Healthy Communication

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on January 23, 2013 4:23 pm

Relationships are an art form created by two individuals who have a similar or complimentary vision, passion, and ambition.  Rarely has a relationship developed without its growth pains.  Similar to the development of the human body; a relationship is affected by the nurturing it receives.  If a relationship lacks in nutrition it will not have a healthy development. Unhealthy relationships are most commonly lacking in the most essential of ingredient: healthy communication. 

What is communication? It is the ability to convey or share emotions, feelings, sentiments, and desires.  Communication can be sent or received through verbal or nonverbal cues.  Healthy communication is the ability to communicate without offering hateful or undesirable responses.  While not all communication will be received with a welcoming spirit; healthy communication acknowledges that we have a right to “agree to disagree”.  

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

The Emerging Field of Psychotraumatology in Canada

Posted by: Linda AK Thompson on January 14, 2013 2:57 pm

Trauma Counselling – Levels of Conversation – Part 1
During my PhD process and among the many texts I read; one book (unknown source) related to the field of depth psychology detailed the five levels of conversation – Formal Operations, Contact Maintenance, Standard Conversation, Critical Occasions and Intimacy. I found the content contained in each descriptor very helpful while learning about depth psychology and planning treatment goals while working with adult survivors of traumatic lifetime events (TLE). I found the descriptors so relevant to survivors within the post-trauma population that I decided to utilize content analysis of the entire text to create a 3 page, resource handout for use during psychotherapy. Unfortunately, I did not document the source on this resource material.

Over 20+ years has lapsed since this handout was created. With the advent of the www and my membership with the Depth Psychology Alliance (DPA), Canadian Counselling Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and International Association of Counseling Hypnotherapist (IACH), professional associations; my hope remains to rediscover, properly and formally cite the original source (author and book title). If you are familiar with the content and know the source, please contact me at [email protected]Continue reading




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

What Lies Ahead?

Posted by: Dawn Schell on January 14, 2013 2:50 pm

It happens every year. Newspapers, television and radio programs gather together a panel of pundits and ask them to predict what will happen in the coming year. I’m not sure about the overall statistical accuracy of such panels but it makes for entertaining listening.

I thought about doing the same here in this blog post. Gather the brightest and best in the online counselling world together and ask them to predict online counselling trends for 2013. Before I could get started on gathering a panel I came across an article in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice on the Future of Telepsychology and I opted instead to share their view of the future.

Written primarily for a psychology audience the article is a call for action on the part of the psychology profession. The authors’ observation is that the psychology profession is lagging behind when it comes to technology. The authors state, “Whether psychologists embrace or resist aspects of technology, they should: recognize how advanced technologies are changing the way we communicate and process information, anticipate needed growth, and prepare to meet ensuing challenges to professional psychology.”

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Relationships

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on January 14, 2013 2:27 pm

Clinicians rarely have couples enter their offices proclaiming an overwhelming fondness, admiration, and unconditional love for one another  “In Western cultures, more than 90 percent of people marry by age 50.  Healthy marriages are good for couples’ mental and physical health.  They are also good for children; growing up in a happy home protects children from mental, physical, educational and social problems.” (APA, Online, 2012)

Why are healthy marriages good? If you are in a healthy marriage, you are experiencing positive feedback, unconditional acceptance, unconditional love, unconditional approval, and the admiration of another.  You are benefiting from the positivity of that relationship.

In unhealthy marriages, you may be experiencing marital strife, conflicts, and continuous disagreements. While unhealthy marriages are not irreparable, they maybe on pathways of irreversible damage.  It is vitally important that if someone has entered an unhealthy stage in their marriage that they seek professional help to resolve their relationship conflicts.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Farewell 2012!

Posted by: Dawn Schell on December 19, 2012 3:36 pm

Looking back over the year [wondering where the time went!] I have been reflecting on what stood out for me this year with respect to Online Counselling.

In 2012 I was encouraged to see the following:

In June 2012 the Canadian Association of Colleges and University Student Services [CACUSS] conference’s focus was on the use of technology in student services [wish I had been there].  One of the questions up for discussion was “are colleges and universities in Canada ready to take student services online”.  The programme covered topics such as –transitioning career services online, evaluation research conducted on an online alcohol intervention program, self-help programs for anxiety and depression, facilitating community, and how to provide academic supports to at-risk students – to name a few!  One snippet of information that stood out for me was from Dalhousie University – “half of current students would prefer help via the internet”.  [1]  Sounds like interesting times ahead for our post-secondary institutions.

