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January 2009 Quote of the Month:
1) Fast Help: Insomnia
Insomnia affects millions of people each year. Insomnia is simply defined as having difficulty sleeping, whether it is non-refreshing sleep, difficulty falling asleep, or difficulty staying asleep (waking in the middle of the night). There are many causes of insomnia. It can be the result of many disorders, of behavioral, psychological, or of a medical nature. Some psychological disorders are responsible for insomnia, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse (including caffeine), job stress, and relationship dissatisfaction. In addition, a host of medical problems, from heart and lung disease to thyroid disorders and physical pain can cause insomnia. The list goes on. Getting the right amount of sleep is an important part of your health and it should be given priority. We live in a fast-paced world and it is easy to convince ourselves that we can skip a few hours here and a few hours there and still function with a few extra cups of coffee. This only contributes to the continuing cycle. There are several treatments available for insomnia. Treatment
can be provided by different types of providers. Your doctor can
prescribe medication to assist with sleep. Talking with your doctor
is very important; they can rule out other physical illnesses
or factors contributing to insomnia. Psychotherapy can also assist
to evaluate your stress level and/or other psychological factors
that are getting in the way of healthy sleep. Cognitive-behavioral
psychotherapy is very effective with the treatment of insomnia.
This process assists with changing unhealthy or irrational thought
patterns (about sleep) and replace them with healthy thoughts
and belief systems, resulting in healthy sleep. Alternative therapies
such as herbal supplements as well as acupuncture are also widely
used for treatment of sleep problems. Consult an alternative healthcare
provider if you are interested in the exploration of alternative
therapies.
I would like my child to see a counselor. How do I convince him to do this? First, talk with your child about your concerns. Choosing a comfortable place for the child is important. Speak with your child in a gentle manner, which will allow your child to express his/her concerns in as much depth as he/she is comfortable. Let your child know that a counselor is a confidential resource where your child can talk about whatever is on their mind, in a safe place. Point out the benefits of therapy, such as improved mood and functioning and reduction of uncomfortable symptoms such as sadness or nervousness, for example. Since his/her safety is an utmost concern, contact your family physician or local emergency room if your child is an imminent threat of safety to him/herself or others. Secondly, choosing the right therapist is a very important process,
but it can be a daunting one, as there are many therapists to
choose from. But don’t be discouraged or intimidated. Here
are a few ways to get in touch with a counselor who is right for
your child: Know also that most therapists welcome a brief phone call so that a client can screen the therapist/assess for comfort level. They want to make sure you find the right person suited for your child’s needs. Don’t be afraid to ask the therapist about their training and experience working with your child’s area of concern. If you choose to work with a particular therapist, work out an initial plan as to how long problem resolution may take. However, be patient, especially in the beginning. Uncomfortable symptoms or feelings often increase in the beginning of treatment as difficult emotions are discussed with the therapist and brought out into the open. Usually after a few sessions, these uncomfortable feelings will be felt less and less. It is important to know that the symptom or feeling is a result of a deeper problem. As the therapist assists with addressing the underlying problem, the uncomfortable feelings subside even more. Feel free to contact one of our professionally trained staff if you have further concerns regarding your child. Our staff is prepared to work with concerns of all ages and a variety of concerns, and is happy to assist with a brief initial consult by phone to ensure that your child receives the services needed.
Women may be more affected by their parents’ divorce than men, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Family Psychology (Vol. 22, No. 5). The study reports that, compared to men and to children of non-divorced parents, engaged women of divorced parents report less confidence and commitment to their marriages. The study states that this might be the case because women are “typically more relationship-oriented than men.” (From Monitor on Psychology, December 2008).
In addition to the traditional counseling services we provide, at Clinical Psychology Associates we also offer the following: • Depression Screening For information regarding any of these programs or to schedule a confidential consultation, please contact our programs coordinator, Chris Lerner at lernerc@hotmail.com or 262-251-1112, ext 8. For a full listing of the services we offer, please go to http://www.clinical-psychology-associates.com/services.htm .
Staff therapist Tara Magaw, MA, LPC recommends: Fighting for Your Marriage by Howard J Markman, Scott M. Stanley,
and Susan L. Blumberg. This book is based on groundbreaking
studies that reveal strategies to help handle conflict more constructively,
protect happiness and reduce the odds of breaking up. Newsletter reader recommends: Pulling Your Own Strings by Dr Wayne Dyer: How to recognize
and combat the attempts at manipulation from others. 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 or similar resource
you would like to share, please email the title, author, and a
brief description to cpa@wi.rr.com.
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Clinical
Psychology Associates State Certified Clinic 262.251.1112 |