April 2008

In this newsletter:

1) Fast Help: Counseling Helps with Weight Loss
2) Therapist Q&A: Midlife crises
3) Reading Recommendations
4) Clinic Announcements

1) Fast Help: Counseling Helps with Weight Loss

Weight loss is an important issue to many Americans. The struggle to keep a healthy weight and active
lifestyle is common among busy people. Oftentimes, the struggle is due to a lack of support that the
person receives while undertaking a program in personal improvement. A study published in March in
the Journal of the American Medical Association speaks of this and the importance of proper emotional
support needed by people in weight loss programs. Published by the Duke University Medical Center,
over 1000 participants participated in a weight loss program. The group was followed over a period of
two years in terms of how they maintained their weight loss. Although at the end of the study, almost
all participants gained some weight back, those who obtained personal counseling gained back the least
amount of weight, followed by a second group of those who received internet-based support. A third
group was given only basic information on how to maintain weight loss, and this group gained back the
most amount of weight. This study speaks to the importance of receiving appropriate emotional support
when going through major life changes such as committing to a weight loss program.

2) Therapist Q&A: Midlife Crises

What causes a midlife crisis?

Midlife crisis is a term used to describe the "blahs" that many people feel during their middle-aged years,
when a person realizes their youth is a thing of the past and feels that what lies ahead is impending "old
age." In a society often obsessed with youth, it is easy for one to feel that they no longer matter once
they reach middle age. But how common in this the "midlife crisis?" Researchers at Dartmouth College
in NH and the University of Warwick in England studied this phenomenon for 35 years. What they found
out was that feelings of self-doubt and pessimism common to those experiencing a midlife crisis are
common among many different cultures, are experienced by men and women (who are either parents or
have no children), and by people of different socio-economic statuses. Further, the study states that such
a crisis is not the result of a major life change such as a divorce or a job loss. While the study is unclear
as to exactly what causes these feelings to come about at this age (there are different hypotheses), the
study points out that over the course of time, most people do emerge from the state of a midlife crisis.
It points out that most will eventually reach a state of feeling optimistic as they head into their later years,
much the same as they felt when they were younger. And that is great news for young and old alike. If
you feel that you are experiencing a life change and in need of emotional support to help get you through,
please do not hesitate to contact our office for a consultation.

3) Reading Recommendations

Staff Therapist Martha Jackson-Oppeneer, LMFT, recommends:

"Why Marriages Succeed or Fail...And How You Can Make Yours Last" by John
Gottman, Ph.D.
Marriage is not a game of chance. There are very specific actions we can
take to avoid divorce and enhance the quality of our marital relationships.
Psychologist John Gottman has devoted decades to studying what makes a
marriage last. Dr. Gottman identifies attitudes which doom a marriage and
provides a wealth of helpful information that can help you take concrete
steps to improve your marriage.

"Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert
This is the book many of my clients are talking about. It chronicles the
author's descent into depression as she realizes that "having it all" has
left her feeling empty and in a state of near panic. Gilbert's narrative
describes her world travels as she searches for meaning, authenticity, peace
of mind and a deeper sense of connection with God. Gilbert subtly invites
readers to explore their own lives, searching for meaning and fulfillment in
the midst of the ordinariness of everyday life.

We welcome the titles and authors of any appropriate books you have found to
be particularly useful. We may then share them in this newsletter and on our
website (your name will be withheld for confidentiality purposes). If you
have a book you'd like to share, please send the title, author, and a brief
description to cpa@wi.rr.com.

4) Clinic News

We are accepting new clients at this time. If you know anyone who you think would benefit from counseling
or a consultation with us, please have him or her give us a call. We thank you in advance for any referrals
you provide.