An exponential increase in journal articles and research on Online Counselling (check out this Research Bibliography https://www.ismho.org/research_bibliography.asp).  One piece of research that caught my attention was a large scale assessment of Telemental Health outcomes on 98,609 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Patients enrolled in Telemental Health Services [2]

Interesting and informative LinkedIn group discussions.  Not the least of which led me to consider what my Social Media policy will be [an evolving document at the moment].

Continued development of excellent online mental health supports.  Check out the list I wrote on this blog in December 2011 of my favourite sites.  

And, at the CCPA conference this past May it seemed to me there were more people talking about online counselling than ever before.  Some of the attendees expressed interest in joining a CCPA chapter on Online Counselling.  That is still in the preliminary stages but if you have any interest please let me know!

It feels as if 2012 was a year of moving forward on so many levels in the world of Online Counselling.   I am looking forward to 2013 and continuing to share ideas and resources with all of you.  Let’s keep the dialogue going.
Dawn M. Schell, MA, CCC, CCDP is an affiliate of Worldwide Therapy Online Inc.  http://www.therapyonline.ca



[1] I have not been able to access the CACUSS 2012 conference programme online this month.  https://www.cacuss.ca/home.htm

[2] http://www.docguide.com/telemental-health-services-can-reduce-psychiatric-hospitalisation-rates?tsid=5

 




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Why Counselling?

Posted by: Hailing Huang on December 19, 2012 3:19 pm

Sometimes, do you feel confused or lost?
When not knowing which direction you should go,
Such as deciding which major,
Which job,
Which partner
Or where to live?
Sometimes, do you feel frustrated and disappointed about the people around you?
Because
It seems nobody understands you
Or available to pay full attention to your concerns? Continue reading




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

The Emerging Field of Psychotraumatology in Canada

Posted by: Linda AK Thompson on December 19, 2012 3:13 pm

Reflections of a Trauma Nurse/Counsellor’s Academic, Research & Clinical Experiences: Trauma Memories [TM]

Experts assert that traumatic memory [TM], unlike ordinary memory, may not be altered by the passage of time.  Some argue that traumatic memory is ‘frozen in time or timeless, inflexible, invariable, and immutable or not capable or susceptible to change’ [1].

TM’s are believed to be unique memories that resist integration or are dissociated from ordinary verbal, autobiographical memory (AM).  The theory of state-dependent memory, learning and behavior and model of ideodynamic healing [2] is devoted to understanding and treating TM.  The lack of proper integration of intensely emotional arousing experiences noted in traumatic events into the memory system (AM), results in dissociation and the formation of TM protected by amnesic barriers.

The consequence of dissociation of TM, especially clients with complex, posttraumatic stress and dissociative symptomology or disorders, is that the various components are also dissociated from one another (fragmented).  These dissociated verbal memory fragments, in turn, are dissociated from affect (feelings), beliefs, and the somatosensory (body, 5 senses) dimensions of being plus one’s behaviours associated with the traumatic experiences.  Each dimension is in turn dissociated from one another or the sense of self is unaware of the other.  In Jungian psychology this is referred to as the unconscious or shadow. 

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Sexualization of Children

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on December 14, 2012 1:59 pm

Our society has become a cesspool of sexualization and the minimization of sexualization. The aim of sexualization is typically the commercialization of product or trade.  Sexualization goes beyond the borders of Hollywood and Bollywood.  Sexualization ensues the very fabric of our human collective consciousness.  It has become acceptable to see a young girl or boy dressed in unacceptable clothing.  A societal challenge occurs when we try to define acceptable verses unacceptable.  What is appropriate clothing verses inappropriate?  Who do we choose to define what sexualization is and is not?  Who do we appoint to mandate such a form of appropriateness?  Who do we appoint the guardian of our children? Finally, is sexualization an issue or are we trying to fuel a fire that has no kindling?

