Military

Militaryconnection.com

GiveAnHour.org

Along with providing information and resources to the military and veteran communities, MilitaryConnection.com has the honor to join forces on a regular basis with outstanding organizations.  GiveAnHour.org is one of these organizations.  The work that they do is nothing short of extraordinary.  They provide pro bono and free counseling to troops, veterans, family and extended family members.  They have a network of over 5000 mental health professionals nationwide who are dedicated to making a difference for those with PTSD and other mental health issues.

Along with extending aid to veterans and their families, Militaryconnection.com, has cemented a partnership with Give An Hour. GiveAnHour.com is a non-profit organization who has collected over 1700 mental health care professionals. Each professional is dedicated to providing aid to the returning troops and their families, who have been affected
by PTSD through a pro bono program.

Will Lee
Counselor Network Writer

Michael Scott

Michael Scott is an offensive, naive, over-the-line type of person and boss.  He is prone to crude sexual jokes, homosexual harassment, and racial slurs — all said out of ignorance.
But Scott, the boss in the popular comedy ‘The Office’, went too far for some suicide prevention groups in the recent Halloween episode of The Office.  In the episode Scott, played by actor Steve Carell, attempts to scare a group of young children with a joke where he struggles hanging from a noose.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has issued a press release criticizing the show for a “graphic depiction of the suicide method.”  In the release, the organization says, “there comes a point when jokes can go to far and are potentially dangerous and offensive.”  They continue by asking all of the entertainment industry to refrain from using suicide and mental illness for comedic entertainment.

The fear is that mentally ill people will take their own lives after seeing a graphic depiction of a suicide method.  The organization’s executive director Robert Gebbia had a few comments about the depiction:

“We’re not trying to be censors or fall into the trap of wanting everything to be PC, politically correct,” Gebbia said. “But on the other hand, it’s offensive to some people who have lost relatives to suicide by hanging.”

Other organizations were also in on the call for sensitivity, including Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Suicide Awareness Voices in Education.  They claim that research shows that vulnerable people may copy an explicit depiction of the suicide act.

The problem though, is that the act was not necessarily a suicide or a suicide attempt.  In fact, it was just a gag to scare children from an offensive character.  Scott, trying to teach the children a lesson, actually says, “Remember kids, suicide is not the answer.  It is the easy way out.”

This was not the first time that the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has protested depiction of suicide in the media.  Two years ago, they protested a General Motors commercial that depicted a robot jumping off a bridge.  They also protested a Volkswagen ad with a man threatening to jump off of a ledge.

Tim Du
Counselor Network Writer

Army Offers Counseling for Grief

Counselors are being sent to Ft. Hood to offer counseling for hundreds of individuals affected by last Thursday’s violent shooting.  Among these individuals are soldiers, hospital workers, civilians, and family members, all who are struggling to overcome the grief of loss.

Last week, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist in the Army Medical Corps, opened fire and killed 13 people and wounded 31 more at Ft. Hood, Texas.  The tragedy has left the population at Ft. Hood devastated.

“The entire resources of the United States Army are at the disposal of Ft. Hood and its population to help deal with the impact of this event,”  Lt. Gen. Robert Cone said. “Our initial focus in these last three days has really been working on getting them the kind of behavioral assessments and counseling for the traumatic stress incidents they’ve been through”

Cone came through on the promise, as a total of 116 teams were sent to Ft. Hood.  These teams included 18 combat stress control teams, 41 behavioral health counselors, and 57 ministry support teams.  Additional resources are on their way.

Cone stated that he was not as worried about the soldiers affected by the tragedy, as they are trained for dealing with disaster and continuing with their work.  He was worried about something else:

“The real challenge that we have has to do with the other folks that are here at Ft. Hood: The civilians that were working and became a part of this, the families here at Ft. Hood who had always previously considered this to be a safe place, the children that are here – many of whom were locked down in schools. We are right now in the process of executing a comprehensive program to address the needs of all of these populations.”

In addition, soldiers who have struggled with behavioral problems such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are also being treated.

A memorial service is set for today at 1 p.m. CT and will be attended by President Barack Obama, and the family members of the victims who have lost their lives.

Will Lee
Counselor Network Writer

Alcohol Addiction

What is alcohol addiction?

