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (IV) of the American Psychiatric Association. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/root-debt-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/root-debt-issues/ Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:09:06 GMT In our world today, there has been a known and much talked about issue of personal financial debt and national financial debt. This has been foreground in the news in light of the recent debt ceiling talks and agreement. It is real and it is serious. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-professionals-terrorist-attack-victims/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-professionals-terrorist-attack-victims/ Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:42:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intrusive-thought-interpretation-young-older-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intrusive-thought-interpretation-young-older-adults/ Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:00:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-cardiac-risk-male-veterans/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-cardiac-risk-male-veterans/ Tue, 9 Aug 2011 20:55:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxious-agitated-experience-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxious-agitated-experience-depression/ Tue, 9 Aug 2011 17:13:19 GMT Continuing in this series of how depression is experienced differently by different people, this is one that especially confuses people. Most people expect that depression will look like sadness, self-hate, despair, lack of ambition, and suicidal thoughts?and all of these are indeed ways that depression is experienced for some people some times. But for other people, depression manifests more like anxiety than anything else. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daily-family-listening/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daily-family-listening/ Tue, 9 Aug 2011 16:49:38 GMT How many times have you heard something like this in your household? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/does-contempt-increase-work-performance/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/does-contempt-increase-work-performance/ Tue, 9 Aug 2011 16:16:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mood-reading-comprehension/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mood-reading-comprehension/ Mon, 8 Aug 2011 22:00:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-misuse-risk-taking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-misuse-risk-taking/ Mon, 8 Aug 2011 21:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/empty-nest-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/empty-nest-parenting/ Mon, 8 Aug 2011 19:02:05 GMT My son?s best friend just graduated high school and will be heading off to college this weekend. The one year age difference has never made a difference to these two boys, who have been virtually inseparable for the last five years. But it will definitely impact both of their lives when school starts. When my son starts his senior year of high school and looks around the halls, he will see fewer familiar faces. His friend will begin college classes amidst a sea of strangers. And his single mother, a dear friend of mine, is already experiencing a sense of loss, knowing that she will be coming home to an empty house now that her only child has left. But she will be okay. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fitting-in-self-development/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fitting-in-self-development/ Mon, 8 Aug 2011 18:38:27 GMT Many people have anxiety about fitting in. What this means varies with each person and may mean being liked, accepted, acceptable, or some version of what you think will be attractive and pleasing to the other. From this point of view, fitting in requires that you try to be just like the members of the group you want to fit into. Probably, you will put aside your own needs and desires and accede to the wishes of others. It can feel risky to express your thoughts and feelings. The anxiety of fitting in uses up a lot of energy as one works so hard at going along with what it seems others want. In fact, when so much time is spent trying to shape yourself to what others are like, you don?t have the time or perhaps the conscious desire, to develop your own unique self. As a result, there is little opportunity to develop what YOU think and feel. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-skills-loved-one-illness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-skills-loved-one-illness/ Mon, 8 Aug 2011 17:40:06 GMT No one can prepare us for the experience of providing care for a seriously ill family member or friend. When sickness strikes someone close to us, there may be a sense of chaos, urgency, and confusion. Details must be agreed upon, phone calls made, and appointments kept.  You?d like to sit and catch your breath, but chances are there is a list of tasks and you?re already running behind. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-military-family/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-military-family/ Mon, 8 Aug 2011 16:51:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fearful-toddlers-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fearful-toddlers-anxiety/ Sun, 7 Aug 2011 15:00:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-respond-well-to-online-cbt-for-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-respond-well-to-online-cbt-for-anxiety/ Sat, 6 Aug 2011 15:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-web-conference/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-web-conference/ Fri, 5 Aug 2011 19:37:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-affect-employee-proactivity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-affect-employee-proactivity/ Fri, 5 Aug 2011 17:00:32 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/seeking-help-loved-one-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/seeking-help-loved-one-addiction/ Fri, 5 Aug 2011 16:52:18 GMT I?m returning once more to the issue of living with a friend or family member who is struggling with addiction. First, let me thank again those of you who take the time to read these posts and/or comment. It means a lot to me and I am very touched by what I read. It drives home to me yet again how devastating it is to watch a loved one self-destruct, and to live with the insanity of addiction. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treatment-teens-drugs-alcohol/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treatment-teens-drugs-alcohol/ Fri, 5 Aug 2011 15:48:52 GMT He was angry, aggressive, destructive, suicidal and blacking out. Then his parents found pipes, marijuana, and pills in his room and they suspected that he had been using other drugs. The family got into fights about his use and they tried different consequences to get him to stop using but his problems worsened and he kept using until he was arrested for possession. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anticipated-social-stress-emotional-inertia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anticipated-social-stress-emotional-inertia/ Fri, 5 Aug 2011 01:00:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/society-pressure-happiness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/society-pressure-happiness/ Thu, 4 Aug 2011 19:00:49 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/yoga-balance-mind-body/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/yoga-balance-mind-body/ Thu, 4 Aug 2011 16:45:19 GMT Yoga is in ancient practice that originated in India but has gained considerable popularity in the US. Breathing exercises, postures, and meditation are core components of yoga. Although many people develop a yoga practice to become more physically toned or flexible, the benefits of yoga are purported to extend to calming the mind and balancing the emotions. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-chronic-illness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-chronic-illness/ Thu, 4 Aug 2011 15:42:20 GMT Awkward topic, isn?t it? It?s not an area we usually delve into with great confidence or pride.  For those of us with chronic illness, the topic of sex can bring up a whole host of emotions: fear, hurt, guilt, sadness, feelings of inadequacy and disappointment. Sure, there are moments of great passion and pleasure but those seem few and far between when our illnesses flare or we?re too exhausted from the events of the day. Adding to the complexities of sex for the chronically ill are the myriad of side effects from the many medications out there intended to ease our pain and discomfort.  Many stunt our desire for sex or leave us way too tired to even think about a night of romance. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-cardiac-stress-women-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-cardiac-stress-women-depression/ Thu, 4 Aug 2011 14:53:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/domestic-violence-pregnancy-bond/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/domestic-violence-pregnancy-bond/ Thu, 4 Aug 2011 01:00:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy-depression/ Wed, 3 Aug 2011 21:00:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/love-drugs-primitive-brain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/love-drugs-primitive-brain/ Wed, 3 Aug 2011 18:22:10 GMT The most common question I get in my work and sometimes from my friends is ?Am I an alcoholic?? This is usually followed by ?Does this mean I have to go into rehab? Will I ever be able to have a drink again?? I believe that treatment for addiction should be individualized to take into affect each person?s individual needs, complexity and readiness to change. Every case is different. Sometimes the answer is undeniably ?It?s complicated? I was trained to apply systematic screening and assessment in order to determine if say Alcohol Abuse vs Dependence is present based on DSM-IV criteria and make treatment recommendations based on the ASAM placement criteria. You can learn more about them here (http://www.alcoholcostcalculator.org/business/about/dsm.html) and here (http://paulearley.net/ASAM-PPC-Articles/asam-textbook-chapter-4-5/Assessment-Dimensions.html) http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-therapy-chronic-pain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-therapy-chronic-pain/ Wed, 3 Aug 2011 17:21:07 GMT ?Oh, my aching body!? You?ve heard this exclamation - or something like it - many times, probably in television commercials advertising the latest miracle pill or cream that promises fast relief and few side effects, perhaps from a family member or friend who did a few too many reps at the gym, pulled a muscle fighting with the lawn mower, or is simply down for a few days because of the flu and feels bad all over. You yourself are probably not immune to occasional aches and pains stemming from illness or injury. For some of us, however, pain is a more frequent visitor, and for others, being in pain has become a way of life. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-and-substance-use-issues-prevalent-in-prison-populations/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-and-substance-use-issues-prevalent-in-prison-populations/ Wed, 3 Aug 2011 16:03:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/early-intervention-depression-alcohol-college/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/early-intervention-depression-alcohol-college/ Tue, 2 Aug 2011 23:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-risk-factors-active-duty-military/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-risk-factors-active-duty-military/ Tue, 2 Aug 2011 21:00:11 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lesbian-breakup-friendship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lesbian-breakup-friendship/ Tue, 2 Aug 2011 17:07:55 GMT For people who are dating or dealing with the starting and ending of intimate relationships, a certain question tends to arise... can ex-partners maintain healthy roles in each others? lives? And if so, when, where, how, and (most obviously) why? Sometimes an ex?s role is clear; for example, a couple who has children together will most likely continue as co-parents in the event of a separation. Other post-breakup scenarios have less obvious answers. Exes can, often unintentionally, fall into dysfunctional roles in each other?s lives, such as a baggage-laden ?friend?, convenient sexual outlet, or receptacle of lingering animosity. Deciding how to continue forward, together or separately, after a relationship dissolves can be tricky for anyone. However, for several reasons, this quandary appears to be particularly challenging for lesbians. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/infidelity-enhance-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/infidelity-enhance-relationship/ Tue, 2 Aug 2011 16:43:28 GMT I would like to be quite clear. Infidelity hurts. Infidelity is destructive. I am not suggesting infidelity. However, when cheating happens in a relationship it does not have to be the end. An infidelity can be a wakeup call that your relationship was not working for one or both of you. If you want to be together, you can use this knowledge to fix what was not working and in that way your relationship can be enhanced. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-stress-chronic-illness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-stress-chronic-illness/ Tue, 2 Aug 2011 16:03:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-people-with-eating-issues-respond-based-on-personality-type/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-people-with-eating-issues-respond-based-on-personality-type/ Mon, 1 Aug 2011 23:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/traumatic-news-events-collective-apathy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/traumatic-news-events-collective-apathy/ Mon, 1 Aug 2011 16:19:26 GMT I didn?t cry when I saw the panic stricken families of the 69 children shot dead on Utoya Island in Norway last weekend. I didn?t linger longer than usual when they showed the bombing in the center of Oslo that killed 8 people. The sight of shattered windows and blown up cars provided no shock and awe to me. My attention was only momentarily captured when a Virginia Tech student killed 32 students before taking his life in the spring of 2007. And in March of 2005, when a student in Red Lake, Minnesota, killed his grandparents, several classmates then himself, it hardly distracted me from my daily responsibilities of raising two children. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/think-relationship-over/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/think-relationship-over/ Mon, 1 Aug 2011 16:04:20 GMT You are in a relationship, but sometimes you feel something in the pit of your stomach that reminds you that you are not happy. You love your partner with all your heart, yet you feel as if you are missing something better. You wonder if something out there just might be more fulfilling, and you begin to think maybe you are just settling for what you have. You live with this feeling and you try not to think about it.  You make new friends, go back to school, switch jobs, or focus on the kids. You do anything to keep your mind off this nagging feeling that reminds you of something lacking. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-compassion-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-compassion-trauma/ Mon, 1 Aug 2011 15:50:10 GMT A common but not frequently recognized side effect of traumatic life experiences is an excessive harshness towards self, which often times co-exists with a healthy degree of care and concern for others. While this harshness towards self can be expressed in a multitude of ways, a commonality is the existence of different standards ? be it the standard regarding fairness, worth, acceptability, love, etc?? for yourself and others; with the standards for self being more stringent, unrealistic and possibly even unattainable. Phrased another way, you judge yourself with more rigorous criteria than you use for anyone else. Ultimately, this demandingness does not lead to increased achievement but rather perpetuates the emotional mistreatment and ensuing wounds you experienced in your past. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/latina-women-ptsd-post-partum/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/latina-women-ptsd-post-partum/ Mon, 1 Aug 2011 15:07:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-adhd-transcendental-meditation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-adhd-transcendental-meditation/ Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:00:25 GMT Transcendental meditation (TM) was used in a new study to determine if it would help children with ADHD improve their focus and attention. ?We chose the TM technique for this study because studies show that it increases brain function. We wanted to know if it would have a similar effect in the case of ADHD, and if it did, would that also improve the symptoms of ADHD,? said principal investigator, Sarina J. Grosswald, Ed.D. The researchers recruited 18 children with ADHD, between the ages of 11 and 14, and had them participate in TM over a period of six months. The children?s brains were measured using an electroencephalogram for activity while they performed a rigorous visual-motor assignment. The task demanded focus, memory, attention and impulse control. The findings revealed that all of the children experienced increased brain functioning, processing abilities and even higher executive functioning, as a result of the TM. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-decision-making/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-decision-making/ Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:21:37 GMT Imagine you have just been offered a promotion at work. This is great news, right? You'll be making more money, have more status and prestige within your industry and have a whole team of people working under you. Of course, you'll have to relocate to a new state, pulling your partner and children from their work and schools and you'll all be leaving a community where you have a strong support system of family and friends. Many people who find themselves in such a position become filled with a paralyzing level of anxiety that renders them unable to make a decision. It is certainly understandable ? lots of decisions are tough to make and those that have significant implications for your career, living situation and family are among the toughest. So what can you do? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-trust/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-trust/ Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:58:06 GMT If hope is the thing with feathers, as Emily Dickenson said, then trust floats on gossamer wings. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual/ Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:34:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/factors-increase-veteran-post-traumatic-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/factors-increase-veteran-post-traumatic-stress/ Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:00:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-signs-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-signs-children/ Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:08:31 GMT Depression seems to be more apparent than it may have ever been. I do not have exact statistics with ages, gender, socioeconomic status and how depression has changed, but I do not think that it is necessary to go into that right now. At a time in any one person?s life, a person may or can experience depression. The severity of depression may be based on a number of factors such as: genetics, learned behavior patterns, environmental, family issues, individual perception of a situation and a person?s coping skills. These are the main ones that I particular see in my practice and in a hospital setting. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-empowerment-nonviolent-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-empowerment-nonviolent-communication/ Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:35:48 GMT In the United States people who experience discrimination and oppression are often stereotyped as ?angry.? For example, the stereotype of the ?angry black woman? is reinforced in the popular media over and over and over again. The result of this stereotyping, for people who do experience oppression and discrimination, is a message that they should not be angry. For people of color, ethnic minorities, religious minorities, sexual minorities, gender-variant people and differently-abled communities, this message, to swallow your anger, can be frustrating and make people feel invisible. The invisibility of groups can happen when those individuals are not allowed to voice their own opinions and to share their truth with the world. The long term impact of invisibility can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and anger management issues. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/world-depression-rate/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/world-depression-rate/ Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:37:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-mood-mimic-adhd-child/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-mood-mimic-adhd-child/ Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:00:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reconstructing-meaning/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reconstructing-meaning/ Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:51:05 GMT Last month we discussed the role affect regulation plays in recovery from trauma. Affect is driven by thoughts and in turn, thoughts are informed by meanings. It is useful to note at the outset many of these meanings lie outside conscious mind?s power and scope. Deeper mind, with its vast storehouse of implicit memories and ability to condense meanings and code them in various ways, makes meaning much more than just a conscious construct or a unidimensional belief. Trauma in general, and relational trauma, in particular, ( that rises to the level of an attachment injury) has the power to smash into awareness and leave an indelible imprint, blowing to bits our basic assumptions about relationships, human nature, justice, self-efficacy, and the availability of support or safety in the world. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/im-right-youre-wrong-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/im-right-youre-wrong-relationships/ Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:38:41 GMT It?s a classic. Of all the themes in the history of relational strife, the I?m Right, You?re Wrong story is by far the most common. And like many things common, we often take it for granted or overlook the magnitude of its influence. When couples enter into therapy together, it may be a hidden goal for each of them to convince their therapist that they are right and the other is wrong. They demonstrate this in many ways, either subtly or in more painfully blatant ways. By doing so, they hope to feel validated that they were right after all, and that feels good. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prescription-painkillers-may-lead-to-drug-addiction-in-young-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prescription-painkillers-may-lead-to-drug-addiction-in-young-adults/ Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:08:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/boston-study-psychiatric-national-implications/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/boston-study-psychiatric-national-implications/ Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:00:32 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mourning-loss-ideal/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mourning-loss-ideal/ Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:22:57 GMT ?Which is harder - mourning an actual loss or mourning the 'ideal' of something you never had?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internal-family-systems-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internal-family-systems-eating-disorders/ Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:39:00 GMT I am half way through the year-long Level 1 of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) training. IFS is a psychotherapeutic modality used for helping people and their therapists understand and solve the problems that bring them to therapy. And IFS helps make sense of the seemingly irrational world of eating disorders. I?d had some exposure to and experience using IFS prior to enrolling in the training, but the training is giving me a broader and deeper understanding not only of IFS, but also of how we humans work. I?m finding the process exhilarating! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/amy-winehouse-drug-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/amy-winehouse-drug-addiction/ Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:03:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-examines-relationship-between-hippocampus-and-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-examines-relationship-between-hippocampus-and-depression/ Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/could-therapy-improve-debt-ceiling-debate/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/could-therapy-improve-debt-ceiling-debate/ Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:50:33 GMT I don?t know about you, but the last thing I need to worry about right now is if my credit card interest rates are going to skyrocket, the banks are going to stop lending, or what the precarious future of my investment portfolio will be like if those folks in Washington don?t figure out how to all just get along. My oldest son will start college in one year, and because the new governor of the great state of Florida has already done away with the state funded scholarships for college enrollees, my son, along with thousands of others, will have to rely on student loans or a chunk of cash from the bank of mom and dad. And because our school district?s budget, like every other one in the country, has been whittled away to skeletal proportions, our family will have to fork over nearly two thousand dollars for school supplies and related educational costs in the first few weeks of the school year. So as I lay in bed trying not to let the stress, fear and worry consume my already anxious and easily agitated mood, I fall back on my mantras and meditation techniques, and wonder if perhaps the guys and gals on the hill couldn?t benefit from a little therapeutic intervention of their own. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/improve-communication-resolve-issues-teens/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/improve-communication-resolve-issues-teens/ Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:35:19 GMT Teens often tell me their parents don't understand, don't listen or don't care about what they think. Parents wonder why their lectures fall on deaf ears. How do we bridge this communication gap? Parents often want to lecture instead of listen. Teens have heard it before and already know what their parents are going to say. As a result, the only purpose of a lecture is to make parents feel better. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alternative-lifestyle-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alternative-lifestyle-relationship/ Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:21:21 GMT It?s a pretty well known fact that ?happily ever after? is a concept that is often easier said than done. People still cling to and admire the ideals of a long-term commitment and marriage and with a little effort and cooperation many find that it is actually doable when they have both feet in the relationship, whilst others are finding that finding a new partner is sometimes just easier, and divorcing themselves from their partner and situation makes more sense. But with so much exposure to new and alternative ways of embracing marriage, more and more couples are ?coming out? so to speak, to embrace their sexuality by exploring alternative lifestyles within the marriage. Alternative lifestyles, also known as open relationships, are giving couples a third option, so to speak, when relationships need a little extra push to get up that hill. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/downside-feeling-up-bipolar/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/downside-feeling-up-bipolar/ Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:08:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-and-apathy-common-in-people-with-alzheimers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-and-apathy-common-in-people-with-alzheimers/ Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:00:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/codependency-therapy-jealousy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/codependency-therapy-jealousy/ Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:05:30 GMT Rarely does a client call for an appointment and say that they want help with their codependency. One of the many issues that bring clients to therapy for codependency is relationship troubles. Sometimes a client will call with a broken heart and feel that they should have recovered from it by now. Other times there are problems with jealousy and trust issues. A client may call re: difficulty communicating with their spouse which often means the inability to resolve conflict. Other times a client calls to find out how they can get their partner to change something or get help. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jung-poetry-full-embodied-living/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jung-poetry-full-embodied-living/ Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:37:45 GMT Everything that irritates [or intrigues] us about others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anti-depressant-medication-increase-relapse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anti-depressant-medication-increase-relapse/ Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:04:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/truths-workplace-affair/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/truths-workplace-affair/ Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:35:03 GMT "The new infidelity is between people who unwittingly form deep, passionate connections before realizing that they've crossed the line from platonic friendship into romantic love. Infidelity is any emotional or sexual intimacy that violates trust." http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-effect-alcohol-consumption/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-effect-alcohol-consumption/ Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:58:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mastering-craft-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mastering-craft-parenting/ Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:36:02 GMT ?Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/playful-parents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/playful-parents/ Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:01:02 GMT Play is the special ingredient that offers a full and joyful life. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-equal-teen-girls-boys/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-equal-teen-girls-boys/ Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:41:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-after-giving-birth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-after-giving-birth/ Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:30:54 GMT The words postpartum depression and sex could basically be juxtaposted in a Sesame Street song: ?Which of these things is not like the other? Which of these things is kinda the same? Can you guess which thing is not like the other?? In other words, if you are recovering from postpartum depression, more than likely sex is not even remotely on the brain. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fear-hurting-others-self-inhibition/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fear-hurting-others-self-inhibition/ Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:53:42 GMT Even when it is unintended, some people find it intolerable to hurt someone they love. To experience hurting the other can create shame, guilt and strong ?I am a bad person? feelings. As a result, we may avoid saying what is on our mind and put aside our own feelings and needs. This inhibiting of the self can be harmful to our relationships and can create the conditions for developing anxiety and depression. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-suggests-omega-3-reduces-inflammation-and-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-suggests-omega-3-reduces-inflammation-and-anxiety/ Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:18:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-is-sought-more-when-optimism-is-at-a-low/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-is-sought-more-when-optimism-is-at-a-low/ Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/saying-sorry-enough-rupert-murdoch/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/saying-sorry-enough-rupert-murdoch/ Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:28:10 GMT Mercer Mayer authored a series of children?s books entitled The Little Critter Series. I used to read these wonderful and inspiring books to my children when they were young, and was able to draw profound life lessons from them to share with my budding adults. They learned the art of sharing, how to demonstrate respect and that sometimes, saying ?I?m sorry,? just isn?t enough. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/know-yourself-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/know-yourself-self-esteem/ Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:05:24 GMT Can you fall in love with someone you don?t even know? If you?re like most of us, at some point in your life you had a mad crush on someone you barely knew. It might have been a rock star, an actor, or a super-cute neighbor. Whoever it was, you were totally into them even though you may not have known much about them at all. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/premature-birth-linked-to-mental-health-issues-in-adolescence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/premature-birth-linked-to-mental-health-issues-in-adolescence/ Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:31:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bulimia-lower-brain-reward-system/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bulimia-lower-brain-reward-system/ Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intense-exercise-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intense-exercise-anxiety/ Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-graduate-future-plans/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-graduate-future-plans/ Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:00:46 GMT Congratulations to all of you college grads out there! You made it through four or more years of cramming for tests, writing papers, late nights studying (and other late night activities), hangovers, morning classes, dining hall food or top ramen and boxed macaroni and cheese. You also had a lot of unforgettable experiences, made lifetime friends, learned an amazing amount of material, grew tremendously as a person, became more independent, and perhaps became inspired about your life direction, prepared for your future, and got ready to take on the world. You really should be commended! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/preteen-values-fame-fortune/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/preteen-values-fame-fortune/ Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dimensions-sexual-identity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dimensions-sexual-identity/ Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:32:00 GMT Everyone has a sexual identity. This might sound like a really simple and obvious thing to say, but I?ve found in my work as a therapist and an educator that people often only think of ?gay? and ?lesbian? when they hear the terms ?sexual identity? or ?sexual orientation.?  So, the first thing to know about sexual identity is that everybody has one. The close second most important thing to know about it is that only you can decide what your sexual identity is. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-perception-may-lessen-teen-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-perception-may-lessen-teen-anxiety/ Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:09:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/drug-addictions-becoming-more-prevalent-in-suburban-youth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/drug-addictions-becoming-more-prevalent-in-suburban-youth/ Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-money-matters/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-money-matters/ Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:21:25 GMT Modern marriage as an institution is no longer primarily a financial arrangement agreed upon by parents, as has been the case historically in nearly all cultures. And yet financial issues are the third most common issue cited by couples seeking divorce, following loss of intimacy/ irreconcilable differences and infidelity. A 2006 Money Magazine poll found that 84% of couples see money as a source of tension in their marriage and 15% admit to arguing about it several times a month. Usually the arguments are about different financial priorities and debt. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/shadow-work-emotional-suffering/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/shadow-work-emotional-suffering/ Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:05:34 GMT If you read last month?s blog, Creativity vs Shadow, you will remember a brief mention of Deepak and Gotham Chopra?s book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes. In the book Chopra identified shadow as a ?force of the unconscious that can be destructive, divisive and/or self-sabotaging if it remains unconscious?. Shadow is difficult to recognize because left to it?s own devices it remains unconscious. Shadow is a zapping energy that lurks in the area of emotional suffering caused to oneself or to another. The concept can be broadly applied to families, groups, religions, governments, countries, etc. if we consider them bodies of energy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/genetic-discovery-may-lead-to-new-treatment-for-schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/genetic-discovery-may-lead-to-new-treatment-for-schizophrenia/ Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:53:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-reveals-cbasp-as-promising-treatment-for-chronic-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-study-reveals-cbasp-as-promising-treatment-for-chronic-depression/ Tue, 12 Jul 2011 23:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/should-attend-friends-wedding/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/should-attend-friends-wedding/ Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:14:54 GMT Yesterday Ellen walked into my office looking annoyed and confused. ?I don?t know what to do. Robin invited me to her wedding and I don?t want to go, but I think I should. It?s a destination wedding, a long weekend in Mexico- four days! It might be fun but I can?t afford it, and I can?t take time off from work either. But I have to go.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/five-domains-healthy-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/five-domains-healthy-relationship/ Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:31:50 GMT You might have heard the phrase ?love is the glue? that holds us, the universe, etc. together. I'd like to make a case for mindfulness as a similar connecting agent. In thinking of the work I am passionate about offering at Counseling on Capitol Hill, I've discovered that the various offerings have a common theme. What is it that couples counseling, Positive Discipline parent education, individual therapy, mindfulness coaching, and family therapy have in common? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-eating-disorder-focus-negative-body-trait/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-eating-disorder-focus-negative-body-trait/ Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:39:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-stress-response-personality-type/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-stress-response-personality-type/ Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:00:32 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hierarchy-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hierarchy-eating-disorders/ Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:35:10 GMT Imagine a life where you are continually tormented by an inner dialogue that screams of your worthlessness, your hideous appearance, and your pitiful, meaningless existence. Imagine a life where you mange your day solely around food, either by avoiding it, getting rid of it, or consuming as much of it as you can. Imagine spending your birthday in a psychiatric ward, perhaps too sick and too weak to even stand up on your own. And now imagine that there is a very strong part of you that wants to be worse. This is the horrible trap of an eating disorder. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-depression-summer-structure/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-depression-summer-structure/ Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:02:32 GMT Most teens look forward to summer, school is out and the good life begins. Teens with depression, however, face a real challenge during this time of year. Assuming that your teen's school environment is positive or neutral, summer presents some real pitfalls when it comes to depression: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-addiction-family-judgment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-addiction-family-judgment/ Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:30:40 GMT When a family member is struggling with addiction the entire family system suffers. Life inside the family system can become a rollercoaster of emotions. It is common for parents to blame each other or themselves when their child is suffering from addiction. All family members are affected with the chaos that addiction brings to the family unit. Emotions often range from denial, grief, fear, anger, shame, and a tremendous sense of loss. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/external-trigemina-nerve-stimulation-depression-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/external-trigemina-nerve-stimulation-depression-treatment/ Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:15:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/words-can-heal/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/words-can-heal/ Sun, 10 Jul 2011 15:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/youth-sexual-abuse-schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/youth-sexual-abuse-schizophrenia/ Fri, 8 Jul 2011 23:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-friend-influence-divorce/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-friend-influence-divorce/ Fri, 8 Jul 2011 19:59:09 GMT Many of you may remember the role of the Greek Chorus in literature classes from high school or college. They appeared in the works of Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripidies and Aristophanes, to name just a few. Their role was to explain what they thought was going on and would intentionally or unintentionally ?stir the pot?. In modern times, it is often our friends and families who comprise our own personal Greek Choruses as they work so lovingly to protect us from what we have not yet experienced and to help us along in life. Consider the following scenario: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-hypersensitivity-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-hypersensitivity-relationships/ Fri, 8 Jul 2011 19:30:38 GMT I recently stumbled across a new blog called Infinite Daze where the author poignantly writes about her daily struggles with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).  In a recent post titled Should I Stay or Should I Go Now, she has this to say about her marriage: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/life-experience-predisposition-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/life-experience-predisposition-depression/ Fri, 8 Jul 2011 17:02:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/optogenetics-advanced-addiction-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/optogenetics-advanced-addiction-treatment/ Thu, 7 Jul 2011 23:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intimate-relationship-bullying/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/intimate-relationship-bullying/ Thu, 7 Jul 2011 17:48:48 GMT When we think of a bully we might be reminded of a big kid from school who used his or her size to intimidate others. Maybe we have an image from some television show or movie of a hulking being pushing others around. As a couples counselor I can tell you bullies come in all shapes and sizes. They can be demur women and they can be medium sized men. They can be kind in their presentation and underneath they can be steaming with anger and come out harsh.  Whatever their shape, they all have at least one thing in common? they are abusive to their mate. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-trust-collaboration/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-trust-collaboration/ Thu, 7 Jul 2011 16:28:08 GMT "When trust and confidence--at both the personal and institutional levels--are high, democracy works better, the economy develops with fewer problems, interpersonal relations are easier and more straightforward, people behave more altruistically, and standards of living increase."  http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veterans-vulnerable-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veterans-vulnerable-suicide/ Thu, 7 Jul 2011 15:48:30 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregiver-mental-health-support/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregiver-mental-health-support/ Wed, 6 Jul 2011 23:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/inner-critic-creative-block/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/inner-critic-creative-block/ Wed, 6 Jul 2011 17:02:29 GMT The article is due. The performance is today. The gallery exhibit opens next week. And you?re not ready. A small voice inside your head is saying, forget it. It?s no use. You?ve lost it. What you have to say is NOT more important than what anyone else has to share with the world. You?ve never written (painted, composed or performed) anything worthwhile. And you?re frozen, immobilized, mute - again. Maybe the voice has merely turned your world from colorful to dull gray, but, if you?ve become severely depressed over your inability to create, the voice may be this time have transformed itself from merely a very critical super-ego entity into a little gremlin of almost demonic quality that sits on your shoulder whispering its withering words and following them up with a cackle that is strongly evocative of the Wicked Witch of the West. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/accept-grief-parent-death/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/accept-grief-parent-death/ Wed, 6 Jul 2011 16:36:39 GMT This month I had promised to deliver Part 2 of my article ?Making Friends with Feelings?. And my theme is not going to diverge much from this topic, but there has been a bit of a change in my writing plan. Since my last blog post, my dad was diagnosed with and unsuccessfully treated for lung cancer? he died in early June. It was a very quick process, head-spinningly so. And as a result, the emotion at the forefront of my consciousness these days is grief. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hollywood-body-image-eating/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hollywood-body-image-eating/ Wed, 6 Jul 2011 16:03:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-impact-media-youth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-impact-media-youth/ Tue, 5 Jul 2011 23:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jared-loughner-forced-medication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jared-loughner-forced-medication/ Tue, 5 Jul 2011 18:18:32 GMT Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords made her first public appearance last week when she joined her husband at the Houston Space Center as he received the Space Flight Medal. Giffords, who is still recovering from the brain injury she sustained from a gunshot wound to the head, will continue therapy indefinitely. Her doctors will advise her and her family what protocol to take, and she will be able to determine, after counseling with her loved ones, which course of action will be best for her recovery. The man who shot her does not have that option. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-care-enhance-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-care-enhance-relationship/ Tue, 5 Jul 2011 18:02:57 GMT Are you a person who takes care of everyone else before yourself? Do you believe you should put yourself last? If you take care of other's needs before your needs routinely, then you may have co-dependent tendencies. Taking care of yourself enables you to then be available to take care of others. If you neglect your personal needs and wishes and care for others instead, then you may begin to feel resentful and "empty." In a relationship, co-dependent behaviors can potentially sabotage your relationship success. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/american-geriatrics-society-guide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/american-geriatrics-society-guide/ Tue, 5 Jul 2011 17:17:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/independence-nation-world-suffering/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/independence-nation-world-suffering/ Mon, 4 Jul 2011 13:00:22 GMT Independence Day is fast approaching. On that day we celebrate our declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776 and our independence as a country today. As independent as we are in relation to many countries in the world, are we really independent? We could seek answers to this question through many lenses. Today we will choose one. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/binge-drinking-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/binge-drinking-mental-health/ Sat, 2 Jul 2011 15:00:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-healthy-eating/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-healthy-eating/ Fri, 1 Jul 2011 17:46:41 GMT My son who is 4 months old is eating pureed foods now. He is eating and liking his fruit and vegetables. I am happy about that. I know that is all he knows at this point but as he grows up, it will be more of a challenge to have him eat his fruits and vegetables and I and my husband will be responsible for that. WOW! What a challenge but maybe with planning it can be smooth. How? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addiction-relapse-danger-zone/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addiction-relapse-danger-zone/ Fri, 1 Jul 2011 16:52:11 GMT Many people I work with have often been successful at maintaining some sort of long-term sobriety/abstinence from alcohol or drugs. If you participate in AA/NA, getting your one month chip is often described as exhilarating. There is a boost in self-confidence and hope in one?s ability to regain control of one?s life. But something happens after the one year chip. All of a sudden chips stop coming. You don?t get as much attention and support anymore as you did in the beginning. All of a sudden you are ?cured? and/or you are supposed to know how to do this on your own. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/elderly-alcohol-use/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/elderly-alcohol-use/ Fri, 1 Jul 2011 16:16:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-national-awareness-day-2011/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-national-awareness-day-2011/ Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weed-marijuana-bad-unhealthy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weed-marijuana-bad-unhealthy/ Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:40:07 GMT Harm from marijuana use remains a hotly debated and unsettled issue. Clearly there are respiratory risks and perhaps cancer risks from inhaling a substance with many of the same ingredients found in cigarettes. The most robust evidence against marijuana comes from numerous studies showing a strong link between using weed and psychotic symptoms, including schizophrenia. Again, no causal link has ever been shown, and some have argued ? not very convincingly ? that the correlation may mean quite oppositely that psychotic individuals use the drug to ameliorate psychotic symptoms. Although there is much evidence that marijuana users remain under-employed and under-educated, again, the arrow of causality may point in the other direction: those with fewer opportunities may be more likely to turn to weed to feel better. Is weed addictive? Seems to be, especially among the young, but not as strongly addictive as other psychoactive drugs. Cognitive deficits from smoking? No doubt about it. But the evidence has yet to show long-lasting deficits after cessation. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-help-child-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-help-child-anxiety/ Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:07:09 GMT If our children are experiencing anxiety, beginning to panic, to feel so sick they refuse school or activities we want to help them. Nevertheless, how can we help a child when they are so anxious all they can seem to think about is the stressor that is provoking their anxiety? As a parent, you do not want to make the situation worse. There are solutions to help children the following ideas can be used together or separately and with repeated practice, children can learn to decrease their anxiety on their own or with a little encouragement. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nature-nurture-determine-mood/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nature-nurture-determine-mood/ Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abused-husband-domestic-violence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abused-husband-domestic-violence/ Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:31:21 GMT A psychology professor at California State Long Beach has compiled an impressive pile of data ? over 500 studies! ? that suggests that women are at least as if not more physically aggressive than men in their intimate relationships. In a 2008 ABC News ?What Would You Do?? segment, actors played out two scenarios in public: a man verbally abusing his female partner, then shaking her and pulling her hair, followed by a woman doing the same to him. In the first instance, several people intervened and stopped the violence, sometimes angrily; in the second, no one did a thing. One female onlooker even pumped her fist happily as she watched the woman slapping her partner. ?Good for her,? she later told the interviewer, ?I?m sure he deserved it.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-communication-responsiveness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-communication-responsiveness/ Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:49:11 GMT There?s a distinct set of habits that are shared by almost all people who know how to get their partners to be open-minded and receptive, and thanks to decades of painstaking relationship research, we now know exactly what these habits are. If you want to succeed in love, you simply must have specific interpersonal abilities. If you have them, chances are very good that over the long haul your partner will be responsive to your wants and needs. If you don?t have them, the evidence suggests that your relationship future is likely quite dim. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/premature-birth-adolescent-mood-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/premature-birth-adolescent-mood-issues/ Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:07:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressful-environment-child-lung-damage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressful-environment-child-lung-damage/ Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:00:16 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sports-psychology-pet-death-grief/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sports-psychology-pet-death-grief/ Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:56:45 GMT Ultra Emotion-athon http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/extreme-teen-diet-behavior-adulthood/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/extreme-teen-diet-behavior-adulthood/ Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:09:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-menopause-mindfulness-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-menopause-mindfulness-therapy/ Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:00:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deny-state-benefits-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deny-state-benefits-addiction/ Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:39:15 GMT The economy doesn?t seem to be improving much lately. As a matter of fact, millions of people are still unemployed or underemployed, and families throughout the country are struggling to keep their homes and put food on the table. The number of food stamp recipients has risen dramatically over the past few years, and applications continue to flood in for state assistance. But recent proposals by Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Florida and other state legislatures to pass a bill that would test those receiving public assistance for drug or substance use sits a little uncomfortably with me. As I researched this topic, I came across many comments agreeing that this type of invasion of privacy is highly unconstitutional. But what worries me about any law that forces the needy to be subjected to dependency testing is the blurred line between someone who uses and someone who abuses. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/create-rituals-grief/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/create-rituals-grief/ Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:08:11 GMT We  humans like things to stay the same. Even if we are open to change, change can be very difficult. There is nothing more changing than the death of someone you love, someone whose existence is part and parcel to your own. When those people die, we are left floundering. That person may be your child, your husband or wife, your companion, your friend, your sister, your brother. The depth and breadth of your grief depends on the connectedness you feel to this person who has died. This can mean your spiritual, emotional, or physical connectedness, and often, your perception of your very existence. The more intertwined your life with the deceased--including your identity, and perhaps your very existence--with the person who has died, the  more affected you are by your experience of grief, when that person dies. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resentful-compliance-commitment-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resentful-compliance-commitment-communication/ Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:50:07 GMT The focus of this post is to elaborate on two related themes. One, the differences between resentful compliance and commitment. Two, how understanding those differences can alter the course of a relationship. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/big-city-living-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/big-city-living-stress/ Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:21:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/codependent-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/codependent-therapy/ Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:00:44 GMT You may wonder how people get into therapy for co-dependency. Rarely do I have a client come in requesting help for co-dependency. More often clients come in for other issues, and we discover the co-dependency as I am getting to know them. I will describe some of the presenting problems that sometimes can be a red flag for co-dependency. Then, in subsequent articles, I will describe we work together in therapy to make things better. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-reward-system-cocaine-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-reward-system-cocaine-addiction/ Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:23:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workability-acceptance-commitment-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workability-acceptance-commitment-therapy/ Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:00:45 GMT One of the cornerstones of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is the concept of workability. The aim of ACT is for our clients to create a rich, meaningful, and vibrant life. Workability is how we determine whether a client?s behaviors are serving that end. Usually, people know when their behaviors are not working for them, but because they are often fused with their thoughts, they may have a hard time acting any other way. Instead of bringing them closer to the life they want, their behaviors are more or less a means of struggling with or avoiding painful thoughts and feelings. To demonstrate how this might appear in a therapy session I?d like to present the case of Samantha (Of course names and details have been altered to protect confidentiality): http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-children-parent-cancer/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-children-parent-cancer/ Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:18:54 GMT ?Ellen? is six years old. Her mother has stage four breast cancer, which she has been living with for a couple of years. However, her health is starting to decline. She is starting to have a lot of bone pain, and feeling quite fatigued. Recently, she has had episodes of confusion, due to the metastases in her brain. Ellen knows something is wrong with mommy, but when she asks her parents, they tell her everything is fine and that mommy will be all better soon. They don?t want Ellen to worry. They believe that by not talking about her mother?s illness, Ellen won?t think about it. When Ellen says she is sad because mommy doesn?t play with her as much as she used to and she stays in bed a lot, her parents tell her she should be happy because mommy doesn?t have to be at work anymore. They think they are protecting Ellen from the fact that her mother is dying, and that that is the best thing to do for a child. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neurofeedback-trauma-veterans/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neurofeedback-trauma-veterans/ Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:48:45 GMT As we prepare to celebrate our country?s upcoming Independence Day, it seems appropriate to speak about a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy, neurofeedback, which is currently being used to treat veterans who have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)1. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-stroke-loss-independence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-stroke-loss-independence/ Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:17:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/group-therapy-childhood-abuse-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/group-therapy-childhood-abuse-trauma/ Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:35:17 GMT Group therapy can be the most nurturing and also the most challenging form of therapy. It is highly effective. While it doesn?t replace individual therapy, it can be a great adjunct and a final step in the healing process. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pleasure-principle-food-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pleasure-principle-food-relationship/ Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:20:04 GMT The Pleasure Principle is simply this: Our bodies are wired to move towards pleasure and avoid pain. We naturally gravitate towards things that taste, smell and feel yummy and delicious. We naturally avoid the opposite. To try to fight the pleasure principle, as so many diets encourage us to do, is to fight one of our most basic instincts. Is it any wonder then that so many diets fail? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/write-personal-manifesto/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/write-personal-manifesto/ Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:38:55 GMT Manifesto: a public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/panic-delay-stressful-event/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/panic-delay-stressful-event/ Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:59:16 GMT New research suggests that stressful events may cause delayed increase in panic symptoms. Because the effect of stress on panic symptoms has not been studied extensively, researchers wanted to determine if people with panic problems experienced immediate increase or a gradual increase in symptoms following a stressful event. "We definitely expected the symptoms to get worse over time, but we also thought the symptoms would get worse right away," said Ethan Moitra, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. But the findings revealed that stress does not always cause an immediate panic attack. Dr. Martin Keller, principal investigator of the research and professor of psychiatry and human behavior, warns family members and clients to watch for signs of panic over the several months following the stressful event. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-hate-thighs/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-hate-thighs/ Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:22:36 GMT She hates her thighs, the sight of them drive her mad. The tissue is soft, the weakness mocks her. Yet she is somehow pulled into the ritual of gazing and when not in front of a reflection, imagining the horror of her flesh. She is repulsed by its frailty, yet it eludes her, defies her, mocks her then, paradoxically, defines her. It continues despite her efforts to be rid of it. At first she is awash with hopelessness at this self-reflected failure. Reactively, almost immediately, she is stirred into motivation by the powerful endorphins of anger, the drive of dopamine. She is going to do something about it. She will refute any signs of hunger, a sneer. She will rise above the pain of exhaustion as she sweats away the frailty she so disapproves of, pounding the pavement, the treadmill, anything she can find that lets her feel in charge. She will conquer the imperfection. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/good-bad-sides-porn/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/good-bad-sides-porn/ Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:55:41 GMT I want to start off by saying that pornography in and of itself is not a ?bad? thing. We have preconceived notions about porn being something bad. Men feel guilty about it. Women feel threatened by it. I want to talk a little bit about why porn is good, and why porn is bad. At the core, I believe that everything in moderation is the best format to follow. And a little bit of porn should be fine, as long as it?s not interfering with your sex life, social life, finances, job, relationship, family, responsibilities and so on. (Read: Most mental health professionals will in fact determine whether or not something is considered an addiction, or if someone is addicted based on the aforementioned variables of responsibilities. If something is being affected, such as any or all of job, relationship, family, money, chances are the individual has a problem or addiction, and will likely be treated as such by the mental health professional.) http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-pain-twenties-thirties/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-pain-twenties-thirties/ Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:02:46 GMT I?ve written a few times here about the experience of having multiple sclerosis. Truth be told, as a woman over the age of 50, when getting together with friends in my age range we?ve all got some condition or other. Fibromyalgia, bad knees, arthritis, diabetes. Decades ago we met for coffee to talk about our love lives, careers, college, and next weekend?s ski trip. Nowadays, the topics have shifted to gluten-free diets, Neurontin versus Elavil for chronic pain, and sharing the name of our great new internist. I?m in good company, and even though we are all active, busy, happy professionals with families and friends, physical and emotional challenges creeping into our conversations have certainly become the norm. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/play-therapy-work-success/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/play-therapy-work-success/ Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:42:25 GMT What are your basic needs? Do any of your basic needs fit into the categories of better health and conquering specific fears? Do health issues or your fears hold you back from living fully and contributing in the way you would like to? What can you do to help yourself? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/energy-drink-musician-substance-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/energy-drink-musician-substance-abuse/ Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:19:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-student-stress-affect-academics/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-student-stress-affect-academics/ Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coming-out-lgbt-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coming-out-lgbt-mental-health/ Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:01:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/link-food-issues-postpartum-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/link-food-issues-postpartum-depression/ Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/blended-family-stepfathers-fathers-day/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/blended-family-stepfathers-fathers-day/ Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:16:18 GMT My husband was surprised the first time he got a Father?s Day card from our kids. Not having any kids of his own, his assumed role of step-father was one he was utterly unfamiliar with. He had been raised by his mother and has never known his father. Perhaps that is why that the whole concept of celebrating Father?s Day was foreign to him. When he first saw the cards lying on the table, he did not realize they were for him. After a few moments, it sunk in and a look of confusion and trepidation came over him. After graciously accepting them from the kids, and thanking them profusely, he shared with me his true feelings. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-action/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-action/ Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:57:30 GMT Self-esteem is not a thing that?s either high or low that we carry around with us. Nor is it a thing we wear to protect ourselves from pain. Self-esteem is not a thing at all: it?s an action. It?s something we do. We esteem ourselves. What high self-esteem means is that you treat yourself as someone you hold in high esteem; i.e., you act as if you like yourself. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/summer-solstice-life-cycle/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/summer-solstice-life-cycle/ Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:37:40 GMT In January, shortly after the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, I wrote an article called ?The Light is Born and then?? and in it we met the fear of darkness that lives within. Today, as we are moving quickly toward the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, may what you read be perhaps surprising, and hopefully enlightening and healing for you. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-mom-postpartum-depression-increased-risk-adolescent/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-mom-postpartum-depression-increased-risk-adolescent/ Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:50:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-loss-surgery-trigger-food-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-loss-surgery-trigger-food-issues/ Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-neurons-factor-post-traumatic-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-neurons-factor-post-traumatic-stress/ Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapists-fathers-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapists-fathers-parenting/ Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:13:16 GMT As a psychologist, I see many dads who take pride in and also struggle with being a father. In honor of Father?s Day, I would like to offer some reflections for fathers, families, and therapists about the importance of recognizing and celebrating fathers in therapy. Let?s start with a quiz: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sleeping-too-much-too-little-impact-sleep-similarly/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sleeping-too-much-too-little-impact-sleep-similarly/ Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/connecting-core-parenting-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/connecting-core-parenting-relationships/ Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:29:26 GMT Developing Resilience and Groundedness with Mindfulness http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-reduce-suicidal-thoughts-insomniacs/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-reduce-suicidal-thoughts-insomniacs/ Fri, 17 Jun 2011 06:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/orthorexia-nervosa-dangerous/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/orthorexia-nervosa-dangerous/ Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:01:30 GMT Last week, I had the privilege of presenting a web conference on disordered eating for Good Therapy. In the course of the web conference, I was asked a question about orthorexia. Thinking about what to write for this month?s article, this Q&A exchange about orthorexia popped into my head. I realized I?d not done more than mention it in passing in my Good Therapy articles, and thought I?d take this opportunity to explore the subject. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bracha-tool-forecast-violent-behavior-children-teens/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bracha-tool-forecast-violent-behavior-children-teens/ Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:00:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/socioeconomic-status-determine-happiness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/socioeconomic-status-determine-happiness/ Thu, 16 Jun 2011 06:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-symptoms-young-girls-predict-adolescence-substance-use/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-symptoms-young-girls-predict-adolescence-substance-use/ Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-and-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-and-eating-disorders/ Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:49:46 GMT When you hear someone has experienced a trauma, your initial thought is they were involved in some catastrophic event. Rarely does the image of an everyday problem or situation enter your mind; in most cases the later doesn?t even make it on your radar. The smaller traumatic events, which have been labeled by some as small ?t? traumas, are just as important to consider when it comes to working with people with a mental health issue (C. Patterson-Sterling, personal communication, November, 2010). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tips-resolve-conflicts-cash/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tips-resolve-conflicts-cash/ Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:41:04 GMT Unresolved conflict about money is the #1 cause of divorce in the US. Learning to communicate effectively about money is the #1 solution. The ability to face, handle and resolve conflict is a skill. Unfortunately it?s not a subject or skill we are taught at school; or at home ? for most of us. We get education about reading, writing and arithmetic. We even get sex education; as girls and boys we learn about ?private parts,? the reproduction cycle and periods. At home, some of us are even lucky enough to get the ?sex? talk from mom or dad; or at least a book about where babies come from. But, did your parents ever come to you and say, ?Honey, it?s time we have the talk about how to deal with conflict effectively?? We?ll bet not. What we do learn about conflict, for better or worse, comes from observing how conflict was handled in our families growing up. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mri-preschooler-early-adhd-intervention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mri-preschooler-early-adhd-intervention/ Wed, 15 Jun 2011 06:00:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/postpartum-depression-men-fathers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/postpartum-depression-men-fathers/ Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:36:32 GMT Yes, it's true. One in four new dads have postpartum depression (clinical term is Paternal Postnatal Depression or PPND) after the birth of a baby. What this means in simple terms is dealing feelings of being down, depressed and anxious after the birth of a baby. The good news is that, fortunately, more and more information is being shared with the public about how common and how treatable postpartum depression is in women. And, the reality is that it's just as treatable in men as well! We can't forget those daddies! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/class-2011-what-now/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/class-2011-what-now/ Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:15:30 GMT Colleges and universities across the country have spent the months of May and June conferring degrees on eager, young graduates. There were ceremonies, parties, and tearful goodbyes to friends and professors. Now that all the fanfare has quieted down, many people in the class of 2011 are probably asking themselves ? what now? It can be a daunting time, particularly if you were a ?traditional? student who went straight from high school to college. You?ve probably never not been a student.  You probably moved fairly seamlessly from grade to grade and then onto college. In fact, to this point, starting college ? especially those who moved away from home for the first time ? has likely been among the greatest transitions you have ever experienced. And as challenging as it was to adjust to college life, there was a great deal of support built in ? academic and residential advisers, counseling center staff and services, the structure of an academic schedule and the sense of community inspired by being surrounded by hundreds, or even thousands, of other college freshmen who are also trying to find their way. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-member-attitude-affect-recovery-mental-health-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-member-attitude-affect-recovery-mental-health-issues/ Tue, 14 Jun 2011 06:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-media-cheating-anthony-weiner/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-media-cheating-anthony-weiner/ Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:42:11 GMT So here we go again. Another public figure admitting to erroneous acts that skirt just outside the confines of his marriage. But is it infidelity? When Arnold Schwarzenegger came clean about fathering a child out of wedlock, at least there was concrete evidence that people could look at and say, ?Ah, hah! He definitely cheated!? But with virtual flirtation, recognizing when someone has crossed that line becomes a little more difficult. When does social media contact become infidelity? If my husband instant messaged an old buddy from high school, I probably wouldn?t mind. But if it was an ex-girlfriend, I know I would feel differently. And if he tried to hide it from me and lied when confronted with the evidence, it would become more than suspicious. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/whos-the-best/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/whos-the-best/ Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:40:37 GMT The far enemy of sympathetic joy is envy, and the near enemy is comparing.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virya-joyous-effort-diligence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virya-joyous-effort-diligence/ Sun, 12 Jun 2011 14:32:47 GMT This month our Paramita, or practice on the path to happiness, is virya, which is translated as exertion, diligence or joyful effort. Many of us, especially if we live full and busy lives, might respond to the very notion with a sigh, a feeling of overwhelm, or the sense that, once again, we have not done, been, or accomplished Enough. Now even the Buddhists are scolding us, ?Try harder!? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/debt-improve-young-adult-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/debt-improve-young-adult-self-esteem/ Sat, 11 Jun 2011 19:00:49 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-lesbian-teens-risky-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-lesbian-teens-risky-behavior/ Sat, 11 Jun 2011 06:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-useful-substance-abuse-recovery/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-useful-substance-abuse-recovery/ Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:00:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unrelenting-sadness-experience-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unrelenting-sadness-experience-depression/ Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:00:08 GMT This is the experience in the cluster of possible depression experiences that many people think of when they think of depression. While sadness and crying can be part of any depression, it can be absent as well. It can also be the dominant symptom. The unrelenting sadness experience of depression causes people to feel deeply sad and usually cry often. They don?t get much or any relief from crying, they sometimes still feel this way long after a loss occurred, and sometimes feel sad without having had a loss. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-ocd-indicator-food-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-ocd-indicator-food-issues/ Fri, 10 Jun 2011 06:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hunger-hormone-protect-against-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hunger-hormone-protect-against-depression/ Thu, 9 Jun 2011 19:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-gray-matter-men-violent-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-gray-matter-men-violent-behavior/ Thu, 9 Jun 2011 06:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/working-memory-depressive-thinking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/working-memory-depressive-thinking/ Wed, 8 Jun 2011 19:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/transmission-separation-anxiety-parent-child/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/transmission-separation-anxiety-parent-child/ Wed, 8 Jun 2011 12:33:34 GMT Most parents are uncomfortable when their children are upset or cry. But some parents are much more troubled by their children?s feelings when the child is reacting to physical separation. For these parents, leaving their child with a babysitter when they go out to dinner or dropping them at daycare or preschool when they go off to work, is emotionally unbearable. For parents who find the process of separating with their children so intolerable, it is often the case that they had emotionally difficult separations from their parents when they were children. When a parent?s separation anxiety is so intense, it is often, consciously or unconsciously, transmitted to their children. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/transcendental-meditation-positive-effect-ptsd-soldiers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/transcendental-meditation-positive-effect-ptsd-soldiers/ Wed, 8 Jun 2011 06:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/focalizing-disease-transformation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/focalizing-disease-transformation/ Tue, 7 Jun 2011 20:08:37 GMT Over three decades ago, amidst a sea of healthy, young gay men whose consciousness and life-styles could be described as expansive, I celebrated a hard-earned freedom some people will never know. Then suddenly, many became very sick and starting dying. I, too, became terminally ill. It wasn?t even called AIDS then, and HIV had yet to be discovered. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/three-ways-cope-sex-addiction-relapse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/three-ways-cope-sex-addiction-relapse/ Tue, 7 Jun 2011 19:47:47 GMT Do you know the difference between a relapse and a onetime occurrence of making a poor choice? In asking that question, let me first say that it is important to not excuse a slip up or any patterns of making healthy behavioral choices followed by re-engaging in old patterns, even one time. Yes, there can be times where the one struggling with sexual addiction has a prolonged period of sobriety, they let their boundary down briefly and then get back on track with honesty and help.  A relapse is more than one slip up. It is opening you back up to the addictive behaviors, choices and patterns that were so destructive in one?s life. Let?s take a look at three ways that an individual who suffers from sexual addiction can deal with relapse and then three ways their spouse can walk through this as well. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/good-night-sleep-lower-aggression-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/good-night-sleep-lower-aggression-children/ Tue, 7 Jun 2011 19:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-conference/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-conference/ Tue, 7 Jun 2011 16:19:33 GMT A GoodTherapy.org Announcement http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-outpatient-mental-health-care-er-visits/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-outpatient-mental-health-care-er-visits/ Tue, 7 Jun 2011 06:00:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-do-dont-speak-same-language/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-do-dont-speak-same-language/ Mon, 6 Jun 2011 20:35:02 GMT This is not a post about people speaking two different languages such as English and Spanish.  This is a story about couples that talk to each other but it feels as if they just don?t speak the same language; they talk but they can?t hear each other, as if both are speaking in a foreign dialect. Couples who fall into this category try to communicate but usually end up giving up because it gets too frustrating. Both people want to get their points across but it?s so difficult many couples just stop trying. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-contemplation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-contemplation/ Mon, 6 Jun 2011 20:20:43 GMT In my practice I often meet clients experiencing crisis, whether midlife, spiritual or existential, and sometimes it?s a combination of all of these. Laurinda (not her real name) was such a person. Laurinda came to see me once she was on the verge of complete emotional and physical collapse. The immediate trigger of the breakdown had been the fact that she had missed an important meeting at which she was to have given a presentation to a professional group, but after hearing a bit more of her story, it was obvious that Laurinda was perpetually stressed from attempting to manage not one, but two, professional careers, hosting a book discussion group, guest blogging for several websites related to her professional work, and micro-managing the affairs of an elderly family member - all while ignoring a medical condition with orthopedic and neurological overtones that had emanated from a birth defect. She was also abstinent from prescription drug abuse and ?allegedly? - she told me somewhat wryly - actively working a twelve-step program.  To top it all off, Laurinda was attempting to preserve a long-term but now shaky relationship with a long-term partner who had recently suddenly exploded, said she couldn?t take it any more, and moved out. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/casey-anthony-murder-trial-mothers-kill-mentally-unstable/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/casey-anthony-murder-trial-mothers-kill-mentally-unstable/ Mon, 6 Jun 2011 19:24:43 GMT With my son home sick, the hands that should have been busily typing away on my laptop were otherwise occupied rubbing his back and holding a bucket. Because I was not able to get my daily fix of literary lamenting, I turned my attention to the next best thing, the Casey Anthony murder trial. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/clients-mental-health-challenges-receive-inferior-coronary-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/clients-mental-health-challenges-receive-inferior-coronary-care/ Sat, 4 Jun 2011 14:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/key-receptor-influences-alcohol-addiction-withdrawl/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/key-receptor-influences-alcohol-addiction-withdrawl/ Fri, 3 Jun 2011 19:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-choose-parent-live-with/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-choose-parent-live-with/ Fri, 3 Jun 2011 13:44:32 GMT On a fairly regular basis I am asked by a parent how old their child must be before they can choose which parent they want to live with. Many parents tell me their child will be 12 years old, 13 years old, 14 years old soon and will be able to make their own decisions. They appear to be uniformly surprised to learn that a minor child does not have the legal right to decide which parent to live with. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/living-beyond-stereotypes-lesbians/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/living-beyond-stereotypes-lesbians/ Fri, 3 Jun 2011 13:27:09 GMT I?ve been doing a lot of thinking and talking about ?lesbians? lately. How ?typical lesbians? do this and do that. I even got some feedback from a clerk in a furniture store the other day about the way lesbians commonly make their home decor decisions. And there was that comment in another store alluding to the proliferation of cat hair present in all lesbians? homes. The infinite stereotypes of lesbians have been assailing my senses from every conceivable direction: the magazine article about the U-Haul girlfriend; the movie caricature of the closeted dyke; the semi-viral video highlighting the predictability of ?lesbian bed death?. The assumptions around normalcy for this community are rampant. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-adhd-precursor-substance-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-adhd-precursor-substance-abuse/ Fri, 3 Jun 2011 06:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-activity-predict-future-depressive-symptoms/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-activity-predict-future-depressive-symptoms/ Thu, 2 Jun 2011 19:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/control-over-life-decreases-depression-african-american-men/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/control-over-life-decreases-depression-african-american-men/ Thu, 2 Jun 2011 06:00:11 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-adhd-summer-activities/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-adhd-summer-activities/ Wed, 1 Jun 2011 21:22:52 GMT During summer while away from school many children lose of some of their academic skills that help them to succeed at their classes. Loss of these academic skills can be even worse for a child with ADHD. As a parent, what can you do to prevent this loss during their summer vacation? What activities or outings can help? Honestly, just about anything that keeps your children thinking and engaged. Did you know that some studies have shown that kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games. 6 hours of screen time a day and possibly more because it is summer and they do not have school. For activities, try the following suggestions. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/full-recovery-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/full-recovery-eating-disorders/ Wed, 1 Jun 2011 21:04:15 GMT After 6 years in the depths of anorexia, my eating disorder was a way of life. Starving had become my world. It was the way I dealt with anger, fear, hurt, frustration, disappointment, and every other even slightly uncomfortable feeling. I managed my weight to manage my life. Anorexia was my control, my way of communicating, and my way of avoiding, and it was the one thing I felt like I did really well. I was awesome at losing weight. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/link-anesthesia-cognitive-impairment-adhd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/link-anesthesia-cognitive-impairment-adhd/ Tue, 31 May 2011 19:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weekly-family-time/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weekly-family-time/ Tue, 31 May 2011 15:59:03 GMT My son?s grandparents are out here visiting and it?s been great. We have done a lot of things, and some things that I really did not want to take a 3 month old to, like Disneyland but since they were here, we did. Today we are going to do a few more things before they leave tomorrow. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facing-reality-chronic-illness-disability/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facing-reality-chronic-illness-disability/ Tue, 31 May 2011 15:48:34 GMT Are you ill with some chronic condition but refuse to acknowledge it? Do you attempt to maintain all semblance of normalcy despite the obvious physical and emotional toll the chronic illness takes on you and your marriage? If it?s not you personally, do you know someone who fits this description? I do. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stroke-belt-cognitive-impairment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stroke-belt-cognitive-impairment/ Tue, 31 May 2011 15:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/omega-3-bipolar/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/omega-3-bipolar/ Mon, 30 May 2011 19:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/getting-serious-women-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/getting-serious-women-mental-health/ Mon, 30 May 2011 14:15:28 GMT May is Mental Health Month, and while mental health concerns impact everyone, women face distinct challenges. Women possess unique biochemical and hormonal influences that predispose them to certain mental illnesses, and they respond differently to environmental stresses. Not surprisingly, women benefit from a gender-sensitive approach to prevention and treatment. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-dysmorphia-visual-perception/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-dysmorphia-visual-perception/ Mon, 30 May 2011 14:08:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-acceptance-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-acceptance-depression/ Mon, 30 May 2011 14:01:27 GMT Being human means that we can experience serious bouts of depression, which can make life feel seriously out of balance. There is a sense that we have lost sight of our own vitality and purpose. Depression, however, does not mean that we are ?sick,? as much as it means we may be coping with difficulties in such a way as to avoid feeling badly or dealing with problems. Often, in our attempt to not feel painful feelings, we avoid dealing with difficulties regarding our health, our relationships, our work, and our play. We avoid, withdraw, isolate, numb ourselves (through unhealthy behaviors), and paradoxically make ourselves feel worse. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disaster-mental-health-resources/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disaster-mental-health-resources/ Sat, 28 May 2011 19:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ocd-compulsions-create-obsessions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ocd-compulsions-create-obsessions/ Sat, 28 May 2011 06:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-heart-disease-study/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-heart-disease-study/ Fri, 27 May 2011 19:00:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-competitive-versus-cooperative/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-competitive-versus-cooperative/ Fri, 27 May 2011 18:15:49 GMT We are taught from the earliest of ages that good communication is imperative. In both subtle, and direct ways, we are taught to be competitive when we communicate. Simultaneously, we are told to be cooperative.  What an impossible task--to be cooperative and competitive at the same time. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fatherhood-not-motherhood-lite/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fatherhood-not-motherhood-lite/ Fri, 27 May 2011 17:55:15 GMT Hey Dads. Feeling irritable and distant? Blowing a fuse for no good reason? A little nervous about your disconnection from the kids?  Well here's a unique idea not always presented to fathers: You are Good Enough the way you are. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-balance-bipolar/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-balance-bipolar/ Fri, 27 May 2011 06:00:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/comorbid-mental-illness-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/comorbid-mental-illness-addiction/ Thu, 26 May 2011 20:28:36 GMT I was very young when I knew I wanted to be a therapist. I became particularly interested in depression and how people deal with traumatic events. Never in a million years did I think I would be an addiction expert. After my graduate studies I took an internship at a substance abuse outpatient center. This was purely by chance and because they had a good reputation for offering really good supervision. During my internship it quickly became clear to me that my graduate program in mental health had left me ill prepared to work with substance abuse issues. I kept screening for mental health symptoms because that?s what I knew and we tend to go where we feel comfortable. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcoholic-family-members-alanon/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcoholic-family-members-alanon/ Wed, 25 May 2011 23:08:36 GMT Thanks again to those who responded to my last article on why some partners or loved ones (POLOs) of those struggling with addiction/alcoholism may be reluctant to attend Al-anon. I?ll sum up the answers into 4 categories, based on public and private (i.e., emails to me) responses to the article: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-family-therapy-hope-real-change/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-family-therapy-hope-real-change/ Wed, 25 May 2011 22:54:04 GMT Life in the trenches brings with it fears, burdens, and losses. Times of stress and embattlement may inflict wounds to be long left either ignored or haphazardly bandaged. Sometimes in adolescence the severing of openness with parents is a lonely precursor to endless turf battles in a fight for identity. Left unresolved, the gaping irresolution of this singularly critical bond has the power to play itself out in relationships with lovers and coworkers and children throughout the course of life. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/growing-joy-healing-connection/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/growing-joy-healing-connection/ Wed, 25 May 2011 22:30:14 GMT So often, people talk about the struggles they experience, and how they?ve grown from the pain in their lives. It?s true, but the sentiment is often that it takes pain to grow. What?s not often discussed is how human beings grow from joy, from being in connection; that is, how we heal and grow stronger from the joyous moments in our lives. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dopamine-anorexia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dopamine-anorexia/ Wed, 25 May 2011 19:00:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/type-i-alcohol-abuse-genetics/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/type-i-alcohol-abuse-genetics/ Wed, 25 May 2011 06:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/year-round-grief/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/year-round-grief/ Tue, 24 May 2011 21:41:53 GMT Everyone knows that grieving people go through trying times around the holiday season, but the stretch of months from October's end through the New Year are not the only times that special days occur. Spring and summer months bring with them a whole host of potentially difficult days for the grieving and bereaved. With spring comes Easter and Passover, May brings Mother's Day and Memorial Day, June holds Father's Day. Weddings are in abundance, and most graduations, from pre- through grad school, happen during late spring and the early days of summer. Anniversary days, including wedding anniversaries for grieving spouses, as well as anniversaries of the date of a loved one's death, can happen at any time of the year. This is also true of birthdays, for those who have died, as well as for those of us who are living. My own birthday in the first year following my son's death was a terribly sad day for me. It was one of my more difficult days during that "year of firsts." I didn't think about it beforehand and no one told me that it would be so hard. Perhaps I should have expected it, but it blindsided me. My birthdays have gotten a little bit less raw with each passing year, but no matter what, the knowledge that my first-born child will never be here to celebrate the day with our family is painful. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/premarital-counseling-decrease-conflict/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/premarital-counseling-decrease-conflict/ Tue, 24 May 2011 20:52:46 GMT I'm a big proponent for pre-marital counseling, although I don't market myself specifically as a premarital counselor, (and there are some therapists who do specify their work as towards this) I definitely believe that taking the time to plan and discuss things, particularly goals and expectations, is absolutely necessary for long term relationships, whether it involves marriage or just cohabitating together. It's important to know what we are getting into, who we are getting into it with, what their expectations are for the short term and the long term, whether they want children, parenting styles, who will work, who will stay home, do they want a career, and so on and so forth.. And it also helps to get to know ourselves. What do we want and expect from the relationship, and what do we expect from ourselves within a relationship? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jung-poetry/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jung-poetry/ Tue, 24 May 2011 20:39:41 GMT We are the only species on Earth capable of preventing our own flowering http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-shorter-life-expectancy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-shorter-life-expectancy/ Tue, 24 May 2011 19:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-caregiver-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-caregiver-depression/ Tue, 24 May 2011 06:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/are-teens-with-mental-health-issues-worse-drivers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/are-teens-with-mental-health-issues-worse-drivers/ Mon, 23 May 2011 16:19:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cruelty-conundrum/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cruelty-conundrum/ Mon, 23 May 2011 15:58:12 GMT Why do people we care for sometimes engage in cruel behavior? What can we do about it? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/receiving-compliments-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/receiving-compliments-self-esteem/ Mon, 23 May 2011 15:56:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tai-chi-senior-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tai-chi-senior-health/ Mon, 23 May 2011 15:55:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/perintal-mental-health-awareness-2011/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/perintal-mental-health-awareness-2011/ Mon, 23 May 2011 15:54:42 GMT Yes, May is Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S.! That sure sounds like a mouthful, doesn't it? And what is ?perinatal? anyhow? Well, I will happily explain... http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gambling-addiction-substance-use/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gambling-addiction-substance-use/ Mon, 23 May 2011 15:30:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pedometers-used-in-treatment-of-clients-with-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pedometers-used-in-treatment-of-clients-with-depression/ Mon, 23 May 2011 15:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-effects-forcing-happiness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-effects-forcing-happiness/ Thu, 19 May 2011 19:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/increase-veteran-mental-illness-reporting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/increase-veteran-mental-illness-reporting/ Thu, 19 May 2011 06:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/diagnose-adhd-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/diagnose-adhd-adults/ Wed, 18 May 2011 19:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/genetics-depression-smoking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/genetics-depression-smoking/ Wed, 18 May 2011 06:00:16 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/10-days-mediterranean-diet-mood/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/10-days-mediterranean-diet-mood/ Tue, 17 May 2011 22:07:02 GMT What I am about to say should come as no surprise to most people: what we eat affects our emotions, as well as our bodies. Yet, many of us go through our days consuming things with a considerable degree of automaticity. Who among us has not eating lunch while multitasking at work, driving to a meeting, or watching TV? We have eaten but barely experienced it. Yet, food affects our mental and emotional functioning whether or not we pay attention to it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-play-philosophy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-play-philosophy/ Tue, 17 May 2011 21:51:54 GMT Play is serious business! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kate-middleton-diet/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kate-middleton-diet/ Tue, 17 May 2011 21:29:33 GMT Like everyone else in the U.S., I was aware of the recent wedding of Prince William of Wales to Kate Middleton, the biggest royal wedding since Prince Charles married Princess Diana. I couldn?t escape the chatter about it in the news. The morning of the ceremony, the radio alarm went off and I awoke to the sound of William and Kate?s vows, and it seemed that every time I turned NPR on that day, I heard them again. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gastric-irritation-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gastric-irritation-depression/ Tue, 17 May 2011 19:00:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-misdiagnosis/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-misdiagnosis/ Tue, 17 May 2011 06:00:03 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/patience-daily-life-relaxation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/patience-daily-life-relaxation/ Mon, 16 May 2011 20:03:14 GMT ?How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/major-mental-illness-family-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/major-mental-illness-family-relationships/ Mon, 16 May 2011 19:42:58 GMT For all the research that has been done in the last twenty years attempting to understand the brain, the organ at the top of our spine retains its essential mystery. We know more now than ever how the brain works, how it has developed over the centuries to do the miraculous things it does, and what is happening to it when it gets injured. Doctors, parents, coaches and professional athletes are more alert to the dangers of brain concussion. Neurologists study to become adept at repairing the brain with surgery, cellular transplant, or electrical stimulus. Every one of us has a stake in the health of our minds. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-depression-diagnosis/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-depression-diagnosis/ Sun, 15 May 2011 14:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-self-embedding-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-self-embedding-behavior/ Sat, 14 May 2011 14:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-root-healing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-root-healing/ Fri, 13 May 2011 19:44:12 GMT Oh no! Not another media medical correspondent saying what Catherine Zeta-Jones is dealing with ? bipolar two ? is not curable, but can only be managed and controlled. Not only did one more medical editor say this about Zeta-Jones, but he said it about mental illness in general: ?When it comes to mental illness, you talk about it more as controlled and managed*?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overgeneral-memory-depression-mindfulness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overgeneral-memory-depression-mindfulness/ Fri, 13 May 2011 19:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mind-body-therapy-increase-use/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mind-body-therapy-increase-use/ Fri, 13 May 2011 14:00:02 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/music-therapy-terminal-illness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/music-therapy-terminal-illness/ Fri, 13 May 2011 06:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/scale-traumatic-events/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/scale-traumatic-events/ Thu, 12 May 2011 19:31:50 GMT Simply put, when it comes to traumatic experiences, there is no hierarchy of pain. Many survivors believe ? or want to believe ? that trauma is scalable and therefore more or less than someone else?s. While this belief is understandable and does offer some benefits it ultimately is more flawed than accurate. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cyclomythic-mood-swings/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cyclomythic-mood-swings/ Thu, 12 May 2011 19:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stard-mother-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stard-mother-depression/ Thu, 12 May 2011 14:00:34 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mind-body-therapy-in-vitro-fertilization/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mind-body-therapy-in-vitro-fertilization/ Thu, 12 May 2011 06:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-effects-alcohol-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-effects-alcohol-anxiety/ Wed, 11 May 2011 22:16:14 GMT Many people curb their nervousness with a nice glass of wine or other alcohol beverage. Whether you?re gathering the courage to socialize with people you barely know, fly on an airplane, or even if you?re just feeling worried about the future, alcohol can help loosen inhibitions and dampen self doubt and fears.  While you may feel more relaxed temporarily, using alcohol to tame your anxiety can backfire in the long run. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mother-daughter-relationship-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mother-daughter-relationship-therapy/ Wed, 11 May 2011 22:04:16 GMT Last night I dreamt that a woman with long octopus arms was breaking into my house by slipping through the cracks in the door, which I kept shutting, and she kept opening. When I woke up I heard the phone ringing- it was my daughter, who had been out late celebrating her birthday with her boyfriend. She forgot her keys and was locked out, and I was too deep asleep to hear her ring the door bell. The bell sounds had gotten tangled in my dream life, but the phone sounds broke in. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veterans-ptsd-art-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veterans-ptsd-art-therapy/ Wed, 11 May 2011 19:00:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-cortisol-bipolar-parents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-cortisol-bipolar-parents/ Wed, 11 May 2011 14:00:50 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-orthopedic-injury/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-orthopedic-injury/ Wed, 11 May 2011 06:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-conflict-deeper-connection/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-conflict-deeper-connection/ Wed, 11 May 2011 01:32:40 GMT Conventional wisdom says that having conflict in a partnership is ?bad.? Most couples perceive conflict or its lack as a measure of a relationship?s strength or weakness. The truth is that conflict in itself is not bad; in fact it is a necessary part of every relationship. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relatives-addiction-alanon/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relatives-addiction-alanon/ Wed, 11 May 2011 01:18:54 GMT Many of the partners or loved ones (POLOs) of those struggling with addiction often seem reluctant to get help for themselves. I?m not sure why that is, but I?m hoping this article provides some answers. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-better-critical-thinking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-better-critical-thinking/ Tue, 10 May 2011 19:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-siblings-emotional-regulation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-siblings-emotional-regulation/ Tue, 10 May 2011 14:00:46 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-phobia-therapy-flying/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-phobia-therapy-flying/ Tue, 10 May 2011 06:00:54 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/60-second-stress-relaxation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/60-second-stress-relaxation/ Mon, 9 May 2011 18:43:39 GMT We see a number of clients in our practice who struggle with feelings of anxiety. Working with mental and emotional responses to stress is helpful for these clients. We also take time to learn about where the person feels his/her anxiety in the body. Some common physical manifestations of anxiety include: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/undeveloped-self-relationship-problems/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/undeveloped-self-relationship-problems/ Mon, 9 May 2011 18:24:08 GMT When we describe the relationship between mother and infant, we understand that baby and mother are one. In that symbiotic relationship, there is merger. There are not two separate selves with their own subjectivities who are relating to one another. (One?s subjectivity is the unique way in which we perceive our self and the world.) Our selves and subjectivities develop as we grow from infant to child to adolescent to adult.  When two people come together with their subjectivities, they are relating as two different people. When the processes of separation and individuation have been problematic, the development of one?s unique subjectivity is impaired. The ability to consider someone else?s subjectivity is also not developed. This makes relationship difficult. When a self is undeveloped in a relationship, there is no ?other? to connect to. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/excessive-emotional-pain-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/excessive-emotional-pain-suicide/ Mon, 9 May 2011 18:07:44 GMT This article contains detailed information and accounts of suicidal ideation & behavior. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, get help now. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/school-mental-health-gap/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/school-mental-health-gap/ Sun, 8 May 2011 14:00:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/early-detection-bipolar/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/early-detection-bipolar/ Sat, 7 May 2011 19:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/osteoporosis-mood-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/osteoporosis-mood-issues/ Sat, 7 May 2011 06:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/feedback-challenges/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/feedback-challenges/ Fri, 6 May 2011 19:49:39 GMT I enjoy reading the responses to my articles. Responses to the most recent one of Feedback: The Single Most Important Skill, focused on the complexity of giving and receiving feedback. I want to now add a few comments to those responses. Here are some challenges I have named related to using feedback. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-international-treatment-difference/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-international-treatment-difference/ Fri, 6 May 2011 19:00:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/heart-rate-monitor-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/heart-rate-monitor-relationship/ Fri, 6 May 2011 16:35:30 GMT With all of the technical gadgets available for monitoring information pertaining to running and exercise, one can get very ?scientific? about training and performance. But despite the ability to concisely measure what is happening with your body, equipment can malfunction, and sometimes people perform better when not paying attention to the equipment. For these reasons, it can be helpful to your performance to rely on how you feel in your body, in your heart- ?heart rate.? This applies to relationships as well. How does your heart rate the relationship? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tips-for-good-sleep/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tips-for-good-sleep/ Fri, 6 May 2011 15:45:30 GMT ?Don?t talk to me until I?ve had my coffee!? Is this your morning mantra? Do you find yourself feeling tired, even after a night?s sleep? Sleep is a major, often invisible factor, in how we feel about ourselves and relate to others. You find yourself online, texting, reading or watching T.V. until the wee hours. This may be an attempt to feel more connected or to relax after your day. You might tell yourself it will be different tonight, tonight you?ll get to sleep early. In this fast paced culture, we try to fit in as much as possible at night, making it hard settle down when bedtime comes around. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-ptsd-prior-mental-health-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-ptsd-prior-mental-health-issues/ Fri, 6 May 2011 14:00:20 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-anxiety-brain-development/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-anxiety-brain-development/ Fri, 6 May 2011 06:00:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/redefining-spoiled-identity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/redefining-spoiled-identity/ Thu, 5 May 2011 23:04:49 GMT Each of us has our own unique identity made up of a combination of personality traits, personal and family history, and other attributes. But what happens inside when an identity is not celebrated by a person?s community? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-perception-reality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-perception-reality/ Thu, 5 May 2011 22:47:45 GMT When it comes to my experience, perception is always more powerful than reality. Everything that I am is influenced by that which I perceive to be true, whether it is actually true or merely imagined. As a therapist, I have a responsibility to notice and, at times, even confront perception. I would do well to proceed respectfully, empathically, and without unnecessary provocation. At times, those real or imagined perceptions that infuse every marriage and family that I sit with act as that great big pink elephant in the room?standing between spouses and parents and children?that, unacknowledged, has a way of impeding growth in relationships and, consequently, our work together. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-screen-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-screen-depression/ Thu, 5 May 2011 19:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-decision/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-decision/ Wed, 4 May 2011 19:31:13 GMT You?ve been together now for about 14 years. For the past 4-5 years, you?ve wondered if you can stay together any longer. You?re interests have changed, you don?t enjoy doing things together as much. You find you are impatient and want to have the closeness, with someone, you used to have with each other. Your time is spent running from home to soccer games to business meetings to doctor appointments. There is little time left over to spend together and mostly you just don?t want to anymore. Too much work to bridge the gap that has been created. Your 12 year old daughter and 9 year old son are the lights of your life and spending time with them is much more fulfilling. And you don?t want to think about what your life will be like when they are older and don?t need you so much anymore. Perhaps, you think, that will be the time to consider leaving the marriage. In the meantime, the distance between you and your spouse widens. You don?t talk to each other so nicely anymore. Your tempers are short and you sometimes say things in front of the children you regret both because of the content and because you have been yelling. You are aware you may be doing some harm to the children as they watch the two of you ?go at it? with each other. Often, you find yourself thinking about the friend you have lunch with periodically at work, in a different way. You can talk to him/her more easily than with your spouse. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/male-aggression-threaten-masculinity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/male-aggression-threaten-masculinity/ Wed, 4 May 2011 19:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multiple-medications-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multiple-medications-depression/ Wed, 4 May 2011 14:00:54 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/similar-epilepsy-schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/similar-epilepsy-schizophrenia/ Wed, 4 May 2011 06:00:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internalized-oppression-inner-voice/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internalized-oppression-inner-voice/ Tue, 3 May 2011 23:08:18 GMT For some people, the answer to the question of, ?What does prejudice and discrimination have to with mental health?? is clear, and for others it is not. After all, prejudice and discrimination happen to people from the outside and mental health focuses primarily on what is happening for people on the inside, right? However, as a psychotherapist, I think that understanding the impact of these outside forces on mental health is necessary and important to achieving internal balance and peace of mind. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/five-kinds-feelings/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/five-kinds-feelings/ Tue, 3 May 2011 22:38:51 GMT As a therapist, I talk about feelings a lot. Building a good relationship with one?s emotions can be incredibly helpful for increasing self-confidence and peace of mind. This can be daunting to many people?some feelings seem so big and overwhelming it can be scary to acknowledge them and actually spend time with them. The idea of being on friendly terms with painful emotions is a completely foreign concept to many people. Feeling an emotion deeply in order to fully understand, accept, and transform it takes courage, confidence, and trust that the process will not result in disaster. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/genetic-factor-influence-risk-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/genetic-factor-influence-risk-depression/ Tue, 3 May 2011 19:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-prevent-child-bullying/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-prevent-child-bullying/ Tue, 3 May 2011 14:00:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/genetics-depression-risk/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/genetics-depression-risk/ Tue, 3 May 2011 06:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/osama-bin-laden-death-trauma-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/osama-bin-laden-death-trauma-psychology/ Mon, 2 May 2011 20:04:59 GMT The news of Osama Bin Laden?s death hit the country late Sunday evening. But for many, the announcement was bittersweet. Thousands of families were touched by the tragedy that occurred nearly ten years ago, and few have had a chance to find closure. For those who lost loved ones on 9/11, it may be the end of a very long grieving period. But for others who have not been able to reconcile their feelings and for those who were in the buildings and got out alive, the news of the Bin Laden?s death may serve only to bring back traumatic memories of that fateful day. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-listening-child-conversation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-listening-child-conversation/ Mon, 2 May 2011 19:43:27 GMT Connecting with and creating a stronger relationship with your child starts with listening to them. There are specific skills that a parent can master that help you to show your children that you care by listening to them. Instead of arguments, listen and show your understanding while maintaining your position. By attending to them and inviting them to talk, you can take steps towards a great relationship. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-block-approaches-unstuck/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-block-approaches-unstuck/ Mon, 2 May 2011 19:30:45 GMT I love springtime because of its association with new life, which immediately brings to mind thoughts about creativity. For those with creative blocks, however - whether artists or just ordinary folks like most of us, there are times when the ?stuckness? of creative inability colors the world gray; we tell ourselves we?re not special or good enough; that no one is interested in our creative efforts; our creations look, feel and sound ordinary, as though anyone could have made them. Whether we?re simply uninspired to create, having a bout of the ?blahs?, or feeling depressed, anxious, stressed or preoccupied with the mundane problems of everyday living or with particularly difficult or traumatic life transitions, our minds seem to have been cut off temporarily from the ability to make the creative connections that lead to works or outlooks that are fresh, new, and innovative. Despite assurances from those close to us that we can still ?do it?, that we haven?t really lost our touch or our spark, the disconcerting thought that we might never recover our creativity may occur, either setting off panic or dissolving us into heaps of lethargic apathy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eliminate-traumatic-memories-science/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eliminate-traumatic-memories-science/ Sun, 1 May 2011 14:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spouse-doesnt-believe-chronic-illnes/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spouse-doesnt-believe-chronic-illnes/ Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:45:10 GMT 1 out of 2 people in the U.S. has a chronic illness and in 96% of these cases, the chronic illness is invisible. This means the illness is not readily apparent to others because the person doesn?t use an assistive device like a cane or a wheelchair. Most people with an invisible illness can tell you story after story of family members, friends, co-workers, bosses, etc. who don?t actually believe they?re ill. They?ve been given snide looks when exiting their car after parking in a handicapped spot. They?ve been told by their friends that they look too good to be sick. They?ve been questioned by bosses as to why they miss so many days of work when even a doctor can?t determine an appropriate diagnosis. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-internet-proana/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-internet-proana/ Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:53:46 GMT The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Horrible http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-compliance-defiance/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-compliance-defiance/ Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:00:03 GMT I went to a Mothers Together meeting and there was a presenter that addressed how to get your child to be more compliant than being defiant. It was very interesting. I am going to share some of the information that I heard and found interesting as well as some of my own information. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/paramita-patience/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/paramita-patience/ Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:44:57 GMT This month our Paramita, or practice on the path towards happiness, is Patience. The practice of patience involves a shift in our perspective. Buddhist teacher Sylvia Boorstein says patience ??remains present as long as the mind remembers that things end?when their conditioning causes end...? Conditioning causes are the elements that are coming together in this particular place and time that are causing us stress. In other words, have patience, this too shall pass. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hypnosis-chronic-pain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hypnosis-chronic-pain/ Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:33:16 GMT There are many treatments for chronic pain, including those that fall under the heading of ?complementary and alternative? (CAM). This article discusses hypnosis as a CAM pain management tool that can be used within the context of psychotherapy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/business-hiring-race/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/business-hiring-race/ Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:00:08 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/school-nurse-children-bullied/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/school-nurse-children-bullied/ Thu, 28 Apr 2011 06:00:30 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptips-operation-stress-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptips-operation-stress-children/ Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/botox-decrease-reading-emotions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/botox-decrease-reading-emotions/ Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:00:05 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-adhd-substance-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-adhd-substance-abuse/ Wed, 27 Apr 2011 06:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/academic-performance-adhd-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/academic-performance-adhd-children/ Tue, 26 Apr 2011 06:00:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uncontrollable-crying-childhood-behavioral-problems/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uncontrollable-crying-childhood-behavioral-problems/ Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:00:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-neurological-pathway/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-neurological-pathway/ Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anti-depressant-medication-ineffective/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anti-depressant-medication-ineffective/ Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:00:50 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-trauma-adult-depression-cortisol/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-trauma-adult-depression-cortisol/ Sun, 24 Apr 2011 06:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-violence-mattering/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-violence-mattering/ Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-loss-memory-improvement/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-loss-memory-improvement/ Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:00:50 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/wife-post-partum-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/wife-post-partum-depression/ Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:00:57 GMT If you are the significant other/partner/support person/spouse of a woman who is experiencing perinatal challenges, you are not alone. Over 20% of all childbearing women develop postpartum depression/anxiety (clinical term). And a significant percentage of those women also have depression/anxiety while pregnant. It can feel very overwhelming as her primary support, and you may be wondering how to help her. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-teens-less-support-conservative-communities/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-teens-less-support-conservative-communities/ Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lesbian-gay-parent-decision/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lesbian-gay-parent-decision/ Thu, 21 Apr 2011 22:49:11 GMT One of the most striking aspects I've seen in working with lesbian and gay prospective parents is the amount of thoughtfulness, creativity and deliberateness that goes into the decision to bring children in their lives. Pregnancy is planned, not accidental, and there is usually not as much social or family expectation or pressure to parent. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-transgender/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-transgender/ Thu, 21 Apr 2011 22:29:58 GMT I decided to dedicate myself to investigating and writing about the experience of body in transgendered people. Though I am by no means ?expert? in working with this population, I have learned significantly from clients I have worked with who identified themselves as transgendered. I set out to organize my observations and insights by grounding them in current research, to offer something of use to the reader that was legitimized by work in the field. It struck me that in looking at body appearance satisfaction we could learn a lot from people who experience being born with, and living with, a body that they experience as opposite of what they were suppose to have. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-play-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-play-health/ Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:35:54 GMT If you were handed good health, laughter, and joy would you take it? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-bipolar-moods/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-bipolar-moods/ Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-women-difference-thinking-method/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-women-difference-thinking-method/ Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/seven-factors-aging/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/seven-factors-aging/ Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:00:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vulnerability-eating-disorders-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vulnerability-eating-disorders-therapy/ Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:33:29 GMT Vulnerability is an emotion that affects individuals suffering from eating disorders in a multitude of ways. It is the opposite of being in control and a state of mind not particularly comfortable for people suffering from this mental health issue. Feeling vulnerable is an uncomfortable feeling for many of us, but even more so for individuals suffering from an eating disorder. Not feeling in control often acts as a trigger that begins the destructive cycle of disordered eating. A trigger is any input that a person receives; either from their environmental or an internal thought that creates an uncomfortable feeling. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-relapse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-relapse/ Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:51:52 GMT Did you know that according to Patrick Carnes, Sex Addiction Expert, he reports that relapse happens for most individuals who struggle with sex addiction in the second six months of recovery? Most individuals gain traction in recovery through counseling, support groups and establishing strong boundaries. It is very important that individuals who struggle with sex addiction stay proactive in their recovery and the journey to having healthy and satisfying relationships. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-genetic-adhd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-genetic-adhd/ Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:05:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pregnant-women-depression-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pregnant-women-depression-treatment/ Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:00:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-bad-economy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-bad-economy/ Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:00:18 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-alcohol-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-alcohol-addiction/ Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:00:21 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-control-change/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-control-change/ Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:09:57 GMT It?s that time of year- spring! It?s about renewal and rebirth: life-force energy that has lain dormant through winter is now resurging above ground, driving the emergence of flowers and tender young shoots. I look out my window and can no longer see the street for the riot of leaves. Spring is a colorful illustration of the ongoing flow of life, a testament to the fact that everything is always changing. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-feedback/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-feedback/ Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:11:57 GMT Which of the following statements are true? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/catherine-zeta-jones-bipolar-2/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/catherine-zeta-jones-bipolar-2/ Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/make-exercise-habit/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/make-exercise-habit/ Sat, 16 Apr 2011 14:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/helping-others-grieve/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/helping-others-grieve/ Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:25:27 GMT Grief and loss - It?s something we will all at some point experience in our lives. A range of strong emotions accompany grief and loss and it?s hard to know what to say or do to help those that have lost someone. We often feel helpless on how to interact with those faced with loss. If we learn a little more about the process, we can build confidence in supporting those that we care for. This support is key in helping others work through grief. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-images-thin-bodies/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-images-thin-bodies/ Fri, 15 Apr 2011 06:00:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-bottom-out/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-bottom-out/ Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:09:02 GMT It has been said in AA, "An addict needs to bottom out twice to get better. First from alcohol, and later emotionally." http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/seasonal-allergies-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/seasonal-allergies-depression/ Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:00:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-psychotherapy-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-psychotherapy-adults/ Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:27:23 GMT Whenever I am asked what I do for a living I start by saying that I am a Psychotherapist, an Art Psychotherapist. The person will often make attempts to qualify my answer by asking??Are you a psychiatrist?? ?No,? I answer. ?I don?t prescribe medication and I am not an MD.? Sometimes they go on in their inquiry ??Are you an Analysist?? ?No.? I reply, ?I am an Art Psychotherapist.? ?Oh,? they invariably say, ?I?ve heard of that. You work with children.? ?No,? I reply. ?All my clients are adults. Mostly young adults, middle aged adults and older adults. I help people with emotional problems like a talk therapist does but I use the creative processes in my work.? ?Oh, your clients are artists? They make paintings and drawings?? The answer I give is that ?Yes, often my clients are artists and they do make paintings and drawings. They may either bring in their artwork into session or they may make a painting/drawing with watercolor, acrylics, inks, and/or pencils in session. They may work quickly in one session or they may work on the same piece over the course of several weeks. Some of my clients consider themselves artists, designers, or writers. Some of them come from the applied arts like: design, fashion, jewelry, theater, and some from the fine arts of painting, drawing, sculpture and/or the electronic arts, such as photography, video and film. Many people who are not in the arts are creative and open to discussing their dreams or creatively expressing themselves. For example, many people in the military have captured images, videos and sounds of their experiences. These can be very powerful to work with in Art Psychotherapy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/long-term-gambling-addiction-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/long-term-gambling-addiction-treatment/ Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:00:11 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-poor-friend-choice/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-poor-friend-choice/ Wed, 13 Apr 2011 06:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sharing-trauma-story/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sharing-trauma-story/ Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:35:35 GMT We, the human species, are a social bunch; which is of course a wonderful, important and vital component to our existence, however our social nature can also occasion hurt and pain. Such hurt and pain can arise when we do not know how to incorporate the fact and impact of traumatic experiences with our social selves. Often times we swing from the extremes of not acknowledging these events to introducing ourselves as being a survivor of the trauma, with neither of these avenues generating enriching social relations. While there is not a right or wrong way, here are a few points to help you decide how to answers questions or share the traumatic events of your life with new friends/family. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/help-for-bullying/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/help-for-bullying/ Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:08:00 GMT A GoodTherapy.org Announcement http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/long-term-depression-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/long-term-depression-treatment/ Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:00:43 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dsm-substance-abuse-classification/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dsm-substance-abuse-classification/ Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:48:04 GMT Over the ages, there has been a vast array of different understandings and explanations for the phenomenon now known as addiction. Prior to the mid 1950?s, addiction was looked upon by most as either a moral failure or a mental disorder. Reactionary, inappropriate responses to those exhibiting symptoms of alcoholism or addiction include persecution, imprisonment and commitment to institutions for the mentally ill. Even still, many believe addiction to be a matter of will. If this is indeed the case, who in their right mind would, based upon your understanding and knowledge of the pain and misery which comes from being an addict, will to be an addict? As a therapist whose daily challenge is blindness, I have told many addicts and their families that I would much prefer my blindness over their addiction, hands down! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-attack-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-attack-depression/ Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:15:26 GMT I want to continue to talk about the clusters of depression symptoms that cause people to suffer in very different ways. Last time I talked about the low ambition cluster; this time I want to talk about the self-attack cluster. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overeating-addiction-brain-reward-center/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overeating-addiction-brain-reward-center/ Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:00:36 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-masculine-workplace-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-masculine-workplace-behavior/ Sat, 9 Apr 2011 06:00:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workday-happiness-positive-morning-mood/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workday-happiness-positive-morning-mood/ Thu, 7 Apr 2011 19:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-co-parenting-and-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-co-parenting-and-communication/ Thu, 7 Apr 2011 12:37:24 GMT You thought that getting divorced was going to make parenting easier. You thought your communications were going to improve because you weren?t living together anymore. You had high hopes that things would settle down and all the hurt, disappointments and anger would melt into the background. If you could just make decisions on your own without having to argue about everything you think is right and your ex thinks is wrong, you could have a much happier life. Instead, you find yourself feeling frustrated that the same communication problems you had in the marriage are still there, you still disagree about the same things and the stakes seem to have gotten higher while your life is not getting easier. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/low-income-mental-illness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/low-income-mental-illness/ Thu, 7 Apr 2011 06:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/financial-infidelity-recovery/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/financial-infidelity-recovery/ Wed, 6 Apr 2011 21:59:39 GMT The word ?infidelity? is pretty common these days, with examples daily in the news. Celebrities, neighbors and friends all have a story to tell about how they have been betrayed by their partner?s sexual indiscretions. Usually we think about infidelity as sexual or emotional betrayal, being lied to and deceived by a partner in the worst way that we can imagine. But there?s another type of infidelity that is becoming more common, and that is of financial infidelity. This type of cheating pushes at the hot button for many relationships and marriages- that of money and finances. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-adult-adhd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-adult-adhd/ Wed, 6 Apr 2011 19:00:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-variances-boys-conduct-behavior-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-variances-boys-conduct-behavior-issues/ Wed, 6 Apr 2011 06:00:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-rapid-resolution-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-rapid-resolution-therapy/ Tue, 5 Apr 2011 22:03:55 GMT For the past two decades, science has been uncovering some important features of traumatized clients. There is mounting evidence that traumatized individuals vary widely in their ability to adapt to trauma, in part due to underlying physical factors. For instance, some see the presence of chronic emotional trauma as having the potential to cause permanent physical damage in at least the hippocampus (Sapolsky, in Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers (1994) argues that chronic stress is a significant cause of aging in several species). This might mean that some individuals who have gone through multiple traumas or what in the DSM V will likely be called Disorders of Extreme Stress NOS, because of a changed hippocampus, might have diminished abilities to perceive or recover from subsequent stressors. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-workaholism-superwoman-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-workaholism-superwoman-stress/ Tue, 5 Apr 2011 21:36:54 GMT ?Mindfulness is a tool to get underneath our defenses. When we can observe ourselves closely, experiencing our feelings but not reacting to them, we don?t have to pretend that we don?t feel.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-post-traumatic-stress-visual-reality-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-post-traumatic-stress-visual-reality-therapy/ Tue, 5 Apr 2011 19:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-anxiety-misread-facial-expressions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-anxiety-misread-facial-expressions/ Tue, 5 Apr 2011 06:00:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcoholism-label-disease-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcoholism-label-disease-treatment/ Mon, 4 Apr 2011 15:10:31 GMT Well, once again it?s my readers who are instructing me just as much as (if not more than) the other way around. Thanks to all who take the time to read and comment on my blog articles. Your feedback is much appreciated. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neglect-needs-marriage-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neglect-needs-marriage-communication/ Mon, 4 Apr 2011 14:27:36 GMT Many people in relationships feel this way, exasperated because they are doing everything they know how to do to make their partner feel loved. Couples come into my office usually at the end of their rope because they have tried, and tried, and tried to make the marriage work and nothing they have tried seems to be making it better. This is so frustrating for couples. It drains the life out of many marriages and relationships. It pushes people so hard sometimes they end up convincing themselves they just can?t make this marriage work anymore and they end up leaving. This can be frustrating and maddening for people who want to love each other but can?t find a way to do that. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/panic-issues-genetic/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/panic-issues-genetic/ Sat, 2 Apr 2011 19:00:32 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-mental-health-future-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-mental-health-future-relationships/ Sat, 2 Apr 2011 06:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/female-sexual-development-lesbian-bisexual/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/female-sexual-development-lesbian-bisexual/ Fri, 1 Apr 2011 19:54:55 GMT I love Lady Gaga for her crusade to educate the masses about the normalcy of homosexuality as well as any personality quirk that might seem to make one person stand apart from the next. Everything in her personal presentation and body of work, including her latest release ?Born this Way?, not only preaches but demonstrates the virtue of individuality, acceptance of self and others, and the beauty of expressing one?s true inner self, in whatever form it may take. I see the way she affects the ?tweens? with whom I work and I praise her for it. And although the premise of her new song is inspirational and certainly in keeping with the idea of homosexuality as a natural state, I want more. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-quiet-time/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-quiet-time/ Fri, 1 Apr 2011 19:34:56 GMT I was talking with my friend the other day about how she feels that she does not have any time for herself, with her 4 and 2 year old children. I recently had a son, whom is now 6 weeks old. I can understand how she feels. I know I should be napping when he?s napping and I should be napping now, but am writing this article. I procrastinated a little, but that?s another article. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-older-women/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-older-women/ Fri, 1 Apr 2011 19:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fat-talk-women-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fat-talk-women-self-esteem/ Fri, 1 Apr 2011 14:00:35 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/real-time-news-increase-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/real-time-news-increase-anxiety/ Fri, 1 Apr 2011 06:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daughter-recovery-emotional-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daughter-recovery-emotional-abuse/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:15:47 GMT My 85 year old father had a stroke recently. He is a survivor of the Holocaust, as was my mother of blessed memory. My father has survived once again. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-loss-child-yoga-chanting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-loss-child-yoga-chanting/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:57:55 GMT When he was three months old, my firstborn child was diagnosed with a choroid plexus carcinoma, a rare, aggressive brain tumor that grows on the structure inside the brain that makes cerebral spinal fluid. Two weeks after the initial resection of the tumor, and two more subsequent surgeries to drain fluid from his brain, he endured his first chemotherapy treatment. Three days following the administration of the chemo, a CT scan revealed that his brain was completely destroyed. The scan showed no healthy tissue. Doctors called it ?total neurological devastation.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vibrators-sexual-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vibrators-sexual-health/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:42:19 GMT When I began talking to people about sex in the 90?s, very few people admitted to using vibrators to enhance their sexual lives. What a change in the new millennium! You?re in the majority if you?re female and you?ve long recognized the special value your vibrator brought to your life ? now research confirms those benefits. According to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, about half of American adults use a vibrator, so why feel embarrassed if you forget to put yours away and the handyman stumbles over it while he?s repairing the closet door? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ashley-bikini-self-esteem-young-girls/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ashley-bikini-self-esteem-young-girls/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:00:43 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-food-dye-fda/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-food-dye-fda/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resources-coping-fertility-challenges/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resources-coping-fertility-challenges/ Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:48:54 GMT Spring has arrived. The landscape is greening up, buds are shooting through the grass, birds chirping. Longer daylight hours. Rabbits bring baskets with chocolate. All can be honky-dory at this time of nature's bounty with wildlife awakening from hibernation and bringing young into the world... http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/employers-unaware-employee-dissatisfaction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/employers-unaware-employee-dissatisfaction/ Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-depression-youth-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-depression-youth-self-esteem/ Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:00:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotropic-medication-nursing-home-patients/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotropic-medication-nursing-home-patients/ Wed, 30 Mar 2011 06:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-death-grief-process/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-death-grief-process/ Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:44:52 GMT I facilitate a Family Issues and Loss group for adults. What I find interesting is how one topic almost always spills into the other. When a family loses a member they are not only faced with having to cope with the absence of that person, they must also struggle with fulfilling that person's role(s). Failure of family members to appropriately compensate for these roles and/or support each other may lead to detachment and isolation between individuals and families within the family. Achieving acceptance and integration of the loss experience takes time and individuals may work through the process in different ways and at a different pace. These differences are expected and there are steps families can take to help each member feel supported and connected. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/visiting-friend-cancer-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/visiting-friend-cancer-treatment/ Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:15:57 GMT ?Dave? is a 72 year old man who recently found out that his friend ?Carl? has colon cancer. Carl had surgery and ended up with a colostomy. His prognosis was not very good.  Dave went to see him in the hospital.  Carl didn?t look so good, but Dave wasn?t about to tell him that.  ?You look great,? Dave said.  Carl smiled wanly.  Fortunately, there was a game on the television.  Dave and Carl watched it as their wives chatted about one thing and another. After about 15 minutes, Dave just had to get out of there. Later, in the car, his wife asked him why he wanted to leave so abruptly. Dave?s answer was a very common one given when people are interacting with cancer patients:  ?I just didn?t know what to say.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/type-a-personality-stress-relief/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/type-a-personality-stress-relief/ Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:16:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-style-adolescent-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-style-adolescent-mental-health/ Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:11:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/and-baby-makes-three/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/and-baby-makes-three/ Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:00:46 GMT For many couples, the decision to have a child is a no-brainer. After a year or two of married life, they decide they?re ready to transition from newlyweds to parents. If they?re fortunate enough to conceive easily, a bouncing baby girl or boy usually arrives within the year. Sounds so simple doesn?t it? Well, not for those of us with chronic illness. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-research-autism-neurological-impairment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-research-autism-neurological-impairment/ Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:00:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/early-fatherhood-development/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/early-fatherhood-development/ Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:00:49 GMT ?Their screaming and whining has got to stop.? My back and shoulders feel like dead weight. It?s as if my emotions have dried up inside of me. Then, quickly, they flow in like a tide, then burst upward over the stiff walls and spill over and out of me like molten volcanic magma. Toddlers, tantrums, terrible. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-effect-brain-social-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-effect-brain-social-anxiety/ Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:00:42 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unique-space-dimensia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unique-space-dimensia/ Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/academic-arguing-communication-skills/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/academic-arguing-communication-skills/ Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:00:39 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surviving-sexual-assault/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surviving-sexual-assault/ Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:00:28 GMT The recent sexual assault of CBS news reporter Lara Logan during her coverage of the February 2011 Egyptian uprising is a stark reminder that any woman is vulnerable to assault, regardless of her public status. You don?t have to travel to a distant country during political upheaval to be at risk. According to the National Violence Against Women Survey (2000), 17.6% of American women have been victims of an attempted or completed sexual assault. And while men can be sexual assault survivors, 90% of rape victims are women. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/online-depression-followup/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/online-depression-followup/ Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:00:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/types-gambling-addiction-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/types-gambling-addiction-treatment/ Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-affects-friendships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-affects-friendships/ Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:00:43 GMT If you?ve ever been lucky enough to spend time with a pair of friends who both enjoy healthy self-esteem, you will have noticed how positive their relationship tends to be. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/diet-affects-adhd-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/diet-affects-adhd-children/ Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:00:36 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-children-mood-issues-treatment-decision/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-children-mood-issues-treatment-decision/ Wed, 23 Mar 2011 06:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/singapore-chinese-womanhood/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/singapore-chinese-womanhood/ Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:21 GMT For the longest time, being a woman, to me, meant being: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/skype-anxiety-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/skype-anxiety-psychotherapy/ Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cardiac-patients-benefit-depression-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cardiac-patients-benefit-depression-treatment/ Tue, 22 Mar 2011 06:00:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-worsens-arthritis/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-worsens-arthritis/ Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:00:31 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/japanese-mental-health-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/japanese-mental-health-trauma/ Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multitasking-difficult-aging-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multitasking-difficult-aging-adults/ Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:00:28 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/employment-effect-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/employment-effect-mental-health/ Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/strong-opinions-persuasian-confidence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/strong-opinions-persuasian-confidence/ Sat, 19 Mar 2011 19:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-physical-health-shared-symptoms/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-physical-health-shared-symptoms/ Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/issues-treat-before-family-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/issues-treat-before-family-therapy/ Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:32:22 GMT Families are amazingly resilient relationship groups. While many of us have enduring trouble with some aspect of our families, past or present, all of us are part of some form of family all our lives. Most of us organize our lives, day in, day out, year in, year out, around the needs, priorities, goals and problems of our chosen family. Whatever differences and conflicts we may have with other nations and peoples around the world, the human family is the way all of us organize. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-support-mental-illness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-support-mental-illness/ Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:00:04 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-fit-models-photos/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-fit-models-photos/ Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:00:49 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/father-postpartum-depression-spanking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/father-postpartum-depression-spanking/ Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aromatherapy-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aromatherapy-psychotherapy/ Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:08:08 GMT Scents, Memories, and Emotions http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-increase-creativity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-increase-creativity/ Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:00:00 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/animal-therapy-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/animal-therapy-children/ Thu, 17 Mar 2011 06:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/importance-outdoor-play/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/importance-outdoor-play/ Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:38:50 GMT Play is our human birthright and yet we see a devaluing of play in our culture. We are seeing the erosion of the value of play [http://usplaycoalition.clemson.edu] and play outdoors manifesting in nature-deficit disorder, a term coined by Richard Louv. When children and parents could be outdoors playing they are tied to a computer or television screen. Children and adults are experiencing greater incidences of obesity and other physical and emotional disorders due to the lack of physical activity, play outdoors, and connection with nature. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-kidney-disease/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-kidney-disease/ Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:00:39 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daylight-savings-sleep-loss/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daylight-savings-sleep-loss/ Tue, 15 Mar 2011 06:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overcome-sex-pornography-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/overcome-sex-pornography-addiction/ Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:41:17 GMT ?I?ve tried so many times and so many different ways, what is the point of trying anymore?? ?I am too ashamed, what will others think if I admit this?? ?Is there really a way to overcome this, it feels like too much?? These are just a few of the statements I repeatedly hear from individuals who struggle with sex addiction and truly believing that there is no hope, or at least it feels that way to them. Have you wondered if sex addiction is really an addiction? Well, consider these statistics: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/naked-therapist/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/naked-therapist/ Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:56:36 GMT As I say in the prologue to my book, Power, Abused, Power Healed: Every form of power can be used well or misused... 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.* http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/video-art-therapy-jimmy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/video-art-therapy-jimmy/ Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:06:45 GMT Full permission has been given by the client to tell this story on GoodTherapy.org. All identifying information has been changed. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/authority-family-origin-power/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/authority-family-origin-power/ Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:25:56 GMT What is happening in the Middle East right now is a very complex subject. It?s very difficult to look at more than one perspective at a time, much like the blind folks in the room with an elephant, each thinking he or she knows what an elephant is from feeling it, while only describing one part of the elephant ? the tail, the trunk, the foot, the ear, the belly. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/text-messaging-quite-smoking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/text-messaging-quite-smoking/ Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-classroom-environment-children-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-classroom-environment-children-mental-health/ Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:00:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/business-home-women-guilt/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/business-home-women-guilt/ Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/older-women-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/older-women-eating-disorders/ Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-highest-rate-united-states/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-highest-rate-united-states/ Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:00:02 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-tantrums-healthy-anger/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-tantrums-healthy-anger/ Thu, 10 Mar 2011 07:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/common-trauma-therapy-approaches/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/common-trauma-therapy-approaches/ Wed, 9 Mar 2011 16:39:45 GMT Learning about the stages of healing can be distressing, motivating, upsetting or uplifting. None of these emotions is the right one to feel, meaning that no matter how you feel, you do not have a wrong reaction. Acknowledging your emotional response to the stages of healing can allow you to harness the emotion?s energy and reach out to a trained psychotherapist. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/celebrity-breakdowns-media-exposure/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/celebrity-breakdowns-media-exposure/ Wed, 9 Mar 2011 15:00:36 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/racial-identity-happiness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/racial-identity-happiness/ Wed, 9 Mar 2011 07:00:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-communication-gap/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-communication-gap/ Wed, 9 Mar 2011 04:45:55 GMT Ava has had a hard day as Director of Nursing in a busy hospital. She changes hats from taking charge in the high paced world of health care, to being the caretaker of her six and seven year old. She drives the baby sitter to the train, prepares dinner, helps the kids with homework and showers and gets them to bed. Finally, the kids are nicely tucked away in bed, snug and warm. Ava awaits her beloved husband and ?knight in shining armor,? Ethan who will be home soon to take her into his arms, understand her frustrations, listen to her--not just her words but to her very being and to literally ?walk a mile in her moccasins?. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/yoga-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/yoga-eating-disorders/ Wed, 9 Mar 2011 04:25:13 GMT In addition to being a psychotherapist, I am a certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy practitioner and a yoga instructor. I?ve long been interested not only in movement but in the role of body-oriented techniques in the process of psychological healing. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/charlie-sheen-mind-power-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/charlie-sheen-mind-power-addiction/ Tue, 8 Mar 2011 20:00:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-decrease-marijuana-cravings/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-decrease-marijuana-cravings/ Tue, 8 Mar 2011 15:00:06 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-self-assertion-talking-back/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-self-assertion-talking-back/ Mon, 7 Mar 2011 18:26:05 GMT At every stage of development, children thrive when their parents listen to their ideas about what they want even if those ideas are very different from parents? wishes for their children. When you consider and take your child?s perspective seriously, you are giving your child a gift of respecting their growing unique individual selves. This doesn?t mean you have to agree or say yes, but you do need to express your understanding of what your child wishes. When you are able to consider that your child is not talking back, but may be asserting his developing self, you will be providing your child with the foundation for developing self-confidence and self-esteem. Differences create much less distance between parent and child when they are acknowledged and respected. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-complaints-resentment-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-complaints-resentment-communication/ Mon, 7 Mar 2011 17:59:07 GMT This article will make it all sound so easy. And, practically speaking, it is. The act of making requests is an extremely straightforward process. Similar to the choice to forgive someone, offering a sincere request can immediately and radically alter the landscape of your long held grievances. Suddenly with a courageous wave of your hand, the chances of getting what you want from others can be tipped in your favor. It takes practice. But it's not rocket science. There are four recommended steps to follow ? described a few paragraphs down. (Go ahead and glance at them but then come back.) http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positivity-longer-lifespan/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positivity-longer-lifespan/ Mon, 7 Mar 2011 17:04:10 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-attitude-toward-others/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-attitude-toward-others/ Mon, 7 Mar 2011 16:55:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-grief-creativity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-grief-creativity/ Fri, 4 Mar 2011 21:19:11 GMT During my career, I had the privilege of working with adults living with severe and persistent mental illness in an outpatient program at a local behavioral health center.  Although frequently grouped together and labeled as ?crazy? or ?nuts? ? as well as ?dangerous? - in popular parlance, this was hardly a homogeneous population. There were people in their late teens, adults and senior citizens from many different cultural backgrounds, living with varying symptoms and in various stages of the ?disease? process: from newly diagnosed to chronic. Among those I counseled were people with ? according to the DSM-IV-TR, the so-called ?Bible of mental illness? - severe depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, personality disorders, schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder; some had mixed symptoms of a number of different disorders. Few were employable; many had little if any family support; more than half lived in adult congregate living facilities; most survived on Social Security and Medicaid, and many had done so for years. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/peer-support-addiction-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/peer-support-addiction-depression/ Fri, 4 Mar 2011 20:18:32 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tell-children-getting-divorced/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tell-children-getting-divorced/ Thu, 3 Mar 2011 21:05:47 GMT It is difficult enough that you are experiencing a major upheaval in your life. In addition to the feelings you may have of fear, anxiety, anger, or frustration, you also have children. Their lives are changing as well. You hope they haven?t been affected too much by the tension between you and your soon-to-be ex, but you don?t know for sure. What is the best way to tell them? The following is a list of some of the ideas you might want to consider: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ethical-discipline-paramitas-buddhism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ethical-discipline-paramitas-buddhism/ Thu, 3 Mar 2011 20:45:48 GMT To continue with the theme of the Paramitas from last month, when we began with Generosity, we will look at the practice of Ethics or Morality (Shila in Pali), sometimes referred to as Discipline. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/national-eating-disorders-awareness-week-2011/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/national-eating-disorders-awareness-week-2011/ Thu, 3 Mar 2011 20:19:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/baby-toddler-mental-health-problems/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/baby-toddler-mental-health-problems/ Thu, 3 Mar 2011 20:14:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-cluster-view-low-ambition/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-cluster-view-low-ambition/ Wed, 2 Mar 2011 21:32:44 GMT Depression varies from person to person and episode to episode. It not only varies in its degree of intensity and disability, but also in which types and how many symptoms the sufferer experiences. Some people do experience most of the symptoms of depression when they get depressed, but many people experience only one or a few. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-few-clients-self-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-few-clients-self-care/ Wed, 2 Mar 2011 20:29:37 GMT I?ve got two clients right now. Granted, the most I can fit into my part-time private practice is six per week, but right now I?m averaging less than one per week. Very low.  According to colleagues who work in private practice and mental health agencies, it seems that the early months of the year tend to be slow for new referrals across many branches of the field. I had the double-whammy of terminating with several clients before the holiday season, which brought my client count crashing down. For those who rely on a steady stream of clients in order to pay the bills, times like these can be very stressful and concerning. And they don?t just happen according to set calendar dates. Things can be moving along swimmingly and then suddenly the client load shifts inexplicably and you find yourself with more free time than you might prefer. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-consequences-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-consequences-parenting/ Wed, 2 Mar 2011 20:01:01 GMT The subject of consequences comes up frequently in my work with teens and families. The fact that many parents of teens struggle with this area should come as no surprise. Up until adolescence, consequences are pretty straightforward and effective - if your little one wants this you distract with that, if she throws a tantrum you give choices and/or use a quick time out. For good measure we'll throw in a simple set of rewards and consequences for chores and behavior. Such is the journey that leaves one completely unprepared to parent adolescents. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-alcohol-use-alcoholism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-alcohol-use-alcoholism/ Wed, 2 Mar 2011 19:40:20 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/state-finances-affecting-low-income-mental-health-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/state-finances-affecting-low-income-mental-health-care/ Tue, 1 Mar 2011 21:23:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-coaches-adult-clients/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-coaches-adult-clients/ Tue, 1 Mar 2011 21:15:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-good-fit/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-good-fit/ Tue, 1 Mar 2011 00:20:23 GMT I was flipping through a parenting magazine the other day while waiting for my daughter to finish speech therapy when the term ?goodness of fit? caught my eye. I remember this term well from my graduate school days.  Goodness of fit is the degree to which a child?s temperament matches the demands of his or her environment- mainly through parenting. In other words, are the child and parent a good fit for each other given their respective personalities and emotional responses? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-sabotage-alcoholism-recovery/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-sabotage-alcoholism-recovery/ Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:59:37 GMT Nothing is more discouraging in the process of ending your alcohol abuse than encountering sabotaging spouses, friends, children, colleagues, and others. But it's a common reality it pays to be prepared for. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/benefit-psychotherapy-good-life/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/benefit-psychotherapy-good-life/ Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:03:39 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/detect-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/detect-depression/ Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:52:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mens-support-group-sarcasm-male-bonding/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mens-support-group-sarcasm-male-bonding/ Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:57:00 GMT This is the second entry in a series of blog articles about a men?s therapy group that I conduct on a weekly basis. For background information on the group see my first blog entry, ?Notes From A Men?s Group?, dated January 4, 2011. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/beat-british-eating-disorder-charit/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/beat-british-eating-disorder-charit/ Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:27:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multicultural-mental-health-outreach/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multicultural-mental-health-outreach/ Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:16:41 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-obesity-sleep/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-obesity-sleep/ Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:54:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-body-image-media/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-body-image-media/ Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:58:24 GMT As a psychotherapist working often with people with eating disorders, I have helped many clients who were suffering from a negative body image. They may or may not have a struggle with food, but they don?t like their bodies, they don?t take pleasure in their bodies, they think their bodies are ugly. These are usually very attractive people. Where does this problem originate? What does it really mean to have a poor body image? What is the negative impact of living with this? How serious is it? What seems to makes it worse? What makes it better? How can we begin to have a deeper understanding of this issue in order to make a difference in the lives of people who struggle with negative body image? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/criticism-relationships-complaints-marriage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/criticism-relationships-complaints-marriage/ Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:35:14 GMT It seems that most couples struggle with criticism, though some tolerate it better than others. Nevertheless, criticism of, or from, your partner will happen periodically. This post provides an alternative way to manage criticism that may help sidestep defensiveness. Here are some common options when we want to be critical of our partner: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/national-eating-disorder-week-2011/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/national-eating-disorder-week-2011/ Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-side-effects-antidepressant-medication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-side-effects-antidepressant-medication/ Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:39:07 GMT Since my last blog a number of you have asked for more information about possible sexual side effects caused by antidepressants. Before I say more ? a cautionary word ? I?m a psychotherapist/counselor, not a medical doctor/psychiatrist! So what I write in this blog is drawn from my (extensive) experience working with people who have challenges and/or difficulties with sex ? I?m a sexologist, not a psycho-pharmacologist! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fair-fighting-couples/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fair-fighting-couples/ Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:18:26 GMT Conflict doesn't mean that your relationship is in trouble - it means that you are two living, thinking beings with individual opinions. Both happy and unhappy couples disagree - how can any two people share a house, jobs, in-laws, pets or kids without an occasional spat? Everyone disagrees at some point - but when do you know that things are out of hand? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/university-response-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/university-response-suicide/ Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:00:33 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-administer-nurses-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-administer-nurses-depression/ Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/change-codependent-belief-behaviors/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/change-codependent-belief-behaviors/ Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:50:51 GMT Before we review the behaviors we need to change, I inadvertently left off two beliefs we need to change. Click here to see Part I and to review the first seven beliefs and behaviors. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-depression-or-both/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-depression-or-both/ Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:57:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-virtual-reality-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-virtual-reality-therapy/ Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-leading-cause-college-drop-out/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-leading-cause-college-drop-out/ Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:00:28 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/celebrity-role-models-fear-insignificance/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/celebrity-role-models-fear-insignificance/ Tue, 22 Feb 2011 07:41:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-hate-speech/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-hate-speech/ Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:40:54 GMT On January 8, 2011, there was a tragic massacre in Tucson, Arizona. A young man tried to assassinate Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords and killed, maimed, scared and shocked many others in the process. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/early-motherhood-challenges/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/early-motherhood-challenges/ Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:08:06 GMT I often hear the following from my new mom clients: ? No one told me how hard motherhood would be. Why didn't someone TELL me?? The tone is often indignant and occasionally angry. ?What was I thinking?? might actually better capture many new mothers' (and fathers') sentiments in the days following childbirth. These thoughts are common for any woman who is transitioning to the role of motherhood for the first time. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reboot-weight-loss-program/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reboot-weight-loss-program/ Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:01:48 GMT The New Year is in motion and how are you doing with your New Year?s resolution weight loss goals? Did you do well for a few weeks and now you are feeling depressed because you haven?t been able to stick with the plan? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-cancer-return-work/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-cancer-return-work/ Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:24:00 GMT ?Anna? is a 48 year-old woman who finished chemotherapy for ovarian cancer about a month ago. She came to see me because she was feeling ?kind of depressed? and had very little energy. Prior to her diagnosis, Anna was working full time as a middle school teacher. She was married and a mother of two teenagers. She described herself as hardworking and someone who ?got things done.? Anna initially thought she would go back to teaching part time after her treatment was finished and was very disappointed because it seemed impossible now. She wondered why she wasn?t able to do the things she thought she should be able to do, i.e., why wasn?t she back to ?normal?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jung-writing-personal-myth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jung-writing-personal-myth/ Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:19:39 GMT Without playing with fantasy, no creative work has ever yet come to birth. The debt we owe to the play of imagination if incalculable. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/better-focus-work-short-breaks/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/better-focus-work-short-breaks/ Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/play-therapy-workplace/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/play-therapy-workplace/ Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:48:08 GMT I love this quote; I have to work so hard to play. For many of us play does not come easily. Try wrapping your arms around the idea that you are not your work. What makes you successful? What do you consider achievements? If your list of successes and achievements are all on the highly difficult side of things then I would like to suggest a slight adjustment. Are you successful when things come easily or when you feel good about what you achieved? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-guide-behavior-punishment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-guide-behavior-punishment/ Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:20:00 GMT How many times have I heard ?So, do you have a manual for my kid?? We learn from very early on in parenting that there is no such thing. Sure, there are generalizations about milestones, abilities and limitations, but just as adults are so different from one another, kids can be as well. For first time parents, it is hard to know what's normal for a certain age or what a typical reaction is when going through a stressful experience. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-sabotage-goal-setting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-sabotage-goal-setting/ Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:02:07 GMT Last month we looked at how to set goals that are S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. The idea of keeping goals SMART is to set yourself up for success. But do you see the problem here? Setting yourself up for success is a high self-esteem thing to do. When you have lower self-esteem, success can feel unnatural. It can even feel ?wrong? for you. So right away, when it comes to goals, there?s a conflict: You might want very much to achieve your goal, but at the same time, there?s a part of you that would be too weirded-out if you actually achieved what you set out to do. That weirded-out part may be illogical, but it?s powerful enough to sabotage your best efforts. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/playtime-grandparents-adult-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/playtime-grandparents-adult-children/ Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:00:37 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-sensitivity-compassion/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-sensitivity-compassion/ Thu, 17 Feb 2011 07:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-dialogue-transpersonal-perspective/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-dialogue-transpersonal-perspective/ Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:22:32 GMT This is the fourth in a series of articles on the Scapegoat and how Voice Dialogue can help heal this ancient phenomenon that continues to occur within all human communities and within certain sensitive and susceptible individuals. The first two articles explored the Shadow, the phenomenon called projection, and the history of the Scapegoat in human communities. The third article begins the sorting and healing process through Voice Dialogue sessions with a composite client named Helen. See the first three articles here. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-self-portrait-test/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-self-portrait-test/ Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-psychotherapy-promote-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-psychotherapy-promote-health/ Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:46:13 GMT In the last couple of weeks I have had two different people come in that I hadn?t seen for a while and in whom I sensed a recognizable shift. The first thing I noticed with each of them was a gentle radiance around their body, the coloring in their faces was different, not the skin itself, but there was just more color, more light around them. They both also appeared calm, contained. I discovered that both of these women had been undergoing a cleansing diet under the supervision of their Naturopathic doctors. They had both cut out meat and fish and many other foods for a short period of time. One was using special supplements and smoothies to aid the cleanse process. Both were meant to add back foods slowly to test the effect on their systems but one has already decided to remain vegetarian because three weeks into the cleanse and after years of a heavy meat diet recommended by a different health practitioner she felt so much better. I had the sense that the dietary change was positively augmenting their therapeutic work. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-behavior-problems-phase/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-behavior-problems-phase/ Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:00:02 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/appropriate-conversations-counseling-spirituality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/appropriate-conversations-counseling-spirituality/ Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:50:32 GMT A client of mine who is currently ?taking a break? for financial and other reasons wrote me an email letting me know that part of the reason for his decision was that he did not feel that our discussions about spirituality were a productive use of his time. Coincidently, we were at the point where he would have had to pay his deductible (meaning he would have out-of-pocket costs for his sessions rather than a small copay). He said he did not think he wanted to spend his time on ??that type of conversation? and that it was not really what he came for (even though he did say he wanted to develop his spiritual self once we got past some very major issues). It was also ironic that he really had no one else in his life to talk about spirituality but me and that as an Ordained Yoruba Priest I was also uniquely qualified. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/drug-related-suicide-adolescent-males/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/drug-related-suicide-adolescent-males/ Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-love-valentines-day/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-love-valentines-day/ Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:00:04 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-networks-small-talk-social-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-networks-small-talk-social-anxiety/ Tue, 15 Feb 2011 07:00:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcoholic-relapse-one-drink/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcoholic-relapse-one-drink/ Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:26:47 GMT I had a client we'll call Steven who recently "went out," as twelve step so poetically describes relapsing. He walked away from fifteen years of sobriety, his career, his wife and his teenage son to go on a six months binge that left him in the hospital recovering from a hypertensive episode his doctor told him was "not conducive to survival." He described being called to task that fateful day by his boss. He phoned his wife on the way home and received more criticism instead of sympathy. The Bluetooth connection dropped just as Steven passed a bar. He thought to himself, "Screw it, I'll have one drink." The rest, as they say, is history. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/singles-guide-happy-valentines-day/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/singles-guide-happy-valentines-day/ Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:07:53 GMT Being single around Valentine's Day can kind of feel like getting picked last in gym class. The kid who gets picked last in gym class really lacks only athletic ability. Yet, as name after name is called on the playground, the kid whose name has yet to be called feels worse and worse about herself. By the time the team with the last pick finally has to take her, she feels like a totally worthless loser. Certainly, this kid is not a worthless loser. She?s just not a jock.  Likewise, around Valentine's Day, single people who see bouquet after bouquet of flowers being delivered may feel worse and worse about themselves, until they feel just like the kid who got picked last? a worthless loser. And just like the ?last pick? kid really lacks only athletic gifts, the single person really lacks only a partner. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ways-to-show-love-self-others/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ways-to-show-love-self-others/ Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:41:57 GMT Harvey is a young man who wants to do good for others; he supports his friends generously with time and advice; he likes to take care of people?but not of himself. I asked him, ?How come everybody else deserves good treatment, and you don?t? Don?t you count as much as the next guy?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-relationship-conflict-habits/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-relationship-conflict-habits/ Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:25:37 GMT There?s a distinct set of habits that are shared by almost all people who know how to get their partners to be open-minded and receptive, and thanks to decades of painstaking relationship research, we now know exactly what these habits are. If you want to succeed in love, you simply must have specific interpersonal abilities. If you have them, chances are very good that over the long haul your partner will be responsive to your wants and needs. If you don?t have them, the evidence suggests that your relationship future is likely quite dim. A detailed description of each of these habits can be found in the articles, Habits of People Who Know How to Get Their Partners to Treat Them Well --Parts I & II, and Reacting Effectively When Your Partner Says or Does Something You Don?t Like or Agree With (www.thecouplesclinic.com/resources). In the present article, I summarize five lessons we?ve learned through years of helping people develop the habits through our counseling and educational programs at the Couples Clinic and Research Institute. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jodie-foster-the-beaver-movie-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jodie-foster-the-beaver-movie-depression/ Mon, 14 Feb 2011 07:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-study-overestimate-hill-steepness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-study-overestimate-hill-steepness/ Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:00:57 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-compassion-protect-against-bullying/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-compassion-protect-against-bullying/ Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-cardiac-health-recovery/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-cardiac-health-recovery/ Sat, 12 Feb 2011 15:00:27 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-lack-leisure-activities-drinking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-lack-leisure-activities-drinking/ Sat, 12 Feb 2011 07:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/criminal-high-suicide-rate/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/criminal-high-suicide-rate/ Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-images-art-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-images-art-therapy/ Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:50:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-adolescent-girl-low-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-adolescent-girl-low-self-esteem/ Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:00:22 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personal-feedback-survey-addiction-intervention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personal-feedback-survey-addiction-intervention/ Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/outdoor-exercise-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/outdoor-exercise-mental-health/ Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lgb-deaf-youth-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lgb-deaf-youth-abuse/ Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:00:25 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/panic-attack-perceived-danger/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/panic-attack-perceived-danger/ Wed, 9 Feb 2011 18:50:26 GMT Since many survivors of a traumatic life event(s) experience the grip of panic attacks, I want to focus on demystifying these sometimes painful and often frightening experiences. While it may seem that there is no benefit from a panic attack, in its essence, a panic attack is an attempt by your body and mind to protect you from a perceived danger. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kings-speech-therapy-healing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kings-speech-therapy-healing/ Wed, 9 Feb 2011 18:01:42 GMT Recently, I saw the movie The King?s Speech. A touching, powerful example of how politics and psychology are woven together! It?s also a beautiful portrayal of the hard work and the full commitment it takes in a healing venture ? on both sides, that of the therapist and that of the client. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-literacy-freedom-eating-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-literacy-freedom-eating-issues/ Tue, 8 Feb 2011 20:11:01 GMT Feelings, nothing more than feelings, so goes the song.  Feelings can be painful. If we don?t have a good set of tools and skills for managing painful emotional states, it makes sense to resort to unhealthful tactics, such as misusing food. Disordered eating provides anesthesia of sorts, to protect us from painful emotions. Overeating stuffs feelings down, and offsets painful emotions with sensory pleasure. Bingeing and then inducing vomiting both stuffs feelings down and then gets rid of them. Restricting food intake is a way to avoid feeling in the first place, as being empty of food metaphorically equals being empty of feeling. One of the effects of this avoidance of feeling emotions is emotional illiteracy. Another is a lack of what I like to call emotional fitness. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/costs-depression-early-retirement-government-support/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/costs-depression-early-retirement-government-support/ Tue, 8 Feb 2011 20:00:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/raising-children-toxic-free-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/raising-children-toxic-free-relationship/ Tue, 8 Feb 2011 19:49:21 GMT What is happening in your child's body as they observe you and your partner fight it out over your latest big trust issue? If it's anything near the results taking place in your own body, they can actually taste the level of toxicity of the argument. As parents, we are hyper vigilant about the level of toxins in our children's food, playgrounds, and classrooms but we can be selectively blind to the level of toxins passed on through our relationship. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stepparent-adjustment-blended-family/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stepparent-adjustment-blended-family/ Tue, 8 Feb 2011 19:33:44 GMT While most of us who marry intend it to be for a lifetime, about half of all first marriages in the United States end in divorce. Divorce ends not only a couple relationship based at least initially on attraction, trust and commitment; it marks the end of a dreamed future as a family. Despite the pain that most divorces bring, the desire to be happily married doesn?t seem to end, since most of those who divorce will eventually remarry. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uk-no-health-without-mental-health-plan/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uk-no-health-without-mental-health-plan/ Tue, 8 Feb 2011 15:00:26 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-emotional-health-benefit-academic-performance/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-emotional-health-benefit-academic-performance/ Tue, 8 Feb 2011 07:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-can-trust-be-restored/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-can-trust-be-restored/ Sun, 6 Feb 2011 19:17:23 GMT It is devastating for a partner to find out that the person they love is battling sex addiction by losing themselves in pornography or, even worse, engaging in multiple affairs. The partner is questioning whether they even want to be in the relationship, let alone rebuild trust. However, if both are willing to do the hard work by taking a look at what each individual needs to labor through and agree to a transparent and consistent plan, trust can be rebuilt and eventually restored. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-children-alcohol-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-children-alcohol-addiction/ Sun, 6 Feb 2011 18:53:46 GMT Alcoholism, known as ?alcohol dependence syndrome? is a disease that is characterized by craving, loss of control and physical dependence.  Those with alcohol addiction, as well as being victims themselves, can have negative impacts on those with whom they associate.  Research has shown that children of people with alcohol addiction develop some personalities traits that may impact their lives as an adult. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/blizzard-depression-isolation-sad/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/blizzard-depression-isolation-sad/ Sun, 6 Feb 2011 15:00:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-recognize-facial-expressions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-recognize-facial-expressions/ Sat, 5 Feb 2011 07:00:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mediterranean-diet-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mediterranean-diet-depression/ Fri, 4 Feb 2011 20:00:05 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-self-care-caregivers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-self-care-caregivers/ Fri, 4 Feb 2011 19:48:45 GMT Caregivers are people of any age, gender, cultural background, economic level, and health status. The one thing that caregivers have in common is stress. Even in optimal situations, stress is part of most every caregiver?s life. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/secrets-lifetime-happy-marriage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/secrets-lifetime-happy-marriage/ Fri, 4 Feb 2011 19:11:09 GMT Will your relationship last a lifetime? Will you and your partner enjoy each other?s company and have a deep and intimate connection, emotionally and sexually for as long as you both shall live? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lgbt-experience-more-mental-health-problems/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lgbt-experience-more-mental-health-problems/ Fri, 4 Feb 2011 15:00:08 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/culture-alzheimers-care-compassion/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/culture-alzheimers-care-compassion/ Fri, 4 Feb 2011 07:00:03 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-say-i-dont-like-you-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-say-i-dont-like-you-parenting/ Fri, 4 Feb 2011 00:51:28 GMT It hurts, yes, but I don?t believe they really don?t like you. Kids, as young as 2, learn to say NO, have their feelings hurt and want to do things their own way. They do not have the cognizance to say, ?Mom, I?m mad because I can?t get my own way at this time. I understand why you said I couldn?t do something?. If they were able to then it would make things a whole lot easier! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/meditation-juvenile-delinquent-counseling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/meditation-juvenile-delinquent-counseling/ Fri, 4 Feb 2011 00:32:09 GMT Stress Management group came around once every 3 months in the adolescent court diversion program at which I spent a number of years as a counselor. Although life skills training was strongly emphasized throughout the program, much repetition was required, and on this day I and my co-facilitator had less than 2 hours to impart some useful information connecting concepts of healthy stress management practices, personal wellbeing and sobriety for a group of boisterous, uproarious and occasionally obnoxiously behaving teens. Dutifully copying much-used handouts and anticipating leading questions to get the group going once check-ins were completed and latecomers seated, I wondered what could be done to arouse interest in a discussion of this topic beyond the level of interest we?d seen from clients in past groups: interest in enumerating all of the things that others ? parents, teachers, counselors, peers, law enforcement and the judge ? were doing to stress them out! Reluctant to take responsibility for whatever behavior might have precipitated their being arrested, charged and referred to the program, many of the kids laid the blame for their woes at others? feet. As might be expected, many were quite reactive to having their views challenged, regardless of how respectfully and therapeutically this was done. And, when it came to talking about antidotes to stress, group members often tried to steer the discussion back to one of their favorite stress relief methods - using alcohol and other illicit substances - turning the group into a forum for debate rather than self-reflection and learning. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/paramitas-generosity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/paramitas-generosity/ Fri, 4 Feb 2011 00:07:48 GMT My meditation class is exploring the six Paramitas, or perfections, the path of the Bodhisattva (one who vows to liberate all beings from suffering). It is simpler than it sounds. In truth, it is the path to happiness, and any one of us can follow it. In the months to come I will write posts about each of the Paramitas and explain how we can make use of them in our lives. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/primary-secondary-disaster-post-traumatic-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/primary-secondary-disaster-post-traumatic-stress/ Thu, 3 Feb 2011 15:00:49 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/flowers-metaphor-children-respond-environment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/flowers-metaphor-children-respond-environment/ Thu, 3 Feb 2011 07:00:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/change-partner-relationship-improve/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/change-partner-relationship-improve/ Thu, 3 Feb 2011 02:36:00 GMT It?s not uncommon to hear couples say, ?I love my partner, but if he would just do___ we would be better off?, or ?I love her, but if she would only do ____ I would be happy in this relationship.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-details-divorce/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-details-divorce/ Thu, 3 Feb 2011 01:07:14 GMT Most divorcing parents believe their children are being protected from the details of their divorce. They make sure they speak quietly into the phone when discussing them with family and friends. They don?t leave court papers or their financial documents around. They only work on them when the children are with the other parent. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exploring-roots-prejudice/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exploring-roots-prejudice/ Thu, 3 Feb 2011 00:46:42 GMT Whether we know it or not . . . whether we want to know it or not . . . we all have currents of prejudice within our psyches. Although many think of their prejudices as simply ?the truth,? others realize that there are some major roots to our prejudice . . . roots that need to be named, known, and worked with. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/memory-training-addiction-counseling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/memory-training-addiction-counseling/ Wed, 2 Feb 2011 15:00:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abortion-does-not-increase-mental-health-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abortion-does-not-increase-mental-health-issues/ Wed, 2 Feb 2011 07:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-breathing-meditation-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-breathing-meditation-stress/ Wed, 2 Feb 2011 00:47:03 GMT What do you do when you?re feeling anxious, depressed or stressed out? How do you treat yourself? Are you able to be compassionate towards your own emotional pain or do you engage in self criticism, judgment or blame? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nature-therapeutic-adhd-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nature-therapeutic-adhd-children/ Tue, 1 Feb 2011 20:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-is-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-is-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/ Tue, 1 Feb 2011 16:03:45 GMT As a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CBT), my goal is to teach people that a life free of depression, anxiety and other ?negative emotions? is within their reach. I believe that most people are apprehensive about beginning therapy either because of something they saw on television, portraying therapists as unethical buffoons, or due to a bad experience with a therapist that wasn?t a good fit for them. When someone tells me that therapy was ?ineffective? for them, I am distraught; as a CBT therapist, I often hear clients telling me that they did little more than ?vent? to their therapist, and never actually found ways to ?change? the problems that they were seeking help for in the first place. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-social-network-sites-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-social-network-sites-depression/ Tue, 1 Feb 2011 15:00:48 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nurse-substance-abuse-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nurse-substance-abuse-treatment/ Tue, 1 Feb 2011 07:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/two-pillars-mindfulness-therapy-observation-compassion/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/two-pillars-mindfulness-therapy-observation-compassion/ Tue, 1 Feb 2011 05:08:06 GMT Mindfulness-Based Therapy is an approach in which the principles of mindfulness are applied for therapeutic purposes. What does it practically mean? In my article ?Mindfulness and Knowledge", I pointed out to the 5 basic elements of mindfulness: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-child-suicide-signs/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-child-suicide-signs/ Tue, 1 Feb 2011 04:28:30 GMT Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Teenagers pose a greater risk of completed suicides because often they act impulsively without considering all of the consequences.  Suicide affects the entire community in which it occurs family, friends, teachers, neighbors, acquaintances; everyone is touched by the loss of any one to suicide.  Suicide can be preventable and with knowledge of signs, and symptoms and what to do, people?s lives can be saved.  Currently more men die when attempting suicide but more women overall attempt suicide. In the United States, approximately 18 per 100,000 males complete suicide each year, and four per 100,000 females complete suicide each year.  Several risk factors correlate towards a person committing suicide, including severe illness, depression, hopelessness, substance abuse, and problem gambling. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-pregnancy-decision-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-pregnancy-decision-communication/ Tue, 1 Feb 2011 04:06:30 GMT The Bring Your Marriage Back into Balance series is designed to inspire and equip you with the very best tools, techniques, and tips for communicating your way back into balance. Here are Part One and Part Two in the series. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-higher-rates-allergies-hygiene/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-higher-rates-allergies-hygiene/ Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/motherhood-lowers-risk-suicide-women/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/motherhood-lowers-risk-suicide-women/ Mon, 31 Jan 2011 07:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-freshmen-mental-health-financial-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-freshmen-mental-health-financial-stress/ Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:00:51 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vfw-bartender-training-program/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/vfw-bartender-training-program/ Sat, 29 Jan 2011 07:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-effects-anxiety-sensitive-environment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-effects-anxiety-sensitive-environment/ Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-stress-responsibility-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-stress-responsibility-mental-health/ Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:00:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/affect-role-models-self-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/affect-role-models-self-image/ Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/connections-between-psychotherapy-science/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/connections-between-psychotherapy-science/ Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:00:24 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-cyberbullying-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-cyberbullying-mental-health/ Wed, 26 Jan 2011 07:00:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-emotions-antidote-illness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-emotions-antidote-illness/ Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:00:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-bad-relationships-food/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-bad-relationships-food/ Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:04:31 GMT Beginning in infancy, relationships, food and feeding become intertwined. Think about it: Baby cries and baby gets fed. Someone has to do that feeding, and that someone is usually holding the baby and relating to him or her. So, from our earliest memories, food and being fed is one of our first ways of connecting to one another. As we grow and develop, social events often revolve around mealtimes; whether it is family dinner or a social gathering with friends, we are enjoying the nurturing that food and company can provide. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-weight-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-weight-self-esteem/ Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:00:27 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/change-self-defeating-beliefs-behaviors/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/change-self-defeating-beliefs-behaviors/ Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:42:13 GMT Now that you understand what co-dependency is and how it develops, where do you start your healing process. It involves changing some lifelong beliefs and behaviors. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-acne-medication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-acne-medication/ Tue, 25 Jan 2011 07:00:21 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mapping-power-differential/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mapping-power-differential/ Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:32:11 GMT NOT power OVER, but power WITH! How often have you heard this phrase, almost a chant, seeming to clarify, simplify, and resolve issues about power with just these six words. I?d like to invite you to look deeper. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-childhood-sleep-adult-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-childhood-sleep-adult-depression/ Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:00:49 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addiction-video-games-social-problems/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addiction-video-games-social-problems/ Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surgeons-high-suicide-rates/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surgeons-high-suicide-rates/ Sat, 22 Jan 2011 07:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotropic-medication-decreased-libido/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotropic-medication-decreased-libido/ Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:36:47 GMT I often see people who are in despair because they no longer have much interest in sex ? what a current client calls her ?disappearing libido?. Is she depressed about this? You bet! Did she become more depressed when her medical doctor put her on an anti-depressant to alleviate the depressive symptoms? Quite possibly. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/support-children-exposed-mother-violence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/support-children-exposed-mother-violence/ Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:00:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/first-impression-coping-phobia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/first-impression-coping-phobia/ Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:00:12 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/captain-america-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/captain-america-suicide/ Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:00:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-scans-nature-nurture/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/brain-scans-nature-nurture/ Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/breast-cancer-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/breast-cancer-mental-health/ Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:00:52 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rural-alaska-alcoholism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rural-alaska-alcoholism/ Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:45:02 GMT Over 25 years of living in rural Alaska ("The Bush" - Aniak, Pt. Hope, Rampart, Seward, Kodiak) gave me a lot of insight into why alcohol problems occur there - and how to resolve them. Summers in Northern British Columbia, The Yukon, and Northwest Territories told me that the underlying problems cut across geography and, sometimes, cultures. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/high-altitude-suicide-risk/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/high-altitude-suicide-risk/ Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:00:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-counseling-natural-disasters/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-counseling-natural-disasters/ Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tips-returning-to-work-mothers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tips-returning-to-work-mothers/ Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:18:54 GMT ?The phrase ?working mother? is redundant.? Jane Sellman http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-emotional-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-emotional-abuse/ Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:33:15 GMT When a loved one hurts you through excessive criticism, put downs or abuse of any kind, you experience emotional and often simultaneous physical pain. But can emotional abuse be considered traumatic? Dr. Francine Shapiro defines two types of trauma, "big T" trauma and "little t" trauma. "Big T" trauma refers to what we commonly think of as trauma like war or natural disaster. "Little t" trauma refers to incidents such as getting teased as a child or getting rejected by your first love. Most people experience "little t" trauma some time in their lives. People who live with and love someone emotionally abusive experience "little t trauma" on a daily basis. The experience of put downs, criticisms or whatever form emotional abuse takes, not only wears down self- esteem but also impacts the nervous system. Memories of the abuse can elicit negative feelings, tense physical sensations along with negative thoughts about yourself long after the abuse has occurred. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-goals/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-goals/ Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:52:14 GMT Did you make a new year?s resolution to do something differently in 2011? If so, you?re in a great position to improve your self-esteem while you?re at it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/animals-psyche-jung/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/animals-psyche-jung/ Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:32:54 GMT Anima(ls) meaning breath?.soul http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-factors-overweight-media/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-factors-overweight-media/ Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:00:48 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-cancer-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-cancer-communication/ Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:33:37 GMT As the final part of this series, we will look at skills that are likely to make communication with your partner more successful.  