Center of Therapies

Children for a variety of reasons often are reluctant to talk about their feelings and concerns in therapy whether individual, group, or family therapy. Therapists sometimes need to be resourceful to help children who are anxious to participate in a meaningful way in the therapy process. It is important for children to feel included in the process. Some children may not feel they can express themselves because they may be too young, others may be silent due to anxiety, anger, fear, resentment, and a few may not be able to talk due to trauma events.

Therapists need to have various strategies that do not rely on language such as symbolic play either directive or non-directive, drawing, storytelling, or therapeutic work with symbols. Many therapists, irrespective of the therapeutic modality (e.g. CBT, Interpersonal, Psychodynamic), have integrated play techniques in their work with children.

Most children do not choose to come to therapy, rather they are “brought” or “sent” by parents, teachers or other professionals who in turn are sometimes pressured to do so by extended family, social services, or courts.  The child’s experience upon arrival at the therapist’s office is often like being punished and sent to the principal’s office.

Creative methods of engagement are dictated by necessity because good therapy doesn’t usually take place in a context of fear and punishment. The therapist must think out-of-the box for ways to transform the experience for the child and make the context a safe, comfortable, and playful context that gradually allows for trust to build and for the child to be able to use the therapeutic space in a helpful way.

for more information go to: http://cognitivetherapyforchildren.net

In recent years, cognitive behavioral psychotherapy with children and adolescents is receiving an increasing amount of attention. While cognitive behavior therapy with children and adolescents considered as an effective and widely used therapeutic approach, most cognitive behavioral therapists lack skills when it comes to working with parents and other family members. Research shows that most childhood disorders are associated with family problems. Children?s difficulties occur in a familial context and family members play a role in the initiation, maintenance, as well as exacerbation of children?s problems. However, there are few cognitive behavioral approaches to family therapy. This is regrettable for at least two reasons. First, children and adolescents infrequently refer themselves to therapy and typically are brought to therapy by powerful others such as peers, teachers, and institutions. Second, cognitive therapists working with individual youngsters rarely hold enough reinforcers and create a consistent environment to effect generalizable and enduring changes in the family context.

Since the beginning, family therapy has been interested in how interactions between family members can create and maintain problem behavior.  Family therapists are also interested in the circular nature of causality (A influences B influences C influences A). This approach allows therapists to gain an understanding of how the child?s context can create, maintain and change the presenting problem.

Family therapy techniques would be complementary to cognitive behavioral therapies with children, adolescents and their families.

 

 

In this article, I want to share some things I’ve learned doing family therapy over the years and give you some strategies for dealing with the “crazies” that are inevitably brought on by too much “family togetherness” during the holiday season. Dealing with family is, at the best of times, challenging. Add to that ‘great expectations’ (or fantasies) of one or more of the following:

· curling up with your loved ones in front of a roaring fire while sipping hot chocolate or mulled cider

· buying the “perfect” gift for a family member and delighting in the joy it brings them

· family gathering together from far and wide and putting all of their differences aside to enjoy a special holiday together wherein everybody gets along, there are no fights, and everybody is floating along the blissful sea of “family unity”

· preparing the “perfect” family dinner that everyone enthusiastically feasts on, appreciates deeply, and thanks you for endlessly from the bottom of their hearts (oh, and they also clean up while you sit with your feet up on the sofa)

· spending some “quality time” with a special relative you haven’t seen in a while; just the two of you

And I’m sure I haven’t covered them all! Feel free to add your own fantasy of the “perfect holiday” here…

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that the typical family holiday doesn’t usually look like any of the above! And why is this?

Why do we individually and collectively delude ourselves into believing that there is such a thing as the “perfect holiday” anyway? Why do we hold up such great hopes for the season, and then often end up landing flat on our faces in the mud full of sadness, anger, and great disappointment?

I’m sure many of you are screaming out, “The media!” and you’d be right. The illusion of perfectly happy, well-adjusted families gathering together in joy SELLS. It sells a lot! Down from men’s colognes, all the way up to new cars!

Guess when my busiest season is as a therapist? RIGHT AFTER THE WINTER HOLIDAYS! I don’t dare take a vacation at the beginning of January as my phone is ringing off the hook and people are desperate to come in and make sense of why they feel so many unpleasant feelings following being with their families-of-origin over the holiday season.

One thing I hear over and over again at this time of year is, “Why didn’t I see it coming? How did I end up in the same place AGAIN with my family after I’ve worked so hard on those relationships as an adult? How could I have been so stupid?”

While I feel that beating oneself up is pointless and unnecessarily damaging, I do feel that it makes sense to do all that we can in terms of healthy self-care when planning to spend time with family; especially during important holidays when everyone’s expectations are high and nerves are frayed.

Here are a few suggestions and ideas for taking care of yourself over the holidays that have worked for many of my clients:

· Limit the length of time you stay with family or have family stay with you to something that doesn’t make you want to hide out under the covers for days on end when you think about it (trust your gut- you’ll know what is the right length of time).

· If you’re surrounded by other people for a number of days and things begin to feel really intense, make sure you take some time away EVERY DAY- even plan your “alone time” for each day of the visit before the actual event and schedule around it. Take an hour to emotionally “decompress” and go for a walk, window-shop, take the dog out, have a bubble bath, or whatever else centres you.

· Lower expectations of yourself and others- try to stay in reality and stop fantasizing about having a “perfect holiday”. Be realistic and plan for the worst-case scenarios that are possible so that you’re prepared for them. And if they don’t happen, enjoy that!

· Remember that no matter how old we are now, when we’re with our family (especially parents), we revert to feeling like we’re about 10 years old and that’s just the way it is. Don’t fight it, but also frequently remind yourself that you are not a child; you are a grown woman and have choices.

· If you sense that getting together with family over the holidays would be very detrimental to your well-being (there are many families in this category), let go of guilt and opt out and spend the holidays with friends who make you feel really good and bring out the best in you. Some families really are toxic and you may need to set very intense boundaries in order to deal with them.

And lastly, remember that HOLIDAYS ARE TEMPORARY AND WILL BE OVER SOON, or in other words, “This too shall pass”… they aren’t meant to be an endurance test; they’re meant to be fun. It’s also really important to keep a positive attitude and remember to be playful and to not take stuff too seriously.

Peace to your and yours this holiday season…

Itâ??s unbelievable but the most widely used drug for ADHD therapy (known as Ritalin) has increased by 9,000% over a ten year period in the UK! Many parents are asking this question :- Does this mean that the number of children needing ADHD therapy has increased by that figure or is this drug being prescribed en masse for children with problems? ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is widely misdiagnosed as well. They also frequently ask if ADHD alternative therapy is available and above all, if it is free from side effects.

First Fact – Many parents are beginning to question the standard medication (psychostimulants) for ADHD therapy and are worried about the side effects. Another very popular drug (Adderall) has been withdrawn in Canada because there were legitimate concerns and some evidence to show that children with heart problems were suffering from alarming side effects. In any case, children on these psychostimulant drugs have to be monitored for heart and blood pressure which also sets alarm bells ringing for worried parents.

Second Fact :- Weight gain and metabolic disorders have been reported in children using psychostimulant drugs for ADHD. The University of Florida reported in 2007 around 50% of all children (from 5 -12 year olds) diagnosed with ADHD were prescribed these drugs. The FDA is worried that warnings issued to doctors are not sufficient and that these drugs are not being correctly prescribed.

Third Fact :- Just this week, The Times reported that Risperdal which is tranquilizer with some awful side effects

is being prescribed for children with ADHD. The alarming fact is that this drug is suitable only for children suffering from bipolar disorder, NOT for children with ADHD! The FDA is asking why up to 16% of pediatric patients were given this drug when they only had ADHD. This figure was for a three year period.

Fourth Fact : There are many ways of treating ADHD apart from conventional medication which, as we have seen above, has alarming side effects on the children who take them. ADHD alternative therapy can take many forms such as family therapy, visual therapy, homeopathy and hypnotherapy. Many parents are asking if there are herbal remedies for ADHD therapy and if this a valid alternative.

Fifth Fact :- Hyperactive children when they take psychostimulant drugs are stimulated as the name suggests. You might think that stimulation is the last thing a hyperactive ADHD sufferer needs but it does help the brain to stay focused and the child will pay more attention as a result, thus improve concentration and control restlessness. There are lots of herbal ingredients (Gingko Biloba and Brahmi just to mention two) which can stimulate the brain just as effectively as the drugs do and there are no damaging side effects. If you click on the link below the article, you will find a list of herbal stimulants which are a much safer alternative therapy for ADHD.

Believe me, many parents are now seeking ADHD alternative therapy as they realize that conventional medication with psychostimulants is damaging their childrenâ??s health. Now that you are armed with this information, you can click on the link below which will give you all the information you need on ADHD alternative therapy which is safe for your child.

Provo Canyon School has one of the finest Recreational Therapy (R.T.) programs for an adolescent residential treatment center in the United States of America. Fully licensed, trained, and skilled recreation therapists work directly with teams of youth and direct-care staff to provide powerful experiential treatment. Recreation therapists do work with individuals, with groups of teams, and with families when they visit Provo Canyon School. Recreation therapy includes a vast array of recreational and fun activities that are therapeutic in purpose. In other words, they aren’t just done to entertain or have diversionary fun, but to establish insights to emotional and behavioral problems, and to empower positive growth. Such activities at Provo Canyon School include high task on the ropes course, low tasks, games, primitive skills, rock climbing, rappelling, hiking, skiing, rafting, and camping. Some last for one hour, others can last for several days.

Many Provo Canyon School programs do recreation therapy as a stand-alone experience, instead of an integrated therapeutic tool. However, at Provo Canyon School, R.T. is viewed as part of a team concept, and actively integrates therapists, coaches, and students who are part of a team. Significant empowerment comes from these activities. Youth that come for care to Provo Canyon School are, by nature, active and aggressive, and being outside doing something adventurous or active usually brings a deeper involvement and greater insights. Some of the most powerful therapy is done on the trail or in camp or while participating in a stimulating or challenging experience. This article addresses experiences that often come from R.T. at Provo Canyon School.

While studying about geology at Provo Canyon School, a recreational therapist, a school teacher, and a therapist join together in taking a class of students on a hike in the Utah desert where they find geodes. Geodes (Greek geoides, “earthlike”) are geological rock formations which occur in sedimentary and certain volcanic rocks. Geodes are essentially rock cavities or vugs with internal crystal formations or concentric banding. The exterior of the most common geodes is generally limestone or a related rock, while the interior contains quartz crystals and/or chalcedony deposits. Other geodes are completely filled with crystal, being solid all the way through. These types of geodes are called nodules.

The group finds a geode that is plain colored and quite ugly on the outside, but the inside is filled with beautiful purple Amethyst crystals. The Provo Canyon School therapists bring the boys together in a process group and ask them to describe how the geode is like themselves. The discussion carries that they can often feel or appear unattractive on the outside, but the inside, where they keep their deepest feelings hidden, can be quite beautiful. They learn to judge the inside of a person, instead of the outside. They learn how drug abuse, misbehavior, discouragement, depression, and other problems can make them appear dangerous or ugly on the outside, and cover the beautiful or attractive attributes that lie inside. Individual youth can begin to identify the things that are inwardly good and even great about them, and why they seem to try to keep those attributes hidden. Members of the Provo Canyon School group share the inner nice qualities that they see in each other, and this builds individual self-esteem, as well as team unity and trust. This opens up all kinds of discussions in individual and family therapy.

The Provo Canyon School group also finds desert marbles. These are dark, rust-colored, round stone-like objects that are actually formed out of desert sand. Sand contains the mineral “iron”, which gives it a reddish color. When water and iron mix, they form a compound called “iron oxide” that is hard and metal-like. Yet, inside the hard shell, they find softer sandstone that they can scrap out with a stick or even their fingernail. Again, the R.T. member of the Provo Canyon School group leads the boys in a discussion about life and hidden pain. They begin to see how, like the desert marble, they have begun to build up a hard, resistive shell around their softer inner feelings. The boys begin to see that just as the red iron mineral in the soft sand bled out and combined with oxygen and water to form a hard, protective shell, so have their painful experiences in life caused their need for love, acceptance, guidance, and achievement to bleed and combine with other things to form dangerous and self-destructive behaviors. This discussion brings insights to some of the events in their lives that have caused pain, discouragement, and hopelessness. For those boys who are recovering from drug abuse or another addiction, they can begin to see how the addiction has built a shell around them. Again, this opens the boys up to sharing some of their challenges, and helps them see that they still have a soft inner part that is good. This has the potential to restore hope and vision. It also helps them bond together as a team when they are back at Provo Canyon School.

Last of all, the Provo Canyon School group finds a piece of petrified wood. The teacher explains the process of petrification to the boys while they pass the piece of rock around and look closely at its molecular structure. The Provo Canyon School teacher explains that the wood was covered by volcanic ash some thousands of years ago. So covered, the wood underwent the influences of pressure and heat and water action. Water seeped down into the wood over time and slowly replaced each wood molecule with mineral (rock) molecules. The transfer was so precise that the image of the wood was completely preserved, right down to its bark, texture, grain, and growth rings. The Provo Canyon School teacher explains that over time, with heat, pressure, and water, a soft, pliable, usable piece of wood was turned into stone. The Provo Canyon School therapist asks the boys to think about if there is such a thing as human petrification. He asks them to identify the forces in their lives that have caused heat, pressure, and stress, and perhaps began to harden them. This may include drugs, lying, abuse, dishonesty, hopelessness, discouragement, and other things. They begin to see that if they continue this process over time, they may become like rocks, having only the image of a human being. They begin to identify those attributes that real men and women have that make them soft and useful to others around them.

These and other experiences like them can be powerful influences for insight and change in youth. They far outstrip the traditional couch therapy and normal classroom instruction to which they are necessarily subjected while back at Provo Canyon School. These types of experiences should be written down in a growth or change journal, and discussed in individual and family therapy sessions. It is crucial that the Provo Canyon School primary therapist, recreation therapists, and other direct care staff, including coaches and teachers (when it is appropriate) participate with the boys and girls in this type of experiential therapy, so that they can experience and process with the youth these precious growth moments.

