March 2009

Written by Gary Breuer, M.A., L.P.C.

Quote of the Month:

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ~Viktor E. Frankl

In this newsletter:
1) Fast Help: Spring Cleaning
2) Therapist Q&A: Stages of Change
3) Psychology News In Brief
4) Programs To Help You
5) Reading Recommendations – NEW THERAPIST BLOG!

1) Fast Help: Spring Cleaning

As the season of spring is upon us, we begin to enjoy the warmer days and increased hours of sunlight. We enjoy hearing the sounds of birds singing in the trees and see the buds on the trees beginning to bloom. As the remaining snow melts and we are ready to put our winter jackets away, most of us are ready for change, and can again remember what the changes of seasons signify: Change and rebirth. The changing of the seasons and the balance of nature occur naturally. This natural cycle can be a reminder to look again at one’s own life and ask what is to be learned or acquired in this season of our lives.

This idea of change and new birth is a new time to make changes and take account of our lives. As spring brings a newfound energy in the air, you may again ponder taking that class that has always interested you or may feel motivated to once again take up exercise. As we clean our basements and attics and sweep out those cobwebs, we can consider the benefits of sweeping out the cobwebs preventing us from enjoying full physical and mental health. This could include getting that medical checkup that is overdue, getting your eyes checked, going to the dentist, or arrange to correct an old behavior or relationship problem. Usually, unlike nature, problems just do not take care of themselves. Procrastination or pretending problems do not exist will not solve them. A resolution doesn’t only need to occur during the new year. Be open to the possibilities of this new season of your life by asking yourself “What will make my life more fulfilling?” or “What is something I’ve always wanted to try” or “What is something that is overdue that I need to solve or take care of to enjoy life more fully?”. With each day that passes, another day is lost. Make the most of your life by honoring the present moment...Today.

2) Therapist Q&A: Stages of Change

We are often asked questions about change (e.g. how to change one’s behavior or how to change the behavior of another). As the old saying goes “The Only Constant In the Universe is Change.” Thus it is important to constantly evaluate our views and awareness as to how open we are to change in our own lives and relationships. How open we are to making changes inevitably effects all areas of our lives from our emotional and physical health, to our careers and our relationships. James Prochaska Ph.D., psychology professor at the University of Rhode Island constructed the following model of the stages of change which has been used in the field of psychology for over 30 years:

Pre-contemplation: In this stage, the person is not aware there is a problem and may use denial if confronted. The person may feel that the problem lies outside of him/herself (the belief that someone else caused the problem and is responsible for fixing it) and is not considering making any kind of change or taking personal responsibility.

Contemplation: In this stage, the person has become aware (often through consequences such as a run-in with the law or being threatened with a divorce) that changes need to be made. These people are “contemplating” making changes.

Preparation: The person begins to prepare for changes that need to be made. They take a personal account of what needs to be done and plan their map for change.

Action: The person is taking the necessary actions and making the appropriate changes in his/her life.

Maintenance: The process of maintaining the desired behavior change over time. This is important to continue to take personal accountability to avoid relapse into old behavior patterns.

Relapse: This is a stage often experienced by many people in the change process. The person in this stage will “go back” to old behavior patterns. However, they often re-enter at the contemplation stage and regain insight into the causes of the relapse and pick up the pieces again and continue along the path to lasting change.

3) Psychology News In Brief

More and more people are turning to dating websites to find a long-term relationship during this time of economic hardship. According to a 2008 survey of the Opinion Research Corp., singles worried about the economy “were 14 percent more likely to believe they would be in a committed long-term relationship by the end of this year than those not concerned about the economy.” Researcher and psychologist Gian Gonzaga reports people try to cope with stress by gravitating toward relationships. (From Monitor on Psychology, March 2009).

4) Programs To Help You

In addition to the traditional counseling services we provide, at Clinical Psychology Associates we also offer the following:
• Depression Screening
• Anxiety Screening
• Marriage/Relationship Enrichment Program
• Smoking Cessation
• Career Counseling and Testing

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 .

5) Reading Recommendations

Staff therapist Martha Jackson-Oppeneer, D.Min., LMFT recommends:

Say Goodnight To Insomnia by Gregg D. Jacobs, Ph.D. Insomnia is a problem that seems to have reached almost epidemic proportions in our culture. Fatigue resulting from insomnia has been linked to everything from compromised health to road safety. This book draws upon research conducted by the Behavioral Medicine Insomnia Program at Harvard Medical School. It is a practical, easy-to-read resource that offers techniques for eliminating sleeping pills, changing habits that inhibit good-quality sleep, altering negative thoughts that sabotage sleep and implementing relaxation and stress-reduction techniques.

Staff therapist Gary Breuer, MA, LPC recommends:

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miquel Ruiz. This small book is a helpful guide to assist the reader to recognize common thoughts and behavior patterns which cause human suffering. This book explains the devastating effects of taking things personally and how to avoid this, and also explains how to follow the path of truth and honesty in one’s day-to-day life. My clients really appreciated this book and have found it applicable to their personal and professional lives.

Newsletter reader recommends:

After the Tears: Reclaiming the Personal Losses of Childhood by Jane Middelton-Moz and Loris Dwinell

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.

 

NEW THERAPIST BLOG!

Did you ever wonder what a psychotherapist thinks? Well, now you have a chance to get an inside look! Since blogging has become commonplace in the current computer age, we thought it would be helpful to use this technology to share some additional frequent insights with you. Follow the link below to enjoy the recent musings of one of our therapists, Stephanie Delmore, MA, LPC.
http://seekinggrowth.blogspot.com/