Alcohol addiction is the compulsive need for an intoxicating liquid. Some think that it is just a matter of will to stop drinking, but an alcoholic’s craving for alcohol is so great that it suppresses their ability to stop drinking. Take for example, an alcoholic arrives in the ER suffering from nausea, vomiting, sweating, and anxiety. His blood alcohol content (B.A.C.) is measured and returns a 0.12 reading. This person’s physical alcohol addiction has reached the point where his body suffers from withdrawal symptoms despite having a B.A.C. high enough to constitute a drunk driving offense.

With groups such as alcoholics anonymous enrolling over two million members, it is no question alcohol addiction is a huge problem. Some research shows that up to one half of all U.S. adults know at last one person with an alcohol addiction. It is important to participate in individual counseling for alcohol addiction because it is here that you can focus on your own individual issues. If individual counseling is not part of your alcohol addiction treatment program, you should consider seeing a counselor on your own.

Alcohol addiction also places an enormous economic burden on our country. In 2001, the estimated cost to society was an estimated $230 billion tax dollars due to highway DWI collisions.

What is substance abuse?

Substance abuse has come to refer to the overindulgence in and dependence of a drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual’s physical and mental health, or the welfare of others. However, medical professionals have concluded that substance abuse is an issue that may lead to addiction and dependence which are actual physiological problems.

People abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for varied and complicated reasons. The toll for this abuse is seen in hospitals across our nation. For example, one of the top risk factors for kidney cancer is cigarette smoking, by 1985 crack cocaine attracted a user base of almost 6 million Americans, and in recent times, heroin has resurfaced in suburban towns with young teens being the main consumer.

The cost of substance abuse

In fact, according to a new book “High Society – How Substance Abuse Ravages America And What To Do About It” by Joseph Califano, a former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, the cost of substance abuse has grown to approximately $1 trillion dollars per year. He points out how substance abuse is a major causative factor in America’s most wrenching problems: Poverty, violent crime, academic underachievement, soaring health care costs, family breakup, child abuse, homelessness, teen pregnancy, work problems, and AIDS.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), of the estimated $38 billion was spent on corrections, the branch of law enforcement that deals with incarceration, in 1996. More than $30 billion was spent incarcerating individuals who had alcohol or drug problems or alcohol/drug related crimes.

Everyday, 1,500 people die due to substance abuse or substance abuse induced ailments. It is clear that a former substance abuse has reached epidemic proportions in America. Crime, violence, divorce, cancers, cardiovascular disease, financial problems, and family problems are all consequences of alcohol and general substance abuse. All these consequences have financial costs. This means that all businesses, consumers, and taxpayers are affected. We are all affected by the negative consequences of substance abuse.

Will Lee
Counselor Network Writer

Couple Counseling

Premarital counseling, like any couples counseling, is usually performed by a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or clinical social worker. Consider this when wondering whether or not couples counseling or premarital counseling is right for you: Nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. Supplementing couples counseling with premarital counseling will build upon the groundwork laid by couples counseling in order to prepare you for the next step in your relationship.

There are several functions of premarital counseling.
1. To assist couples in developing skills to successfully navigate their way through
2. Identify areas of difference (conflict) and possibly resolve them.

Commonly covered ground in premarital counseling includes:
-Interest and activities
-Role expectations
-Personal adjustments
-Interpersonal communication
-Religion and philosphy
-Marriage expectations
-Finances
-Children and parenting
-Sexuality

When should a couple seek pre-marital counseling?

The following criteria has been suggested by the California Association for Marriage Family Therapists

-When you are young and have never been married (Some states, such as California, require by law that individuals under the age of 18 complete couples counseling or premarital counseling before the wedding)

-When one partner is “commitment-phobic”

-When a couple cannot resolve significant conflicts about issues such as the ones covered above.

-When one or both partners have had a previously failed marriage.

-A history of childhood abuse or domestic violence.

Other considerations for couples counseling or premarital counseling include:

-Educating yourself on marriage.

-Do you want a religious or secular organization/counselor?

-Do you want to take an educational approach, that covers the basics of marriage, or a goal-oriented counseling approach that covers certain concerns and issues regarding your relationship.

Many couples do not realize the importance of a couples counseling or pre-marriage counseling. However, research has shown that it has significant effects on both in the long-term (it can reduce divorce rates) and the short-term (premarital stress).

You do not necessarily need to have a problem in your relationship to go to couples counseling and premarital counseling. Even in a seemingly perfect relationship, it can strengthen and prepare you for future challenges and conflicts. In fact, it is better to attend couples counseling or premarital counseling when there is a seemingly infinite source of positive energy in your relationship.

Because people want to believe that love is all they need before marriage, couples counseling or premarital counseling often has a negative stigma surrounding it. However, as evidenced by the abysmal divorce rates, many times couples rush into a relationship without thinking of the future and the almost inevitable conflicts that lay ahead. Couples counseling and premarital counseling can open up discussion about issues that you may feel uncomfortable bringing up yourself.

Different premarital counseling and couples counseling will cover different things so research ahead and decide what it is you want. And remember, counseling does not mean you have a problem right now, it is also preparation for the future when issues become more complicated.

Tim Du
Counselor Network Writer

Career Counselor

Amidst the terrible recession, your company sends out a memo to all employees that they will be laying off 15% of the working staff in 2 weeks.  Surprised, you start to worry about your job security, and begin to lose sleep and focus at your work place.  Your co-worker and friend notices this change in your behavior and recommends that you see a career counselor for career counseling.

If you are struggling with career issues, there may be an answer for you.  Career counseling is a type of traditional counseling that focuses on issues dealing with the career.  It focuses on issues such as possible career choices, career change, and the development of your own personal career.

Career counselors are professionals who usually have a background in psychology.  Through interviews, interest inventories, ability tests, and tests that assess personality, these career counselors can help you through the stress of possibly being laid-off.  Additionally, career counseling may help you, as a working professional, find other, possibly better, options for your career.

The career counselor may help you assess your interests, skills, personality tendencies, and values to better help you understand and explore your career options.  For those still in school, career counseling may refer to a high school’s guidance counselor, or a student dean.  Finding the right major or career opportunities during schooling can jump start your career, and a career counseling can help point you in the right direction by helping you understand yourself better.

So when do you know when to delve into career counseling, or if it is even the right answer for you?  There are many different factors that can make career counseling more or less effective for each person.  The rest of this article will highlight several tips to help you understand how career counseling may help you:

-  Are you about to have a career breakdown?  Visiting a career counselor before your career breaks down may save you plenty of headache and financial troubles.  Career counseling can help you get into a situation where you are happy with your employment, fulfilling your dreams, and enjoying work every day.

-  In reality, career counselors are still human beings.  They can not answer questions such as “what job should I apply for?” Instead, career counselors will help you answer questions such as “what job might I be good at?” or “what job would I enjoy?”  Learning about yourself will help you develop, commit to, and implement an action-oriented plan for your career.

-  If you have already been let go, a career counselor can help you find a new job.  He or she can help you conduct a smart career search.  Career counselors are experts at helping you develop strategies, powerful resumes, and proper use of all available resources.

-  In some states, career counseling does not require a license, so be careful.  Do your best to find a counselor who has the designation of National Certified Career Counselor (NCCC).

Will Lee
Counselor Network Writer

Group Counseling

Human beings learn about themselves very quickly when they are forced to share their feelings with others, especially if the others are in a similar position.  The utilization of this fact is a therapy called group counseling.  Also known as group psychotherapy or group therapy, group counseling is a type of psychotherapy where one or more therapists treat a group of small clients.

First, let’s better understand psychotherapy, as group counseling is concerned.  Psychotherapy is the personal counseling with a psychotherapist, or in the case of group counseling, the therapist.  It is aimed to aid clients or patients with problems associated with living.

Group counseling, then, focuses on the group of clients and attempting to benefit from sharing their experiences.  Group counseling usually tries to fix a particular issue, such as anger management or addiction to alcohol.  Counseling is usually led by a therapist, but it is encouraged in a group counseling session that all members of the group contribute in some way.  For a person dealing with an issue, it is likely that they will experience some form of isolation, whether intentional or unintentional.  Sharing their experiences in a group, where the other members are experiencing the same issue and isolation, combats that problem, eventually leading to the solving of the issues; at the very least, clients can use the counseling to overcome the isolation, and the problems that may come with it.