SEXUALIZATION DEFINED

Defining a healthy form of sexualization verses an unhealthy form of sexualization is a difficult challenge.  “There are several components to sexualization, and these set it apart from healthy sexuality. (Negative) Sexualization occurs when 

  1. a person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics;
  2. a person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness (narrowly defined) with being sexy;
  3. a person is sexually objectified — that is, made into a thing for others’ sexual use, rather than seen as a person with the capacity for independent action and decision making; and/or
  4. sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person.” (APA, 2012, Online)

What is a healthy form of sexualization?  Is there such a form?  Is all sexualization inappropriate and unbecoming of our humanity?  When we speak of a healthy sexualization, we are speaking of the awareness and clarification of one’s sex and sexuality.   “It can be hard to acknowledge that all of us, even children, are sexual beings, have sexual feelings and are curious about sex and sexuality. Children’s curiosity can lead to exploring their own and each other’s body parts by looking and touching.” (StopItNow, 2012, Online)

A child’s personal development is a part of their sexualization.  Learning who they are, why they think, do, and behave in particular ways is core to their development.  A child’s sexual development should be encouraged from a healthy perspective.   A child should never be made a symbol of an unhealthy perspective.  Children should never be forced to engage in inappropriate sexual conduct.  They should never be made to wear clothing that is risque or revealing of their youthful innocent. 

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Creative Blah’s

Posted by: Priya Senroy on December 13, 2012 12:00 pm

2102 is nearly over…..Like many, I have reflecting on this year….in terms of my career-projects  that I started, projects that had to be axed, people who enriched me, people who brought me down and most important—the people I interacted with . As the year winds down, I am also taking stock of my creativity and  thinking what can I do different next year, what ‘out of the box’ ideas can I incorporate in my ’talk therapy’ ….How can I challenge my practice and my clients to  engage creatively as they  problem solve or have a shift in their paradigm of thinking ?????  So I went around looking for some quotes in the cyber world on increasing creativity that I could perhaps keep as reminders whenever I feel a ‘CREATIVE BLAH’. So here they are

Quotes for increasing creativity

“Do tie creative interventions to evidence-based practices and be sure to have a solid case conceptualization,” “Do seek out resources,” They’re out there to help you.”

 “Don’t limit yourself by thinking, ’I am not a good artist, I’m not a photographer, I don’t do yoga, I don’t have an herb garden,’” “Remember, it’s about the process, not the product.”

“Do invite clients of any age to exercise their creativity,” “No matter what age we are, we can be stuck in our typical ways of solving our problems — ineffective or not!”

“Do seek supervision, research and consult on the appropriateness and effectiveness of your method,”

“Do ask clients to try only those activities or experiences that you, yourself, feel comfortable experiencing,”

“Don’t underestimate your own creativity and ability to develop creative interventions,”

“Do be aware of the depth that the creative process may lead a client to experience,” “Always make sure you leave time at the end of the session to help your client transition from the creative world back into everyday reality.”

 “Do not in any way judge or assess clients’ work,” “It is important that you take on the role of witness, not critic, when clients engage in the creative arts.”

“Do not force any clients to ’create’ if they are not ready or invested,” “Even children should be able to make choices about their therapy time.”

Happy Holidays!!!!!!




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Preparing for Life Transitions

Posted by: Maritza Rodriguez on December 12, 2012 4:12 pm

There are many times in our lives where we pass through pivotal altering transitions in our lives. Some are marked with spiritual and/or cultural rituals such as a First Communion, Bar Mitzvah, Sweet 16, graduation from high school/university, marriage and death to name a few.

Traditional societies highly regard these transitional moments in a person’s life with elaborate ritual and celebration. A boy is cognizant of entering manhood. A woman’s responsibility is enlarged when she consents to marriage or a marriage is arranged. The ceremonies surrounding these life transitions are obvious signals and recognition that the person’s life is changing. For the most part, there is also much support from family and community members during these important markers in an individual’s life.

Our modern society has some indication that transitions are occurring but they are not as emphasized as they once were. Even though a child may have a spiritual celebration depending on the religion, there is no longer a definitive marker as to when adulthood begins. Is it when an individual is of legal age to drink alcohol? When they get a full time job? When they graduate from a post-secondary school?

Less and less, we are aware of our transitions but we feel things have changed and many people feel unprepared to cope with the “new normal”. The village is no longer behind you giving you advice and wisdom. That is not to say that family and friends are not supportive, but there are many paths that can be taken now, and this can be overwhelming to some individuals. On the flip side, the freedom to choose any destiny allows others to fly free and explore.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA