Tuesday, May 31, 2011

group


group therapy (noun) : the place where individuals sit at a table filled with food possessing only extra long utensils that prevent them from bringing food to their mouths and therefore they go hungry
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Ideally, these people eventually are supposed to learn to feed each other with those same utensils. You may have heard this story as the difference between heaven and hell - it's the same thing really.

Joining a group helps the therapist see how you actually interact with others (and not rely simply on what you tell him or her). More importantly, the group dynamic is supposed to present the individuals with a safe place to hear how you communicate or act and how you are perceived, in case you want to make some changes here. Nice theory but very difficult to do with a group of people who all have different issues that they are working through. One basic and recurring theme is the need to feel heard and understood.

In an episode of the US reality television show, Survivor, the host Jeff Probst actually showed how group therapy works best (and to his or his producer's credit, he even noted this). Take a look at tribal council on episode 10 - http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/
and Jeff's input as to his role as therapist -
http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/04/21/jeff-probst-on-episode-10-of-survivor-redemption-island/

Until next time...

Monday, May 30, 2011

laughter = really the best medicine



laughter therapy (noun) : the use of humour to cope with trauma or major life stresses, e.g. 'If I don't laugh, I'll cry.'
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Not to discredit Dr Steve but Dr Madan Kataria believes that the simple act of laughing is enough to change your mood. See:

http://www.raffikatchadourian.com/guru.html

This basically means that no comics or jokes are needed - you just need to laugh and that will improve your mood and your life. Even a fake laugh will do it. Funny enough (and irony is a form of humour, folks, so feel free to chuckle or even giggle here), the theory has merit.

In "The Talking Cure", author Susan Vaughan believes that talk therapy works because the act of talking, especially talking about traumas, over and over, changes patterns in your brain. (That's why talk therapists always say to keep talking and keep telling those stories - the retelling allows you to fully have the feelings that you repressed or explained away.) Those changed brain patterns subsequently change the way you feel and react to the trauma in the future. And this means you get past the trauma and get better.

So Dr Kataria's theory that even forced laughter done regularly makes sense. Maybe all those folks doing Laughter Yoga and Laughter Therapy are onto something. Maybe one day, mental health insurance will cover the cost of cover and two drinks at a comedy club each week. (Now THAT'S funny since mental health insurance in the US rarely covers anything! But that's another post.)

So seriously now (there's irony again for anyone who missed it), whoopie cushion anyone?

Thursday, May 26, 2011

funny bone therapy


therapeutic humor (noun) : any intervention that promotes health and wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity of life's situations
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At least according to the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.

I'm sure that you, like me, are amazed that there is such an organization like the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. Perhaps even some of you (like me) are wondering whether the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor is looking to hire comics to work some intervention therapy. I for one could use the extra money and am well qualified to "stimulate" the "absurdity or incongruity of life's situations."

However, I thought that my stimulation of the absurdity of life's situations made me more depressed and was not actually a therapeutic self intervention at all.

Silly me!

Dr Steve explains it all on his site - http://www.humormatters.com/definiti.htm

Whoopie cushion anyone?

Monday, May 23, 2011

trouble with men


man (noun) : an animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is, as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be; his chief occupation is extermination of other animals and his own species
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According to the NYTimes, men have certain issues with which only a male therapist can help. See

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/health/22therapists.html?_r=1&hp

And I thought men were supposed to be simple! Looks like unless more men get into the field of psychoanalysis, we are going to be stuck with a lot of unhealthy males ruling this planet. (Although looking at the current world situation, we've been stuck at this place for a while now...)

Too bad psychoanalysis represents thankless work that you can't ever get rich doing (since you can't duplicate yourself) - two qualities that don't attract a lot of men. This means that the situation won't change any time soon. Perhaps all the post-booming mothers raising boys will have done talk therapy to work out how to help them become well adjusted men who won't need therapy.

But it's more likely just more business for those few mail therapists who remain.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

spring forward to passive agressive


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(If you don't understand this cartoon, ask me for the name of a good therapist.)

Special thanks to the New Yorker's cartoon bank - http://blog.cartoonbank.com/2011/04/24/cartoon-of-the-day-514/

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

be afraid, be very afraid


psychopath (noun) : one with an anti-social personality disorder that is manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse
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Here's a quick test for psychopathy! See if you, your partner, or your friends fit the bill!

For each of the 20 characteristics, give a score of 0 if it does not apply, 1 if it applies partially, and 2 if it is a perfect match.

1. Glib and Superficial Charm
The tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example.
2. Grandiose Self-Worth
A grossly inflated view of one's abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.
3. Need for Stimulation or Proneness to Boredom
An excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.
4. Pathological Lying
Can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.
5. Cunning and Manipulativeness
The use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one's victims.
6. Lack of Remorse or Guilt
A lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one's victims.
7. Shallow Affect
Emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.
8. Callousness and Lack of Empathy
A lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.
9. Parasitic Lifestyle
An intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.
10. Poor Behavioral Controls
Expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily.
11. Promiscuous Sexual Behavior
A variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.
12. Early Behavior Problems
A variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.
13. Lack of Realistic, Long-Term Goals
An inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.
14. Impulsivity
The occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.
15. Irresponsibility
Repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.
16. Failure to Accept Responsibility for Own Actions
A failure to accept responsibility for one's actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial.
17. Juvenile Delinquency
Behavior problems between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.
18. Revocation of Condition Release
A revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.
19. Criminal Versatility
A diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.
20. Many Short-Term Relationships
A lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.

0-5 = Whew!
5-20 = Get out or get help now!
20+ = If it's your score, run quickly to a psychiatrist; if it's someone you know, just run!