An important point to remember is that the goal of effective communication should be mutual understanding and finding a solution that works for both people (i.e., compromise), rather than ?winning? or ?being right.? Every time you win or you?re right, then, by definition, your partner loses or is wrong.  Not exactly a recipe for a successful relationship. Other points to keep in mind when trying to communicate successfully: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/life-goals-new-year-resolutions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/life-goals-new-year-resolutions/ Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:11:03 GMT It's that time of year again ? the gyms are packed, nicotine patches are flying off the shelves, and book shelves are loaded with titles that promise dramatic weight loss and a svelte new figure. The obligatory New Year's Resolutions are made, and all too often, are forgotten as quickly as they were made. By now, mid-January, many have already abandoned their resolutions. But, why? A new year seems like the perfect opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start fresh, right? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spiritual-bankruptcy-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spiritual-bankruptcy-depression/ Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:55:55 GMT The term ?spiritual bankruptcy? is a word used in the rooms of 12 step programs to characterize addicts who have lost their connection to ?higher power.? One dictionary definition describes spiritual bankruptcy as ?a state of complete lack of some abstract property.? As we begin the year, I?ve been pondering what I believe ?spiritual bankruptcy? means and how it appears in the people I know personally and treat in my practice. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-student-physical-health-depression-screening/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-student-physical-health-depression-screening/ Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:00:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-awareness-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-awareness-depression/ Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:00:15 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovery-body-dysmorphic-disorder/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovery-body-dysmorphic-disorder/ Sat, 15 Jan 2011 07:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/natural-remedies-mental-energy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/natural-remedies-mental-energy/ Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:00:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/crying-game-healing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/crying-game-healing/ Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:48:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/antipsychotic-medication-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/antipsychotic-medication-therapy/ Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:00:46 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nike-tennis-shoes-simple-living/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nike-tennis-shoes-simple-living/ Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-sexual-communication-connection-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-sexual-communication-connection-relationships/ Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:09:36 GMT As the New Year begins, we think about resolutions. Though couples may have resolved to have a better relationship, resolve their differences, have less conflict, it occurred to us that we don?t really ?resolve? issues in relationships. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tuscon-assassinations/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tuscon-assassinations/ Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:50:50 GMT People at the Safeway on January 8 were grocery shopping, hanging out with their friends and families, and doing their normal Saturday morning chores; Congressional Representative Gabrielle Giffords was holding a ?meet and greet? with her constituents. Then Jared Lee Loughner opened fire and all hell broke loose. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-sexuality-development-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-sexuality-development-therapy/ Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:28:56 GMT When we think of sex therapy we generally assume this takes place with and is for adults or couples only. But in actuality there is a gamut of information and work that can and should be done with children in therapy and in their daily lives. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-access-mental-health-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-access-mental-health-treatment/ Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:00:04 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-music-calm-brain-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-music-calm-brain-stress/ Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/empathy-gap-kellogg-school-bullying/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/empathy-gap-kellogg-school-bullying/ Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:00:53 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-students-desire-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-students-desire-self-esteem/ Wed, 12 Jan 2011 07:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/samhsa-grant-youth-suicide-prevention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/samhsa-grant-youth-suicide-prevention/ Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-years-resolutions-depression-play-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-years-resolutions-depression-play-therapy/ Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:32:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-eating-obesity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-eating-obesity/ Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:52:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/support-at-risk-teens-families-victims/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/support-at-risk-teens-families-victims/ Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:00:05 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/steps-to-success-anti-bullying-program-seattle/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/steps-to-success-anti-bullying-program-seattle/ Tue, 11 Jan 2011 07:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addict-marriage-divorce-options/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addict-marriage-divorce-options/ Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:44:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-emotions-explore-self/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/negative-emotions-explore-self/ Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:00:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dying-regrets-self-kindness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dying-regrets-self-kindness/ Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:30:49 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-therapy-relational-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-therapy-relational-psychotherapy/ Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:51:11 GMT A couple walks into an office for the first time. They take their seats at opposite ends of a couch. After a short flurry of legalisms, a small contract is passed out and the two steal an anxious look at one another, ?What is it we're getting ourselves into here??. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resolution-change-winter-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resolution-change-winter-psychotherapy/ Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:58:33 GMT As we enter a new year, we cannot help but gather a new resolve to make changes in our lives. It is a phenomenon of our culture. It is also an expression of natural rhythms of life.  Perhaps, even further, it is an indication of hope?if not faith?in something more. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/light-therapy-antidepressant-older-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/light-therapy-antidepressant-older-adults/ Mon, 10 Jan 2011 07:00:05 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-detox-rehab-maintaining-sobriety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-detox-rehab-maintaining-sobriety/ Sun, 9 Jan 2011 15:00:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resilience-positive-attitude-military-cancer/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resilience-positive-attitude-military-cancer/ Sat, 8 Jan 2011 15:00:01 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-convicts-childhood-attention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-convicts-childhood-attention/ Fri, 7 Jan 2011 20:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-therapy-creativity-new-york-blizzard/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-therapy-creativity-new-york-blizzard/ Fri, 7 Jan 2011 17:21:37 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/victim-survivor-thriver-trauma-stages/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/victim-survivor-thriver-trauma-stages/ Fri, 7 Jan 2011 17:03:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-adjustment-coparenting-right-first-refusal/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-adjustment-coparenting-right-first-refusal/ Fri, 7 Jan 2011 16:33:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neonatal-intensive-care-parenting-reading-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neonatal-intensive-care-parenting-reading-depression/ Fri, 7 Jan 2011 15:00:39 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-tells-emotion-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-tells-emotion-depression/ Fri, 7 Jan 2011 07:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-rituals-winter-celebrations/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-rituals-winter-celebrations/ Thu, 6 Jan 2011 15:54:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dsm-bipolar-aspbergers-prescription-medication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dsm-bipolar-aspbergers-prescription-medication/ Thu, 6 Jan 2011 15:00:16 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovering-from-holiday-stress-laughter-mindfulness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovering-from-holiday-stress-laughter-mindfulness/ Wed, 5 Jan 2011 21:52:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-new-year-resolutions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-new-year-resolutions/ Wed, 5 Jan 2011 21:18:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-alcoholism-warning-signs/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-alcoholism-warning-signs/ Wed, 5 Jan 2011 20:57:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-years-resolution-perfectionism-resilience/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-years-resolution-perfectionism-resilience/ Wed, 5 Jan 2011 15:00:10 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parents-social-environment-impact-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parents-social-environment-impact-children/ Wed, 5 Jan 2011 07:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/isabelle-caro-no-anorexia-campaign/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/isabelle-caro-no-anorexia-campaign/ Tue, 4 Jan 2011 20:00:05 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-block-procrastination-perfectionism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-block-procrastination-perfectionism/ Tue, 4 Jan 2011 17:35:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-support-group-loving-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-support-group-loving-relationships/ Tue, 4 Jan 2011 16:39:32 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-treatment-drug-use-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-treatment-drug-use-therapy/ Tue, 4 Jan 2011 15:00:07 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-avoidance-meaningful-relationships-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-avoidance-meaningful-relationships-anxiety/ Tue, 4 Jan 2011 07:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/digital-media-home-bullying-internet/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/digital-media-home-bullying-internet/ Mon, 3 Jan 2011 19:53:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/senior-pet-ownership-depression-loneliness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/senior-pet-ownership-depression-loneliness/ Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-year-change-grief-life-transition/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-year-change-grief-life-transition/ Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:40:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-year-resolustions-positive-outlook/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-year-resolustions-positive-outlook/ Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-discipline-connection-positive-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-discipline-connection-positive-relationship/ Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:33:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/special-needs-children-isolation-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/special-needs-children-isolation-parenting/ Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:34:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/swimming-rats-post-traumatic-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/swimming-rats-post-traumatic-stress/ Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:00:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/possessions-companionship-loneliness-buy-happiness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/possessions-companionship-loneliness-buy-happiness/ Wed, 29 Dec 2010 07:00:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-year-relationship-goals/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-year-relationship-goals/ Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:58:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-depression-self-esteem-support/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/facebook-depression-self-esteem-support/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:55:54 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/health-diagnosis-identity-resources/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/health-diagnosis-identity-resources/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:25:18 GMT Cancer. HIV. Diabetes. Heart Disease.  Just a few of the words no one wants to hear from their doctor. You may have had nagging symptoms for months and come prepared for difficult news. Or you may feel just fine, with no idea that your lab results or physical examination may show worrisome results. Either way, being on the receiving end of a serious medical diagnosis brings a myriad of feelings and concerns. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-anxiety-albert-ellis/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-anxiety-albert-ellis/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:48:13 GMT This co-dependency article is the last chapter on managing anxiety. We will manage anxiety by learning cognitive behavioral strategies. To review, the other strategies include physical exercise to burn off adrenaline and relaxation breathing. We are learning to manage anxiety, because when we let go of co-dependent behaviors and beliefs, we often feel some anxiety. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-psychology-anxiety-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-psychology-anxiety-stress/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:47:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-holidays-relationships-couples/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-holidays-relationships-couples/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:53:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/preteen-problems-violence-aggression-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/preteen-problems-violence-aggression-therapy/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:43:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-family-depression-holiday-season-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-family-depression-holiday-season-mental-health/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:21:20 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-diversity-multicultural-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-diversity-multicultural-parenting/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:13:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/shopping-for-others-ethics-morals-identity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/shopping-for-others-ethics-morals-identity/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:09:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compliments-girls-body-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compliments-girls-body-image/ Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:00:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-attitude-workplace-stress-management/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-attitude-workplace-stress-management/ Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:00:33 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/panic-attack-capnometry-assisted-respiratory-training/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/panic-attack-capnometry-assisted-respiratory-training/ Sat, 25 Dec 2010 20:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daily-anxiety-stress-relieve-techniques/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/daily-anxiety-stress-relieve-techniques/ Sat, 25 Dec 2010 15:00:29 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell-psychology/ Sat, 25 Dec 2010 07:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-victim-risk-substance-abuse-lgbt/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-victim-risk-substance-abuse-lgbt/ Fri, 24 Dec 2010 20:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chicago-clinic-mental-health-primary-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chicago-clinic-mental-health-primary-care/ Fri, 24 Dec 2010 07:00:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-men-intimacy-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-men-intimacy-therapy/ Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:47:53 GMT What does a sex therapist do? People often ask me what type of problems show up most often in my office. As most readers of my blog already know, I don?t like to put lots of focus on ?disorders? like ?erectile dysfunction?; and in fact most people don?t call up saying ?I have e.d.?  Most people call because they are experiencing sex addiction in some form, or because they?re having difficulties with desire or lack of desire. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/impact-sleep-disorder-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/impact-sleep-disorder-depression/ Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-diagnostic-criteria-where%e2%80%99s-the-human-factor/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-diagnostic-criteria-where%e2%80%99s-the-human-factor/ Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:00:54 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/address-stress-anxiety-essential-psychological-effects/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/address-stress-anxiety-essential-psychological-effects/ Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tips-coping-holiday-loneliness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tips-coping-holiday-loneliness/ Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:06:32 GMT By Marta Rocha, MHCI http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-relationship-trauma-self-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-relationship-trauma-self-care/ Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:51:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-holidays-family-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-holidays-family-communication/ Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:44:47 GMT Last month we met Melinda and Sharon (not actual people), two women for whom the holidays mean obligation rather than joy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-adolescent-facebook-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-adolescent-facebook-addiction/ Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:25:22 GMT Lately we've been getting calls from high school students worried about their supposed "Facebook Addiction". There are now marketing sites as the traditional treatment industry trolls for yet more victims for their phony "programs" for phony "diseases".But for worried adolescents, and their parents, there is some cause for concern. Why? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-relationship-tips/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-relationship-tips/ Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:51:53 GMT The holiday season can be really tough on relationships and expectations. Often the holidays are times when relationship problems become the most evident. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-orthodox-jews/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-orthodox-jews/ Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:00:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-impact-men-women-differently/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-impact-men-women-differently/ Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:00:03 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loneliness-depression-group-membership-resilience/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loneliness-depression-group-membership-resilience/ Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:00:22 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-heroism-zimbardo-study-middle-school/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-heroism-zimbardo-study-middle-school/ Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:00:11 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/charitable-giving-patterns-psychology-empathy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/charitable-giving-patterns-psychology-empathy/ Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:00:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/conflict-with-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/conflict-with-care/ Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:54:24 GMT When we find ourselves embattled, either viscerally aggressive or frozen, there is always an underlying process of anxiety occurring in our neural and limbic systems. The ?fight or flight? mechanism that often spirals us beyond the limit of reason and self-control has immediate effects in our neurochemical and hormonal processes. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-job-loss-unemployment-depression-life-satisfaction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-job-loss-unemployment-depression-life-satisfaction/ Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:00:38 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alaska-natives-speak-out-depression-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alaska-natives-speak-out-depression-suicide/ Thu, 16 Dec 2010 07:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cyber-bullying-social-networking-teens-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cyber-bullying-social-networking-teens-psychology/ Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-abuse-trauma-prayer-meditation-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-abuse-trauma-prayer-meditation-psychotherapy/ Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:00:50 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happiness-money-well-being-income-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happiness-money-well-being-income-psychology/ Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:00:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-care-holidays-eating-disorder-womens-issues-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-care-holidays-eating-disorder-womens-issues-psychotherapy/ Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:11:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-culture-instant-gratification-youth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-culture-instant-gratification-youth/ Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/foundations-lgbt-relationship-marriage-finances-psychology-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/foundations-lgbt-relationship-marriage-finances-psychology-communication/ Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:18:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obesity-depression-weight-psychotherapy-reciprocal-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obesity-depression-weight-psychotherapy-reciprocal-relationship/ Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:00:24 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pregnancy-depression-psychotherapy-baby-development/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pregnancy-depression-psychotherapy-baby-development/ Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lgbt-mental-health-supportive-families/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lgbt-mental-health-supportive-families/ Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reflection-decade-spirituality-life-transition-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reflection-decade-spirituality-life-transition-psychotherapy/ Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:55:29 GMT As the year draws to a close, I find myself reminiscing about the end of 2010 and the end of the first decade of the 21st century. For me, the year feels like it has gone by quickly. I know that in reality one year is the same as the next in terms of the actual passage of time, but it is a truism that our perception of how much and how quickly time has passed changes as we age, with our circumstances and with our sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-self-esteem-object-relations-parenting-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-self-esteem-object-relations-parenting-psychotherapy/ Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:07:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/winter-play-therapy-family-children-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/winter-play-therapy-family-children-psychology/ Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:39:11 GMT Both children and adults learn through play. This of course is not news to those of us in the field of play. What is news is the fact that we need to improve the quality of play for everyone. Many parents and educators are no longer in touch with the need for play for children in our driven, achievement-oriented culture. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-rates-psychotropic-medication-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-rates-psychotropic-medication-psychotherapy/ Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:00:32 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-fears-child-psychotherapy-counseling-stigma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-fears-child-psychotherapy-counseling-stigma/ Mon, 13 Dec 2010 07:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-shame-self-esteem-media-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-shame-self-esteem-media-psychology/ Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:00:29 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-anxious-era-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-anxious-era-psychotherapy/ Sat, 11 Dec 2010 07:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/human-connection-well-being-walkable-neighborhoods-religion-depression-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/human-connection-well-being-walkable-neighborhoods-religion-depression-psychology/ Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:00:39 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/medicaid-adhd-treatment-ineffective-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/medicaid-adhd-treatment-ineffective-psychotherapy/ Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:00:32 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holidate-holiday-season-relationships-marriage-happiness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holidate-holiday-season-relationships-marriage-happiness/ Thu, 9 Dec 2010 23:34:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addiction-stigma-depression-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addiction-stigma-depression-psychotherapy/ Thu, 9 Dec 2010 15:00:56 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cost-eating-disorder-treatment-psychotherapy-maudsley-method/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cost-eating-disorder-treatment-psychotherapy-maudsley-method/ Thu, 9 Dec 2010 07:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/old-age-health-positive-attitude-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/old-age-health-positive-attitude-psychology/ Wed, 8 Dec 2010 20:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/empowerment-racism-sexism-workplace-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/empowerment-racism-sexism-workplace-psychology/ Wed, 8 Dec 2010 15:00:46 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/female-veterans-suicide-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/female-veterans-suicide-psychotherapy/ Wed, 8 Dec 2010 07:00:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/meditation-calm-mind-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/meditation-calm-mind-psychotherapy/ Tue, 7 Dec 2010 20:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/conscious-shopping-power-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/conscious-shopping-power-psychology/ Tue, 7 Dec 2010 17:42:12 GMT Walking through a large local discount store recently I was struck by the urge to buy things that I didn?t originally come to the store for. The item I had been shopping for was not on the shelf, and the similar items didn?t appeal to me. Still, somehow I was drawn toward displays of odds and ends. I noticed a thought creep into the back of my mind ?Hey, maybe you could use one of these, it?s not that expensive.? It was difficult to walk away. I wondered though what the attraction was. Is it just the sheer volume of merchandise that makes it impossible not to see something else that you want while you are trying to walk out the door? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holidays-family-problems-judgment-communication-self-esteem-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holidays-family-problems-judgment-communication-self-esteem-psychology/ Tue, 7 Dec 2010 17:08:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-eating-during-holidays/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-eating-during-holidays/ Tue, 7 Dec 2010 16:32:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-marriage-communication-understanding-needs/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-marriage-communication-understanding-needs/ Tue, 7 Dec 2010 15:40:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/menopause-depression-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/menopause-depression-psychotherapy/ Tue, 7 Dec 2010 15:00:42 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapeutic-play-sandplay-therapy-attachment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapeutic-play-sandplay-therapy-attachment/ Mon, 6 Dec 2010 21:56:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/individuation-college-young-adult-mother-child-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/individuation-college-young-adult-mother-child-psychology/ Mon, 6 Dec 2010 21:13:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/santa-artist-creative-blocks-art-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/santa-artist-creative-blocks-art-therapy/ Mon, 6 Dec 2010 20:40:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/final-phase-healing-trauma-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/final-phase-healing-trauma-psychotherapy/ Mon, 6 Dec 2010 18:44:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unconventional-holiday-celebration-grief-depression-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unconventional-holiday-celebration-grief-depression-psychology/ Mon, 6 Dec 2010 18:14:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression-holiday-season-self-care-resources/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression-holiday-season-self-care-resources/ Mon, 6 Dec 2010 17:22:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bully-psychology-self-esteem-cause-effect-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bully-psychology-self-esteem-cause-effect-psychotherapy/ Fri, 3 Dec 2010 20:00:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-adjustment-parenting-plan-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-adjustment-parenting-plan-psychology/ Fri, 3 Dec 2010 16:52:41 GMT When parents divorce, a series of events unfold that require thoughtful and considered decisions about the future of their children.  It soon becomes starkly evident how many decisions are made on a daily basis as a parent.  Most people don?t realize how many decisions they make from one minute to the next.  Nor do they often realize how much coordination it takes to make the family engine run smoothly. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/success-love-now-gratitude-purpose-surrender-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/success-love-now-gratitude-purpose-surrender-psychotherapy/ Fri, 3 Dec 2010 16:04:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-guided-imagery-creativity-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-guided-imagery-creativity-psychotherapy/ Fri, 3 Dec 2010 15:42:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-antidepressants-effectiveness-psychotherapy-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-antidepressants-effectiveness-psychotherapy-treatment/ Fri, 3 Dec 2010 15:00:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/china-access-mental-health-schizophrenia-violence-culture/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/china-access-mental-health-schizophrenia-violence-culture/ Fri, 3 Dec 2010 07:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-thought-choice-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-thought-choice-psychotherapy/ Thu, 2 Dec 2010 15:11:33 GMT Being mindful means being aware of inner and outer processes as they present themselves in the moment. The main inner observations are the observations of thoughts, emotions and body sensations. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-issues-girls-boys-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-issues-girls-boys-psychology/ Thu, 2 Dec 2010 07:00:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-marriage-power-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-marriage-power-communication/ Wed, 1 Dec 2010 22:20:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/avatar-applications-mobile-phone-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/avatar-applications-mobile-phone-psychotherapy/ Wed, 1 Dec 2010 20:00:56 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-professionals-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-professionals-depression/ Wed, 1 Dec 2010 07:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/primary-care-behavioral-health-psychotropic-medication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/primary-care-behavioral-health-psychotropic-medication/ Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:00:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-chronic-pain-cbt-psychotropic-medication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-chronic-pain-cbt-psychotropic-medication/ Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:54:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-coping-skills-relationships-parenting-communication-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-coping-skills-relationships-parenting-communication-psychology/ Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:36:21 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attitude-through-body-baby-caregiver-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attitude-through-body-baby-caregiver-psychotherapy/ Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:21:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-holiday-stress-family-problems/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-holiday-stress-family-problems/ Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:54:40 GMT What is it about the Holidays that causes more stress than fun?  Why are women more susceptible to stress during the Holidays?  How can women not only survive the Holidays, but actually enjoy them? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/youth-eating-disorders-obesity-obsession-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/youth-eating-disorders-obesity-obsession-therapy/ Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:00:07 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-mental-health-days-day-off-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-mental-health-days-day-off-anxiety/ Tue, 30 Nov 2010 07:00:11 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-family-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-family-psychotherapy/ Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:13:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/black-friday-compulsive-spending-addiction-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/black-friday-compulsive-spending-addiction-psychotherapy/ Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:55:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/awareness-mindfulness-body-mind-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/awareness-mindfulness-body-mind-psychotherapy/ Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:59:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-grief-stress-depression-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-grief-stress-depression-psychotherapy/ Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-perception-body-image-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-perception-body-image-psychology/ Thu, 25 Nov 2010 20:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/socioeconomic-status-unmarried-men-depression-emotional-intelligence-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/socioeconomic-status-unmarried-men-depression-emotional-intelligence-stress/ Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:00:50 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-christmas-compulsive-shopping-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-christmas-compulsive-shopping-depression/ Thu, 25 Nov 2010 07:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-student-psychological-stress-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/college-student-psychological-stress-psychotherapy/ Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:00:29 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-triggers-sugar-aggressive-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-triggers-sugar-aggressive-behavior/ Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/wellness-work-program-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/wellness-work-program-psychotherapy/ Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/somatic-experiencing-psychotherapy-personal-history/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/somatic-experiencing-psychotherapy-personal-history/ Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:59:14 GMT ?I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.? -  Louisa May Alcott http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/culturally-sensitive-psychotherapy-immigrants-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/culturally-sensitive-psychotherapy-immigrants-depression/ Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:00:07 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/inconsistent-prescription-psychotropic-medication-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/inconsistent-prescription-psychotropic-medication-psychotherapy/ Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-congenital-heart-disease-motherhood-depression-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-congenital-heart-disease-motherhood-depression-psychotherapy/ Mon, 22 Nov 2010 20:00:49 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-drug-use-addiction-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-drug-use-addiction-psychology/ Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:58:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-communicating-problems-calm-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-communicating-problems-calm-psychology/ Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:24:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/animal-study-depression-psychotropic-medication-sleep/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/animal-study-depression-psychotropic-medication-sleep/ Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:00:52 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/managing-anxiety-relaxation-technique-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/managing-anxiety-relaxation-technique-psychotherapy/ Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:47:05 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-heart-disease-counseling-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-heart-disease-counseling-therapy/ Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/america-mental-health-suicide-substance-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/america-mental-health-suicide-substance-abuse/ Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mike-owen-war-mental-illness-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mike-owen-war-mental-illness-psychotherapy/ Sat, 20 Nov 2010 07:00:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-child-bully-psychological-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-child-bully-psychological-issues/ Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:00:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-holidays-expectations-disappointment-christmas/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-holidays-expectations-disappointment-christmas/ Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:40:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-season-family-emotional-abuse-choice/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-season-family-emotional-abuse-choice/ Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:27:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-intimate-partner-cancer-sexuality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-intimate-partner-cancer-sexuality/ Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:02:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/worthlessness-perfectionism-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/worthlessness-perfectionism-psychotherapy/ Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:00:44 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/distraction-stress-city-life-happiness-psychotherapy-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/distraction-stress-city-life-happiness-psychotherapy-psychology/ Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:00:24 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-children-habits-psychotherapy-samhsa-grants/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-children-habits-psychotherapy-samhsa-grants/ Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-anxiety-psychotherapy-response-emotion-brain-scan/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-anxiety-psychotherapy-response-emotion-brain-scan/ Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-cancer-anxiety-depression-ptsd-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-cancer-anxiety-depression-ptsd-psychotherapy/ Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:00:41 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-diagnose-increase-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-diagnose-increase-psychology/ Wed, 17 Nov 2010 07:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-anti-bullying-march-united-kingdom/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-anti-bullying-march-united-kingdom/ Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-holidays-sacrifice-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-holidays-sacrifice-psychology/ Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:57:00 GMT Where should we spend the holidays this year? Should I give a gift to my neighbors? How can we invite so-and-so to dinner without inviting that annoying ______ of hers? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-marriage-trust-affair-recovery-identity-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-marriage-trust-affair-recovery-identity-psychology/ Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:51:55 GMT It is a devastating event to discover a partner's betrayal; it strikes at the heart of many aspects of our identity. The betrayed partner may doubt their own attractiveness or their ability to judge people, and can raise questions about the fundamental goodness of the world. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/role-stress-family-children-anxiety-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/role-stress-family-children-anxiety-psychotherapy/ Sun, 14 Nov 2010 15:00:48 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-female-veterans-substance-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-female-veterans-substance-abuse/ Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/classical-music-therapy-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/classical-music-therapy-depression/ Sat, 13 Nov 2010 07:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/work-hard-food-tastes-better-eating-issues-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/work-hard-food-tastes-better-eating-issues-psychotherapy/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jungian-therapy-dream-spirituality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jungian-therapy-dream-spirituality/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:43:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/television-children-play-therapy-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/television-children-play-therapy-parenting/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:04:32 GMT A recent article in the Friday Journal section of the Wall Street Journal, dated November 5, 2010 states that preschoolers, aged 2 to 5, spend an average of more than 32 hours in front of the TV screen each week, according to Nielsen. To add to this horrific statistic a large percentage of preschoolers watch TV from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/senior-depression-psychotherapy-identifying-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/senior-depression-psychotherapy-identifying-treatment/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:00:05 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder-fat-sand-rat-light-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder-fat-sand-rat-light-therapy/ Fri, 12 Nov 2010 07:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-depression-awareness-prevetion-relationships-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-depression-awareness-prevetion-relationships-psychotherapy/ Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-stress-presenteeism-worry-communication-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-stress-presenteeism-worry-communication-therapy/ Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:00:04 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-interaction-children-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parent-interaction-children-mental-health/ Thu, 11 Nov 2010 07:00:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eleventh-step-twelve-step-program-spirituality-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eleventh-step-twelve-step-program-spirituality-psychotherapy/ Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:25:17 GMT The Eleventh Step: We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God?s will for us and the power to carry that out. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-food-compulsive-eating-grief-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holiday-food-compulsive-eating-grief-psychology/ Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:00:32 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregiver-depression-mentally-ill-adults-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregiver-depression-mentally-ill-adults-psychotherapy/ Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:00:36 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-deployment-stress-children-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-deployment-stress-children-mental-health/ Wed, 10 Nov 2010 07:00:30 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-issues-childhood-adulthood-adhd-sexual-abuse-fearless-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-issues-childhood-adulthood-adhd-sexual-abuse-fearless-behavior/ Tue, 9 Nov 2010 15:00:00 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-prevention-at-risk-youth-psychotherapy-samhsa-grant/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-prevention-at-risk-youth-psychotherapy-samhsa-grant/ Mon, 8 Nov 2010 21:55:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-awareness-workplace-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-awareness-workplace-mental-health/ Mon, 8 Nov 2010 20:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-marriage-communication-internal-family-systems/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-marriage-communication-internal-family-systems/ Mon, 8 Nov 2010 18:11:30 GMT Oh no ? another couple you know is getting a divorce. Do you think it?s contagious? Are you worried that break-ups are like a virus you could catch? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-food-issues-compulsive-binge-recovery-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-food-issues-compulsive-binge-recovery-psychotherapy/ Mon, 8 Nov 2010 17:35:37 GMT When I write articles for GoodTherapy, I usually write about my views on recovery from disordered eating and body image concerns, and about things I?ve learned from my professional experience. This article is different: it?s about my personal experience. This month?s article was originally due the day after Halloween.  For reasons I?ll mention shortly, I hadn?t started writing it by Halloween day. On Halloween afternoon, I pondered this aloud, and my son asked what the article that I had to write was about.  I told him, ?disordered eating,? and he said, ?You have to write it about Halloween candy!? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-post-traumatic-stress-psychotherapy-life-history/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-post-traumatic-stress-psychotherapy-life-history/ Mon, 8 Nov 2010 17:18:14 GMT Exiting the first phase of healing may lead to you feeling as though you have a new lease on life and may make you want to step out of your healing journey. While you have more than every right to do this, know that ultimately the first phase is not sufficient to bring whole and complete healing. In fact the sense of, as well as actual, safety within yourself, with the people in your life and in your physical environment, that you established within the first phase of healing, becomes the foundation which allows you to grow into the second phase of healing. It is in this second phase of healing that the actual traumatic experience is grappled with through remembering and mourning. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-trauma-sexual-abuse-death-suicidal-behavior-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-trauma-sexual-abuse-death-suicidal-behavior-psychotherapy/ Mon, 8 Nov 2010 15:00:33 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-sleep-learning-knowledge-memory/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-sleep-learning-knowledge-memory/ Mon, 8 Nov 2010 07:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-psoriasis-depression-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-psoriasis-depression-psychotherapy/ Sun, 7 Nov 2010 15:00:30 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-exercise-leisure-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-exercise-leisure-psychotherapy/ Sat, 6 Nov 2010 06:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-management-motivation-reward-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-management-motivation-reward-psychotherapy/ Fri, 5 Nov 2010 19:00:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adulthood-parenting-psychotherapy-emdr-self-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adulthood-parenting-psychotherapy-emdr-self-care/ Fri, 5 Nov 2010 14:59:42 GMT I believe the task of childhood is to learn to be a good parent to ourselves, and the task of parenthood is to teach our children to become good parents to themselves. When this doesn?t happen, it becomes the goal of therapy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-sexual-abuse-trauma-art-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-sexual-abuse-trauma-art-therapy/ Fri, 5 Nov 2010 14:34:41 GMT When November arrives, depression is not far behind. Something about the turn of the season, less daylight, less outdoor activities, the holiday bustle nudging its way back into consciousness can make some people turn inward and find deep dissatisfaction in their lives. Deep dissatisfaction can show up as a persistent weight pulling you down. Sometimes it is hard to get out of bed, to do anything. Most people are able to cope with these feelings by ?pushing through? or ?acting as if? they are feeling alright.  Enrolling in new classes, filling calendars with arts, sports, theater, shopping and exercise routines can help lift depression. ?Crafting? marketed by Martha Stewart has hit the culture in a big way. She was featured on Oprah in October, 2010. Her crafting ideas are well thought out and planned to provide hours of pleasure that some people find in making things. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-teen-depression-primary-physician-screening-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-teen-depression-primary-physician-screening-psychotherapy/ Fri, 5 Nov 2010 14:00:37 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/medical-surgeon-work-stress-burnout-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/medical-surgeon-work-stress-burnout-psychology/ Fri, 5 Nov 2010 06:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/curiosity-communication-relationships-divorce/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/curiosity-communication-relationships-divorce/ Wed, 3 Nov 2010 18:44:22 GMT People who have been in long marriages or relationships get to know each other rather well. They can often anticipate what the other person might say or do or think or want......you get the picture. In loving relationships, partners might sometimes have a reliance on each other to know what each other wants without having to tell or explain....and sometimes they can and do just that. It might help them to feel loved, recognized and appreciated. The ?knowing? of the other person is experienced through a positive filter. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-sexual-abuse-post-traumatic-stress-coping-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-sexual-abuse-post-traumatic-stress-coping-depression/ Tue, 2 Nov 2010 14:00:19 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-anorexia-addiction-abuse-shame-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-anorexia-addiction-abuse-shame-psychotherapy/ Tue, 2 Nov 2010 13:35:59 GMT Recent interest in sexual addiction has drawn attention to a variation called Sexual Anorexia.  Also called sexual ?acting in,? sexual anorexia is characterized by a severe aversion sexual contact and the obsessive avoidance of sex. Other signs of sexual anorexia include: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aging-happiness-emotional-stability-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aging-happiness-emotional-stability-psychology/ Tue, 2 Nov 2010 06:00:16 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/for-rosalynn-carter-mental-illness-advocacy-remains-a-top-priority/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/for-rosalynn-carter-mental-illness-advocacy-remains-a-top-priority/ Mon, 1 Nov 2010 18:28:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-grades-suicide-risk-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-grades-suicide-risk-depression/ Sat, 30 Oct 2010 19:00:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-antidepressants-less-effective-working-class/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-antidepressants-less-effective-working-class/ Sat, 30 Oct 2010 06:00:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-marriage-conflict-resolution/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-marriage-conflict-resolution/ Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:13:30 GMT What little words turn out to be provocative, with huge potential for undermining goodwill in a relationship? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treating-depression-counselor-primary-care-doctor/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/treating-depression-counselor-primary-care-doctor/ Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:00:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fibromyalgia-childhood-stress-body-mind-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fibromyalgia-childhood-stress-body-mind-psychotherapy/ Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:55:23 GMT Starting the day with fibromyalgia pain made Vera angry http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/masochistic-anger-management-self-flagellation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/masochistic-anger-management-self-flagellation/ Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:37:26 GMT Shirking duties was guaranteed to get Ezra angry http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-dialogue-psychotherapy-inner-scapegoat/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-dialogue-psychotherapy-inner-scapegoat/ Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:17:56 GMT This is the third in a series of articles on the Scapegoat and how Voice Dialogue can help heal this ancient phenomenon that continues to occur within all human communities and within certain sensitive and susceptible individuals. The first two articles explored the Shadow, the phenomenon called projection, and the history of the Scapegoat in human communities. See the first two articles at: http://www.goodtherapy.org/voice-dialogue-article.html. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prevention-military-suicide-life-transition-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prevention-military-suicide-life-transition-psychology/ Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:00:43 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-psychotherapy-perception-disease/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-psychotherapy-perception-disease/ Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-children-cancer-psst-stress-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-children-cancer-psst-stress-psychotherapy/ Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:00:49 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-style-self-esteem-psychological-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-style-self-esteem-psychological-health/ Thu, 28 Oct 2010 06:00:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-temper-tantrum-parenting-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-temper-tantrum-parenting-communication/ Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:01:29 GMT Temper tantrums can be very frustrating to deal with. All children have a temper tantrum at one point in time or another. They can happen in the home, school, in grocery stores but may not necessarily happen when the child is at another person?s house. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recession-mental-health-guilt-unemployment-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recession-mental-health-guilt-unemployment-psychotherapy/ Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:00:35 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adoption-psychotherapy-neglect-support/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adoption-psychotherapy-neglect-support/ Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:41:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personality-birth-order-family-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personality-birth-order-family-therapy/ Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:55:49 GMT For generations, family members have noted the differences that naturally arise in children raised in the same family. How is it that John, the first born and only boy, seems to have such different personality characteristics than his younger brother, raised in the same house by the same parents just two years apart?  Good question! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addict-spouse-relationship-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addict-spouse-relationship-therapy/ Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:52:45 GMT So often when the topic of Sexual Addiction comes up, the primary focus is on the sex addict, the symptoms and causes of sex addiction, and the journey to freedom from sexual addiction.  While this is certainly a much needed focal point, something very important often gets overlooked and that is the effect sexual betrayal has on the spouse of the sex addict! Can you imagine waking up one day to find the world and spouse you thought was one thing but then realize that it is not only completely different, but that you have been betrayed! Certainly there are times when a spouse suspects or feels there is something going on, but many times, spouses are caught totally off-guard and their life feels like it is falling apart and they are all alone. In the moment, it is hard to even think about how to take the next step, let alone put a plan in place to move forward. Where this may be difficult at this point, it is important for the spouses to take care of themselves and try to avoid the downward spiral that can threaten them. Here are a few things to put in place to help on this path: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-psychotherapy/ Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:12:03 GMT What is ?mindfulness?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-health-resilience-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-health-resilience-psychology/ Sun, 24 Oct 2010 14:00:17 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trafficking-survivors-women-trauma-intervention-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trafficking-survivors-women-trauma-intervention-psychotherapy/ Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-resilience-trauma-workshops-emotional-intelligence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-resilience-trauma-workshops-emotional-intelligence/ Sat, 23 Oct 2010 06:00:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-kids-depression-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-kids-depression-psychotherapy/ Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:00:03 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-teen-suicide-parenting-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-teen-suicide-parenting-therapy/ Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:06:40 GMT Seth Walsh, 13, Asher Brown, 13, Billy Lucas, 15, Tyler Clementi, 18, Raymond Chase, 19, all died within the last three weeks as a result of suicide. All of them were bullied or harassed for being perceived as gay.  And these are just the names that we know.  There are many others out there suffering and struggling through the discovery of their sexuality. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pollyanna-mindfulness-meditation-buddhist-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pollyanna-mindfulness-meditation-buddhist-psychology/ Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:45:09 GMT Often, in the context of cultivating mindfulness, I heard people emphasize ? ?I don?t want to become a Pollyanna?. As someone who grew up loving Pollyanna ? a child heroine of U.S. novelist Eleanor Hodgman Porter1 - I want to clear her name and claim that there is a lot to learn from her character in our efforts to be mindful. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-breakup-marriage-counseling-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-breakup-marriage-counseling-communication/ Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:00:37 GMT In therapy, one of the most frequent questions I am asked is ?How do you know when it?s really over? When is it time to give up?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/maudsley-method-family-therapy-eating-issues-anorexia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/maudsley-method-family-therapy-eating-issues-anorexia/ Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:00:06 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-abuse-choice-recovery-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-abuse-choice-recovery-therapy/ Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:29:03 GMT John, our favorite Australian correspondent, wrote to note that a lot of people don't really want to hear that their alcohol abuse is a choice - and so is fixing it. That came as no surprise to us. After all, what better excuse for continuing drinking than having a "disease" over which you are "powerless"?  And for parents wanting to avoid dealing with their adult children's behavior, well, why not decide that it's a "disease" rather than a choice? All in all it's no surprise that many people prefer this option but it doesn't come without costs. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-sleep-depression-apnea-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-sleep-depression-apnea-therapy/ Fri, 22 Oct 2010 06:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relief-for-clients-facing-postpartum-issues-and-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relief-for-clients-facing-postpartum-issues-and-anxiety/ Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:40:43 GMT Having a baby is a milestone occasion in many women?s lives. It is a time of profound role transition and development of reordering of priorities. For many women, motherhood brings joy, a sense of wonder, and tremendous fulfillment. And, for at least 20% of all child-bearing women, motherhood can bring about significant perinatal mood/anxiety concerns. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/antidepressant-medication-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/antidepressant-medication-psychotherapy/ Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:00:48 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/technology-psychological-health-children-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/technology-psychological-health-children-depression/ Thu, 21 Oct 2010 06:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/violence-video-games-psychology-adolescent-boys-emotional-brain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/violence-video-games-psychology-adolescent-boys-emotional-brain/ Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happiness-adversity-growth-psychological-resilience/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/happiness-adversity-growth-psychological-resilience/ Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:00:38 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-shopping-beauty-products-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-shopping-beauty-products-self-esteem/ Wed, 20 Oct 2010 06:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-men-porn-addiction-intimacy-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-men-porn-addiction-intimacy-psychology/ Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:15:41 GMT Since my last blog post several of you (all female) have logged onto my website and then called to express relief that I?m writing about something ? women and pornography addiction ? that many people and the popular media don?t recognize as a real problem.  The Washington Times recently published results from a 2006 Internet Filter Review poll which found that 9.4 women access adult websites each month, and 13 percent of them admit to accessing pornography at work.  And remember folks, this was 4 years ago! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recover-codependency-anxiety-exercise-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recover-codependency-anxiety-exercise-therapy/ Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:56:53 GMT Okay, so now you understand co-dependency, where it comes from and how it affects you. You want to heal and recover. So where do you start? It can feel so overwhelming that you may feel paralyzed. Remember, you don?t have to do it perfectly. (Or anything else for that matter). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/late-man-adult-angry-identity-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/late-man-adult-angry-identity-psychotherapy/ Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:43:14 GMT * This blog is a follow-to Richard's previous article, "Who's in Charge - Understanding Men Today" http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unemployment-depression-unhappy-job-stress-anxiety-counseling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unemployment-depression-unhappy-job-stress-anxiety-counseling/ Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:00:07 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-obsessive-compulsive-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-obsessive-compulsive-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/ Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:01:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/constructive-wallowing-self-esteem-depression-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/constructive-wallowing-self-esteem-depression-psychology/ Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:33:21 GMT Last month we looked at why it?s important to let ourselves ?wallow? in our feelings; it helps us know ourselves better and get over difficult patches faster. It also helps us to reintegrate the parts of us that had to be cut off in order not to hurt so much. Once we?re whole, we can enjoy the self-esteem that comes from knowing and respecting ourselves. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disaster-survivors-ptsd-psychological-recovery/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disaster-survivors-ptsd-psychological-recovery/ Sun, 17 Oct 2010 14:00:49 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychiatric-nurses-compassion-patients-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychiatric-nurses-compassion-patients-care/ Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-awards-2010-psychological-health-media/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-awards-2010-psychological-health-media/ Sat, 16 Oct 2010 06:00:37 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aggressive-youth-behavior-alienation-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aggressive-youth-behavior-alienation-psychotherapy/ Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/person-centered-rogerian-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/person-centered-rogerian-therapy/ Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:15:09 GMT Have you ever been in a relationship that challenged your assumptions and beliefs about yourself and the world around you? If so, then you know how powerful and life changing some relationships can be. Imagine then, forming a relationship with a professional who is trained to develop relationships that encourage self-exploration, insight and positive change. Carl Rogers, founder of Person Centered Psychotherapy, outlined three essential ingredients of a just such a successful therapeutic relationship? unconditional positive regard, genuineness and empathy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-abuse-recovery-marriage-healing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-abuse-recovery-marriage-healing/ Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:19:40 GMT The media is inundated with stories about domestic violence and the havoc that alcohol or drugs can cause with love relationships. However, there is little attention paid to more subtle types of hurtful behavior like verbal or emotional abuse. These damaging behaviors can occur with partners who are neither physically violent nor addicts. They are partners who may have some other mental illness not so widely understood by the average person. Some emotionally abusive partners aren?t mentally ill at all; they nevertheless have learned to use power and control as a major style of operation within their relationships. Like victims of domestic violence, partners in emotionally abusive relationships suffer quietly. Unlike those that fear physical safety, victims of emotional abuse may have little understanding they are in fact being abused. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/peers-mental-health-depression-stigma-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/peers-mental-health-depression-stigma-relationships/ Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:00:52 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/physical-activity-screen-time-children-psychological-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/physical-activity-screen-time-children-psychological-health/ Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tai-chi-spirituality-yoruba/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tai-chi-spirituality-yoruba/ Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:27:58 GMT I recently started studying Tai Chi with a Sensei (Master) who?s almost 69 years old. He moves gracefully and powerfully and also looks great. I was sent to him by the Orishas, the divinities in my religion (Yoruba), whom I trust to guide me in directions that will benefit me. They did not tell me specifically to study Tai Chi with this particular Sensei or even to study Tai Chi at all but this is what I believe they were saying to me when they said that something from the Far East would come into my life that would benefit me. I put the pieces together on my own which is how it?s supposed to work with information we receive on a spiritual level. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nature-scene-physical-pain-serenity-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nature-scene-physical-pain-serenity-psychotherapy/ Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-hardships-resiliency-stress-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-hardships-resiliency-stress-psychology/ Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:00:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-food-issues-self-injury/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-food-issues-self-injury/ Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:00:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-stigma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-stigma/ Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:00:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-girls-math-anxiety-gender-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-girls-math-anxiety-gender-psychology/ Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:52:40 GMT The new school year has started, and many girls face an uphill battle when it comes to insecurity about math. Math anxiety can make itself known through nervousness when tackling a math problem, panic attacks that strike during a test, or even avoidance of math subjects completely. Although not exclusively a woman?s problem, men are less likely to experience anxiety about math. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/synchronicity-jungian-psychotherapy-dreams-meaningful-coincidence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/synchronicity-jungian-psychotherapy-dreams-meaningful-coincidence/ Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:16:14 GMT In Synchronicity and the Stories of our Lives, Robert H. Hopcke presents synchronicity, or meaningful coincidence, using examples that are written in every day language making this Jungian concept easier to relate to and understand. Paying attention and connecting the dots after a series of synchronistic events and dreams can be helpful in developing our awareness and intuition. Ultimately, by increasing our awareness of synchronicities in our lives we are able to connect more fully with our dreams, increase our feelings of trust and support, and prepare for and take action in creating the life we want to live fully and truthfully according to our nature. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/play-therapy-stress-work-enjoy-life/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/play-therapy-stress-work-enjoy-life/ Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:04:27 GMT Sally does not stop for breakfast and instead goes straight from her bed to her desk. She begins typing on the computer while unknowingly holding her breath. Jumping from one website to the next she feels busy. Her muscles tense. She pushes herself to continue working. By the end of the day, she is exhausted and restless. Feeling very tired and wired she takes a sleeping pill to go to sleep. This daily work pattern continues until she finds herself sick in bed with the flu. Illness brings on a needed a period of rest. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/animal-assisted-therapy-psychological-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/animal-assisted-therapy-psychological-issues/ Sun, 10 Oct 2010 14:00:46 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/long-term-psychology-heavy-combat-military/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/long-term-psychology-heavy-combat-military/ Sat, 9 Oct 2010 19:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/federal-samhsa-mental-health-proposed-action-plan/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/federal-samhsa-mental-health-proposed-action-plan/ Sat, 9 Oct 2010 06:00:49 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neanderthals-compassion-serious-injuries-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neanderthals-compassion-serious-injuries-care/ Fri, 8 Oct 2010 19:00:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-depression-anti-social-internet/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-depression-anti-social-internet/ Fri, 8 Oct 2010 14:00:18 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neighborhood-depression-racism-community/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neighborhood-depression-racism-community/ Fri, 8 Oct 2010 06:00:21 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jail-mental-health-incarceration-therapy-rehabilitation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/jail-mental-health-incarceration-therapy-rehabilitation/ Thu, 7 Oct 2010 19:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/medical-professionals-nurses-doctors-recognize-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/medical-professionals-nurses-doctors-recognize-depression/ Thu, 7 Oct 2010 14:00:42 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adults-parenting-children-tolerating-anger-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adults-parenting-children-tolerating-anger-relationships/ Thu, 7 Oct 2010 14:00:05 GMT When confronted with your three year old?s ?I hate you, mom?, it is not easy to step back and consider that, if you respond with curiosity or acceptance, you may be giving your child a significant lesson about how to have a successful relationship. Tolerating a child?s hate and anger without attacking back or expressing hurt, communicates that you can withstand your child?s destructive wishes. It models that if he, too, were on the receiving end of hostility, he would be all right. It normalizes the expression of negativity and helps a child consider that he is not bad for having these feelings. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-decisions-depression-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-decisions-depression-trauma/ Thu, 7 Oct 2010 13:33:21 GMT Sometimes, when people experience a terrible loss, especially if it?s a traumatic loss, they make a life-changing decision in the middle of the intense emotional pain, often without even realizing it or remembering it. This decision can potentially affect them for the rest of their lives, and can cause chronic depression. People do this as a way of coping with the loss. In the shock of loss, people focus very narrowly on getting through each excruciating moment. Thoughts like ?I?ll never love again? or I?ll never trust again? seem at the time like ways to avoid ever feeling this unbearable pain again. When people aren?t feeling acute pain, and are able to let other life experiences inform their decisions, they don?t usually make these kinds of grief-driven decisions. Let me give you some examples of what I mean. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-phases-safety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-phases-safety/ Thu, 7 Oct 2010 13:05:06 GMT Experiencing a traumatic life event is, by definition, horrific and terrifying; however this experience does not need to become your defining moment. Growing through such an event(s) is plausible and such growth follows a semi-structured pattern of healing. For a moment stop and reflect on the fact that experts have identified a semi-structured pattern of healing; the existence of such a pattern means that just as you are not alone in having been victimized, you are also not alone in the healing journey. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-marriage-identity-three-parts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-marriage-identity-three-parts/ Wed, 6 Oct 2010 20:30:58 GMT Is it absurd to think of a two person relationship as consisting of three parts? A couple is clearly just two. A marriage is just two and so is a partnership. So why would someone suggest you to consider the relationship in three parts? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-therapy-stress-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-therapy-stress-psychotherapy/ Wed, 6 Oct 2010 19:50:47 GMT The news media is filled with negative stories depicting despicable people who were put into powerful positions either by election (politicians) or by talent (sports/entertainment). Newspapers often read like cheap tabloids. We?re bombarded by images online of politicians who are bilking taxpayers of billions of dollars and sports/entertainment heroes whose lives are out-of-control. We are lured to click onto seductive headlines by wiggling bodies vying for our attention. Crime on the streets and in neighborhoods is rising at alarming rates. Promises of health care reform have not trickled down into ordinary people?s lives. In fact, insurance companies more than medical professionals are dictating the treatment people choose and with whom they trust their care. Insurance concerns are in a sense representative of the ?lucky ones? who have health care, access to computers to research their treatment plans and a place to call home. Many, many more people these days are living without access. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-education-psychological-literacy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-education-psychological-literacy/ Wed, 6 Oct 2010 19:00:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-awareness-week-depression-ptsd-2010/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-awareness-week-depression-ptsd-2010/ Wed, 6 Oct 2010 14:00:15 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-suicide-mental-health-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-suicide-mental-health-psychotherapy/ Wed, 6 Oct 2010 06:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-couples-counseling-expectations-tolerance-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-couples-counseling-expectations-tolerance-communication/ Tue, 5 Oct 2010 15:25:11 GMT Many couples come into marriage counseling or couples counseling with numerous uncertainties, however they all have one common theme: an expectation. An expectation, an unrealistic expectation, a hope that their partner will change and thus the relationship will be satisfying. The partners are consumed with the desire for change, although each of the counterparts, seem to be unaware that in order for the relationship to become modified, the change begins with self. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-teen-self-esteem-family-origin/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-teen-self-esteem-family-origin/ Tue, 5 Oct 2010 14:12:27 GMT I often say, when explaining eating disorders, that someday I?m going to invent the Eating Disorder Board Game. I certainly don?t meant to make light of eating disorders, for they are serious conditions that cause tremendous pain to those that suffer from them and to those close to the sufferer. It?s just that I?m big on using analogies to explain the significance of eating-disordered beliefs and behaviors. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-disability-depression-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-illness-disability-depression-psychotherapy/ Tue, 5 Oct 2010 14:00:16 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multiple-sclerosis-meditation-depression-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/multiple-sclerosis-meditation-depression-psychotherapy/ Mon, 4 Oct 2010 19:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-body-mind-psychotherapy-chronic-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-body-mind-psychotherapy-chronic-stress/ Mon, 4 Oct 2010 15:26:46 GMT Should Elijah be concerned about his mole? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/is-depression-over-diagnosed-are-people-simply-unhappy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/is-depression-over-diagnosed-are-people-simply-unhappy/ Mon, 4 Oct 2010 13:32:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internalized-masochistic-anger-grief-relationships-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internalized-masochistic-anger-grief-relationships-therapy/ Fri, 1 Oct 2010 18:48:06 GMT Byron tried hard to please but his anger got in the way http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bp-oil-spill-funding-depression-environment-economy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bp-oil-spill-funding-depression-environment-economy/ Fri, 1 Oct 2010 06:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-intervening-children-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-intervening-children-trauma/ Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/training-hospital-staff-on-the-psychological-and-emotional-needs-of-self-harm-patients/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/training-hospital-staff-on-the-psychological-and-emotional-needs-of-self-harm-patients/ Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:00:56 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-psychological-health-psychotherapy-adhd-depression-bipolar/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-psychological-health-psychotherapy-adhd-depression-bipolar/ Thu, 30 Sep 2010 06:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/baby-boomers-suicide-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/baby-boomers-suicide-psychology/ Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:00:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/antidepressants-reduce-aggression-moral-judgment-psychotropic-medication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/antidepressants-reduce-aggression-moral-judgment-psychotropic-medication/ Wed, 29 Sep 2010 06:00:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poverty-mental-health-bipolar-access-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poverty-mental-health-bipolar-access-therapy/ Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:00:51 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-impulses-eating-adhd-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-impulses-eating-adhd-psychotherapy/ Tue, 28 Sep 2010 06:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-psychotherapy-catharsis-healing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-psychotherapy-catharsis-healing/ Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:47:34 GMT Oddly enough, a recent ant bite has got me thinking about human behavior and psychotherapy! The little guy lived in the dessert where survival skills are paramount and he got me a good one, it hurt like the dickens for about 5 minutes. Then I forgot about it. But days later the site around the bite was swollen in a circle nearly 3 inches across. It was hard, and hot and itched- itched- itched- itched- itched. Scratching made it itch even more. Scratching also tore up the skin that was stretched tight over the inflamed tissue which could cause problems of a different nature. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-sports-physical-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-sports-physical-mental-health/ Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:37:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-children-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-children-parenting/ Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:00:47 GMT Families appear to be solid when parents are working together with job, family, parenting, having fun and individual time. Things turn for the better but mostly for the worse when divorce tears apart a family. EVERYBODY suffers, EVERYBODY is in pain. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/school-refusal-behavior-anxiety-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/school-refusal-behavior-anxiety-psychotherapy/ Sun, 26 Sep 2010 14:00:58 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/physical-touch-therapy-reduce-pain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/physical-touch-therapy-reduce-pain/ Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holocaust-psychological-health-ptsd-anxiety-counseling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/holocaust-psychological-health-ptsd-anxiety-counseling/ Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:00:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/codependency-adult-relationships-dysfunction-family-addict/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/codependency-adult-relationships-dysfunction-family-addict/ Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:43:54 GMT How does growing up in a dysfunctional family affect us as adults? The same behaviors and beliefs that we thought enabled us to survive as children cause us a myriad of problems in adulthood. These are so ingrained and automatic that we do them without even realizing it. Changing any of these behaviors provokes anxiety and fear in us, because we think they were a lifeline. In adulthood, they become an albatross around our necks. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-mind-visualization-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-mind-visualization-psychotherapy/ Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:18:31 GMT Have you ever gotten an anxious thought stuck in your mind and really wished you just had a mute button for your head? Wouldn?t that be great?! You?re in luck! While I don?t have a new mind-altering remote control device for you to order today, I do have a thought altering trick you can play on your mind; a trick which can significantly reduce the impact of anxious thoughts on your brain and body. A large part of anxiety is driven by your thoughts. The way you feel in your body is directly related to the thoughts you are having. Although you may feel really stuck with the thoughts, you can gain power over them. Here?s how: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/laser-acupuncture-depression-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/laser-acupuncture-depression-therapy/ Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:00:04 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-health-parenting-children-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-health-parenting-children-psychology/ Fri, 24 Sep 2010 06:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-sexuality-perception-intimacy-men-women/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-sexuality-perception-intimacy-men-women/ Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:23:23 GMT Thus far in this series, we?ve looked at the challenges people face in intimacy and sexuality when dealing with cancer. The first post provided a general overview of the topic and the second post provided more specifics regarding the effects of chemotherapy on sexuality. This post will focus on how a person?s perception of him/herself and their partner?s perception of them can influence their sexuality in the face of cancer. The majority of studies of sexuality in cancer only address those cancers involving sex organs, i.e., breast, prostate, and gynecologic cancers, hence the focus of this series. Also, there is much more literature regarding the impact on women as compared to men. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/somatic-experiencing-trauma-resilience/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/somatic-experiencing-trauma-resilience/ Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:14:14 GMT Something that I have found fascinating in working from a Somatic Experiencing framework is the way in which a charge that has been held by the physiology from an unresolved critical incident can impact behavior and thought in unexpected ways. I have mentioned this in my previous entries. It is something that I have experienced personally as well as witnessed in my practice. Seemingly unrelated aspects of one?s life can shift as the physiology is able to dissipate the held, or remembered, charge from previous critical incidents. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teacher-high-stress-identity-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teacher-high-stress-identity-depression/ Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:00:10 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-anxiety-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-anxiety-therapy/ Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-communication-voice-tone-emotional-control/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-communication-voice-tone-emotional-control/ Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:01:04 GMT In what ways does tone of voice matter? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/indirect-direct-communication-relationships-marriage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/indirect-direct-communication-relationships-marriage/ Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:51:13 GMT Indirect communication means hinting or acting out. For instance, if you feel disappointed, ?Hmmm? would be hinting. Stewing and pouting would be acting out what you feel instead of saying it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-tween-toddlerhood-parenting-praise-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-tween-toddlerhood-parenting-praise-communication/ Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:29:47 GMT If you have an adolescent, somewhere between 11 years old and 16, listen up! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-psychotherapy-children-teens-divorce-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-psychotherapy-children-teens-divorce-parenting/ Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:48:10 GMT It?s not uncommon for a parent to bring a child to therapy and say, ?Fix it!? Of course, they don?t typically say ?it?; rather, they say, ?Fix Larry!? I can imagine my mother taking me to a therapist when I was in my teens because I needed (as we say down South) ?fixin.? At these moments I intentionally look at the adolescent or child to see their reaction. Sadly, most of them display no reactions at all ? they hear this statement on a regular basis. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acne-mental-health-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acne-mental-health-therapy/ Wed, 22 Sep 2010 06:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/antidepressant-medication-over-prescribed-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/antidepressant-medication-over-prescribed-psychotherapy/ Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:00:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teenage-boys-video-games-aggressive-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teenage-boys-video-games-aggressive-psychology/ Tue, 21 Sep 2010 06:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-stress-communication-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-stress-communication-psychotherapy/ Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:48:23 GMT So let's say you come home from work and it was an ok day. Perhaps you have been feeling stress (a lot of work needing to be done, even though you are managing it, or family stress, the start of another school year, etc.). Ever noticed being at home and then finding yourself irritable with those around you? Maybe you find yourself reacting to what a calmer you would think, "This is not such a big deal. Why am I so upset?" This happens to me too. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-heart-disease-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-heart-disease-therapy/ Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:58:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-technology-family-therapy-social-network/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-technology-family-therapy-social-network/ Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:27:56 GMT The human experience of parenting has changed some over the years. Biologically, having a child still involves all the relevant body parts, but these parts don?t necessarily have to belong to the parent in question; a mother?s body, a man?s sperm, can now all be borrowed, rented or purchased. All the wonders of the laboratory and operating suite of modern medicine that have been refined for assisting pregnancy just confirm the overwhelmingly shared human drive to procreate and have a family. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/insomnia-aerobic-exercise-worry-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/insomnia-aerobic-exercise-worry-anxiety/ Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:00:28 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-hospital-trauma-medical-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-hospital-trauma-medical-psychology/ Sat, 18 Sep 2010 19:00:30 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-depression-racism-discrimination/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-depression-racism-discrimination/ Fri, 17 Sep 2010 19:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-adhd-treatment-children-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-adhd-treatment-children-adults/ Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:00:41 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/medical-students-depression-stigma-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/medical-students-depression-stigma-psychotherapy/ Fri, 17 Sep 2010 06:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-perceived-threat-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-perceived-threat-psychotherapy/ Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-health-stigma-american-culture-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-health-stigma-american-culture-psychotherapy/ Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:00:44 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uic-juvenile-research-anniversary-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uic-juvenile-research-anniversary-psychology/ Thu, 16 Sep 2010 06:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-wallowing-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-wallowing-psychotherapy/ Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:31:20 GMT What do you do when you feel bad? Do you clean the house? Take a walk? Eat an entire bag or box of something sweet or salty? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/naadac-addiction-mental-illness-counseling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/naadac-addiction-mental-illness-counseling/ Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:00:25 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/older-adults-drug-alcohol-addiction-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/older-adults-drug-alcohol-addiction-psychotherapy/ Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:00:09 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/september-11-spirituality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/september-11-spirituality/ Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:01:25 GMT As I sit here in my upstate NY cottage on a chilly late summer morning, I am suddenly aware that today is the anniversary of 9/11. It has been floating in and out of my consciousness lately, mostly due to the controversy in the news about the proposed Islamic Center on the site and of the preacher?s threat to burn a copy of the Koran. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-health-cities-ethnic-neighborhoods/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-health-cities-ethnic-neighborhoods/ Sun, 12 Sep 2010 19:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-prevention-psychotherapy-nami/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-prevention-psychotherapy-nami/ Sat, 11 Sep 2010 14:00:58 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-depression-suicide-self-help-technology-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-depression-suicide-self-help-technology-psychotherapy/ Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:00:53 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-trauma-parenting-children-behavior-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-trauma-parenting-children-behavior-psychotherapy/ Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nami-mental-health-awareness-week-2010/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nami-mental-health-awareness-week-2010/ Thu, 9 Sep 2010 19:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-grief-body-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-grief-body-psychotherapy/ Thu, 9 Sep 2010 17:08:52 GMT ?It feels heavy right here,? Rebecca* said, crying and touching her chest, ?like a huge rock is sitting on me. It?s like that old cartoon, where a boulder would fall off a cliff and pin the roadrunner to the ground ? it feels like I can?t move.? Rebecca had come to see me last year, a 32 year-old successful marketing professional, whose older sister had recently been diagnosed with a psychotic condition. She seemed lost in grief. Fluctuating bewilderment, sadness, fear, anger, tenderness, and love were tying knots in every part of her. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-self-harm-cutting-psychotherapy-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-self-harm-cutting-psychotherapy-parenting/ Thu, 9 Sep 2010 15:39:23 GMT Where Does this Behavior Come From? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression-men-women-abuse-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression-men-women-abuse-psychotherapy/ Thu, 9 Sep 2010 14:00:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-violence-substance-abuse-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-violence-substance-abuse-psychotherapy/ Thu, 9 Sep 2010 06:00:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/individuation-communication-need-family-origin-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/individuation-communication-need-family-origin-psychology/ Wed, 8 Sep 2010 17:21:32 GMT Individuation is the process by which we become our unique selves in the world. Part of being an individual, of being uniquely who we are, is knowing what we want and need. If we are not comfortable with wanting and needing from others, we could be limiting our lives and our relationships. What we want and need are not just material things. As humans, we have needs for emotional connection, recognition, warmth, empathy, appreciation, love, friendship. Sometimes we are lucky that our needs and wants are met without our having to ask another person for what we want. But, if we have to ask and don?t because we are not comfortable asking, we may deprive ourselves of emotionally gratifying relationships. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obama-veteran-mental-health-address-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obama-veteran-mental-health-address-psychotherapy/ Wed, 8 Sep 2010 14:00:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-harm-embedding-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-harm-embedding-psychotherapy/ Wed, 8 Sep 2010 06:00:05 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-impact-relationships-psychology-love-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-impact-relationships-psychology-love-communication/ Tue, 7 Sep 2010 19:54:24 GMT Most of us are aware that communication and trust are key ingredients in any relationship, yet these pivotal ingredients are often negatively impacted by the vestiges of a traumatic experience. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-pornograhpy-psychology-women/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-pornograhpy-psychology-women/ Tue, 7 Sep 2010 17:27:36 GMT In the early 2000s my colleague Al Cooper dubbed online pornography as ?the crack cocaine of sexual addiction.? He wrote about the ?three As? that spur users deeper and deeper into a pathological attachment to the mood altering experience that pornography viewers experience. The first A stands for ?Accessibility.? Users don?t have to get dressed, drive to the nearest porn shop, park, partake, drive home, etc. And the internet is open 24-7. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addiction-smoking-psychotherapy-counseling-medicare/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addiction-smoking-psychotherapy-counseling-medicare/ Mon, 6 Sep 2010 14:00:00 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disaster-abuse-children-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disaster-abuse-children-psychotherapy/ Sun, 5 Sep 2010 14:00:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/diverse-family-success-children-social-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/diverse-family-success-children-social-psychology/ Sat, 4 Sep 2010 14:00:54 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-depression-psychology-childhood/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-depression-psychology-childhood/ Fri, 3 Sep 2010 19:53:48 GMT In my practice, people trace depression back to trauma most of the time. Emotional trauma is an overwhelming shock to a person?s equilibrium. This may mean getting attacked emotionally, physically or sexually, or witnessing such attacks. It can happen in war, rape, murder, accidents, and even well-intentioned medical procedures. It can also happen in single or repeated incidents of shaming or emotional/verbal attack. It can even happen when heart-breaking losses of any kind occur. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-block-self-esteem-psycholog/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/creative-block-self-esteem-psycholog/ Fri, 3 Sep 2010 19:10:43 GMT The relationship you have with yourself can directly affect your creativity. When faced with the blank canvas or computer screen, you must also face your internal process. How you relate to yourself can influence the degree of creativity. Since creating is often done in isolation, it is how you cope with bouts of self-doubt, anxiety and self-criticism that can make a difference. Do you believe in your ability and talent to succeed? Are you able to connect to your art and make meaning of it? How you deal with these issues can either enhance the flow of creativity or end up in Creative Block. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-to-relationship-enhancement-couples-monogamy-counselin/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-to-relationship-enhancement-couples-monogamy-counselin/ Fri, 3 Sep 2010 18:50:50 GMT Slow down and listen. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bird-nesting-divorce-adjustment-family-custody/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bird-nesting-divorce-adjustment-family-custody/ Fri, 3 Sep 2010 17:36:35 GMT Parents are often asking me to describe the various options they have for their post-divorce living arrangements. In addition to the many possible choices available to consider for how children go back and forth between two residences, there is also the possibility of having children stay in the home they are currently living in while the parents move in and out. This is sometimes described as ?the children get the house? or ?bird nesting? or just ?nesting?. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cultural-sensitive-psychotherapy-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cultural-sensitive-psychotherapy-depression/ Fri, 3 Sep 2010 10:00:09 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-dementia-military-veterans-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-dementia-military-veterans-psychotherapy/ Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:00:52 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deficient-sleep-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deficient-sleep-mental-health/ Thu, 2 Sep 2010 06:00:54 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mother-children-poverty-budget-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mother-children-poverty-budget-psychology/ Wed, 1 Sep 2010 19:00:21 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-children-interaction-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-children-interaction-relationship/ Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:49:43 GMT This post should really be titled ?The Dirty Little Secret of Parenting that is Neither Dirty, nor Little, nor a Secret.? Because what I?m about to say is totally obvious and yet is often overlooked as a vital part of understanding children?s behavior. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mind-relaxation-psychological-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mind-relaxation-psychological-health/ Wed, 1 Sep 2010 14:00:24 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-infant-psychology-memory-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-infant-psychology-memory-psychotherapy/ Wed, 1 Sep 2010 06:00:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/play-therapy-summer-vacation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/play-therapy-summer-vacation/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:56:01 GMT Standing in line a few weeks ago at my local Whole Foods market, Time magazine caught my eye. Its cover had an idyllic full page picture of a young boy skipping stones on a pond with the headline ?THE CASE AGAINST SUMMER VACATION?. I caught my breath and groaned shaking my head in dismay. The sub title read our children are falling behind and loose even more after summer break. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/machochistic-anger-anger-management-marriage-psycholog/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/machochistic-anger-anger-management-marriage-psycholog/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:13:07 GMT Anger and hate consumed Sebastian http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-drug-alcohol-prevention-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-drug-alcohol-prevention-psychotherapy/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:00:38 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-stress-social-relationships-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-stress-social-relationships-psychology/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:04:51 GMT For decades, researchers have assumed that the fight-or-flight response is how human beings react to stress. This response, with its associated increase in blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels, is viewed as an adaptation that developed over thousands of years. In other words, if a saber-toothed tiger is attacking, you either spear the sucker or run like crazy. But when researcher Shelley Taylor, Ph.D. of UCLA noticed that women don?t always respond this way, she reviewed the data from stress research studies, and found that most of the subjects (both human and animal) were males. Only 17% of research subjects were female, and they often failed to respond to stress with a fight-or-flight reaction. Rather than considering this meaningful, female reactions were excluded from most of these studies since hormonal fluctuations were presumed to negatively affect the results. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-psychology-children-happy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-psychology-children-happy/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:32:01 GMT An elementary school principal once discussed with me an important issue in parenting. The context was her concern with parents who ask their children each year who they would like to have for a teacher the next year and then, not only request that teacher, but also put pressure on the administration to see that it happens, rather than letting things take their natural course. We parents have to watch that we don?t let our children take the lead in the relationship. Children get the idea that all they have to do is ask and mom and dad will take care of it for them. It isn?t good for them to always get what they want. Children will encounter a variety of people throughout life and need to learn to get along in whatever situation they find themselves. It is easy to fall into the trap of trying to enable our children by not allowing them to work out situations that come up in life. It is a misconception that it is our job to make them happy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/for-teens-smoking-may-worsen-depression-not-alleviate-it/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/for-teens-smoking-may-worsen-depression-not-alleviate-it/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:02:49 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ambivalence-relationships-psychological-health-emotional-intelligence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ambivalence-relationships-psychological-health-emotional-intelligence/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:43:31 GMT This phrase is relevant to so many situations in life: work that we?re not that happy with at the moment but that pays the bills, a relationship that used to be great and now not so much. In more subtle ways this feeling of ambivalence can apply to how we feel about our children (?I love you but I really need a break from you right now?), friendships and even therapy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/apa-mindfulness-meditation-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/apa-mindfulness-meditation-psychotherapy/ Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:00:02 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pms-psychological-health-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pms-psychological-health-stress/ Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-college-psychotherapy-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-college-psychotherapy-stress/ Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:00:26 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-training-psychotherapy-psychological-health-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-training-psychotherapy-psychological-health-ptsd/ Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:00:30 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mothers-abusive-relationships-counseling-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mothers-abusive-relationships-counseling-psychotherapy/ Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:00:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-post-traumatic-psychological-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-post-traumatic-psychological-health/ Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:00:40 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exclusively-women-psychotherapy-counseling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exclusively-women-psychotherapy-counseling/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:00:38 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-lying-parenting-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-lying-parenting-psychology/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:00:50 GMT All kids lie. They start young, look innocent into your eyes and tell you the answers that you want to hear. Then it?s like a shock as a parent that their child told a lie! How does that happen? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/assertive-communication-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/assertive-communication-relationships/ Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:34:11 GMT Most of us utilize three modes of relating to others: assertiveness, submissiveness and aggression. I will begin by defining them. Aggressive behavior is an expression of feelings, needs and ideas in a way that goes against the other person. It is a ?move against? or ?move with the intent to hurt?. Submissive mode basically is a way of communicating where there is a demonstration of lack of respect for ones own needs and rights. This can be done in various ways. Most submissive people do not express needs or do it in an apologetic and diffident manner so that it is often ignored and not taken seriously. Sometimes a submissive person thinks they have communicated clearly when in reality their message was so vague and unclear that it was not at all understood. Assertiveness is a method of communication which enables a person to maintain self-respect, clearly communicate and pursue their needs and defend their rights and personal space without abusing or dominating others. It is a way of being in the world which confirms ones right to be in the world and put out forward needs, desires, ideas and feelings. Most of us probably predominantly behave and communicate in one of these modes. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/somatic-experiencingpsychotherapy-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/somatic-experiencingpsychotherapy-trauma/ Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:09:35 GMT The ability to navigate life as it comes. Our Autonomic Nervous System is elegantly designed for negotiating our encounters with all that is unexpected, shocking, threatening, frustrating, painful, dangerous, or enraging that life throws our way. Our complicated social relationships and structures, medical interventions, and technology can at times effectively block our hard-wired ability to make our way through these events completely. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-academic-performance-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-academic-performance-psychology/ Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:00:36 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-excitement-association-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-excitement-association-psychology/ Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:00:52 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/drugs-teenage-males-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/drugs-teenage-males-parenting/ Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-therapy-cooperative-dialogue/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-therapy-cooperative-dialogue/ Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:44:53 GMT Cooperative Dialogue Skills--let's unpack those words... http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-psychological-health-effectiveness-debate/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-psychological-health-effectiveness-debate/ Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:00:02 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bp-spill-psychological-fund-psychotherapy-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bp-spill-psychological-fund-psychotherapy-therapy/ Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-children-over-diagnose-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-children-over-diagnose-psychology/ Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-bed-children-sleep/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-bed-children-sleep/ Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:10:24 GMT Young parents, especially exhausted moms, relish the moments when their children fall asleep in their arms. Ask any parent of teenage children: those long-ago moments when their infant children rested against their chests, heavy with sleep, are among their most cherished memories of parenthood. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/smoking-addiction-psychotherapy-suppression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/smoking-addiction-psychotherapy-suppression/ Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:00:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-love-stress-anxiety-psychological/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-love-stress-anxiety-psychological/ Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:45:50 GMT If you?re a student of history, you?ve probably observed that although technology has advanced exponentially since the era of the caveman, human nature has stayed pretty much the same. Although we have our computers, iPhones, iPads, Mp3?s, cable TV, etc, humans are still hardwired to react to anxiety provoking incidents with a myriad of predictable physiological reactions. Perhaps you can relate to being placed on hold by an automated avatar or being lost in a company?s automated answering loop. Your instantaneous physiological reactions might include rapid heartbeat, tightened muscles, heat rising into your head and neck area, clenched teeth, increased sweat, as well as an increased propensity to scream your dissatisfaction to the non-existent persona on the other end of the line. In short, you?ve just been hijacked by your autonomic nervous system and you?re ?stressed?. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregiver-depression-therapy-psychological-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregiver-depression-therapy-psychological-health/ Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:00:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-ptsd-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-ptsd-psychotherapy/ Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:00:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-culture-suicide-behavior-psycholog/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-culture-suicide-behavior-psycholog/ Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:39:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-self-esteem-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-self-esteem-psychology/ Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:25:39 GMT Self-esteem is a relational term. It describes a relationship between you and yourself. Having a solid sense of esteem for yourself puts you squarely in a partnership that is nurturing and accepting, as well as motivating and energizing. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/father-son-relationship-stress-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/father-son-relationship-stress-psychology/ Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stereotype-mental-health-prejudice-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stereotype-mental-health-prejudice-psychology/ Sat, 14 Aug 2010 06:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-lifestyle-habit-psychology-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-lifestyle-habit-psychology-therapy/ Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:00:16 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/india-psychotherapy-awareness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/india-psychotherapy-awareness/ Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:00:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-body-dysmorphic-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-body-dysmorphic-therapy/ Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-networking-sex-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-networking-sex-addiction/ Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:54:54 GMT Social Networking is a great way to connect with so many individuals! It connects you with your family, friends from the past, current friends and even allows you to make new friends. With so many benefits, are there any potential dangers with social networking? Well, not if you are someone that has good boundaries, is careful in what you share with others, and gets your emotional needs met in a healthy way. However, if you are someone that has struggled with being inappropriate on the Internet or in relationships, has received false intimacy in unhealthy places, or taken advantage of relationships for your own benefit, then social networking will most likely present some challenges! If there is not a specific focus and set boundaries on how these challenges and concerns can impact someone struggling with sexual addiction, it can open the door for a brand new set of issues. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-sexuality-intimacy-marriage-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-sexuality-intimacy-marriage-communication/ Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:05:33 GMT As noted last month, cancer treatments can have a significant effect on a person?s sexuality and desire to be intimate. Common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, which may be worsened by sexual activity, and fatigue, which may persist for months after treatment is finished. Hair loss is another common side effect of chemotherapy, and it can be particularly distressing to women. One woman described feeling like ?an old man? because of her mastectomy and baldness. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/domestic-violence-therapy-women-batter-survivor/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/domestic-violence-therapy-women-batter-survivor/ Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:00:35 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-health-sleep-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-health-sleep-therapy/ Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:00:37 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-children-incarcerated-parents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-children-incarcerated-parents/ Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coming-out-adult-lgbt-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coming-out-adult-lgbt-relationships/ Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:58:30 GMT In the development of most teenagers there is a natural moment where the bounds of sexuality are explored and roles and sexual identity are created. For LGBT teens this natural part of growing up can often be confusing and overwhelming, resulting in a variety of responses. Some individuals experience such intense negative emotions about their sexual feelings that they repress and push those feelings as far away as possible and choose to ignore their sexuality. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/faith-therapy-spirituality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/faith-therapy-spirituality/ Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:08:06 GMT At times during the past decade in my Spiritual Psychotherapy practice, I?ve advised a skeptical patient to have faith in the process. This is usually in response to a question about how and when he/she will know whether or not the therapy is working. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-stress-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/workplace-stress-therapy/ Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:00:54 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-depression/ Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:19:52 GMT Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob was famous for his ability to interpret dreams. The biblical story tells us that when he was in Egypt the Pharaoh had two dreams. In the first he saw a field with seven healthy and ripe sheafs (bundles) of grains and seven thin sheafs of grain consumed them. In the second dream there were 7 healthy, fat cows coming up from the Nile and after them, 7 lean, bad looking cows came up and ate the healthy ones. No one knew the meaning of the dreams until Joseph was called to the palace. His interpretation of the dreams was that there are going to be 7 good years for Egypt but after that, 7 years of drought will hit and bring famine. Joseph suggested taking advantage of the good years to store wheat in the barns so that when the 7 bad years arrive there will be food to feed the people. When the years of famine arrived, people from all over the region, not just Egypt, came to find food ? including Joseph?s family ? but this is another story. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-foster-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychological-foster-children/ Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:00:07 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-mania-eating-disorder/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-mania-eating-disorder/ Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-life-women-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-life-women-psychology/ Mon, 9 Aug 2010 16:53:12 GMT Do you want more sex more often than your partner? Or does s/he complain because you want less? In my practice as a sex and marriage therapist, I find that men are often have hyper-active desire, wanting more, while women?s interest in sex is hypo-active, wanting less. If you?re female, there is a quick and kinda cool quiz that you can take right now. Ready? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-harassment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-harassment/ Sat, 7 Aug 2010 19:00:54 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-spirituality-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-spirituality-therapy/ Sat, 7 Aug 2010 06:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-boys/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image-boys/ Fri, 6 Aug 2010 06:00:03 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-destruction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-destruction/ Thu, 5 Aug 2010 18:37:16 GMT Lots of depressed people tell me they want to stop their "self-destructive behavior,? because it is causing them to be depressed. Sometimes they are referring to an addiction, other times they mean cutting, burning or hurting their bodies. Most of the time it is about choices they regret, such as occasional (not addictive) overeating, over-committing themselves to projects, or getting involved in relationships with partners who hurt them or disappoint them. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-therapy/ Thu, 5 Aug 2010 15:45:55 GMT Just as the experience of a traumatic event impacts and alters the relationship you have with yourself, such an experience also impacts your relationships with others. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-partners/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-partners/ Wed, 4 Aug 2010 20:38:10 GMT Marriage partners are in a sense yoked together. Couples need therefore skills for making decisions cooperatively. If they can choose together when to turn left and when to turn right neither of them will feel powered-over, dominated, controlled, or even compromised. Instead, each shared decision just enhances their loving partnership. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-quit-smoking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-quit-smoking/ Wed, 4 Aug 2010 14:55:08 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-deactivating-shame/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-deactivating-shame/ Wed, 4 Aug 2010 14:25:58 GMT How to De-activate the Shame State, Part III of Series is edited from Right Use of Power: The Heart of Ethics* by Cedar Barstow http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/equine-assisted-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/equine-assisted-psychotherapy/ Wed, 4 Aug 2010 14:22:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-custody-mediation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-custody-mediation/ Wed, 4 Aug 2010 14:07:03 GMT Caveat: Because court jurisdictions vary, the information included here is based on Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can find out about the rules in your jurisdiction by contacting an attorney or asking the public information office available through the courts. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/army-risky-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/army-risky-behavior/ Tue, 3 Aug 2010 06:00:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mind-body-connection/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mind-body-connection/ Mon, 2 Aug 2010 19:19:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-shame-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-shame-eating-disorders/ Mon, 2 Aug 2010 15:50:49 GMT It?s summer in North Carolina, and, as is the case with the rest of the country, an unseasonably hot one. My office is on the second floor, and by mid-afternoon the sun has moved over to my side of the building and even with the AC blasting away, it gets very hot. I wear sleeveless tops and skirts or capris, and sandals. The thought of sleeves covering my shoulders and arms or denim on my legs feels stifling. I like hot weather and I like dressing this way. I move with a sense of lightness and ease, carefree, with no worries about dressing for the weather except the possibility of entering a place?some cruel supermarket or restaurant where the air conditioning is cranked too high and I need that jacket that?s been smushed up in the back seat of my car forever. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-relationship-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-relationship-therapy/ Mon, 2 Aug 2010 14:15:52 GMT In my practice, I see so many couples who say they are seeking help for improving their communication skills. They work so hard adding to their communication tool belt, but typically feel disappointed that their relationships don't seem to improve consistent with the number of communication techniques they've acquired. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abusive-mothers-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abusive-mothers-therapy/ Sun, 1 Aug 2010 14:00:34 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-facial-expressions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-facial-expressions/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:00:32 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-spirituality-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationships-spirituality-therapy/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:00:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rheumatoid-arthritis/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rheumatoid-arthritis/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:44:28 GMT Rheumatoid arthritis disrupts Anika's career early in life. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/love/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/love/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:22:26 GMT I?m pondering on what the meaning of love is - and how we think of it as a society. This past week, I watched two movies that were designed to get us thinking about love, from two different generations. Moonstruck and Valentine?s Day were created more than twenty years apart, yet still have the same message - your life is simply better when you are in a meaningful, passionate love relationship with a partner. True Love is the goal - all consuming, never ending, absolute in its context. In both movies, the viewer is left with the idea that without love, life is a series of grays in a world of rainbow spectrums. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-victimization/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gay-victimization/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-is-co-dependency/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-is-co-dependency/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:04:51 GMT Co-dependency is a pattern of behaviors and beliefs that are learned by children of dysfunctional families while they are growing up. These behaviors and beliefs can be helpful to the family unit, because they enable it to survive. The child learns to depend on them to manage in the family system. Unfortunately, in the long run they are very harmful to the child, whom we will call the ?family hero?. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hospital-injuries-schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hospital-injuries-schizophrenia/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-marijuana/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-marijuana/ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-medication-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-medication-therapy/ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:00:01 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-counseling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-counseling/ Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:48:05 GMT What can you do to improve the chances that couples therapy is worth the time and money you put into it? In other words, what makes marriage counseling work? Of course you need the help of a skilled marriage therapist, but there are several things you can do to help make your marriage counseling a success. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-dependence-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-dependence-parenting/ Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:00:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/september-eleventh-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/september-eleventh-psychology/ Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:00:03 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-awareness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-awareness/ Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:00:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-soldier-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-soldier-psychology/ Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:00:37 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pets-improve-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pets-improve-mental-health/ Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:25:14 GMT Mazey was three months old when I got her from the Humane Society. She and her three feral siblings were found in the snowy Rocky Mountains and needed a home. I took them all in and became their temporary mother while they learned to trust and even love humans. Like many animals, Mazey was special. She was attentive, affectionate, and friendly. She loved to meet new people and loves to give hugs, often at just the right time. Now at just over a year old Mazey is my therapy cat. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ecstasy-psychotherapy-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ecstasy-psychotherapy-ptsd/ Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:00:16 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attitude-body-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attitude-body-psychotherapy/ Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:51:41 GMT My last article discussed the physiological reaction of a young infant to external stress. As this infant grows and develops coordination and strength he will have new and different ways to meet the world. But if he had prolonged reactions to external stimuli, the early reaction pattern may stay buried in his system only to be triggered in the future; it creates a vulnerability and sets him up for perceiving the world in a certain way where trust is a big issue. Stress on a newborn can lead to particular psychological stressors later in life. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting/ Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:56:05 GMT Social scientists love to study trends. These trends, whether short or long term, get written up into articles or lectures, and add to the general knowledge base of human beings and the world. Families, marriage, children and parenting are among those things most frequently written about and studied. That?s a very good thing. The problem comes when writers translate those carefully crafted statistics, trends or curves into newspaper, magazine, radio stories or full-length books. Trends become truth; small differences become the latest evidence of irreversible change. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/meditation-short-attention-span/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/meditation-short-attention-span/ Sat, 17 Jul 2010 06:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/effective-communication/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:59:02 GMT Although communication plays the most crucial part in our relationships with those in our lives, the average person does not communicate well. Problems communicating lead to loneliness and distance from family and friends as well as difficulties at work. Much of the work we do with our clients directly or indirectly involves improving their communication skills. In this article I would like to share with you what I have found in my practice as well as from experts to be helpful in this task. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-vs-self-criticism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-vs-self-criticism/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:54:32 GMT People often speak as if self-esteem were based on a self-evaluation of your skills and talents. We?re encouraged to think about the things we?re good at, in order to improve our reputation with ourselves. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-anxiety-teens/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-anxiety-teens/ Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:00:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-love-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-love-parenting/ Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:52:09 GMT At what point did you make the decision to become a parent? Did you grow up with the intention that you wanted children? Was it something that you always knew and took for granted? Did you first consider it during an important romantic relationship? Or did you know for a fact that you didn?t want to be a parent with all of the joys and struggles that the job entails? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-work-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-work-therapy/ Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:00:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-heart-disease-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-heart-disease-health/ Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:00:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger/ Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:30:43 GMT It is almost cute when I hear the words, "I never get angry." Why? Because I know we all get angry... sometimes. Anger is a normal feeling. It is not bad to be angry as some will tell me; it is just what we do what our anger that can be positive or problematic. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veteran-ptsd-claims/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veteran-ptsd-claims/ Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:00:41 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-abuse-psychiatric-distress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-abuse-psychiatric-distress/ Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-sexuality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-sexuality/ Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:05:58 GMT ?Alice? is a long-term cancer survivor. She has beaten the odds of dying from stage four breast cancer many times over the years. She came into therapy because she was feeling ?stuck,? and was wondering if she might be depressed. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bully-victim-profiles/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bully-victim-profiles/ Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-african-american-women/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-african-american-women/ Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spirituality-natural-world/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spirituality-natural-world/ Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:16:25 GMT A very spiritually oriented colleague recently asked me what I love to do. She had shared that she loved her work particularly as it related to being the container which held other peoples? emotions. I replied that while I derived satisfaction from my work, the things I LOVED to do were: singing and dancing to the Orishas (the divinities we worship in the Yoruba faith), hiking along the river with my dog; gardening; and listening to the birds sing at my little retreat in Upstate New York. She pointed out that the things I loved to do involved nature in some way to which I replied: that is the way we Yoruba connect to the divine. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-reciprocity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-reciprocity/ Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:28:55 GMT Most of us do not consciously think about reciprocity in our intimate relationships and when we do, we might say, "of course it is important." And as we think about the Golden Rule, we recognize it as a valuable principle to live by. Reciprocity is not something that can be exact, because what one person can do, another person cannot. The most obvious example of this dichotomy is that most women do not have the strength men have to lift and carry heavy items. On the other hand men cannot have babies and many have difficulty threading a needle. These are general and physical examples, of course, but they can help us begin thinking about reciprocity in intimate relationships. Reciprocity and cooperation are so valuable, precisely because we do have various strengths and weaknesses. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-social-skills/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-social-skills/ Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:49:49 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia/ Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:29:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/preschoolers-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/preschoolers-mental-health/ Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:35:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-heart-disease/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-heart-disease/ Fri, 9 Jul 2010 14:57:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/assessing-suicide-risk/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/assessing-suicide-risk/ Fri, 9 Jul 2010 14:42:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-abuse-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-abuse-suicide/ Thu, 8 Jul 2010 14:00:50 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-virtual-food/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-virtual-food/ Thu, 8 Jul 2010 06:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/married-couples-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/married-couples-therapy/ Wed, 7 Jul 2010 19:10:01 GMT All couples sometimes have different viewpoints. All couples, especially in the early years of marriage, discover areas where his way and her way differ. The challenge of becoming fully successful marriage partners is to be able to talk over each of those differences toward the goal of creating an "our way," a plan of action that truly works well for both partners. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-upsides/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-upsides/ Wed, 7 Jul 2010 18:07:21 GMT We all likely have our favorite personal qualities that we secretly (or publicly) admire about ourselves. While many of these characteristics are probably universally positive, it possible that something we love about ourselves -- for example, assertiveness -- might be perceived as someone else as bossy or overly forward. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-health/ Wed, 7 Jul 2010 17:58:05 GMT The Buddha is purported to have said ?What we think, we become.? If your thoughts could change your life for the better, wouldn?t you do it? Of course! But, what thoughts do you change? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-self-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-self-image/ Wed, 7 Jul 2010 17:26:11 GMT As discussed in an earlier article, "How Trauma Impacts My Sense of 'Me-Ness'?, surviving a traumatic event often results in your beliefs about yourself becoming altered in a negative, harsher direction. Another reason that your sense of ?me-ness? changes, due to a traumatic life experience, is that a traumatic event impacts your sense of worth, meaning, and trust. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-depression/ Wed, 7 Jul 2010 14:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-mistakes/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-mistakes/ Tue, 6 Jul 2010 19:49:57 GMT People have good reasons to use these methods to cope with Depression--they are desperately trying to get relief. For short periods, or in certain ways, these methods can even work. Sooner or later, though, they not only stop working, but cause more depression. If you're taking any of these actions, it's a sign that you need some help to avoid your depression getting worse. Depression can sometimes be too powerful to overcome alone. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/polyamory/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/polyamory/ Tue, 6 Jul 2010 15:06:36 GMT Most of the couples who walk into my office are monogamous, or at least aspire to have a one-on-one relationship. But some people believe that wedding vows or other exclusive agreements heap a host of unrealistic expectations on marriage. ?Open marriage? has become a term of the past - now such people usually refer to their preference for ?polyamory,? meaning ?many loves.? Coined in the early 1990?s, ?polyamory?, or ?poly? for short, provides a way for those who choose to have more than one lover to identify their life-style. This may seem a long way from most people?s lives, but my local book-store owner confirms that Catherine Liszt?s book on polys Ethical Slut: A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities continues to sell even in my relatively conservative neck of the woods! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chocolate-and-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chocolate-and-depression/ Mon, 5 Jul 2010 16:49:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar/ Sun, 4 Jul 2010 14:00:36 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compulsive-shopping/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/compulsive-shopping/ Fri, 2 Jul 2010 14:37:16 GMT The idea of compulsive shopping being a ?real? disorder has become more palatable recently since people are looking at their economic situations and trying to understand the dynamics behind credit card debt and over spending while at the same time people are ?coming out? like Avis Cardella, author of the book Spent, where she depicts her life long addiction to shopping and spending. As compulsive spending is taken more seriously understanding it?s healing purposes will be an important part in aiding those who struggle with what has been coined satirically, ?retail therapy.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/strong-emotions-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/strong-emotions-psychology/ Fri, 2 Jul 2010 13:51:30 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-impulsivity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-impulsivity/ Thu, 1 Jul 2010 19:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-body-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-body-image/ Thu, 1 Jul 2010 15:10:11 GMT How many of the people that you know are truly happy with their bodies? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-holidays-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-holidays-therapy/ Thu, 1 Jul 2010 14:10:47 GMT Parent #1: It?s already December. We need to decide about Christmas and you had Johnny last year. Why do you think you should have him again this year? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teenage-lifestyle-cognitive-function/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teenage-lifestyle-cognitive-function/ Thu, 1 Jul 2010 06:00:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internet-gambling-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internet-gambling-addiction/ Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:00:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavior-therapy-body-dysmorphic-disorder/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavior-therapy-body-dysmorphic-disorder/ Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:00:06 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teenage-depression-weight/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teenage-depression-weight/ Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:00:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/heart-of-forgiveness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/heart-of-forgiveness/ Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:36:20 GMT Give up contention: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-exercises/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mindfulness-exercises/ Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:45:54 GMT Distressing, intrusive and overwhelming experiences/symptoms are an all too common for an anxious or traumatized mind. My clients often report feeling that they do not feel in control of their thoughts. As our thoughts and emotions are reliant upon one another, it makes sense that overwhelming or disturbing thoughts may result in a downward spiral of one?s mood. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-chronic-pain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-chronic-pain/ Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:50:07 GMT Most women who have weathered childbirth, and watched as their male partners squeamishly stood by, might think they are warriors when it comes to pain tolerance. However, most research has shown that women are actually more sensitive to pain. Women also tend to experience more pain during their lifetimes and develop more chronic pain conditions. Yet health care professionals sometimes minimize, misdiagnose, and offer insufficient symptom relief for pain conditions women present to them. Although men may delay getting the treatment they need for pain, once they do seek help, they are often treated more aggressively and with larger doses of pain medication. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-treatment/ Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:00:46 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/national-alliance-on-mental-illness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/national-alliance-on-mental-illness/ Tue, 29 Jun 2010 06:00:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregivers-depression-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/caregivers-depression-treatment/ Sun, 27 Jun 2010 14:00:16 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-kids/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-kids/ Sat, 26 Jun 2010 06:00:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/toddler-gender-roles/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/toddler-gender-roles/ Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disability-integrating-identity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/disability-integrating-identity/ Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:18:29 GMT Media accounts of individuals with disabilities who have achieved something will often refer to such people as having ?overcome? their disabilities in order to become successful. Sometimes such people will also be referred to as ?brave,? as if they had another alternative to living with their disabilities. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-omega-3/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-omega-3/ Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:00:02 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-management-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-management-therapy/ Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:00:05 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-chronic-pain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-chronic-pain/ Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:00:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-alcohol-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exercise-alcohol-addiction/ Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:00:21 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-separation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/marriage-separation/ Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:35:50 GMT Are you tired of intense and destructive marital arguing and want it to stop? Do you need some space to think about things more clearly? Are you thinking about a separation but are not sure how to pull it off without making things worse? Do you feel like you just need a break from all the tension? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spanking-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spanking-children/ Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:35:24 GMT Previously, I defined discipline as meaning ?to teach? or ?to train,? the root being ?to disciple.? I would like to expand on that because so often parents equate discipline with corporal punishment and automatically think they have to start spanking children when they are very young in order to ?make them mind.? Frequently, parents will say that their parents spanked them and they turned out okay, so what?s wrong with it? Just because something works doesn?t mean it is desired. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-exercise-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-exercise-therapy/ Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:08:42 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hypnotherapy-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hypnotherapy-addiction/ Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:03:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-personality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-personality/ Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:56:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tools-for-anger-management/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tools-for-anger-management/ Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:42:37 GMT As more anger tools have been requested, I wanted to add more to the potential list to choose from when developing your own anger plan -- meaning some of the tools you practice and can use when finding yourself angry. Please know that there is no perfect list for all -- what we want is the perfect list for you. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hoarding/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hoarding/ Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:15:11 GMT If you?ve done any channel surfing at all in the last year or so, you might have come across a couple of documentary shows (?Hoarders? on A&E; ?Hoarding, Buried Alive? on TLC) featuring people who are living with/in massive amounts of clutter and/or trash in their homes. The piles of ?stuff? often reach nearly to the ceilings and there is barely space to stand in much less walk across a room. The programs show professional organizers and psychotherapists working with these people to clean out their homes. If you?ve seen either of these shows, then you know what I mean when I say it?s something you don?t forget easily. Although the people being featured on the show are treated with respect and compassion, the images are shocking and disturbing. How does this happen? Why do these people do this? Can they be helped? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression-enzyme/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression-enzyme/ Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:00:29 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-deterioration-multiple-sclerosis/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-deterioration-multiple-sclerosis/ Sun, 20 Jun 2010 14:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicidal-gene/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicidal-gene/ Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:00:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-gain-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-gain-depression/ Sat, 19 Jun 2010 06:00:21 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-identity-gay-families/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gender-identity-gay-families/ Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:36:47 GMT For years in our culture, most of us have defined family in a particular way. We assume that when we say ?family? we mean a group of people who are related by birth, adoption, and marriage. And when we say marriage, we have pictured the promised relationships between men and women. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-body-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-body-image/ Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:18:26 GMT Clients often tell me that they hate their bodies. Sometimes I reply, ?Really? You hate your spleen and your liver and your kidneys?? And they look baffled and say, ?I never thought about that.? Because when a client says that she hates her body, she means, ?I can?t stand the way my body looks, and I can?t distinguish between my physical appearance and my body it self. I?ve reduced my body to a one-dimensional object. I?m repelled by what I see, and I consider my body to be only what I see, no more than that.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aspirin-schizophrenia-symptoms-cause/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aspirin-schizophrenia-symptoms-cause/ Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fathers-day-grief-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fathers-day-grief-therapy/ Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:00:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-suicidal-urges/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-suicidal-urges/ Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:11:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/apple-juice-dementia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/apple-juice-dementia/ Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-strong-self-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-strong-self-image/ Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-low-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-low-self-esteem/ Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:34:07 GMT In the previous three "Signs of Low Self-Esteem" articles, we've looked at a total of ten potential signs of low self-esteem. In this article, we examine two more possible signs of low self-esteem, and what to do about them. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-anger-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-anger-therapy/ Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addictive-families/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addictive-families/ Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:14:15 GMT Often the parent of a teenager or young adult in recovery will tell me that their son or daughter is ?like an extension of myself?. They might describe their offspring as being ?like one of my own limbs? or ?so close, it?s like we?re one person?. Inwardly, when I hear this, I often cringe. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hypertension-bipolar-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hypertension-bipolar-therapy/ Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:00:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reasons-for-self-attack/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reasons-for-self-attack/ Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:44:36 GMT This is a continuation of last month's article, "Are You Your Own Worst Enemy?" Here are seven reasons why people attack themselves: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-thinness-self-worth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-thinness-self-worth/ Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:22:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-bullies/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-bullies/ Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:54:23 GMT ?All cruelty springs from weakness? (Seneca, 4BC-AD65) http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-sexuality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-sexuality/ Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:07:15 GMT Teens are having sex. I do not know the percentage of teens having sex but they are. Teens are having sex for many reasons: need to be loved, everyone else is doing it, why wait, adults have sex, and boyfriend/girlfriend loves them. Does sex really help a teen to feel loved? After sex, does the relationship get stronger or fall apart? Is sex more of a quest? These are some questions that I have. I don?t have statistics and this is not for statistics, just conversation about teens and sex. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-sibling-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-sibling-stress/ Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:00:28 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-psychological-responses/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-psychological-responses/ Sat, 12 Jun 2010 06:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-creativity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-creativity/ Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:25:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/summer-vacation-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/summer-vacation-communication/ Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:40:35 GMT School?s out and some of our kids are already at home with us. Oh sure, some will go to sleep-away camp for a month, some will go to day camp returning every night, and then there?s summer school ? oh joy! ? and then there are some kids who will be home the entire summer with no particular plans. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-economic-recession-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-economic-recession-stress/ Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:00:18 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-anxiety-attention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-anxiety-attention/ Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:00:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nonverbal-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nonverbal-communication/ Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:37:22 GMT I have been realizing of late how much nonverbal cues effect us at work and socially. We therapists don?t really focus on this. I think it is a good idea to pay more attention not only to what our clients communicate verbally but also what they communicate nonverbally. In sessions, we can help them become more aware and coach them in making better choices. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/video-game-therapy-aggression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/video-game-therapy-aggression/ Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:00:03 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-dating/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-dating/ Wed, 9 Jun 2010 18:01:38 GMT You are out at a bar and you met someone who is attractive, seems interesting and interested in you. He asks you for your number and you offer it up freely. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-breast-cancer-survival/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-breast-cancer-survival/ Wed, 9 Jun 2010 17:24:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/offerings/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/offerings/ Wed, 9 Jun 2010 16:59:12 GMT As a Yoruba Priest, I frequently make offerings to the Orishas (divine spirits who guide our lives) and my ancestors. The type of offerings varies, with the simplest being a white candle, glass of water, white flowers and a bowl of fruit on my ancestral altar. We Yoruba also make offerings we call ?Ebo?. The expression is to ?do ebo? in order to ask for something we want or to give thanks for something we have received. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-abuse-healing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-abuse-healing/ Tue, 8 Jun 2010 16:32:54 GMT Earlier this year, the French National Assembly passed a bill, which criminalizes psychological abuse within couples. Specifically, the bill makes any repetition of actions or words that could, ?damage the victim?s life conditions, affect his/her right and his/her dignity, or damage his/her physical or mental health? punishable by imprisonment and a monetary fine. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-therapy-cancer/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-therapy-cancer/ Mon, 7 Jun 2010 17:17:50 GMT Christa, 35, initially presented to therapy because she wanted a place where her ten year old daughter, Nina, could share her feelings about Christa?s breast cancer. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/moves-childhood-compromise-well-being/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/moves-childhood-compromise-well-being/ Mon, 7 Jun 2010 14:00:59 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-iq/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-iq/ Mon, 7 Jun 2010 06:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-therapy/ Sat, 5 Jun 2010 14:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pre-marital-counseling-wedding-vows/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pre-marital-counseling-wedding-vows/ Fri, 4 Jun 2010 16:18:39 GMT Many couples spend more time preparing for their wedding, than for their marriage. A lot of excitement, expectation, and work goes into the creation of a wedding and couples can find themselves waking up inside a marriage lost in a kind of post-party depression not knowing how to proceed. Some couples may not even be sure how they got there. The marriage ceremony, when created and experienced consciously, is a sacred vessel that helps two people cross the threshold into their sacred union. The true power of a wedding arises from gathering family and friends who then bear witness while two people make a spoken and heartfelt commitment to each other. This community can become a support system which helps hold the vessel of a marriage together when the individuals cannot. Loved ones can offer verbal and energetic guidance, and hope, that allows each partner to find their way back to each other through troubled times. In some wedding ceremonies, the people gathered are asked to make their own commitment to the couple to be this support for them. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/co-parenting-websites/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/co-parenting-websites/ Fri, 4 Jun 2010 15:53:35 GMT When is Johnny?s baseball game? I need to know the schedule. Does it conflict with some of the other activities he is telling me he wants to sign up for? Susie is consistently late for her piano lesson because we don?t know when Bobby?s soccer game is over. These are common complaints parents have when they are co-parenting and trying to manage the busy schedules of their children. It is made all the worse when communication between the parents is strained and coordinating schedules is not as easy as a phone call could or should be. Some parents manage it through email, however that can also provide a venue for anger to spill through. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/menstration/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/menstration/ Fri, 4 Jun 2010 15:19:28 GMT The theme of my recent post on my blog PoliPsych . . . is so important in today's world! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-environmental-cues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adhd-environmental-cues/ Fri, 4 Jun 2010 06:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-good-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/communication-good-relationship/ Thu, 3 Jun 2010 15:41:15 GMT When people say, "We have a great relationship,? what they're talking about is how they feel when they talk with each other. They mean, ?I feel positive toward that person when we interact. I send and I receive positive vibes with them." http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-aging-wisdom/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-aging-wisdom/ Thu, 3 Jun 2010 14:14:32 GMT The time will come http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/building-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/building-self-esteem/ Wed, 2 Jun 2010 19:19:52 GMT Much of the body image work that I do with clients suffering from eating disorders comes back to building up self-esteem. What follows are a few activities I?ve found helpful in exploring this topic with clients. These can be used as homework between sessions, or an activity done with your therapist guide. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-therapy/ Wed, 2 Jun 2010 16:38:30 GMT Continuing with tools to use when we get angry, I want to go deeper into explaining just one here -- a powerful one! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-tinnitus/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-tinnitus/ Tue, 1 Jun 2010 16:09:52 GMT Tinnitus is brought on by worry and fear of disapproval. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-postpartum-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-postpartum-depression/ Tue, 1 Jun 2010 15:41:31 GMT At first, you think it?s normal. Maybe it?s just lack of sleep. Or the monotony of endless feedings, laundry, and chores. It could be the isolation. The lack of time with your spouse. And the baby is just one big need machine, and she doesn?t even smile back yet. You thought it would be more rewarding, more joyful. And sometimes you even resent her and how she has changed everything. You try to accept that this is what your life is like now. You push yourself to get through it. Minutes can seem like hours when the baby cries. And hours drag on into days and weeks. Hey, what day is it anyway? Does it really even matter? Someone tells you that you don?t seem like yourself. You don?t seem to have bounced back. But everyone gets the blues after a baby, don?t they? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-child-soldiers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-child-soldiers/ Mon, 31 May 2010 15:20:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-men-emotions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-men-emotions/ Sun, 30 May 2010 20:59:01 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/science-of-anger/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/science-of-anger/ Sun, 30 May 2010 14:48:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-stigma-2/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-illness-stigma-2/ Wed, 26 May 2010 23:23:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-disability/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-disability/ Wed, 26 May 2010 18:45:54 GMT Physical or sensory impairment or the onset of disabling illness often entails multiple concurrent losses which can lead to complicated grief processes, including depression and post traumatic stress disorder. Most obviously, people who acquire a disability or disabling disease lose a part of their bodies and/or the functionality of parts of their bodies. Additionally, they may lose physical comfort, vigor, mobility, spontaneity, the ability to engage in certain activities, aspects of their previous lifestyles, privacy, a sense of dignity, a sense of control, a sense of efficacy/agency, a degree of independence, actual or perceived life roles, friends and other social supports, the ability to work, financial stability, their previous sense of identity and purpose, the ability to pursue previously established dreams, previous assumptions about themselves and the world, their previous body-image, and, all in all, their previous sense of self as a whole. Therapists should be attuned to what a newly disabled person may have lost, or may perceive himself to have lost, beyond the obvious loss of physical or sensory functionality. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/air-force-suicide-prevention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/air-force-suicide-prevention/ Wed, 26 May 2010 17:18:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/imago-therapy-passion/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/imago-therapy-passion/ Tue, 25 May 2010 19:38:47 GMT For those of you in relationship, think back to the time when you first met your partner. You see him/her across the room, and something inside you says, she/he is the one. There is a sense of excitement and passion in you. You eventually meet and start dating. You just cannot get enough of this person and you find yourself thinking about him/her all the time. Eventually you start having sex and its passionate and really hot. Eventually you become a committed couple (for some couples it may even lead to engagement and marriage). Two years pass and one day you roll over, look at your partner and say, where did the passion go? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-depression-therapists/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-depression-therapists/ Tue, 25 May 2010 06:00:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reducing-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reducing-stress/ Mon, 24 May 2010 17:44:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/somatic-experiencing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/somatic-experiencing/ Mon, 24 May 2010 17:21:02 GMT ?Traumatic symptoms are not caused by the event itself. They arise when residual energy from the experience is not discharged from the body. This energy remains trapped in the nervous system where it can wreak havoc on our bodies and minds.? - Peter Levine http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-porn-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-porn-psychology/ Mon, 24 May 2010 16:15:13 GMT When most people in our culture think about pornography and who is accessing it online, their thoughts automatically go to the male population. Would it surprise you to know that women represent 30% of the internet pornography consumers (Internet Pornography Statistics, 2008; Nielsen/NetRatings, April 2005)? It is time to stop with the ?old school? thinking that it is just a ?man? issue and take a look at not only the increased activity with women and pornography, but also the impact that it is having on them and their lives. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/physicians-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/physicians-depression/ Sun, 23 May 2010 14:00:30 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/choir-singing-ibs-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/choir-singing-ibs-therapy/ Sat, 22 May 2010 19:00:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-first-response-team/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-first-response-team/ Sat, 22 May 2010 06:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/behavior-elementary-children-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/behavior-elementary-children-parenting/ Fri, 21 May 2010 15:06:41 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-plane-crash-survivor/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-plane-crash-survivor/ Fri, 21 May 2010 14:56:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/building-a-great-marriage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/building-a-great-marriage/ Fri, 21 May 2010 14:18:37 GMT Life can be lonely when it's a story of just one person. With two, there's a sense of completeness. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-depression-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-depression-treatment/ Fri, 21 May 2010 14:00:50 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-risk-nursing-homes/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-risk-nursing-homes/ Thu, 20 May 2010 14:34:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/interfaith-marriage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/interfaith-marriage/ Wed, 19 May 2010 20:13:38 GMT For thousands of years, people have expected their children to marry within their family faith and culture. Family life, in its largest sense, is easier this way. Marriage partners are easier to find among shared communities like synagogues, mosques, parochial schools or parishes; families know more about each other and often form smoother in-law relationships. Religious rituals bind partners to preceding generations as well as to their future children and to one another. All the thousand small, nearly invisible connections shared faith creates helps to enable more stable marriages and thicker, stronger emotional ties between parents, children, in-laws and the larger religious community. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-relationships-unemployment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-relationships-unemployment/ Wed, 19 May 2010 19:41:17 GMT Unemployment is a downright monster. Most often, we see a lot of support for the unemployed person - building the resume, interviewing, networking, staying busy and being positive. I certainly hope and pray that our economy improves soon and each unemployed person finds work that is fulfilling in both meaning and income. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-eating-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/substance-abuse-eating-psychology/ Wed, 19 May 2010 14:00:58 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-tourettes-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-tourettes-children/ Wed, 19 May 2010 06:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-treating-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-treating-eating-disorders/ Tue, 18 May 2010 16:41:01 GMT Eating disorders are complex animals whose treatment requires a variety of approaches. After 20 years in the field, I continue to be amazed by the creativity of health care professionals who work with eating disorders. Last week I had the opportunity to sample some of the wonderful work that?s being done when I traveled to the Chicago area to present a workshop at an eating disorders conference. It was titled, ?Replenishing Our Toolbox: Innovative Therapies for eating Disordered Clients,? a joint venture of Castlewood, a residential eating disorders treatment center in St. Louis, MO, The Awakening Center, an outpatient eating disorders treatment center in Chicago, and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). At this one-day conference, there were two keynote speakers and 14 one-hour workshops, broken up into three sessions. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-with-cancer/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-with-cancer/ Tue, 18 May 2010 15:30:53 GMT My husband, Nolan, was a firm believer that if you looked hard enough, you could find something positive in any bad situation. I agreed, most of the time. Until he was diagnosed with cancer. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-compromise/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-compromise/ Tue, 18 May 2010 15:14:16 GMT An Internal Family Systems Perspective http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/low-self-esteem-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/low-self-esteem-therapy/ Tue, 18 May 2010 14:22:51 GMT So far, in previous articles, we've looked at a total of eight potential signs of low self-esteem. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pregnant-women-family-advice/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pregnant-women-family-advice/ Tue, 18 May 2010 14:00:52 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-adolescent-worry/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-adolescent-worry/ Tue, 18 May 2010 06:00:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-oncologist/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-oncologist/ Mon, 17 May 2010 17:34:28 GMT From our first appointment with my husband?s oncologist, hours after a CT scan showed large tumors throughout his abdomen, Nolan told me he was sure she was the doctor who was meant to treat him. I didn?t think much of it at the time. I thought he was just trying to reassure himself that things would be ok. But looking back on the year-and-a-half he spent in Dr. Sara Garrido?s care, I can?t imagine him being treated by anyone else. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-happy-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-happy-children/ Mon, 17 May 2010 16:38:15 GMT Recently, an elementary school principal discussed with me an important issue in parenting. The context was her concern with parents who ask their children each year who they would like to have for a teacher the next year and then, not only request that teacher, but also put pressure on the administration to see that it happens, rather than letting things take their natural course. We parents have to watch that we don?t let our children take the lead in the relationship. Children get the idea that all they have to do is ask and mom and dad will take care of it for them. It isn?t good for them to always get what they want. Children will encounter a variety of people throughout life and need to learn to get along in whatever situation they find themselves. It is easy to fall into the trap of trying to enable our children by not allowing them to work out situations that come up in life. It is a misconception that it is our job to make them happy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-anger-tools/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-anger-tools/ Mon, 17 May 2010 16:17:39 GMT I would like to take these next few little articles to focus on some of the wonderful tools and techniques that we as therapist use to help clients with their anger. Please bear in mind that these are indeed just some of the many, many different ways that therapists can help when you struggle here. As you will see, some of these are common ideas that you may have heard of and even used yourself. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-adoption-resentment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-adoption-resentment/ Mon, 17 May 2010 15:05:56 GMT The dreams we have for our families and for our children are full of deep expectations, some stated and many unspoken. This is true for families that have biological children and also true for families who choose to foster and adopt. You want to make a difference in the world and love a child that needs you. You want to offer your support and guidance and give a child the opportunity that he/she may have never had. The most frequent thing I hear from parents is ?I just want to help?. The best foster and adoptive parents know that helping a child involves not only a desire, but also the ability to stick in there when times get rough. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-psychological-concerns/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-psychological-concerns/ Sun, 16 May 2010 15:29:10 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-epilepsy-quality-of-life/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-epilepsy-quality-of-life/ Sat, 15 May 2010 15:53:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-stress-levels/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-stress-levels/ Sat, 15 May 2010 15:18:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-caretaker/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-caretaker/ Fri, 14 May 2010 18:45:52 GMT I have taken on many roles in my life: daughter, sister, friend, cousin, niece, girlfriend, fiancé, college graduate, wife, and new mother. But in April of 2008, I took on a very unexpected role, one that challenged me more than I ever could have imagined: caretaker for my then 27-year-old husband. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-sex-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-sex-addiction/ Fri, 14 May 2010 14:05:04 GMT If it?s true that one of the core beliefs of people addicted to sex is that ?sex is my most important need (or the most important sign of love)? (Carnes, 1983) ? and I believe it is, based on clinical experience ? then sex addicts active in their disease will be ?targeting? sex as the high point of all human interaction. The social universe of an addict becomes a vast haystack within which that golden ?needle? must be found, no matter what. If sexual partners can?t be found through social networking, they can be paid for. Or created through ?virtual? means such as pornography, phone sex, videos, and so forth. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-communication-technology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-communication-technology/ Thu, 13 May 2010 14:23:26 GMT Have you ever noticed the types of conversations you?re having these days with your spouse, your kids, your friends, and even your co-workers and boss? I bet those conversations sure have changed. OMG! I have noticed that my own conversations have changed. We have had to learn a whole new language to keep up with this new type of conversation. LOL! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-release-phone-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-release-phone-therapy/ Thu, 13 May 2010 14:00:04 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neurobiology-changing-criticism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neurobiology-changing-criticism/ Wed, 12 May 2010 17:11:45 GMT A client just recently told me of how he very often hears things as criticism when they are not meant to be critical. For instance he and his wife had a disagreement about buying snack bars. When at the store he had agreed that he would eat the raisin filled bars since she and son did not like them. And when it came time to fill lunch bags he also wanted one of the other variety and she said," Oh no, you wanted the raisin ones, you cannot have these." This innocent interaction between two people who love each other became a "big deal" and they both left the house in a fowl mood, holding animosity toward the other. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-therapy-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couples-therapy-communication/ Wed, 12 May 2010 15:16:59 GMT Do you have issues with your partner or do you have trouble getting your partner to listen to your concerns? If you feel like you are spending a lot of time nagging, you might consider this question: Do I have an issue with my partner or do I have an unmet need? The first part of this question has to do with what your partner is doing; the second part has to do with you. In my work as a couple?s therapist over the last 20 years, this question has become important in helping couples understand each other and resolve issues. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teenage-girl-violence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teenage-girl-violence/ Wed, 12 May 2010 14:00:22 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/heart-attack-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/heart-attack-depression/ Tue, 11 May 2010 19:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-criticism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-criticism/ Tue, 11 May 2010 18:56:54 GMT Self-attack or destructive self-criticism is a cornerstone of depression. Confusingly, it can cause depression and it can be caused by depression, but it is always damaging. Often, people don?t even realize they do it, because it?s so automatic. In that case, the first step is to listen for it. It may or may not be in words, but its messages are about worthlessness, failure, inadequacy, disgustingness, unlovability, incompetence, and more. Other people know they do it, but believe it is appropriate?either because they deserve it, or because they need it as a motivator. I?ll get to that in other articles, but if you are not aware of attacking yourself, or saying mean things to yourself, do some research: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/global-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/global-psychology/ Tue, 11 May 2010 18:01:32 GMT Two weeks ago I went to Antalya, Turkey, to attend the World Conference on Psychology, Counseling and Guidance, and to give a paper called ?Two in a room together: yoga breathing and psychotherapy alleviate anxiety.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-intrapersonal-conversations/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-intrapersonal-conversations/ Tue, 11 May 2010 17:04:20 GMT ?Understand that communication begins on the inside and determines the outside.? ~ P.S. Perkins http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addicted-gamblers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/addicted-gamblers/ Tue, 11 May 2010 06:00:16 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lgbt-therapist/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lgbt-therapist/ Mon, 10 May 2010 16:32:39 GMT The question often comes up among LGBT people as to whether or not they should see a gay therapist or if they would be comfortable with a gay friendly therapist. This is a personal decision that each person needs to make for themselves, but as in choosing any therapist, it is important to find a professional who has the education, the empathy, and the understanding of your individual needs. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-hand-washing-doubts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-hand-washing-doubts/ Mon, 10 May 2010 15:19:46 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-mortality-economic-downturn/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-mortality-economic-downturn/ Sun, 9 May 2010 15:02:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-risky-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teens-risky-behavior/ Fri, 7 May 2010 19:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-sexual-well-being/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-sexual-well-being/ Fri, 7 May 2010 14:00:37 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spirit-of-mother/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spirit-of-mother/ Thu, 6 May 2010 17:08:48 GMT As we approach Mother?s Day, a holiday designed to pay homage to our birth mothers and their mother?s and any other living relatives with the word ?mother? in their titles, many people have conflicted feelings about the holiday itself and its obligations. Not everyone is eager to spend time, effort and money honoring this individual (or individuals). ?Mother? is a word that engenders ambivalence ? that love-hate relationship that many have with their birth parent in their families of origin. For those who were adopted or whose parent/grandparent is deceased, there are questions as to how to honor or recognize someone whose existence is a mystery. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-is-a-family-problem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-is-a-family-problem/ Thu, 6 May 2010 16:42:57 GMT ?And what?s romance? Usually, a nice little tale where you are everything as you like it, where rain never wets your jacket and gnats never bite your nose and it?s always daisy-time.? ?D. H. Lawrence http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/identity-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/identity-trauma/ Thu, 6 May 2010 15:14:47 GMT Trauma unequivocally impacts your relationship with yourself. One of the reasons for this is that a traumatic experience challenges and changes how you think about yourself. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/elderly-depression-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/elderly-depression-therapy/ Thu, 6 May 2010 14:00:46 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-anorexia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-anorexia/ Wed, 5 May 2010 17:44:33 GMT When is not enough sex too little by far? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parents-teens-sexuality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parents-teens-sexuality/ Wed, 5 May 2010 14:00:25 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-physical-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-physical-care/ Wed, 5 May 2010 06:00:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/discrimination-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/discrimination-depression/ Tue, 4 May 2010 19:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-sleep-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-sleep-anxiety/ Tue, 4 May 2010 18:08:14 GMT Last month I wrote about the importance of getting adequate sleep in alleviating anxiety. I mentioned some studies which are showing that sleep deprivation may actually be one of the primary contributors, if not one of the causes of anxiety problems, as well as depression, and other psychiatric disorders. Sleep appears to be very important for emotional regulation and emotional processing. I also gave several suggestions on ways to improve sleep by limiting/changing the types and amounts of food and chemicals people put into their bodies and by adding physical activity and bedtime routines to their daily habits. Several people commented on the article saying that their anxiety was keeping them awake and IF ONLY they could fall asleep then maybe they could feel better. People get into a vicious cycle between lack of sleep and feelings of anxiety. The more anxious they feel the less they are able to sleep, and the less sleep they get, the worse the anxiety gets. So this article is a continuation of the subject and a response to those comments. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-with-caregiving/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/coping-with-caregiving/ Tue, 4 May 2010 17:12:03 GMT One of our many fears about aging is having no one to care for us if we?re too weak to care for ourselves. Many of us try to insure that this does not happen to our loved ones. In recent years, the proportion of people in the general population living to advanced age has dramatically increased. Along with this comes more age-related infirmity. This has increased the burdens and stresses on family caregivers ? emotionally, physically and financially. These stresses can quite often test family loyalties as well as endurance. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychosis-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychosis-children/ Tue, 4 May 2010 06:00:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hormone-spray-sensitivity-men/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hormone-spray-sensitivity-men/ Sun, 2 May 2010 14:00:36 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-anxiety/ Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:41:40 GMT One of the consequences of being the social animals that humans are is the potential to be uncomfortable or anxious around other people. Sometimes we are born with this tendency and are labeled shy. Shy children tend to be more inhibited and fearful around people they don?t know well. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-of-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/art-of-communication/ Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:58:52 GMT The single most consistent cause that brings couples into my office for counseling is that their communication has broken down and they are caught in a cycle of arguing and bitterness that is steadily wearing away the stability of their connection. In this article, I want to look at the dynamics of healthy communication and offer some guidelines for finding your way to mutual understanding. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/conscientiousness-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/conscientiousness-health/ Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:00:25 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-anger/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-anger/ Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:20:37 GMT The first in a series of articles dedicated to understanding, appreciating, and coping with our anger. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-relationship-fighting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-relationship-fighting/ Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:07:17 GMT Fighting verbally is an integral part of any relationship. You put at least two people together in the same place for a long period of time, and they'll fight eventually. If someone tells you that they "never" fight with their partner (especially with a big Stepford wife-like smile), mark my words they are hiding something big and oppressive underneath. "Rarely" fighting can happen, but "never" just doesn't exist. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/solution-focused-therapy-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/solution-focused-therapy-communication/ Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:07:27 GMT One of the most powerful advantages of solution-focused therapy is its ability to give the client control of his or her therapy. A client learns to see himself through his strengths, and not weaknesses; he learns to apply useful tools he already uses in an area he might never thought he would need them. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/braille-technology-emotions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/braille-technology-emotions/ Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:00:20 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-adults-disabilities/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-adults-disabilities/ Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:20:00 GMT When I was 16 and an academic superstar, I set up a number of appointments to visit Ivy League and other colleges that I might attend the following year. Most of these visits involved campus tours on which my parents would accompany me. A few involved the opportunity to be hosted overnight by current freshmen in their dormitories. Although extremely socially uncomfortable, I managed the Princeton overnight with a modicum of grace. The Princeton campus was suburban and reminded me a lot of the university town in which I had grown up. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapist-eating-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapist-eating-depression/ Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personality-aging-brain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/personality-aging-brain/ Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:00:58 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tanning-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tanning-addiction/ Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:35:43 GMT With Spring upon us and Summer around the corner, that desire for a golden tan starts to nag at most Caucasian women in the U.S. While there is certainly more awareness than ever about the dangers of too much sun, many women feel insecure without a basecoat of bronze. Some women may even suspect they are ?addicted? to tanning. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/clergy-sexual-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/clergy-sexual-abuse/ Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:10:00 GMT Unfortunately, many people have survived the devastating experience of sexual assault by a trusted authority figure- a priest, a nun, a teacher, a minister. Most of these victims never speak of the abuse, even after many years have passed. The shame that really belongs to the perpetrator is carried by the victim, and the shame they carry inside leaves them with feelings of self-hatred, guilt, difficulty trusting, impotent rage, and perhaps most devastating, the loss of their sense of safety in the world. ?If someone so trusted could do this to me, then whom can I trust?? they might think. It is as if the whole foundation of security is swept away in an instant and the person feels locked away in isolation, shame and guilt. Unable to reach out for help, they indirectly cry out for recognition, sometimes in self-destructive ways. They expect people to blame them, and unfortunately, sometimes that is what happens if they are brave enough to talk about the abuse. On the other hand, there are people who will believe and support the survivors, including victim advocates in the Church, as well as psychotherapists who have experience dealing with the lifelong impact of sexual abuse. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unplanned-pregnancy-adoption/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unplanned-pregnancy-adoption/ Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:30:24 GMT Unplanned pregnancies can be quite a dilemma, a real crisis to find yourself in. Having fears and concerns about how you?re going to deal with this is normal and it?s common for anyone to ask, ?How am I going to get through this difficult time?? Taking the time to go through a process of exploring your options can be very empowering. One of the options available to you is placing your baby for adoption. Developing an adoption plan to help you move forward will be one of the most difficult decisions you can make, but it takes maturity, and shows you are putting your child?s needs before your own. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suppressing-anger-heart-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suppressing-anger-heart-health/ Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:00:35 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-female-heroines/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-female-heroines/ Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parental-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parental-suicide/ Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:00:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-anorexia-study/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-anorexia-study/ Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:00:51 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-with-psychological-concerns/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-with-psychological-concerns/ Thu, 22 Apr 2010 06:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-ecstasy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-ecstasy/ Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-treatment-program/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-treatment-program/ Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:05:24 GMT People are always calling us and saying ?I?ve been to treatment and it didn?t work. Will your program work?? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-adhd-genetics/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-adhd-genetics/ Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:00:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-therapy-comparing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-therapy-comparing/ Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:54:12 GMT One of the misery-makers in which many women engage is comparing themselves to other women. And it is by no means a fair comparison. Typically we are the underdog. The one who does not measure up. We compare ourselves to all the girls we see to be more beautiful?their height, their toned stomachs, the grace in the way they move, their quick wit, and so on and so on. As a result, we end up feeling just lousy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/affair-recovery/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/affair-recovery/ Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:52:23 GMT If the most difficult words to hear are ?you?ve got cancer,? the next most jolting sentence might be ?I?ve been having an affair.? Your head spins, emotions may erupt, your emotional earth has essentially been forever shifted on its axis. Dreams are shattered, the partner or spouse you thought you knew is now a stranger, and the wound you feel is so deep like you?ll bleed forever. The betrayal seems unfathomable, the hurt indescribable, and the marital ship now navigates without a rudder. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-double-bind/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-addiction-double-bind/ Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:56:58 GMT I want to address an issue that lies at the heart of sex addiction: the double bind a person with sex addiction lives with, and how the tension created by this double bind creates a vicious cycle ? which only strong and consistent intervention can break, and keep broken in favor of a healthier life (By intervention I mean treatment, recovery, etc.). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-love-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-love-psychology/ Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:51:02 GMT Sometimes it?s useful to define something by what it?s not. In this case, I?m going to explore the concept of self love by looking at the various ways that a lack of self love can manifest behaviorally. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-money/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-money/ Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:38:35 GMT With all of our tax returns due last week, the subject of money, what we make and how we spend it, has been on all our minds. It?s never far away, of course. Managing our resources is one of the most important life skills we will ever have. And with the realities of this last recession, bank failures and job losses, upside down mortgages and eviscerated pension plans, money has been on our minds more than ever. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-dieting-national-obsession/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-dieting-national-obsession/ Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:00:17 GMT A few days ago, I headed into the locker room at my gym after a workout. A TV set there was tuned to a morning talk show hosted by a couple of women, who were talking to their guest, a dietician, about yo-yo dieting. The hosts peppered their guest with questions, speaking so quickly it was giving me a headache. ?What?s the best way to lose weight?? ?What should you do if you want to lose weight really fast?? The poor dietician was attempting to explain the effects on the body of losing and re-gaining weight, the functions of ghrelin and leptin, hormones that are involved in appetite regulation, and the importance of eating sufficient amounts of healthful food throughout the day to maintain blood sugar levels and provide adequate nourishment. Her responses were being trampled by the hosts? enthusiastic comments and inquiries. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-chronic-pain-race/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-chronic-pain-race/ Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:52:30 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-spanking-toddlers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-spanking-toddlers/ Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-spiritual/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-spiritual/ Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:33:37 GMT The spiritual dimension can surface most unexpectedly. The change process seems to invite it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/signs-of-low-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/signs-of-low-self-esteem/ Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:28:13 GMT Low self-esteem shows itself in many ways. Thinking others' poor behavior is a reflection on us instead of them; disliking the human race; perfectionism; over- and underachievement; and feeling ?different? from others ? these are all possible correlates of low self-esteem. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/issues-abused-children-explored/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/issues-abused-children-explored/ Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-body-image-women/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-body-image-women/ Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-adoption-child-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-adoption-child-behavior/ Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:56:38 GMT It is common for children and adolescents in foster care/adoptive situations to exhibit challenging behaviors, some of which can be severe. It is equally common for parents providing care to these children to become upset and overwhelmed by what they see. Before parents are reaching the point where they themselves may have a behavioral episode, I always remind them to remember the environment that their child came from. By remembering what this child was experiencing during their formative years, we can better understand the behaviors we are seeing now. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-diagnoses/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-diagnoses/ Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:00:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-women/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-women/ Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:07:31 GMT The topic for this month?s article came to me as I was stressing about how I was going to get the taxes finished, while managing to find the time for my daughter?s softball games, my own exercise class, two full days of clients, grocery shopping, laundry, paying bills, and figuring out what to make for dinner. And that was just the next 48 hours. In addition, my bedroom is half painted, I have a huge sewing project to finish (roman shades, which I have never made before), and my garden looks as neglected as it is. I realized that such is the life of today?s women. I know for a fact that I?m not alone. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/journal-therapy-colors-imagery/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/journal-therapy-colors-imagery/ Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:03:52 GMT Journaling is a wonderful way to explore, embrace and accept your inner world. However, colors and pictures further enhance your understanding of the deep, mysterious world that abides within. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-gay-identity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-gay-identity/ Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:56:42 GMT Recently I received a message from a dear friend, Amy, on Facebook. We?ve known each other for over 20 years and have always shared a close bond. Since my move to Madison, most of our conversations have been via social media. Here?s what she wrote: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-relationship-foreclosure/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-relationship-foreclosure/ Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:43:04 GMT Let's face it, these are tough times. Everyone has problems, and sometimes that means job loss and house foreclosure. But take some time to reflect on the difference between a house and a home. The house consists of the building where we eat, sleep, and watch television. Conversely, the home is where our family relationships, acceptance and love grow. We want our houses to be a certain color or style, controlled or casual, and to be safe. Our homes provide nurturance, acceptance, and safety both emotional and physical. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-natal-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-natal-depression/ Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:00:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-experiencing-emotions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-experiencing-emotions/ Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:12:13 GMT Experiencing emotion is a normal part of healthy development. But for those who were traumatized as children, they may have learned to ?numb out? so as to protect themselves from their painful emotions. Although working through past abuse issues in therapy are scary, and often cause unpleasant emotions to resurface, it?s worth the effort. Doing so allows you to continue in your emotional growth which had been stunted by the trauma ? allowing you to then make growth in all areas of your life. Feelings, or the lack thereof, can allow you to either grow, or to stay where you are ? no matter how unhealthy that place may be. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-sexual-fantasies/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-sexual-fantasies/ Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:53:34 GMT Believe it or not, everyone has some secret desire, fantasy, or even fetish that brings on arousal and turns us on in the bedroom, or otherwise. For some of us, our fantasies work best when used alone. We thus prefer to use the fantasy as personal experience on our own, and don?t find the need to share it with others. Others of us strive and have a strong urge to share our fantasy or fetish, to live it out and to act it out with our partners and with others. Finally there are those of us who have trouble swallowing the content of our desires, feel confused about its meaning and are thus conflicted about our fantasies and fetishes. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pain-management-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pain-management-psychotherapy/ Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:21:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-difficult-conversations/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-difficult-conversations/ Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:44:46 GMT Much of our work with clients is encouraging them and coaching them on how to communicate difficult feelings and thoughts to others. What I mean by ?difficult? are a range of verbal expressions of feelings or thoughts that expose vulnerability, disappointment, and anger. Why is it so hard to communicate to others that we are hurt, scared, disappointed, upset, mad? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-diversity-age/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-diversity-age/ Sun, 11 Apr 2010 14:00:16 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-depression-risk/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/girls-depression-risk/ Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:00:19 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-alcohol-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-alcohol-addiction/ Fri, 9 Apr 2010 20:21:16 GMT Over the years, we have written many articles for ezines.com and every month they send us a report on how many people have read each article. Our lifetime top performing article is ?Freeing the Parents of Adult Alcoholics and Addicts,? a variation on our very popular GoodTherapy.org column on the same issue. This leads us to an obvious conclusion: there are a lot of parents out there searching for ways to extricate themselves from the manipulative clutches of their addicted adult children. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-teens-friendship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-teens-friendship/ Fri, 9 Apr 2010 14:35:56 GMT When your child is growing up, they enjoy being around you and it?s a great feeling. They don?t want to be away from you, they listen to what you say, they think you are the greatest, and again they listen to what you say. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-transcentental-meditation-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-transcentental-meditation-therapy/ Thu, 8 Apr 2010 19:00:52 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-sleep-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/children-sleep-psychology/ Thu, 8 Apr 2010 06:00:49 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-spirituality-god/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-spirituality-god/ Wed, 7 Apr 2010 18:24:51 GMT This article is a meditation on the third step of Alcoholics Anonymous (and all other 12-step programs). The third step says: ?We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.? In some versions of the step I have come across, the step reads ??as we understood God.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-communicate-feelings/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-communicate-feelings/ Wed, 7 Apr 2010 16:30:54 GMT I don?t know about you, but I love to people-watch. Recently, I had an opportunity to watch a young couple having a meal at a restaurant. It appeared that they were in the early stages of their relationship. They sat close, arms and legs touching, whispering in each other's ears, looking into each other?s eyes, she would giggle; he would smile and squeeze her shoulders. Bliss! Perfect communication! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-foster-care-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-foster-care-children/ Wed, 7 Apr 2010 14:00:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couple-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/couple-therapy/ Tue, 6 Apr 2010 19:01:43 GMT The Textbook of Family and Couples Therapy (at pp. 421-423) describes the three ?most common types of couples therapy?: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-worry-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-worry-psychology/ Tue, 6 Apr 2010 19:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-stress-response/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-stress-response/ Tue, 6 Apr 2010 17:54:38 GMT So what can you do to calm down a stress response that triggers too often or lingers too long? The good news is that it is possible to re-calibrate your stress response ? to both decrease how often the stress response spikes and to calm it down more quickly. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-sleep-quality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-sleep-quality/ Tue, 6 Apr 2010 14:00:38 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-depression-pilots/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-depression-pilots/ Tue, 6 Apr 2010 06:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-therapy-sexual-passion/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-therapy-sexual-passion/ Mon, 5 Apr 2010 18:26:43 GMT When I opened my psychotherapy practice in the late 1970?s I saw myself as a feminist psychotherapist, putting the majority of my focus on women. I would have been disdainful of books like David Deida?s The Way of the Superior Man. Now I incorporate his often provocative approach into work that I do with straight, gay, and even lesbian couples! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-disabilities/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-disabilities/ Mon, 5 Apr 2010 16:37:49 GMT While some disabilities are immediately evident to people who see a person with a disability, other disabilities are ?invisible.? Beginning in childhood, people with disabilities who have the option of ?passing? as non-disabled often get in the habit of automatically hiding their disabilities. For example, a visually impaired person who is being shown a map might pretend that he/she can see the map while actually listening for verbal clues as to the correct way to his/her destination. In this way, and hundreds of others each day, the disabled person ?lives as? non-disabled. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-racism-copy-methods/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-racism-copy-methods/ Sun, 4 Apr 2010 14:00:37 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/binge-eating-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/binge-eating-treatment/ Sat, 3 Apr 2010 06:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-genetic-defect-schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-genetic-defect-schizophrenia/ Fri, 2 Apr 2010 14:00:30 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/porn-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/porn-addiction/ Fri, 2 Apr 2010 06:00:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/elderly-fear-of-death/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/elderly-fear-of-death/ Thu, 1 Apr 2010 19:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychodrama-family-sculpting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychodrama-family-sculpting/ Thu, 1 Apr 2010 18:47:29 GMT An example of one type of psychodrama that can be done in a group setting is a family sculpting. The first step involves determining who has a sense of readiness to do their family sculpting at this time. I generally ask this question to the group and then wait to see who is interested in doing work. If more than one person is interested, then I encourage each person to talk about how important it is for them to do work now versus considering a later date. Whoever has the most pressing need is then afforded the opportunity to do the sculpting. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-parallel-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/divorce-parallel-parenting/ Thu, 1 Apr 2010 17:26:45 GMT When two people divorce or end a relationship and they have children, they are faced with the need to continue a relationship that has not worked. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acupuncture-therapy-dental-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acupuncture-therapy-dental-anxiety/ Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:00:34 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/domestic-violence-partner-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/domestic-violence-partner-abuse/ Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:35:29 GMT Partner abuse, or intimate partner violence (IPV), is most simply defined as coercive control directed toward an intimate partner. Abuse is behavior that physically harms, incites fear or prevents the partner from doing what he or she wishes. IPV may be chronic, sporadic or an isolated incident. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-prevention-motherhood/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-prevention-motherhood/ Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:00:43 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-woman-as-breadwinner/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-woman-as-breadwinner/ Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:22:55 GMT When might earning more feel like making less? When it comes with the emotional baggage of being the primary breadwinner in a culture where men are expected to bring home the bacon. Earning a good income should be something to feel proud of, right? It is an accomplishment, a deserved reward for hard work. Yet many women feel conflicted about their status and ashamed of the role reversal. And this devalues their achievement. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-sleep/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-sleep/ Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:05:13 GMT You?ve been struggling with anxiety and panic and you?ve tried everything: medication, progressive relaxation, meditation, exercise, deep breathing, herbs, and watching TV till your eyes glaze over in a stuporous fog. And still you?re feeling nervous, irritable, unable to focus, panicky, and tense. What are you missing? What you may be missing out on might surprise you. You could be suffering from lack of sleep. Studies are showing that sleep deprivation may actually be one of the primary contributors, if not one of the causes of anxiety problems, as well as depression, and other psychiatric disorders. Sleep appears to be very important for emotional regulation and emotional processing. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-bullies-status-affection/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-bullies-status-affection/ Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-impatience-fast-food/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-impatience-fast-food/ Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:00:02 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-boys-school/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-boys-school/ Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-compassion/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-compassion/ Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:37:59 GMT OK, so people who come to therapy are not ready to take it easy. They are interested in problem-solving and usually frustrated by what they perceive to be their own failures in remedying their situation on their own. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-work-addiction-scale/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-work-addiction-scale/ Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:00:07 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychiatrist-de-medicate-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychiatrist-de-medicate-children/ Thu, 25 Mar 2010 06:00:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-heart-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-heart-health/ Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:00:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bring-out-strengths-in-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bring-out-strengths-in-children/ Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:11:11 GMT Each child, indeed each human being, has a mixture of strong points and weak points. Parents can choose to focus on either. A wonderful book that illustrates this point clearly is Use What You?ve Got by Barbara Corcoran. Corcoran tells the story of her rise from a D-student with learning disabilities to successful New York real estate magnate. She attributes her success to the lessons that her mom taught her. Mom, a mother of nine normal, challenged kids, had the knack of focusing on strengths. She brought out the best in each child. Weaknesses were of little interest to her. She gave young Barbara the message, ?Don?t worry about school. You?re much too energetic and creative for the classroom. Just wait until you grow up and you?re free to use your talents ? then you?ll really accomplish something.? Mom similarly encouraged all of Barbara?s siblings, finding the strong points of each one and highlighting them. All of the kids became successful and accomplished adults, despite their very real limitations. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/generalized-anxiety-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/generalized-anxiety-therapy/ Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:10:22 GMT People diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) are characterized as being obsessively worried, restless, irritable, easily fatigued, tense, and have difficulty concentrating and getting a good night?s sleep. Before this diagnostic category was created therapists called such people uptight, or stressed out, or suffering from nervous tension. GAD underlies most of the other anxiety disorder conditions, many of which started with the symptoms mentioned, and increased in severity. It is believed that in these very stressful times a significant proportion of the population experiences generalized anxiety. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-computer-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-computer-addiction/ Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-dialogue-shadow-work/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/voice-dialogue-shadow-work/ Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:07:07 GMT The human shadow carries with it the potential for global annihilation and the potential to regenerate and evolve our species. At the crossroads, which road shall we choose? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ostracism-children-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ostracism-children-self-esteem/ Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:00:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/america-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/america-ptsd/ Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-parenting-book-review/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-parenting-book-review/ Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:06:46 GMT There are a number of excellent books about attachment, parenting, and treatment. I will describe in this article two books I have written that both therapists and parents may find valuable. In future articles I will describe other helpful books for therapists and parents. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cornell-university-suicides/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cornell-university-suicides/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:00:41 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/youth-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/youth-suicide/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-child-aggression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-child-aggression/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:00:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-eating-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-eating-self-esteem/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:46:48 GMT People who struggle with eating and food issues often also struggle with poor self-esteem. I say ?poor? rather than ?low? because I believe the concept of high and low self-esteem to be problematic. If low self- esteem means perceiving one?s self to be inferior to others, it follows that high self-esteem means perceiving one?s self to be superior to others. Healthy self-esteem is neither high nor low. It is defined by the lack of concern about one?s worth, coupled with a sense of competence and a belief in one?s innate value. When one is comfortable in one?s own skin and doesn?t worry about whether they are good enough, being neither better than nor worse than anyone else, that?s good, solid, healthy self-esteem. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-family-travel/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-family-travel/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:13:12 GMT The weather?s slowly warming across the country, and along with snow melt and longer days comes that familiar family travel time known as Spring Vacation. And though they may not be, as Charles Dickens?s wrote, ?the best of times, the worst of times? in your family?s lives, travels together as a group can be some of the happiest as well as most stressful times you have together as a family. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ecotherapy-blame-stories/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ecotherapy-blame-stories/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:00:35 GMT I spoke to a friend the other day who, like many others, has been hit hard by the economic downturn. In spite of health problems and the great difficulties he is undergoing, he so badly wanted to offer the work he does (in the field of healing), that he conducted a workshop and donated all of the proceeds to the institution that allowed him to use their facilities. So it surprised him when, upon turning in the donations and asking for some reimbursement for some copies he had to make for the workshop (a paltry amount), that he was then told about others who used the facilities who were able to give more, and about how much it cost to keep the building he'd used up and running, even as his receipt was micro-analyzed and questioned. Although the workshop went wonderfully well and he made a sizable amount of money for the organization, he left feeling confused, inadequate and ashamed. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/light-therapy-sad/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/light-therapy-sad/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:00:06 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/journal-therapy-self/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/journal-therapy-self/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:32:36 GMT I enjoy writing to myself. Sound strange? Initially, I chose not to share this information with anyone else because I thought people would be confused by this statement. However, ?writing to myself? is very helpful to work, relationships, and self-evolvement. I hope this technique is as beneficial to you as well. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abusive-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abusive-relationships/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:00:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/low-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/low-self-esteem/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:20:17 GMT Low self-esteem can?t be hidden for long. It tends to show itself through thoughts, words and behavior. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/health-over-testing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/health-over-testing/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:00:05 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-anxiety-outcomes-scale/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-anxiety-outcomes-scale/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/domestic-violence-overestimate/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/domestic-violence-overestimate/ Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:00:10 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-sexism-writing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-sexism-writing/ Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:00:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adjusting-to-college/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adjusting-to-college/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:53:19 GMT As a young person entering into college life, you are probably having many thoughts about what lies ahead, and feeling excited about this fresh start. Your parents are excited too, and probably nervous that their teenage child is now moving into adulthood. They may have had successful college years, or perhaps, they are seeing a dream they had for their own education realized, as you enter into college. Their feelings and expectations, when combined with your own are a part of a transformation that can be both exciting and terrifying. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-avoid-emotions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-avoid-emotions/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:30:40 GMT Many survivors of childhood abuse are very skilled at avoiding their feelings. You might ask why they would do this, but it actually makes a lot of sense. As a helpless child, when you are ?trapped? in an abusive household and were either subjected to daily or sporadic abuse, the feelings were overwhelmingly painful. You either knew that you would be constantly bombarded day-after-day with abuse and the resultant flooding of emotions, or that you would be ?hit? with the abuse eventually ? when you least expected it, also resulting in a flooding of emotions. Eventually, children in these situations just wanted to escape the emotional pain. So they slowly began to avoid the painful emotions ? both consciously and unconsciously. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/massage-anxiety-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/massage-anxiety-treatment/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:49 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-couples-brain-post-fight/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-couples-brain-post-fight/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-learn-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/kids-learn-communication/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:46:39 GMT Kids start learning how to communicate with their world from the moment they are born. They are programmed to vocalize and use their bodies in ways that are communicating their needs. Their cries, squeaks, squeals, screams, and even their giggles tell us what they need, along with the squirming and flailing of their tiny bodies. It is our job as Parents to interpret the meaning of these sounds and gestures, and then to respond effectively in a nurturing and soothing manner. We teach our children about the world around them every time we meet or don't meet their needs; by what we say and do, or don't say or do. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexuality-alcohol-recovery/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexuality-alcohol-recovery/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:44:07 GMT At the very core of our lives is sexuality. Though as a society we are not quite exactly trained to talk openly and honestly about sex, nonetheless we grow up recognizing and knowing intrinsically the need we as human beings have for sex and the roles it plays at the very core of humanity, with of course it?s one of it?s main functions being procreation. And, what is the other function of sex? Well, pleasure, of course. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-ethics-shame/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-ethics-shame/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:17:19 GMT A psychology teacher asked her ethics class, ?All of you agree with the rule about no dual role relationships, right? ? (All heads nodded.) Then he said, ?So, let?s get real here. I won?t report this, but I?m curious. How many of you have had a dual relationship with a client? How many of you have betrayed confidentiality? How many of you have had to deal with feeling attracted to a client? How many of you have caused harm, even if you didn?t intend to? Or how many of you have made a big mistake?? Most hands go up. ?Now, how many of you have ever talked with someone about any of these things?? One hand goes up. ?Why not?? The overwhelming response: shame. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-youth-rehabilitation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-youth-rehabilitation/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:00:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-image/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:00:49 GMT Natalie has been in recovery from Bulimia Nervosa for more than three years. She still, however, unfairly compares her body to other women in the room, tries on several outfits each morning, and sits on my sofa with a pillow across her stomach as we talk. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-partner-infidelity/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-partner-infidelity/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:44:08 GMT In this article I want to focus on one particular aspect of recovering from an affair: punishing the offending partner. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counselor-urges-schools-to-tackle-childhood-obesity-with-compassion/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counselor-urges-schools-to-tackle-childhood-obesity-with-compassion/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00:32 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-terrorist-attack-victims/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-terrorist-attack-victims/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00:39 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-marriage-taxes/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-marriage-taxes/ Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:07:55 GMT Do you and your spouse fight when you do your income taxes? Do you dread going over your expenses and income each year and so put it off until April 14? Do you brace yourself against the inevitable disagreements that come up when you talk finances with your spouse? You can keep a happy marriage during income tax season with some planning ahead. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/school-counselor-ratios/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/school-counselor-ratios/ Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovery-addictions-family/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recovery-addictions-family/ Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:00:50 GMT The final alcoholic family ?role? I?d like to discuss in the context of recovery is the ?Lost Child?. This is the child who stays under the radar, invisible, quietly decamping to his/her room, disappearing behind a stack of empty booze bottles or cloud of marijuana smoke. To paraphrase D.W. Winnicott, for a child it is normal to hide, but a tragedy not to be found. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mentoring-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mentoring-children/ Tue, 9 Mar 2010 15:00:31 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-concept-breakup/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-concept-breakup/ Tue, 9 Mar 2010 07:00:16 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sibling-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sibling-abuse/ Mon, 8 Mar 2010 22:15:23 GMT Even though there can be life long debilitating psychological effects, sibling abuse may be the most ignored - if not accepted - form of domestic (i.e. sexual, physical, emotional) abuse. Why is this kind of abuse ignored or minimized? There is a lot that is swept under the rug in the guise of ?sibling rivalry.? And American law does not consider this a prosecutable offense unless a child is turned in by their parent(s). In other words, parents would have to be willing to file an assault charge against their own child. So parents keep this type of abuse within the family. And a lot of the time, they even blame the victim. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-dating-couples/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-dating-couples/ Mon, 8 Mar 2010 20:14:05 GMT Have you found someone that maybe could be the one for you? Do you wonder how to make your new relationship the best it can be? Are you spending time debating what to do with your worries or concerns about this particular person? Do you see some problems and wish you could solve them? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/character-destiny/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/character-destiny/ Mon, 8 Mar 2010 20:00:54 GMT In a recent New Yorker profile of the playwright and actor Sam Shepard written by John Lahr (The New Yorker, February 8, 2010), I came across a section that struck me deeply. Discussing one of his plays, ?Starving Class,? which has as its theme the impossibility of retreating "?from their legacy of self destruction," one of the characters says: ?It always comes. Repeats itself?Even when you try to change it?It goes back and back to tiny little cells and genes?We inherit it and pass it down, and then pass it down again.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-auto-immune/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-auto-immune/ Mon, 8 Mar 2010 20:00:49 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-children-mean-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-children-mean-behavior/ Sat, 6 Mar 2010 15:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-lower-back-pain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-lower-back-pain/ Fri, 5 Mar 2010 22:00:30 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tiger-woods-sex-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tiger-woods-sex-addiction/ Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:01:29 GMT While Tiger Woods? sexual experiences have been all over the news recently, the psychiatric task force charged with creating the next edition of the ?bible? for counselors and psychotherapists, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is completing work on their current update (the last edition came out way back in 1994). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-video-games-aggression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-video-games-aggression/ Fri, 5 Mar 2010 20:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-physical-impact-extreme-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-physical-impact-extreme-stress/ Thu, 4 Mar 2010 21:22:57 GMT 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. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-mood-trust/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-mood-trust/ Thu, 4 Mar 2010 15:00:02 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-assualt-counseling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-assualt-counseling/ Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/contemplative-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/contemplative-psychotherapy/ Wed, 3 Mar 2010 16:44:16 GMT My favorite bumper sticker: Don?t Believe Everything You Think. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-women-body-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-women-body-esteem/ Wed, 3 Mar 2010 15:56:34 GMT National Eating Disorders Awareness Week occurs this month, and it is a necessary reminder of the role body image plays in women?s self-esteem. While women with clinical eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, typically have a distorted body image, even those without eating disorders often struggle with body image concerns ranging from mild dissatisfaction to outright self-hatred. Any woman can feel tormented, terrorized, and completely obsessed with the image reflected back in the mirror. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-parenting-frustration/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-parenting-frustration/ Tue, 2 Mar 2010 19:53:18 GMT Frustration. Most parents are very familiar with this emotional state! For some parents, frustration is an occasional and fleeting emotion. Some parents, however, live in a chronic state of frustration. Frustration is the feeling that you experience when there is a discrepancy between how you think things should be and how they actually are. Many parents suffer from a case of the ?should?s?. For example, you think your baby should sleep happily in her crib, but she cries every time you try to put her down. Or you think your toddler isn?t showing any interest in using the potty and you think he should be potty trained by now. Or your school age child is shy and you think she should be more outgoing and make more friends. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-partner-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-partner-abuse/ Tue, 2 Mar 2010 18:51:22 GMT Recent estimates put the annual number of intimate partner violence (IPV) incidents in the U.S. at around 8 million --- that is, 8 million men and women in the U.S. experience partner violence each year. Over the course of a lifetime, about 30% of all U.S. women and 20% of all U.S. men will experience physical, sexual or psychological abuse by an intimate partner. And that is just the reported cases. But of course, adults are not the only ones affected; during the course of a year, there are an estimated 3.3 to 10 million children exposed to violence between their parents or caregivers. Partner abuse costs the U.S. nearly $6 billion annually. Most of that is for medical and mental health treatment, but more than $700 million is for lost productivity in the workplace. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rwandan-genocide-victims-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/rwandan-genocide-victims-ptsd/ Tue, 2 Mar 2010 15:00:20 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/group-therapy-hypnosis-breast-cancer/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/group-therapy-hypnosis-breast-cancer/ Tue, 2 Mar 2010 07:00:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-awareness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-awareness/ Mon, 1 Mar 2010 23:21:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pre-marital-counseling-relationship/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pre-marital-counseling-relationship/ Mon, 1 Mar 2010 22:52:34 GMT Three qualities that are essential for creating a healthy, enduring relationship are: respect, friendship, and trust. When we hold respect for our partner, we foster a feeling of esteem and admiration. We feel good about who they are. We see them in a positive light. And this positive factor has been proven to be a critical determinant in the health and welfare of a couple. John Gottman, who has directed the ?Love Lab? at the University of Washington in Seattle since 1986, has a 90% accuracy rate at predicting which newlywed couples choose to stay together vs. those who divorce 4-6 years later. This exceedingly high prediction rate is based on his extensive research using observation, biofeedback, and other scientific measurements. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-anger-free-discipline/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-anger-free-discipline/ Mon, 1 Mar 2010 16:26:18 GMT Never Yell http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-seniors-depression-exergames/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-seniors-depression-exergames/ Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:00:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-childhood-stress-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-childhood-stress-depression/ Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-anxiety-exercise/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-anxiety-exercise/ Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-behavior-psychology-study/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adolescent-behavior-psychology-study/ Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thearpy-treatment-youth-incarceration/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thearpy-treatment-youth-incarceration/ Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-elderly-subjective-age/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-elderly-subjective-age/ Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:00:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-poland-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-poland-depression/ Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:00:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acupuncture-therapy-depression-pregnancy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acupuncture-therapy-depression-pregnancy/ Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ecotherapy-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ecotherapy-depression/ Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:49:37 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-anxiety-anger/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-anxiety-anger/ Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:19:07 GMT The reaction of your body to anger is very similar to the reaction of your body to fear. They are both reactions of the fight or flight part of the brain. This creates confusion for some people; you can be reacting in anger but interpret it as anxiety since your body is reacting with many of the same symptoms: sweating, trembling, tense muscles. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-tiger-woods-apology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-tiger-woods-apology/ Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:00:48 GMT Last week the world watched as a once adored celebrity made an intensely public apology to his family, fans and friends about his infidelity and sexual compulsions. According to news releases, most of the nation was tuned in to the newscast that featured Tiger Woods, who delivered a short monologue about how sorry he was about his sexual behaviors and infidelity. Tiger spoke about the ongoing counseling that he was engaged in, and how it was helping him with his sexual ?compulsions?. Although his mother was in attendance of the news conference, his wife Elin was conspicuously absent from the press announcement. Speculation from the country was that she was tired of her husband?s apologetic position. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-eating-disorder-men/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-eating-disorder-men/ Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:00:17 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-anxiety-emotional-processing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-anxiety-emotional-processing/ Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:00:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-depression-quick-fix/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-depression-quick-fix/ Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-type-two-diabetes/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-type-two-diabetes/ Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:00:05 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-firefighters-policemen/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-firefighters-policemen/ Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-treatment/ Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:24:09 GMT When it comes to eating and food-related problems, various philosophies determine how eating problems are defined and addressed. When the eating disorders treatment field was in its infancy, professionals often based their approaches on those used in the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction. The addictions model has been used to salvage the lives of alcoholics since the formation of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), in the 1930?s. AA spawned myriad other 12-Step programs for addressing various addictive problems. One of the earliest of these was Gamblers Anonymous (GA). Overeaters Anonymous (OA), a 12-Step self-help program for people who feel compelled to overeat, was created in 1960, modeled after GA. OA philosophy views compulsive overeating as an addiction to both a substance--various types of food--and to the behavior of overeating compulsively. As OA grew, people suffering from all types of eating problems began attending, and found help there. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-romance-fertility-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-romance-fertility-treatment/ Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:12:50 GMT February is commonly viewed as a month for romance, love and intimacy, but it can get into the Valentine?s Day spirit when you and your partner are working hard to get pregnant and sex has started to feel like a chore. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-alcoholic-father/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-alcoholic-father/ Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:22:49 GMT Susie could tell right away when her father had been drinking - he had extra sparkling eyes, he smiled a lot, he breathed heavy, and he talked non-stop for endless hours. She was supposed to listen to every word, agree real fast and with enthusiasm, and then tell her dad what a great man he was. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-virtual-reality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-virtual-reality/ Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:00:54 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-alabama-shooting-princeton/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-alabama-shooting-princeton/ Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:29:48 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-childhood-trauma-mind-body/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-childhood-trauma-mind-body/ Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:00:34 GMT Trauma survivors often hear, ?Just forget about it. It was in the past. You need to move on.? Unfortunately, this is not accurate for many and until they resolve the past traumatic experiences, they are unable to ?move on?. When trauma survivors find themselves unable to ?get past? the past, then they might consider seeking the help of a licensed therapist. It is not unusual for those with past traumatic experiences to struggle with one or more emotional difficulties, mental disorders, and/or physical health concerns and diagnoses. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-fertility/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-fertility/ Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:09:40 GMT When you and your partner decide to start a family, or to have another baby, it is an exciting time?.until things don?t go as planned and it takes longer than you expected. You?re feeling stressed out, and it seems that you are at the doctor?s office at least once a week - the last thing you feel like you have time for is to go see a therapist. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uk-women-military-psychological-concerns/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uk-women-military-psychological-concerns/ Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:00:03 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-negative-emotions-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-negative-emotions-therapy/ Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:00:54 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-pre-natal-anemia-schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-pre-natal-anemia-schizophrenia/ Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:00:46 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-rates-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-rates-children/ Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-pregnancy-psychology/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-pregnancy-psychology/ Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:00:15 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-curses-to-blessings/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-curses-to-blessings/ Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:03:21 GMT Horror of horrors?you?ve just caught your spouse listing his name on internet sites for meeting sexual partners. What now!! You are furious, and you let him know it in no uncertain terms. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/university-lecture-eating-disorders/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/university-lecture-eating-disorders/ Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-australia-porno-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-australia-porno-addiction/ Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-depression-color-gray/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-depression-color-gray/ Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:00:21 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-positive-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-positive-parenting/ Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:48:13 GMT Parenting is not a role we play, it is a relationship process. If we can get our heads and hearts around that idea, the more we can decide how we want to treat our children as we are raising them. And we must first think about what long-range goals we have for them, rather than just what works for the moment. For example, hitting them might stop a behavior at a specific moment in time, but it does not teach self-control or self-discipline, which are attributes everyone wants to instill in their children. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-chicago-school/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-chicago-school/ Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:00:00 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dyadic-developmental-psychotherapy-connections/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dyadic-developmental-psychotherapy-connections/ Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:41:32 GMT In the previous articles about Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy I described the ten take-away points that I want therapists to take away from my Master Class, Level I, an Introductory courses in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. I then described a few of these in detail. In this article I will describe several of the others. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-religion-age/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-religion-age/ Tue, 9 Feb 2010 17:22:20 GMT What prompted this article was something I read recently in AARP Magazine. (I guess I?m dating myself with that one!). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-blame-helplessness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-blame-helplessness/ Tue, 9 Feb 2010 15:17:58 GMT Today let's take a look at the powerful consequences of blame. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-alcoholic-mascot/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-alcoholic-mascot/ Mon, 8 Feb 2010 20:33:43 GMT First I want to thank those of you who took time to comment on my last article. I love getting feedback, so keep it coming. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-costs/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-costs/ Sat, 6 Feb 2010 20:00:38 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-kansas-city-homicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-kansas-city-homicide/ Sat, 6 Feb 2010 07:00:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-pandemic-authority/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-pandemic-authority/ Fri, 5 Feb 2010 20:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-hormone-diabetes/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-hormone-diabetes/ Fri, 5 Feb 2010 07:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-earthquake-haiti/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/trauma-earthquake-haiti/ Thu, 4 Feb 2010 22:10:51 GMT Our human relationship with nature is somewhat of an enigma; it seems impossible to decipher whose impact is greater. We are able to tame and sculpt nature, altering it to match our needs. We shift the course of gigantic rivers, upbraid forests and transform arid prairies into green metropolises. Our behaviors deplete the ozone, impact global temperatures and dabble with finely tuned weather patterns, and yet the entire entity of Nature is beyond our reach. We still remain at Nature?s mercy. Last month?s tragic earthquake in Haiti starkly demonstrates this reality. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internet-addiction-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internet-addiction-depression/ Thu, 4 Feb 2010 15:00:20 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-fish-oil-schizophrenia/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-fish-oil-schizophrenia/ Thu, 4 Feb 2010 07:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-nurturing-communication/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-nurturing-communication/ Wed, 3 Feb 2010 19:44:24 GMT Relationships are so precious to us and help us form a sense of who we are. Love and respect are the foundations for healthy relationships. Even though we may have differing viewpoints, relationships can be happy and wonderful and fulfilling if we can feel nurtured, understood, and appreciated. Well-known psychotherapist, Virginia Satir, explained that, "Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible--the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family." http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internal-family-systems-therapy-bully-work/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internal-family-systems-therapy-bully-work/ Wed, 3 Feb 2010 18:30:01 GMT Relationships with our co-workers and bosses can really affect our lives! When they go well our lives are enriched. When they are difficult, we and our families can suffer. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-treatment-australia-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-treatment-australia-suicide/ Wed, 3 Feb 2010 15:00:21 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-ecotherapy-spirituality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-ecotherapy-spirituality/ Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:10:37 GMT Tu B'Shvat, a Jewish celebration of trees, begins the evening of January 29th, marking the time when the tree sap begins to rise in the region of the custom's origin. During this time of appreciating and respecting life, celebrants eat tree fruit or nuts. If I was a Jewish celebrant, this evening after sunset I might take a pomegranate and savor its sweetness, feel its tang on my tongue, and imagine the dusty region my ancestors came from, how they may have tilled the earth, or walked or prayed or sang together, connecting through taste and spiritual practice to the earth and my people. Although I may now be severed from that place, in this way I would remember and acknowledge my ongoing rootedness and connection to it. Why might a practice like this be important for our health and mental well-being? While nearly every religion has been used to excuse a lot of harm and mayhem, religion also seems to hold much value for containing restorative practices that may actually nurture a sense of meaning and act in beneficial ways in our lives. The spiritual aspects of a religion hold true, even if some manipulate it for their own less than benign purposes. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-gay-men-sexuality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-gay-men-sexuality/ Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:00:01 GMT Whenever I am with a group of gay men, sex invariably becomes a topic of discussion. Often it is funny, sometimes sarcastic, biting and hurtful. However it appears, our culture, on the surface, has an ease about discussing sex in a way that I don?t encounter in heterosexual environments. I wonder what it is about our culture that makes this talk so easy, so expected? so normal? As a therapist, I am curious about where it comes from and how it affects us. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-children-adhd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-children-adhd/ Mon, 1 Feb 2010 07:00:32 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-bipolar-parents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-bipolar-parents/ Sat, 30 Jan 2010 07:00:26 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-parenting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/counseling-parenting/ Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:27:19 GMT I think most of us wish our kids came with an instruction manual. Wouldn?t that be nice? Whenever I have a concern about my minivan, I simply pop open the glove compartment, pull out my manual, flip through, and find the answer! Well, as you know by now, that isn?t the way it works with our kids! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-toddlers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-toddlers/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:33:02 GMT Little kids get into a surprising amount of mischief. They throw toys down the toilet, pull things out of the garbage, have major tantrums in public shopping malls, bite their babysitters and other unfortunate people, squeeze their baby brother so hard that it is life threatening, and so on. Though I must say, they are so darn cute to look at! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/support-group-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/support-group-mental-health/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:00:26 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abidextrous-children-mental-health-difficulties/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abidextrous-children-mental-health-difficulties/ Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:00:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-harm-adolescents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-self-harm-adolescents/ Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:00:14 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-divorce-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-divorce-children/ Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:14:28 GMT Your relationship with your children?s other parent has ended. It has taken some amount of soul searching after being told that your relationship is over. It may not have been an easy transition. Perhaps you have felt some combination of hurt, anger, depression, relief, guilt, uncertainty or hopefulness. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-concerns-co-workers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-concerns-co-workers/ Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:00:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-domestic-violence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-domestic-violence/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:06:16 GMT I had been seeing ?Nicole? for almost a year. She had made remarkable progress in her efforts to overcome the abuse and neglect of her childhood and wanted to draw on her new-found insights to improve her relationship with her husband. Gradually, she was making connections between the attachment deficits from her family of origin and the ?disconnects? within her marriage. But then some things started surfacing: how her husband ?Jeff? controlled all the finances and made her ask for money; how he would get sullen and sulky for days when she made plans that didn?t include him; how he would start an argument with her just before she was leaving to go out with her friends, usually ending up with Nicole giving up and staying home; how he made light of her pursuit of a college degree and insisted she take out student loans in her name rather than use his income to pay for her books and tuition. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-new-year-resolution-lose-weight/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-new-year-resolution-lose-weight/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:35:49 GMT It?s January, the time of year when we?ve rung out the old and are ringing in the new, making resolutions for the coming year. New Year?s resolutions usually involve goals for self-improvement, often including weight loss. Magazine ads and articles extol the benefits of amazing plans that promise permanent weight loss in short amounts of time. Vanity and health concerns drive the desire to get smaller, sleeker, leaner in the new year. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-social-rejection-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-social-rejection-children/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-contagious-family/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-contagious-family/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:00:07 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-emotional-intelligence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-emotional-intelligence/ Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:42:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-anxiety-foods-eating/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-anxiety-foods-eating/ Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:52:45 GMT Breathing deeply, relaxing your muscles, and staying in the present moment are some of the most common, most effective ways to manage anxiety. But did you know that changing your eating habits can also help you feel more calm and balanced? There are certain foods and substances which tend to trigger stress and anxiety in the body, and in fact, there are several foods that can even trigger a panic attack. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-ptsd-normal-reactions-to-traumatic-events/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-ptsd-normal-reactions-to-traumatic-events/ Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:07:19 GMT My heart goes out to the people in Haiti and to their loved ones here in America. I practice in South Florida and have been called upon to provide critical incident stress debriefing to people who have been affected by the earthquake. I?ve spoken with people who were there and now back here, people who do not know the status of their loved ones, and people who have lost multiple family members. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-learned-helplessness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-learned-helplessness/ Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:17:21 GMT Do you find yourself feeling stuck in bad situations, and feel as if there?s no way out? Do you tend to give up before you even try in order to avoid the pain of self-perceived, inevitable failure? Do you tend to ?blow off? your successes, assuming that it was an accident that things went so well? If so you might have a well-known psychological condition known as learned helplessness. It causes emotional and/or physical pain every day for millions. The good news is that you are not stuck ? help is available! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-treatment-phobias/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-treatment-phobias/ Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:19:32 GMT Phobias and avoidant behaviors are often a byproduct of panic attacks and high anxiety states. For example, if you have a panic attack while driving in traffic youmay want to avoid driving in traffic in the future. The two situations have become linked in your mind and just thinking about doing it can bring on some anxiety. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-choking-game-oregon/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-choking-game-oregon/ Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aggression-girls-fighting/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/aggression-girls-fighting/ Sun, 17 Jan 2010 07:00:58 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/morphine-therapy-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/morphine-therapy-ptsd/ Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:00:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-divorce/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-divorce/ Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:06:09 GMT This article offers a few questions and answers on the topic of self-esteem and divorce. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-affair-reasons/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-affair-reasons/ Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:51:40 GMT There are many reasons why an affair happens. It can rarely be narrowed down to just one thing. Sometimes it is factors in the relationship that have the greatest impact, other times it is problems within the individual. In this article I am going to talk about one common factor that can be a major contributor in an affair. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-depression-army-wives/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-depression-army-wives/ Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:32:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-breastfeeding/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-breastfeeding/ Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:00:44 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapists-conflict-resolution/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapists-conflict-resolution/ Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:51:05 GMT Couples entering therapy typically want help with resolving their conflicts. They want their therapist to guide them to safe and satisfying resolution of the topics that have generated tensions between them, and they want to learn how to talk over and solve differences more effectively together in the future. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-canada-public-service-workers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-canada-public-service-workers/ Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-concern-youth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-concern-youth/ Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:43:50 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-aces-volunteer/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-aces-volunteer/ Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:00:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/race-discrimination-therapy-mis-diagnosis/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/race-discrimination-therapy-mis-diagnosis/ Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:00:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-counseling-depression-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-counseling-depression-treatment/ Fri, 8 Jan 2010 15:00:52 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-binge-eating/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-binge-eating/ Thu, 7 Jan 2010 20:00:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapist-spirituality-prayer/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapist-spirituality-prayer/ Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:29:16 GMT Over the past decade, as I began to practice spiritual psychotherapy as well as more traditional psychotherapy, I have worked with a number of clients who have expressed difficulties with prayer. Some don?t know whom to pray to; others don?t know how; and others report that they have tried it and their prayers were rarely if ever answered. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-sexuality-porn/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-sexuality-porn/ Thu, 7 Jan 2010 07:10:23 GMT In my first blog-post last month I wrote about my work as a sex therapist, and how ?talking about sex? can help us to heal memories and repair and strengthen relationships. Many of the responses I?ve received have been about addiction to sex (especially internet pornography) and the devastating effect it has on committed relationships, or on the ability to form intimate relationships. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-healing-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-healing-trauma/ Tue, 5 Jan 2010 19:05:53 GMT Healing from Trauma Part III http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapist-new-year-resolutions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapist-new-year-resolutions/ Tue, 5 Jan 2010 15:00:05 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/narrative-therapy-new-years-resolutions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/narrative-therapy-new-years-resolutions/ Mon, 4 Jan 2010 23:11:53 GMT Michael White (2000) describes the "absent but implicit" as "associated with the idea that in order to express one's experience of life, one must distinguish this experience from what it is not." Thus, White proposes that our descriptions of our lived experience are always relational rather than direct representations. If a therapist engages in an act of "double listening," they can discern and explore significant meaning in what is implied or left unspoken. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-prevention-teenssleep-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-prevention-teenssleep-therapy/ Mon, 4 Jan 2010 22:00:44 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-stress-helpline-england/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-stress-helpline-england/ Fri, 1 Jan 2010 15:00:34 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-alchoholism-support/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-alchoholism-support/ Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:00:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-psychology-time-perspectives/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-psychology-time-perspectives/ Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:00:21 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/group-therapy-post-partum-depression-omega-3/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/group-therapy-post-partum-depression-omega-3/ Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:00:42 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/free-psychotherapy-therapy-veterans-stanford/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/free-psychotherapy-therapy-veterans-stanford/ Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:00:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-parent-child-understanding/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-parent-child-understanding/ Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:48:28 GMT Importance of Understanding http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internal-family-systems-therapy-relationship-marriage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internal-family-systems-therapy-relationship-marriage/ Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:48:15 GMT You have a mate you love, you want it to be the best relationship it can be ? but things keep getting in the way. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/interpersonal-therapy-obesity-prevention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/interpersonal-therapy-obesity-prevention/ Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:00:44 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/health-insurance-rejection-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/health-insurance-rejection-therapy/ Sat, 26 Dec 2009 07:00:32 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unemployment-depression-therapy-volunteer-work/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/unemployment-depression-therapy-volunteer-work/ Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:00:20 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-elderly-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-elderly-therapy/ Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:00:03 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-rates-students-therapist/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-rates-students-therapist/ Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-counseling-medical-concerns/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-counseling-medical-concerns/ Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:00:27 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-panic-attack-facts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychology-panic-attack-facts/ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:18:18 GMT ?I felt like I was going to pass out!?, ?I felt like I was going crazy!?, ?I thought I was having a heart attack?. These are statements people frequently make when they are describing what it was like to have a panic attack. A panic attack is a sudden rush of anxiety and terror. It can occur at any time, even during sleep, and frequently seems to happen suddenly, ?out of the blue?. Symptoms include a pounding heart, sweatiness, weakness, faintness, or dizziness. People in the grip of a panic attack may also experience nausea, chest pain, tingling or numbness in their hands, and a sense of impending doom, or a fear of losing control. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-divorce-models/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-divorce-models/ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:47:44 GMT Many of you have been in the position of either deciding to divorce or having been asked for a divorce. Either way, you will be making very important emotional, legal and financial decisions with a person with whom you are most likely in some kind of conflict. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/narrative-therapy-scaffolding-map/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/narrative-therapy-scaffolding-map/ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:36:29 GMT Recently in my private practice I had the pleasure of meeting with an 11 year old boy named Peter. His father referred him to me because Peter was showing signs of ?melancholy?, anger, and seemed to be lacking in his ability to experience happiness and/or high levels of positive emotion. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/companies-move-to-increase-eaps-for-workers-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/companies-move-to-increase-eaps-for-workers-mental-health/ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:00:02 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-who-get-cultural-and-creative-may-experience-better-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/men-who-get-cultural-and-creative-may-experience-better-mental-health/ Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-holidays-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-traumatic-stress-holidays-therapy/ Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:35:09 GMT Ideally, the holidays are a time for sharing of love with friends and family. For many, the holidays bring parties, sharing gifts, being around friends, family and people who may be new to one?s circle of friends. The list of the ?Ideal? holiday time and the ?Holiday Spirit? goes on and on. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/report-on-adolescent-perceptions-of-substance-abuse-shocks-industry-professionals/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/report-on-adolescent-perceptions-of-substance-abuse-shocks-industry-professionals/ Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:00:40 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/expose-in-illinois-illustrates-issues-of-mental-health-in-nursing-homes/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/expose-in-illinois-illustrates-issues-of-mental-health-in-nursing-homes/ Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:39 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/years-later-sars-victims-show-signs-of-mental-health-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/years-later-sars-victims-show-signs-of-mental-health-issues/ Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/you-can-go-home-again/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/you-can-go-home-again/ Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:22:51 GMT For better or worse, we first learn about making and keeping relationships in our families. During our formative years, our parents establish patterns with us; patterns of connection and separation, of independence and dependence, of give and take, that literally shape our developing brains and how they work for the rest of our lives. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-witnesses-may-suffer-more-than-victims/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bullying-witnesses-may-suffer-more-than-victims/ Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/language-of-disordered-eating/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/language-of-disordered-eating/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:33:22 GMT Disordered eating is a metaphorical expression of an internal condition. Think about food: you may be a ?foodie,? who appreciates well-prepared, high quality food and relishes a lengthy meal with good companionship and conversation. You may be more utilitarian, viewing food simply as something necessary to your health and wellbeing. Or perhaps you relish the sensory pleasures of warm, savory, fragrant, filling foods and aren?t interested in much fanfare around the eating of them. Your eating habits may reflect your values when it comes to the consumption of animals, of refined and processed foods, and/or of foods produced locally v. shipped from afar. Regardless of your personal preferences when it comes to food, a relaxed yet conscious relationship with food is healthy; a conflicted one is not. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-anxiety/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:02:42 GMT The idea that childhood is a carefree time of life is disproved by the high rates of childhood anxiety in the United States. Studies vary but show that at least 10% of school-age children report symptoms of anxiety. Untreated, at least 40% of these children will grow into adulthood with an anxiety disorder. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/officials-warn-public-about-potential-for-significant-holiday-blues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/officials-warn-public-about-potential-for-significant-holiday-blues/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/international-study-finds-that-marriage-is-good-for-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/international-study-finds-that-marriage-is-good-for-mental-health/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:00:26 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-to-help-kids-improve-reading-suggests-intensive-programs-may-rewire-brain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-to-help-kids-improve-reading-suggests-intensive-programs-may-rewire-brain/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-how-much-is-too-much/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-how-much-is-too-much/ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:12:59 GMT The notion that there's such a thing as ?too much? self-esteem is based on a case of mistaken identity. Arrogance, egotism, selfishness, superiority, over-confidence: These are sometimes mistaken for self-esteem gone haywire. This misconception is rampant even among psychologists and counselors; a professor of mine in graduate school once remarked that ?most of the convicted felons in prison have high self-esteem.? His statement was absurd, but understandable given the popular conception of self-esteem as thinking everything you do is okay. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survey-finds-half-of-children-with-mental-health-concerns-do-not-receive-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survey-finds-half-of-children-with-mental-health-concerns-do-not-receive-treatment/ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:00:30 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-arises-in-an-editorial-over-ability-of-mental-health-clients-to-purchase-firearms/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anger-arises-in-an-editorial-over-ability-of-mental-health-clients-to-purchase-firearms/ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-casual-sex-bears-no-mental-health-burden/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-casual-sex-bears-no-mental-health-burden/ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-offers-answer-to-modern-teen-depression-consumerism/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-offers-answer-to-modern-teen-depression-consumerism/ Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:00:16 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uk-doctors-call-for-an-end-to-child-immigrant-detention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uk-doctors-call-for-an-end-to-child-immigrant-detention/ Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:00:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/doctor-takes-a-jab-at-post-partum-depression-among-fathers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/doctor-takes-a-jab-at-post-partum-depression-among-fathers/ Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:00:47 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/details-of-australia-suicide-case-creates-calls-for-mental-health-accreditation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/details-of-australia-suicide-case-creates-calls-for-mental-health-accreditation/ Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:59 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-links-between-race-quality-of-mental-health-treatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-links-between-race-quality-of-mental-health-treatment/ Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-spirituality-of-forgiveness/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-spirituality-of-forgiveness/ Wed, 9 Dec 2009 23:17:25 GMT One of the unique features of my practice is my ability to assist patients who are comfortable using a range of religious and spiritual practices to achieve closure on unresolved conflicts and trauma. These include individuals who may have spent years uncovering the root causes of their suffering but who still are not at peace with an individual, a situation or an event that has traumatized them, particularly if it involves someone who is deceased. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ways-for-adult-survivors-to-cope-during-holidays/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ways-for-adult-survivors-to-cope-during-holidays/ Wed, 9 Dec 2009 22:43:24 GMT For many survivors of childhood abuse, the holidays can be a horrible time of year filled with anxiety and depression. This can occur for a variety of reasons. But the important thing is to be prepared, instead of allowing yourself to get blindsided by all of the cheer and festivities which surrounds you. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-from-trauma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-from-trauma/ Tue, 8 Dec 2009 21:53:42 GMT Once you have established physical and emotional safety, it is possible to begin remembering and mourning the traumatic event. In other words it is now possible to address the trauma story. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-to-accept-an-apology-without-making-things-worse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-to-accept-an-apology-without-making-things-worse/ Mon, 7 Dec 2009 18:36:55 GMT You?ve been hurt; you?ve been wronged; you?ve been let down. And now your spouse stands with an apology. What goes on in your mind in this situation? Let?s pause the scene (a mental pause) and play out different responses. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surrender-into-support/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surrender-into-support/ Mon, 7 Dec 2009 15:29:01 GMT ?The elders have sent me to you today to tell you that NOW is like a great rushing river. And this great rushing river will be experienced in many ways. There are many who try to hold on to the shore; there is no shore. The shore is crumbling. The instructions are: Push off into the middle of the river; keep your head above water; see who else is in the river with you; and celebrate?. -- Choquosh, Native American storyteller http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ten-year-study-shows-loneliness-can-be-contagious/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ten-year-study-shows-loneliness-can-be-contagious/ Sat, 5 Dec 2009 15:00:18 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/patterns-of-attachment-in-adults/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/patterns-of-attachment-in-adults/ Thu, 3 Dec 2009 17:22:42 GMT In a previous article I described what attachment is and how it develops. The attachment system is a proximity seeking system that evolved to ensure the survival of the human infant. It operates like your home heating and cooling system. If everything is fine (safe) you don?t see the system operating. When things get out of bounds, the heating or cooling system starts to operate. When a person feels some threat, the attachment system becomes activated and attachment behaviors are evoked. Attachment behaviors are proximity seeking behaviors that draw the person closer to a preferred caregiver. The proximity creates or renews or recreates a secure base; a sense of safety, security, and comfort from which the person, once settled, can begin exploring the world. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-nearly-half-of-new-zealand-residents-affected-by-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-nearly-half-of-new-zealand-residents-affected-by-depression/ Thu, 3 Dec 2009 05:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/narrative-couples-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/narrative-couples-therapy/ Wed, 2 Dec 2009 19:50:13 GMT The practices of Narrative Therapy often challenge simple explanations of objective truth. Our lives are seen as multi-storied, rich with details and diverse experiences. In narrative therapy, we seek the neglected aspects of our stories that have been given less power and visibility. In my work with couples, externalization allows for the excavation of affirmative stories that are hidden beneath problems such as blame, conflict and disconnection. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-plans-predictive-ptsd-testing-for-recruits/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-plans-predictive-ptsd-testing-for-recruits/ Wed, 2 Dec 2009 12:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/los-angeles-center-helps-asian-americans-with-mental-health-needs/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/los-angeles-center-helps-asian-americans-with-mental-health-needs/ Wed, 2 Dec 2009 07:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/endings/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/endings/ Tue, 1 Dec 2009 22:48:13 GMT Lewis Carroll chose to close his renowned work Through The Looking Glass with a poem. One stanza reads: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/report-on-uks-national-health-service-set-to-help-employees-to-help-clients/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/report-on-uks-national-health-service-set-to-help-employees-to-help-clients/ Tue, 1 Dec 2009 22:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/australia-reports-success-with-%e2%80%9cheadspace%e2%80%9d-program-sees-potential-as-model/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/australia-reports-success-with-%e2%80%9cheadspace%e2%80%9d-program-sees-potential-as-model/ Tue, 1 Dec 2009 14:00:30 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-untreated-depression-may-be-as-deadly-as-smoking-anxiety-may-counteract/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-untreated-depression-may-be-as-deadly-as-smoking-anxiety-may-counteract/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:00:29 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-suicide-survivors-speak-out-on-discriminatory-treatment-from-government/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-suicide-survivors-speak-out-on-discriminatory-treatment-from-government/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:00:24 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/samhsa-leads-to-push-for-mental-health-equity-amidst-rising-rates-of-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/samhsa-leads-to-push-for-mental-health-equity-amidst-rising-rates-of-suicide/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survey-of-surgeons-shows-mental-health-issues-burnout-are-major-concerns/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survey-of-surgeons-shows-mental-health-issues-burnout-are-major-concerns/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:00:59 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-shows-perceptions-of-racial-discrimination-hinder-mental-health-in-some-women/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-shows-perceptions-of-racial-discrimination-hinder-mental-health-in-some-women/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internal-family-systems-and-multicultural-couple-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/internal-family-systems-and-multicultural-couple-relationships/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:19:24 GMT If you are in a multicultural marriage, you know how hard communication can be. Whether it?s about: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-gain-cooperation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/parenting-gain-cooperation/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:46:32 GMT Here is one easy parenting tool that will change your life. It will also change your child?s life ? his or her entire life ? for the better. It is called The 80-20 Rule. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thinking-during-fights-may-improve-health-marriages/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/thinking-during-fights-may-improve-health-marriages/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:00:16 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/h1n1-causing-anxiety-among-clients-diverting-social-workers-attention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/h1n1-causing-anxiety-among-clients-diverting-social-workers-attention/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:00:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/afghanistan-troops-to-receive-boost-of-mental-health-workers/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/afghanistan-troops-to-receive-boost-of-mental-health-workers/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:00:05 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pictures-and-presence-of-a-loved-one-may-decrease-physical-pain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pictures-and-presence-of-a-loved-one-may-decrease-physical-pain/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/review-finds-schizophrenia-clients-more-prone-to-death-from-heart-disease/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/review-finds-schizophrenia-clients-more-prone-to-death-from-heart-disease/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:00:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-zealand-family-court-sets-example-with-call-for-better-mental-health-measures/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-zealand-family-court-sets-example-with-call-for-better-mental-health-measures/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:12 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-examining-effects-of-distress-on-brain-may-help-make-treatments-for-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-examining-effects-of-distress-on-brain-may-help-make-treatments-for-ptsd/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:00:54 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/review-finds-women-more-prone-to-post-stroke-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/review-finds-women-more-prone-to-post-stroke-depression/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:00:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/moment-that-took-my-breath-away/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/moment-that-took-my-breath-away/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:15:53 GMT I work part time in a Geri-Psychiatric ward where my title is Recreational Therapist. What that means is that when elders are committed to this hospital ward, usually involuntarily, anywhere from 72 hours to one month they are termed ?gravely disabled and in dire harm to themselves and/or others?. Along with individuals that are in a psychotic phase of their schizophrenia and those suffering from bipolar episodes, a large percentage of those admitted to our facility have dementia. When the dementia patients are admitted to the facility, they usually arrive in a stupor of confusion. The confusion is often exasperated because they have not been eating or have been unable to sleep for days. It is tragic to see elders who I imagine once had interesting lives be reduced to corpses that society does not have the capacity to handle, heal, or fully understand. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nami-releases-survey-results-for-mental-health-understanding-among-americans/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nami-releases-survey-results-for-mental-health-understanding-among-americans/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:00:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/graphic-novel-on-mental-health-released/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/graphic-novel-on-mental-health-released/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:55 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-reality-software-shows-potential-to-help-bullying-victims/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-reality-software-shows-potential-to-help-bullying-victims/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-and-standards/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-and-standards/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:32:58 GMT There are differences in the way people approach personal standards, and some of these have to do with self-esteem. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/head-of-veterans-affairs-pledges-better-mental-health-resources/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/head-of-veterans-affairs-pledges-better-mental-health-resources/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:46 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/affected-interested-and-concerned-to-descend-on-pittsburgh-for-annual-schizophrenia-conference/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/affected-interested-and-concerned-to-descend-on-pittsburgh-for-annual-schizophrenia-conference/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:00:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-among-the-very-old-eased-through-family-involvement/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-among-the-very-old-eased-through-family-involvement/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:00:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/writing-hand-may-dictate-body-perception/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/writing-hand-may-dictate-body-perception/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uk-organization-calls-for-inquiries-into-causes-of-workplace-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/uk-organization-calls-for-inquiries-into-causes-of-workplace-stress/ Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:00:48 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-attachment-styles-and-recurring-relationship-problems/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-attachment-styles-and-recurring-relationship-problems/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:54:06 GMT If you are one of the many out there who finds yourself in repetitive patterns of unhealthy relationships, perhaps you might benefit from identifying your attachment style ? which not only could answer some fundamental questions for you around your relationship ?triggers? but also provide clues as to why you attract certain types of people. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survey-deployed-to-help-cancer-clients-voice-their-needs-for-sensitive-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survey-deployed-to-help-cancer-clients-voice-their-needs-for-sensitive-care/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:00:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/your-holiday-story/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/your-holiday-story/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:33:18 GMT What?s your ?Holiday Story?? For some, it may be about connecting with friends and family, eating hearty meals and treats, singing songs, or getting in touch with one?s spirituality. For others, it may be laced with groans and moans, trepidation, loneliness, frustration, angst, and bouts of depression and anxiety. Often both ?stories? can somehow co-exist. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/a-bad-diet-might-be-responsible-for-a-bad-day/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/a-bad-diet-might-be-responsible-for-a-bad-day/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:58 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/meddling-parents-may-have-stronger-psychological-impact-on-kids-in-west/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/meddling-parents-may-have-stronger-psychological-impact-on-kids-in-west/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-abuse-may-impact-osteoarthritis-later-in-life/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/childhood-abuse-may-impact-osteoarthritis-later-in-life/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:00:50 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/%e2%80%9chealthy-at-every-size%e2%80%9d-initiative-shows-promise-for-improving-body-image-weight-loss/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/%e2%80%9chealthy-at-every-size%e2%80%9d-initiative-shows-promise-for-improving-body-image-weight-loss/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:00:15 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/paying-attention-to-adhd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/paying-attention-to-adhd/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:10:35 GMT The American Psychiatric Association defines attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a ?persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and more severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development? (1). ADHD is further indicated by three subtypes; predominately hyperactive-impulsive type, predominantly inattentive type, and combined type. According to the APA, ADHD primarily affects school-age children, approximately 3%-7% of all children in the U.S, (1), with approximately 30-50% retaining the disorder as adults (2). Not only are these numbers cause for concern, they are increasing: there has been a three or four-fold increase in diagnosis of ADHD since the late 1980s (3). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spirituality-and-legacy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spirituality-and-legacy/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:00:17 GMT Most cultures and religions perform rituals honoring their dead both when the person has just died and in subsequent acts of veneration. It is the latter that I wish to focus on in this article and to connect these rituals to the notion of ?legacy?. For our purposes the word legacy is defined as something handed down from an ancestor or from the past. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-from-trauma-safety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healing-from-trauma-safety/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:26:31 GMT Many individuals who have survived a traumatic life event wish to simply forget about the experience and hope that forgetting will be synonymous with overcoming. However, it is not possible to erase out pivotal life experiences or to truly forget about them. The human mind, body and/or soul remember and clamor for healing. Healing from the wounds inflicted by a traumatic experience takes time, perseverance and faith ? faith that one will heal, that life will not always be so painful and that the trauma will not always define one?s sense of self. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fear-of-h1n1-flu-may-spark-anxiety-among-students/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fear-of-h1n1-flu-may-spark-anxiety-among-students/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:34 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-that-sometimes-hope-can-hurt/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-that-sometimes-hope-can-hurt/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:31 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surviving-recovery-of-childhood-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/surviving-recovery-of-childhood-abuse/ Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:50:54 GMT Being a survivor of childhood abuse is hard enough. But when one finds the ?right? therapist and begins the recovery process in earnest, it can be even more difficult! It?s critical that you be kind to yourself during this time in your life. Allow yourself to feel what you are feeling and not to chastise yourself with ?should? and ?should not? comments or attitudes towards yourself. Realize that everyone recovers at their own pace; everyone is unique in this process. If you feel sad, allow the tears to come; if you feel angry, allow yourself to vent and spew! If you find yourself feeling happy, don?t feel guilty that you are enjoying the moment. All of this is ?normal?. Whatever you do, don?t stuff your feelings! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/patterns-of-attachment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/patterns-of-attachment/ Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:38:55 GMT In a previous article I described what attachment is and how it develops. As I described, the attachment system is a proximity seeking system that evolved to ensure the survival of the human infant. It operates like your home heating and cooling system. If everything is fine (safe) you don?t see the system operating. When things get out of bounds, the heating or cooling system starts to operate. When a person feels some threat, the attachment system becomes activated and attachment behaviors are evoked. Attachment behaviors are proximity seeking behaviors that draw the person closer to a preferred caregiver. The proximity creates or renews or recreates a secure base; a sense of safety, security, and comfort from which the person, once settled, can begin exploring the world. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-calming-skills/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-calming-skills/ Mon, 9 Nov 2009 15:50:15 GMT You?re worried about money. You?re afraid you?ll catch the flu. You can?t sleep because you can?t stop fretting about? your children, your family, your job or lack thereof, the country/government, terrorists, the stock market, pollution, and on and on. Feeling overwhelmed? Anxious? Then it?s time to get back in the driver?s seat of your own mind! There are things you can do to take control and calm yourself. Did you ever notice that all your worries, no matter what you?re worried about, are about something that hasn?t happened yet? Something you made up in your mind. Anxiety is all about the future. But the only way the future exists is as a thought in your brain. When you are anxious, you are actually fantasizing the worst about some imaginary event and feeling actual fear about it. From a logical standpoint, that doesn?t make much sense does it? Sure, some of the things you are worried about may happen, but you?re using valuable energy to be scared about them. Energy that could be better spent planning, preparing, or paying attention to what?s going on around you right now. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fort-hood-shooting-mental-health-concerns/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fort-hood-shooting-mental-health-concerns/ Mon, 9 Nov 2009 15:24:27 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/angry-because-you-can%e2%80%99t-get-what-you-want/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/angry-because-you-can%e2%80%99t-get-what-you-want/ Fri, 6 Nov 2009 22:36:25 GMT I do what you want, but you never let me do what I want! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spanish-study-finds-children-are-complacent-about-bullying/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/spanish-study-finds-children-are-complacent-about-bullying/ Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:00:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hurt-by-our-partners-when-they-behave-without-malice/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hurt-by-our-partners-when-they-behave-without-malice/ Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:45:45 GMT If I?ve witnessed it once I?ve witnessed it a few hundred times during my years counseling couples. One partner reacts as if his self worth has been decimated by words or actions originating from his partner. The curious and perplexing aspect of observing this process unfold, relates to specific instances when from my perspective evidence of anything that smacks of criticism or judgment is as detectable as an evaporated water spot on a shirt. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-adolescent-boys-with-conduct-issues-more-prone-to-problem-gambling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-adolescent-boys-with-conduct-issues-more-prone-to-problem-gambling/ Wed, 4 Nov 2009 15:00:06 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/research-shows-happiness-is-born-of-at-least-a-little-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/research-shows-happiness-is-born-of-at-least-a-little-stress/ Wed, 4 Nov 2009 07:00:54 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-happiness-with-children-linked-directly-to-marriage/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-happiness-with-children-linked-directly-to-marriage/ Tue, 3 Nov 2009 07:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/complicity-in-torture-effects-perceptions-of-guilt-suggests-study/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/complicity-in-torture-effects-perceptions-of-guilt-suggests-study/ Mon, 2 Nov 2009 20:00:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-reality-treatment-shows-promise-for-nicotine-addiction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/virtual-reality-treatment-shows-promise-for-nicotine-addiction/ Mon, 2 Nov 2009 07:00:30 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/you-always-hurt-the-one-you-love/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/you-always-hurt-the-one-you-love/ Sun, 1 Nov 2009 15:13:26 GMT The song from which I borrowed my title continues: ?The one you shouldn?t hurt at all.? Yet it does indeed seem to be nearly universal that we hurt, and are hurt by, those with whom we believe we are ?in love.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/major-chinese-survey-links-suicidal-thoughts-to-pesticides/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/major-chinese-survey-links-suicidal-thoughts-to-pesticides/ Sun, 1 Nov 2009 06:00:26 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/collaborative-care-program-for-elderly-cancer-clients-shows-promise/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/collaborative-care-program-for-elderly-cancer-clients-shows-promise/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:00:48 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/two-studies-investigate-ties-between-high-stress-demanding-jobs-gastrointestinal-disorders-and-mental-health-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/two-studies-investigate-ties-between-high-stress-demanding-jobs-gastrointestinal-disorders-and-mental-health-issues/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:00:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-research-suggests-anti-depressant-meds-treat-wrong-issue/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-research-suggests-anti-depressant-meds-treat-wrong-issue/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:00:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/risk-factors-refined-for-substance-abuse-disorders-in-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/risk-factors-refined-for-substance-abuse-disorders-in-children/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:00:25 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-examines-attention-effects-of-video-games/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-examines-attention-effects-of-video-games/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-women-identify-certain-emotions-better-than-men/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-women-identify-certain-emotions-better-than-men/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-smoking-cessation-program-sees-major-success/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-smoking-cessation-program-sees-major-success/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:34 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exposure-to-domestic-violence-when-young-may-lead-to-same/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/exposure-to-domestic-violence-when-young-may-lead-to-same/ Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:00:02 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-light-at-night-may-do-to-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what-light-at-night-may-do-to-mental-health/ Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:00:18 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-rhinosinusitis-linked-to-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-rhinosinusitis-linked-to-depression/ Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-links-working-post-retirement-is-linked-to-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-links-working-post-retirement-is-linked-to-mental-health/ Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:52 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-expectations-among-parents-may-encourage-adolescent-misbehavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/poor-expectations-among-parents-may-encourage-adolescent-misbehavior/ Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/power-used-well-misused-sexuality/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/power-used-well-misused-sexuality/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:11:47 GMT "Every form of power can be used well or misused. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/silver-achievement-award-for-smoking-cessation-program-with-mental-health-focus/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/silver-achievement-award-for-smoking-cessation-program-with-mental-health-focus/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:00:55 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loosen-the-grip-of-ptsd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/loosen-the-grip-of-ptsd/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:08:43 GMT **GoodTherapy.org Disclaimer: This article contains sensitive material that may trigger strong reactions for some readers, especially those with a history of trauma.** http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-myth-of-not-needing-others/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-esteem-myth-of-not-needing-others/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:25:17 GMT ?I am a rock, I am an island,? sang Simon & Garfunkle. ?And a rock feels no pain / And an island never cries.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-why-me/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-why-me/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:56:55 GMT What causes someone to develop an anxiety disorder? This question is one asked by many people struggling with an anxiety disorder, be it panic, phobias, social anxiety or any of the various manifestations of severe anxiety conditions. Someone with social anxiety might start to sweat and shake and be unable to concentrate when meeting someone new. Another person with agoraphobia might want to avoid driving a certain distance from home since that?s the circumstance of the first panic attack. However the anxiety manifests it is helpful, and part of the healing process, to understand the variables that contributes to the making of an anxiety disorder. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-projects-rate-of-ptsd-among-returning-iraq-war-veterans-at-35/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-projects-rate-of-ptsd-among-returning-iraq-war-veterans-at-35/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:00:49 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/research-team-recommends-social-network-monitoring-for-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/research-team-recommends-social-network-monitoring-for-depression/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:00:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-being-laughed-at-doesnt-seem-funny/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-being-laughed-at-doesnt-seem-funny/ Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:00:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-examines-relationship-between-depression-inflammation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-examines-relationship-between-depression-inflammation/ Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:00:16 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-support-wards-off-depression-in-parents/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-support-wards-off-depression-in-parents/ Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:00:45 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexually-satisfied-women-report-greater-well-being-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexually-satisfied-women-report-greater-well-being-mental-health/ Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:37 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healthcare-reform-fear/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/healthcare-reform-fear/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:26:29 GMT 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? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/roles-of-planning-positive-attitude-in-job-search-studied/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/roles-of-planning-positive-attitude-in-job-search-studied/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:00:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/warnings-arise-over-onset-of-in-school-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/warnings-arise-over-onset-of-in-school-stress/ Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:00:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-and-the-35-hour-workweek/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-and-the-35-hour-workweek/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:00:29 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-calling-phone-treatment-may-be-effective/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychotherapy-calling-phone-treatment-may-be-effective/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:00:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/optimism-could-hamper-weight-loss-efforts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/optimism-could-hamper-weight-loss-efforts/ Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:00:30 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/journal-kicks-off-series-on-mental-health-in-disadvantaged-areas/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/journal-kicks-off-series-on-mental-health-in-disadvantaged-areas/ Sat, 10 Oct 2009 06:00:28 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-case-for-feeling-better-during-recessions/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-case-for-feeling-better-during-recessions/ Fri, 9 Oct 2009 14:00:32 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mediterranean-diet-may-help-ward-off-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mediterranean-diet-may-help-ward-off-depression/ Thu, 8 Oct 2009 06:00:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/link-found-between-past-alcoholism-poor-sleep/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/link-found-between-past-alcoholism-poor-sleep/ Wed, 7 Oct 2009 06:00:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ongoing-research-uses-computational-brain-models-to-study-fear/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ongoing-research-uses-computational-brain-models-to-study-fear/ Tue, 6 Oct 2009 19:00:36 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/residual-effects-of-childhood-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/residual-effects-of-childhood-abuse/ Tue, 6 Oct 2009 16:59:38 GMT Many survivors have heard the terribly painful comments from others who just did not ?get it?, telling them that their abuse was in the past and to basically ?get over it?. But sadly, childhood abuse causes many difficulties for those survivors, and it?s not simply a matter of ?forgiving and forgetting?. Not everyone experiences the same after-effects of childhood abuse, but there are many commonalities among survivors in what they suffer. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-links-between-stress-stroke/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-links-between-stress-stroke/ Tue, 6 Oct 2009 06:00:06 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-time-may-heal-for-bipolar-youths/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-suggests-time-may-heal-for-bipolar-youths/ Mon, 5 Oct 2009 06:00:30 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-examines-role-of-age-past-behaviors-in-suicide/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-examines-role-of-age-past-behaviors-in-suicide/ Sat, 3 Oct 2009 06:00:17 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/decision-making-in-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/decision-making-in-relationships/ Fri, 2 Oct 2009 15:20:24 GMT Jonathan and Michelle came to my consulting office looking for someone to help them make a decision about the upcoming holidays?especially Thanksgiving with parents. Jonathan said Thanksgiving was his mother?s favorite holiday. After dinner, she would drive the men out of ?her? kitchen. They would watch the game and she would clean up. When Jonathan and Michelle were married two years ago, Michelle was brought into the family fold and treated by his parents as one of the children. Michelle loved Jonathan?s parents but was taken aback when his mother expected her to participate in the preparation and clean up while ?the boys? watched football. Michelle wanted to relax and watch the game too. Michelle decided to go along with Jonathan?s family tradition in the first two years but began to feel resentful towards Jonathan and his family. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-shows-group-therapy-can-help-violent-homeless-veterans/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-shows-group-therapy-can-help-violent-homeless-veterans/ Fri, 2 Oct 2009 06:00:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-mind-psychotherapy-what-hurts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/body-mind-psychotherapy-what-hurts/ Thu, 1 Oct 2009 19:03:25 GMT In my practice I am often visited by clients who have both physical and emotional concerns. Often they have been to numerous medical specialists in hopes of alleviating a ?pain? that continues to go undiagnosed and or untreated. They are frustrated, I am excited. Why?? This is my key to where therapy needs to begin. Sometimes we are plagued by a nagging ache, stomach problems, headaches, etc. The bottom line is the physical pain has been either unexplained by medical doctors or minimized as in our heads. The latter is probably the most accurate (though there are cases where medical treatment or second opinions are required). Through the examination of these symptoms in regards to when they started, what was going on, how they have responded to any treatment, and what makes them better or worse, I can learn a tremendous amount in regards to the client?s emotional pain. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-may-make-negative-experiences-harder-to-recall/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-may-make-negative-experiences-harder-to-recall/ Thu, 1 Oct 2009 19:00:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/simple-intervention-measure-tested-for-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/simple-intervention-measure-tested-for-depression/ Thu, 1 Oct 2009 14:00:46 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-related-suicides-on-location/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-related-suicides-on-location/ Thu, 1 Oct 2009 06:00:28 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety/ Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:42:13 GMT One of the most common requests I get from clients in my psychotherapy practice is ?Please help me get rid of this anxiety!? I then get to explain the Bad news and the Good news. The Bad news is that you are not going to get rid of your anxiety. In fact, it would be harmful to not be able to feel anxious. Anxiety and fear come with being alive. Anxiety can be useful when it causes you to be extra alert or careful, such as when you are walking to your car in a dark parking lot or when you are taking a test. Human beings were designed to feel anxious when faced with danger or a challenge. The fight or flight response is triggered causing adrenaline and other chemicals to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, narrow our focus of attention, and enable us to do what we need to do to stay alive. However, human beings were not designed to be chronically anxious. Recent studies have shown that chronic anxiety plays a major part in either causing or exacerbating several physical illnesses, including heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and chronic respiratory disorders. Therefore, it is a good thing to learn to manage your anxiety. That brings us to the Good news. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/take-the-attachment-challenge/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/take-the-attachment-challenge/ Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:29:29 GMT Attachment is the foundation upon which all human relationships are built, and touted by many as the most powerful predictor of all life successes. It is a wonder that something this integral to human existence is also so often overlooked and misunderstood by therapists who are considered relationship experts. When examining social work and counseling graduate degree programs, I am not surprised to find the typical program to have one obligatory course entitled ?Development throughout the Life Span? and in atypical graduate schools there might be one additional course entitled ?Child Development.? Unless the school is known for its focus on attachment theory, very little is taught to potential therapists across the country about attachment processes, attachment issues, attachment interventions, attachment treatment, or attachment healing. Unfortunately, we relationship experts often turn out to be humble students of the myriad of people in our offices struggling to heal the slings and arrows of attachment wounding. Being ?as a student? can be a sensitive and wise way to approach another?s life lessons. However, in issues of attachment there is wisdom in becoming a scholar and knowledgeable practitioner in the theory and science of love. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-introduction/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/attachment-introduction/ Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:31:24 GMT In this first article I'd like to briefly describe what attachment is. Broadly speaking, "attachment" generally refers to a connection between two. Informally, people talk about being "attached" to a person, a pet, a place, a thing. More specifically, attachment refers to an enduring emotional tie between two people. It is based on an emotional tie and grounded in trust and built upon a history of shared experiences (in technical terms, concordant intersubjectivity is experience in which emotion, attention, and intention are shared and congruent). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/manage-stress-for-inner-beauty/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/manage-stress-for-inner-beauty/ Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:50:18 GMT ?Soften your eyes. Relax your face,? I instruct my clients when we are working on deep relaxation in session. And the change is immediate and visible as the lines of tension fall away and a peaceful expression steals over them. When conducting this exercise with a roomful of people, the whole mood of the group changes. You can almost see everyone?s blood pressure go down! For you see, no matter how skillful the face lift, how costly the wrinkle cream, nothing can erase the look of stress, anger, sadness or chronic anxiety from a face when the soul inside is tense and troubled. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-recommends-distinct-classifications-for-childhood-depression-anxiety/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-recommends-distinct-classifications-for-childhood-depression-anxiety/ Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:00:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/smoking-cessation-advocate-mental-health-issues-dont-have-to-link-to-smoking/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/smoking-cessation-advocate-mental-health-issues-dont-have-to-link-to-smoking/ Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:00:44 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/successful-weight-loss-may-change-the-brain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/successful-weight-loss-may-change-the-brain/ Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:00:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/work-discusses-paths-towards-overcoming-shame/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/work-discusses-paths-towards-overcoming-shame/ Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:00:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prozac-approved-in-europe-for-children-as-young-as-eight/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/prozac-approved-in-europe-for-children-as-young-as-eight/ Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:00:20 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/questions-arise-about-potential-of-%e2%80%9cbrain-training%e2%80%9d-to-improve-function-well-being/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/questions-arise-about-potential-of-%e2%80%9cbrain-training%e2%80%9d-to-improve-function-well-being/ Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:41 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eight-million-americans-consider-suicide-each-year/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eight-million-americans-consider-suicide-each-year/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:00:14 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/paying-attention-to-survivors/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/paying-attention-to-survivors/ Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:36:05 GMT When a child gets killed, it gets our attention. Consider the words of Nicholas Scopetta, former Executive Director of The Administration of Children?s Services: ?people may not understand the intricacies of the system, but they certainly know when a child is killed.? http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abuse-of-adhd-medications-skyrockets-among-youth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abuse-of-adhd-medications-skyrockets-among-youth/ Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:59 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-shows-soldiers-experience-neuropsychological-changes/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-shows-soldiers-experience-neuropsychological-changes/ Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:00:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-team-spirit-may-ward-off-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-team-spirit-may-ward-off-depression/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:00:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nagged-by-nightmares/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nagged-by-nightmares/ Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:00:40 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-professionals-encourage-kids-families-to-welcome-%e2%80%9cback-to-school%e2%80%9d-day/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-professionals-encourage-kids-families-to-welcome-%e2%80%9cback-to-school%e2%80%9d-day/ Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:00:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressed-out-doctors-not-linked-to-medical-mistakes/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressed-out-doctors-not-linked-to-medical-mistakes/ Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:00:48 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veterans-seek-better-mental-health-treatment-through-court/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/veterans-seek-better-mental-health-treatment-through-court/ Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:46:58 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nation-wakes-up-to-need-for-greater-dual-diagnosis-care/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nation-wakes-up-to-need-for-greater-dual-diagnosis-care/ Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:59:27 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anorexia-is-on-the-rise-in-the-united-kingdom/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anorexia-is-on-the-rise-in-the-united-kingdom/ Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:42:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-short-term-may-boost-immune-system/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stress-short-term-may-boost-immune-system/ Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:45:09 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/youth-reach-out-to-aid-those-who-self-harm/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/youth-reach-out-to-aid-those-who-self-harm/ Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:17:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/americas-first-internet-addiction-center-opens/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/americas-first-internet-addiction-center-opens/ Wed, 9 Sep 2009 16:55:41 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/greater-understanding-needed-for-sensitive-claims-in-new-zealand/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/greater-understanding-needed-for-sensitive-claims-in-new-zealand/ Tue, 8 Sep 2009 20:12:40 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ocd-study-suggests-men-experience-earlier-onset/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ocd-study-suggests-men-experience-earlier-onset/ Tue, 8 Sep 2009 16:07:10 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-death-of-a-parent-healing-childrens-grief/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-death-of-a-parent-healing-childrens-grief/ Thu, 3 Sep 2009 22:35:31 GMT The death of a parent is the most elemental loss that a child can experience. Many in our culture believe that children cannot understand death and lack the capacity to grieve. Because of this misconception, coupled with confusion and anxiety in communicating with children about death, children are often told that the dead parent has simply ?gone away.? Shielding children from death deprives them of the ability to grieve and ultimately heal. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-in-children-with-epilepsy-highlighted-need-for-more-attention/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mental-health-in-children-with-epilepsy-highlighted-need-for-more-attention/ Wed, 2 Sep 2009 14:31:22 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/older-adults-with-fuzzy-memories-may-have-hypertension-to-blame/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/older-adults-with-fuzzy-memories-may-have-hypertension-to-blame/ Tue, 1 Sep 2009 19:01:19 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressed-people-may-signal-others-silently-sweat-study/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stressed-people-may-signal-others-silently-sweat-study/ Tue, 1 Sep 2009 14:46:57 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cornwall-welcomes-sailing-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cornwall-welcomes-sailing-therapy/ Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:17:26 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-may-signal-brain-to-ignore-pleasure/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-may-signal-brain-to-ignore-pleasure/ Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:36:14 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/review-questions-classification-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/review-questions-classification-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/ Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:44:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-confidence-in-restraint-may-indicate-risk-of-succumbing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-finds-confidence-in-restraint-may-indicate-risk-of-succumbing/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:30:00 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/money-and-the-inner-child/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/money-and-the-inner-child/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:15:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-loss-culture-may-be-hurting-kids/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/weight-loss-culture-may-be-hurting-kids/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:25:07 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/los-angeles-sees-mental-health-clients-reunite-with-families/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/los-angeles-sees-mental-health-clients-reunite-with-families/ Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:20:17 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dubai-investigates-internal-drug-addictions-possibilities-for-help/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/dubai-investigates-internal-drug-addictions-possibilities-for-help/ Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:53:23 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-video-game-players-may-be-less-healthy-physically-mentally/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/adult-video-game-players-may-be-less-healthy-physically-mentally/ Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:30:04 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/oklahoma-seeks-greater-prevention-efforts-for-mental-health-issues/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/oklahoma-seeks-greater-prevention-efforts-for-mental-health-issues/ Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:32:08 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/walking-gains-recognition-as-depression-helper/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/walking-gains-recognition-as-depression-helper/ Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:01:35 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-says-lay-back-to-ward-off-an-attack/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/study-says-lay-back-to-ward-off-an-attack/ Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:05:15 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-adults-mostly-decline-therapy-for-mistreatment/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/young-adults-mostly-decline-therapy-for-mistreatment/ Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:30:23 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotionally-charged-expressions-fall-flat-on-alcoholics/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotionally-charged-expressions-fall-flat-on-alcoholics/ Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:40:56 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reviewers-reveal-happiness-grows-with-age/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/reviewers-reveal-happiness-grows-with-age/ Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:30:17 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicidal-behavior-correlations/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicidal-behavior-correlations/ Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:38:08 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-smoking-cessation/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-smoking-cessation/ Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:03:43 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ocd-conference/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ocd-conference/ Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:53:24 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nutrition-body-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/nutrition-body-image/ Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:19:28 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/worry-hair-loss/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/worry-hair-loss/ Fri, 7 Aug 2009 15:41:32 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-flu/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/schizophrenia-flu/ Mon, 3 Aug 2009 14:46:59 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lack-of-sunlight-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/lack-of-sunlight-depression/ Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:10:28 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abuse-of-ptsd-claims/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/abuse-of-ptsd-claims/ Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:41:06 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bad-eating-habits-and-addictive-behavior/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bad-eating-habits-and-addictive-behavior/ Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:26:40 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-in-the-pool/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-in-the-pool/ Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:02:27 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-affirmations-self-esteem/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-affirmations-self-esteem/ Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:54:43 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-patients-therapy-groups/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cancer-patients-therapy-groups/ Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:02:33 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-family-history/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/positive-family-history/ Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:10:59 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-childrens-mental-health/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/military-childrens-mental-health/ Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:10:03 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-ocd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/family-therapy-ocd/ Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:33:31 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-fathers-dads/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-fathers-dads/ Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:53:11 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/major-depressive-episode/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/major-depressive-episode/ Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:12:32 GMT Chances are good that someone you know suffered or will suffer from a major depressive episode (MDE), according to a nationwide study by the US government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA?s 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)). An estimated 16.5 million people in the US, one in 13 adults aged 18 or over (7.5 percent), experienced major depression during the study's one-year time-frame. While their May, 2009 news release reports that approximately two-thirds of people suffering from a major depressive episode sought help initially, less than half followed up with the recommended mental health professional counseling, took medication for the disorder or both. The research reveals why one-third did not seek even initial help, the rate of people who followed up with counseling or medication, the rates of depression among certain age groups and a significant general health association with the occurrence of a major depressive episode (MDE). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-recovery/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorder-recovery/ Tue, 2 Jun 2009 13:56:44 GMT Recovery is a noun that describes a continuing process. To start eating disorder recovery is to start a journey. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tumors-and-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tumors-and-depression/ Mon, 1 Jun 2009 12:42:40 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pro-eating-disorder/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/pro-eating-disorder/ Sat, 30 May 2009 18:54:40 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-suicide-attempts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/teen-suicide-attempts/ Fri, 29 May 2009 15:55:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-college-students/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depressed-college-students/ Thu, 28 May 2009 15:07:45 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression/ Sat, 23 May 2009 17:57:19 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-worth-vs-net-worth/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/self-worth-vs-net-worth/ Mon, 18 May 2009 10:54:47 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-success-story/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapist-success-story/ Sat, 16 May 2009 09:48:52 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deep-change/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deep-change/ Thu, 14 May 2009 05:01:12 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deep-change-healing-your-relationship-with-power/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/deep-change-healing-your-relationship-with-power/ Thu, 7 May 2009 20:39:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-glutamate/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-glutamate/ Sat, 2 May 2009 02:21:50 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-romantic-relationships/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/suicide-romantic-relationships/ Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:02:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survivors-guilt/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/survivors-guilt/ Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:43:37 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acceptance-commitment-therapy-kids-chronic-pain/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/acceptance-commitment-therapy-kids-chronic-pain/ Thu, 2 Apr 2009 02:06:41 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Update http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/money-matters/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/money-matters/ Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:00:57 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neglect/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/neglect/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:01:18 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/writing-about-terrorist-attacks-appears-therapeutic/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/writing-about-terrorist-attacks-appears-therapeutic/ Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:50:13 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hyperactivity-concentration-adhd/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/hyperactivity-concentration-adhd/ Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:01:51 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-drugs-body-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sex-drugs-body-image/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:45:01 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/irritable-bowel-syndromepsychotherapy-antidepressants/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/irritable-bowel-syndromepsychotherapy-antidepressants/ Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:01:31 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-and-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-and-depression/ Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:36:53 GMT http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/eating-disorders-psychotherapy/ Sun, 1 Mar 2009 15:39:43 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recession-stress/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recession-stress/ Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:28:32 GMT Address your stress reactions to the recession now, especially if you feel very stressed and have for days on end. That's basically the advice of an article in the Chicago Tribune by reporter, Barbara Mahany. Psychotherapy and medications can help. The reporter interviewed a neuroscientist, a clinical psychologist, a clinical social worker, a rabbi-psychotherapist and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences concerning the science of, and antidotes for, our recession stress. Also interviewed were a corporate communications executive and a scriptwriter-corporate freelance writer to discover how stress is effecting some people and how to successfully cope with it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-pain-psychotherapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/chronic-pain-psychotherapy/ Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:42:25 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recession-regression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/recession-regression/ Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:18:19 GMT I, like you, am witnessing the events in our country and our world. I see the crises we are facing, among them the financial crisis. And like you, I have seen in clients the effects of ancient feelings and wounds on their attitudes, emotional states, and behaviors in relation to the present economic situation. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-therapy-diet/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/cognitive-therapy-diet/ Mon, 9 Feb 2009 20:14:13 GMT Just another diet book? It seems unlikely that the book, ?The Complete Beck Diet for Life: The Five-Stage Program for Weight Loss? (Oxmoor House, 2008) can be dismissed so easily. After all, the author is Judith Beck, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research in Bala Cynwyd, PA. Her father, Dr. Aaron Beck, developed what is now a well-researched psychotherapy for depression, cognitive therapy, commonly referred to as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT has been used successfully for a wide range of behavioral and psychological issues. Judith Beck, released her new book in December of 2008 and follows one she wrote the year before, "The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person" (Oxmoor House, 2007), but this one focuses more on development of behavioral habits or skills. The 2007 book primarily used cognitive principles to help people think like thin people. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-anxiety-disorder/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/social-anxiety-disorder/ Sat, 7 Feb 2009 20:07:38 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-moderation-abstinence/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/alcohol-moderation-abstinence/ Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:45:26 GMT Conventional wisdom has insisted on complete abstinence for people who have drinking problems, but moderation may be better advice. The current issue of the Harvard Mental Health Newsletter reports that it may be best to recommend that men have up to two drinks per day and women, one drink per day. This is certainly a conservative definition of moderation for many drinkers, but an amount unlikely to cause ill health effects. The authors explain that individuals who are alcohol dependent will probably not be able to control the drinking to that extent, and therefore, may realize their alcohol dependence and seek help. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression-gets-a-kick-from-regular-therapy/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/post-partum-depression-gets-a-kick-from-regular-therapy/ Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:36:44 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-video-games/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ptsd-video-games/ Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:51:17 GMT A GoodTherapy.org News Summary http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-boundaries/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/sexual-boundaries/ Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:00:26 GMT It is customary for a therapist to facilitate a client's thinking and feeling "outside the box", to "wake up and smell the coffee". Therapists want to assist clients to release the constraints of what is "customary" or "normal" for them and explore the world of thoughts and feelings that have been taboo or off limits. The other end of the spectrum is also, sometimes, the therapeutic focus i.e. learning to self regulate and develop the skills for expressing feelings such as anger in socially appropriate, non-abusive ways. Certainly there are clients who need such therapeutic assistance. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-test/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-test/ Mon, 8 Dec 2008 22:47:40 GMT A tool with good potential for predicting depression, called predictD, is now on-line for use by anyone who has a computer and an Internet connection. Although there are many depression assessments on the Internet, this is the only one based on empirical research of a depression assessment algorithm for predicting the disorder. Participating researchers believe the tool can become a tool for use by medical practitioners. The research study included 5,216 study participants in the UK, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Estonia, and another 1,732 in Chile (King, Walker, Levy, et et al., 2008). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/breast-cancer-therapy-counseling/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/breast-cancer-therapy-counseling/ Sun, 7 Dec 2008 15:46:56 GMT A recently completed study at Ohio State University suggests that group psychotherapy and psychoeducation can increase breast cancer survival rates in woman by helping them develop better coping skills. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/knowing-how-you-know/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/knowing-how-you-know/ Thu, 4 Dec 2008 23:22:48 GMT ?You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you?ll discover will be wonderful. What you?ll discover is yourself.? ? Alan Alda http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-genetic-map/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/bipolar-genetic-map/ Mon, 1 Dec 2008 21:44:53 GMT What if we were able to identify who is at risk for development of bipolar disorder even before it occurs? What if we were then able to prevent the illness from ever occurring in those lives? What if we could individualize treatment for bipolar disorder according to the precise genes contributing to the person?s disorder? It now appears that with genetic testing, prevention and better treatment may be attainable in the foreseeable future, thanks to a major study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-heart-disease/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/depression-heart-disease/ Mon, 1 Dec 2008 04:59:16 GMT It has long been known that depression increase the risk of heart disease by as much as 50%. A new study of Veterans in San Francisco indicates that the reason for this may be surprisingly simple: depressed people rarely exercise, and lack of exercise is well-known contributor to heart ailments. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/boundaries/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/boundaries/ Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:41:08 GMT ?The task is to recognize our interdependence, honor boundaries and differences, and remember connectedness.? - Dyrian Benz http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/anxiety-children/ Mon, 3 Nov 2008 18:19:40 GMT A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine supports the effectiveness of combined medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy for children with anxiety. The study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, utilized sertraline, which is sold under Pfizer?s brand name Zoloft, to treat a majority of 488 kids, aged 7-17. Some of the subjects also received CBT, and some got CBT alone. The rest were given a placebo. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-abortion/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-abortion/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:20:35 GMT Therapy for Abortion - Update to Common Therapy Issues http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-hormones-menopause-alcohol-abuse/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/women-hormones-menopause-alcohol-abuse/ Thu, 9 Oct 2008 05:01:14 GMT Over the past decade research has found that for many women the onset of alcohol abuse coincides with changes in hormone levels ? changes that many women are unaware of in the early stages. When this is combined with other stresses in their lives - job changes, health concerns, children leaving home - women can find themselves abusing alcohol for the first time in their lives. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-depression/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/therapy-for-depression/ Thu, 9 Oct 2008 02:45:40 GMT Depression - Update to Common Therapy Issues http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:42:26 GMT Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that can cause significant damage to the sufferer?s life. OCD begins with obsessive thoughts. These lead to the development of behaviors meant to control the thoughts. The behaviors then become compulsive rituals. The person feels strongly compelled to perform the rituals in response to the disturbing thoughts, even though relief may be very short-lived. Serious trouble with relationships, self-confidence, depression, quality of life and, perhaps, a related or other disorder in addition to the OCD, often accompany the disorder. OCD can make life a non-productive, empty, frustrating and lonely endeavor. There is evidence that OCD is caused by a brain dysfunction and that the most effective treatment is a combination of an antidepressant and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/behavior-management-training/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/behavior-management-training/ Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:52:22 GMT A team of researchers ? three at Florida State University and one at Yale ? have completed a persuasive study of Behavior Management Training (BMT) for treating Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). The study, published in the journal Child Maltreatment, offers findings are encouraging to proponents of the classic reward and punishment system, and will likely lead to larger control studies. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ethical-development/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ethical-development/ Tue, 3 Jun 2008 01:09:46 GMT Following last month?s brief notes about Altruism and the Soul, this piece focuses on the development of morality and the ethical values and behaviors that accompany this developmental process. Part III will talk about the Power Paradox and its relationship to the Power Differential. The Power Differential, as mentioned in an earlier column, is the foundation for the need for ethical codes and guidelines for people in professional positions of power and authority. The Power Paradox derives from research pointing to the need for increasing sensitivity to the impacts of the Power Differential on professionals themselves. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-loss-in-children/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/grief-loss-in-children/ Thu, 29 May 2008 03:40:06 GMT As a professional who has worked in one capacity or another with children and teens for nearly twenty years, the topic of grief and loss has been consistently present in all my interactions with young people. Long before I decided to return to graduate school for social work, I found myself encountering youth from all walks of life struggling to cope with issues of loss, from the grief attached to a parent?s divorce to the grief associated with the death of a pet, a friend, a teacher, a parent. I found the topic in hushed tones of colleagues, in open rap groups for teen girls, acted out in games at a shelter for abused women, as quiet conversation among middle school students on a field trip, and as a random question or comment seemingly out of the blue during some recreational event, like a baseball game or Halloween Party. During most times when the topic emerged, there was a tentative and questioning look or brief and uneasy pause where I sensed a combination of hope and caution, curiosity and reservation. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-eating/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/emotional-eating/ Thu, 22 May 2008 02:45:08 GMT 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. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/quest-for-wisdom/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/quest-for-wisdom/ Wed, 7 May 2008 01:16:04 GMT At a recent event, I had the joy of watching a boy, no more than seven years old, exploring his world. His energy sparkled and his spirit was pure; he was an ?old soul,? to say the least. As part of a ?quest? he was asked to bring back the answer to the question ?what is wisdom?? He waited patiently as my friend and I considered our reply. The answer was painstakingly difficult, and at best, only touched the surface of wisdom?s substance. ?Wisdom is knowing and doing the right thing, even if it is the hardest thing to do.? Off he went, and there we stood, dumbfounded. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/freeing-the-parents-of-adult-alcoholics-and-addicts/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/freeing-the-parents-of-adult-alcoholics-and-addicts/ Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:41:43 GMT The conversation began easily enough, "My brother is bleeding our parents into the poor house with his unending demands for money - money to support his addictions ? and they don't seem able to stop giving it to him, even though he isn't getting any better. What can we do?" http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/would-you-marry-yourself%e2%80%94-or-someone-like-you-2/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/would-you-marry-yourself%e2%80%94-or-someone-like-you-2/ Fri, 8 Feb 2008 02:53:21 GMT A glance at many magazines today will offer practical advice and ?how to? strategies for the pursuit of the man or woman of our dreams. Let?s face it?sexy tag lines and catchy subtitles make for good print copy but do little for building healthy and sound relationships. Projecting our wants, expectations or intentions onto our partners-to-be only serves to foreshadow the inevitable relational demise. It is as if we build in our own obsolescence from the very start. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what%e2%80%99s-the-big-fat-deal-about-body-image/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/what%e2%80%99s-the-big-fat-deal-about-body-image/ Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:07:48 GMT When you look at your body in the mirror, two things occur. First, you see the body?s physical structure; its size, shape, texture, curves, and nuances ? great and small. Then comes the part that?s hard to control ? the thoughts and comments that swirl about our brains concerning the body in that mirror. Oh man, can those cause trouble! http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-story-added-to-the-healing-story-collection-emma/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-story-added-to-the-healing-story-collection-emma/ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:34:03 GMT In another culture they would perhaps be called visions. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ethics-as-soul-work/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/ethics-as-soul-work/ Wed, 9 Jan 2008 03:25:49 GMT Ethics as Soul Work http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-use-of-narrative-therapy-in-the-transformative-work-of-grief/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-use-of-narrative-therapy-in-the-transformative-work-of-grief/ Tue, 9 Oct 2007 01:10:30 GMT Helen Keller has said that ?the only way to get to the other side is to go through the door.? This is certainly true in the work of transforming grief into healing and growth. This process involves allowing ourselves to feel the intense emotions of grief ? sadness, anger, despair and other difficult emotions, as well as tapping into our internal strengths and external sources of support and ultimately finding new ways to stay connected to our departed loved ones. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-story-added-to-the-healing-story-collection-little-lil/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/new-story-added-to-the-healing-story-collection-little-lil/ Sun, 7 Oct 2007 02:30:38 GMT Once upon a time there was a wonderful little girl, sensitive, intelligent, gifted. She was so sensitive that it was easy for her to see words that weren?t spoken. Words that other people did not speak swirled through the air but ended up inside of her. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/why-does-goodtherapyorg-include-a-list-of-psychotherapy-counseling-approaches/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/why-does-goodtherapyorg-include-a-list-of-psychotherapy-counseling-approaches/ Mon, 1 Oct 2007 18:54:46 GMT GoodTherapy.org recently updated its list of psychotherapy approaches and its list of concerns addressed. In response we received a small handful of emails from some thoughtful members with concerns about our lists: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/getting-married-soon-five-key-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-you-say-%e2%80%9ci-do%e2%80%9d/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/getting-married-soon-five-key-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-you-say-%e2%80%9ci-do%e2%80%9d/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:49:05 GMT After what was hopefully at least a 2-year courtship, you now find yourself engaged. You?re excited and nervous as the big day approaches. You think you?ve got all the important questions asked and answered. Are the guests seated properly? Did we give the florist a deposit? Are all the relatives travel and lodging arrangements finalized? Has everything been done that needs to be done? While these are all important questions, many people fail to take the time to ask themselves key questions about how their life will change after they say ?I do.? Here are five key questions to ask yourself before you say those two life-altering words. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-alert-don%e2%80%99t-ignore-the-warning-signs/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/relationship-alert-don%e2%80%99t-ignore-the-warning-signs/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:39:31 GMT Just as your automobile needs regular care and maintenance, so does your relationship. Many couples ignore warning lights and other signs that their relationship is falling apart and is in need of a service call. They know something?s wrong, but ignore the problem(s) thinking it will go away. Following this philosophy with your car leads to expensive and time consuming repairs. The same viewpoint holds true for relationships?ignore the warning signs and you?ll soon find yourself in a therapist's ?repair shop? with a long overhaul ahead. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/your-body%e2%80%99s-talking-are-you-listening/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/your-body%e2%80%99s-talking-are-you-listening/ Sun, 12 Aug 2007 23:59:16 GMT What do you do to relieve persistent physical discomfort, pain or illness? Do you reach for pills? Supplements? A trip to the chiropractor or massage therapist? Do a cleansing detox? Perhaps you meditate, do some yoga or take a walk? Maybe you?ve had the difficult choice of whether to undergo surgery -or even chemotherapy. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/do-you-believe-personality-disorder-diagnoses-are-pathologizing/ http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/do-you-believe-personality-disorder-diagnoses-are-pathologizing/ Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:42:41 GMT Recently, someone asked GoodTherapy.org to include Personality Disorders within our list of Concerns Addressed (this is the list of concerns that people can select when searching for therapists and the list that all members select from when creating their listing). Our decision was a unanimous ?no? and we thought it would be fair to explain why and to give our members the chance to make an argument for the use of the ?Personality Disorder? diagnosis. I should say that we do support the inclusion of ?personality disorder? symptoms in our list of concerns and we are currently working on translating these to fit into our list?. Please feel free to add your comments to this discussion below by clicking on the comments link directly below this post.