Recreation therapy plays a specific and important role at Provo Canyon School. It is not just something Provo Canyon School staff use to entertain youthful clients and their parents. It is a significant part of the integrated plan of care that empowers a youth to make true growth in recognizing, committing, and actually making needed changes in his or her life.

NY therapy is developed from psychology. Psychology is a social science that continues to find new diversity as the world, society and people change. It represents a way of thinking that is practical, extremely important and critical in understanding much of the world around us with the human element at its center. Psychology is a vast subject that contains subtopics that are slowly becoming major topics the more we learn about them. Psychology is not only about abnormal behavior; in fact, that is only the smallest part of what it researches. It contains issues that will eventually concern everyone.
All people will find some topic that they are interested in because it deals with questions that have arisen in an individual’s mind about himself. One end of the spectrum could be mental illness, while the other includes numerous social questions. NY therapy is about therapies that use psychology in aiding people with everyday problems, such as stress, sleep problems and improving mental skills like memory.
It deals with symbolisms in dreams and questions about the concept of love, human development from conception through death and all the processes in between. It also investigates body processes and how we deal with emotion and also react with to it; for instance, how neurotransmitters work and why problems with them may cause depression. It also deals with perception and why we see things the way that we do. Each person perceives the world differently, yet this makes us very much the same, because all of us being different also make us similar.
New York is known for its flexibility in that it maintains the conservative and the traditional, but is also a centre for change and the creation of new ideas. New ideas are not found only in the world of fashion and art, but also in the field of psychology.
NY therapy, which includes the areas of the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island, offers traditional therapy as well as therapies that have been designed to meet the social needs of a changing world. It is believed that if a person has difficulties from such things as depression, anxiety, panic disorders, social anxiety, any of the many phobias, eating disorders, personality disorders, pain that is chronic as well as chronic fatigue commonly referred to as somatic complaints, post traumatic stress disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders, are in need of some kind of help through the system that provides therapy for individuals.
Not all people suffer from serious mental problems that require treatment in order to help them function, but being average people they do deal with the everyday problems of stress caused by children, parents, spouses, family and work. The stresses of life, when not dealt with, can bring about anger management problems or low self-esteem. Left to themselves, they sometimes manifest themselves in other ways. Families can break up, marriages dissolve and this is mostly derived through a lack of communication. NY therapy can help individuals and families reduce stress and learn how to handle it. This can then repair the relationships and bring some peace back into the world where it seemed that only turmoil seemed to exist.
You will find the most common NY therapy to be typical psychological therapy that is practiced almost everywhere such as: Cognitive behavior therapy that assists people in recognizing negative thoughts and maladaptive beliefs so they can change them. Most people like to think they can change anything that is wrong in their habits and behaviors, but the truth of the matter is that usually the last person to recognize your faults is you. Hearing about them from others will most often put you on the defensive.
This is why this type of therapy is considered a type of insight therapy, because its emphasis is on recognizing your problems. Psychoanalytic therapies, which were originally developed by Dr. Sigmund Freud, explain what personality is and what motivates the behavior that we exhibit, whether good or bad. Habits that are formed within are usually unconscious, in other words we do things without recognizing the fact. Systemic and family therapies focus on the problem or problems of individuals and how it affects the whole, which is the family.
Typically, people in family situations react to others, depending on how they feel about another’s behavior. Other types of NY therapy include cognitive analytic, existential, humanistic therapy, where the therapist is specialized through training to be empathetic and supportive so that their clients feel safe and know that their problems and who they are is understood and respected, feminist, group analysis, art therapy and expressive arts that help a client deepen self-expression.
Body-oriented psychotherapy helps the client understand that a person can heal and transform themselves from the painful memories of the past. Therapy that helps a person understand the past and the personal issues that came from the past and their relationships, so that the present can bring healing, is psychodynamic psychotherapy. This is only a very few types of therapy that are out there. It would take several volumes to name them all and give an explanation for each. Many of the therapies used will often combine two or more therapies separately or they might even overlap. On average, N Y therapy costs from 80 to 200 dollars for a one hour session.
NY therapy can also be found online. Any individual would communicate through the computer and quite possibly be aided with a microphone and camera. There are pages and pages of listings for types of NY therapy that can be found on the web, as well as in the phone directories in the yellow papers. Family doctors can help you find a therapist or recommend one to you, but you usually need to make an appointment to see them first.
Clinics often provide at least one therapist or a directory instead of the yellow pages to assist you. In seeking N Y therapy, it is important to continue your search even if you don’t succeed at first. Getting help for yourself and or your family is a positive decision than can eventually make a difference in how you feel about yourself and about life.