Irvin Yalom was partially responsible for the continued development of group counseling after WWII.  He came up with 12 therapeutic principles that describe the different factors of counseling that can positively affect the clients.  The rest of this article focuses on listing and describing the 7 main counseling factors:

1. Universality

Universality describes the shared experiences among clients.  It helps the clients overcome their sense of isolation, validate their experiences, and raise self-esteem.

2. Altruism

Group counseling is a place where members are able to help each other.  This improves their own self-esteem and develop better coping styles and interpersonal skills.

3.  Instillation of hope

Counseling in a group of mixed members can help newer members and long time members maintain hope while they are still struggling.

4. Cohesiveness

Cohesiveness is often referred to as the most therapeutic factor from which all of the other factors flow.  Humans have an instinctive need to belong in groups, and some personal development can only occur in interpersonal relationships.  Cohesiveness bring belonging, acceptance, and validation to the counseling process

5.  Corrective recapitulation of the primary family experience

Clients will often unconsciously identify other members of the group as their own immediate family.  The counseling can then help the client overcome unhelpful patterns in their relationships.

6.  Self Understanding/Interpersonal learning

Members of group counseling may achieve a bigger level of self-awareness through interactions.  They may also achieve greater levels of insight about what stems one’s problems through counseling.

7.  Catharsis

Catharsis is defined as the experience of relief from emotional distress by expressing emotion.  Counseling can help the client overcome his or her shame and guilt by telling their story.

Tim Du
Counselor Network Writer

Psychotherapists

A majorly under looked part of the United States health system is psychotherapy.  As time goes on, we begin to better understand that our physical well-being is not alone, but that mental well-being is just as important.  Psychotherapy is technique that may very well be able to help your mental well-being.

Psychotherapy is defined as personal counseling with a psychotherapist.  It is an interpersonal relationship with a psychotherapist that can help you increase your sense of well-being.  These psychotherapists use a variety of techniques to improve the mental health of their client, including: building a relationship, dialogue, communication,  and attempted behavior change.  In addition to psychotherapists, psychologists, therapists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, counselors, and psychiatrists may also perform psychotherapy.

Using psychotherapy can help you in a few ways.  First, you will better understand yourself and your personal goals and problems.  Secondly, it can help you develop relationship skills.  Thirdly, it may help you overcome certain psychological problems such as anxiety, stress, or depression.  Lastly, psychotherapy may help you obtain a solution to problems you seek by talking it out with a psychotherapist.

Critics, on the other hand, do not believe in the healing power of psychotherapy.  They believe that it is time that spurs an intervention, not the therapeutic relationship with a psychotherapist.  To them, psychotherapy is an unnecessary replacement of resources readily available to a person, such as friends, family members, and peers.

There are typically 3 major types of psychotherapy.  The rest of this article will focus on listing and defining these three types:

1. Cognitive Therapies

Cognitive therapy was developed by Aaron T. Beck, an American psychiatrist.  It aims to help the client solve problems by finding and changing dysfunctional thinking, behavior, and emotions.  It often develops skills for changing your beliefs, relating to others, and changing behaviors.  The psychotherapist works with the client to identify and test beliefs, leading to the understanding of dysfunctional thinking.  Cognitive therapy was initially created to fight depression, but now is used more widely.

2. Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy is primarily used to treat common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and phobias.  It is based off the philosophical theory of behaviorism, or the belief that behaviors are the direct manifestation of psychological matters.  That being said, behavior therapy aims to modify or condition learning, responses, and other forms of behavior.  Psychotherapists work with the client to identify what causes dysfunctional behaviors and how to change those behaviors.

3. Psychoanalysis

Developed by Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis is a form of psychotherapy in which psychotherapists work with clients to understand psychological functioning and behavior.  It can be used to investigate the mind, theorize about human behavior, and treat psychological illnesses.  It is a specific mind investigation technique that usually involves the client lying on a couch, unable to see the psychotherapist.  Psychoanalysis works primarily to explore the unconscious mind through the interpretation of mistakes, dreams, and symbols.

Psychotherapists around the nation apply many different forms of psychotherapy to help their clients.  Hopefully, in reading this article, you now better understand the world of psychotherapy.

Will Lee
Counselor Network Writer