06.24.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:25 pm by Administrator
Speaking of dogs, and what they give back – besides begging and slobbering and shedding – a Social Worker employed by Merced County in California started a program for at-risk teenagers. Apparently, this program allows teens to provide assistance-dog training and care to canines who are then place with persons afflicted with various disabilities such as mobility problems, hearing loss, autism, and mental illness.
The program is called the High-Schooled Assistance Dog Program. The website states that teens learn about abuse and domestic violence while increasing their own level of empathy, responsibility, and motivation.
I bet the non-judgmental affection and acceptance that is freely given by the animals to these young people – who probably have not experienced much of this in their lives – goes a long way towards healing a lot of hurt.
More information can be found at the Merced County website: http://www.co.merced.ca.us/index.asp?NID=976
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06.23.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:36 pm by Administrator
Dogs are great companions, and we all know that they can be trained as seeing-eye animals, protection and law-enforcement assistants, hunting companions, and even help therapeutically.
I was aware that dogs can be trained to sense some cancers on people and I did see a special on TV about dogs being able to alert owners that are in danger of having a seizure. This amazes me, and this morning I read an article that researchers in the UK are training dogs to sense when there is a blood sugar drop in people afflicted with diabetes!
Certainly, canines don’t have the ability for higher reasoning and language skills like humans, but the abilities they do possess never cease to amaze me! How their worlds must be so different from what we experience in life!
Not everyone is a ‘dog person’, but if you are, like I am, what a gift they are in our lives.
Tracking 'something' interesting
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06.02.09
Posted in Books at 2:20 pm by Administrator
Each April, WAMFT (our local chapter in Wisconsin for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy) presents a two day conference. It is there that I attended a presentation by Lee Raffel, MSW and found her book – “Should I Stay or Should I Go – How Controlled Separation (CS) Can Save Your Marriage”.
This is a book formulated from Ms. Raffel’s 25 years of experience counseling couples and individuals. Written in an easy-to-read and compassionate manner, Ms. Raffel puts forth a structured approach to couple separation as a means to heal a marriage, or to assist a couple in making a reasoned decision to divorce.
In troubled marriages, there may be a decision to separate for a time as a response to a stressful situation – but with no clear goals established, leaving the parties wondering, “What now? Where do we go from here?”
If you are in a trouble relationship, and may be considering a separation, whether you are working with a therapist or not, I recommend reading this book first. It could help to reduce a lot of the anxiety and confusion a trial separation will bring.
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05.23.09
Posted in Conditions at 2:07 pm by Administrator
I ran across this interesting web site containing lots of information about both childhood and adult ADHD. Many of the ideas listed for helping with adult ADHD could be of help even if you don’t have ADHD. There are also sections devoted to information on other health conditions. The articles look like they’ve been reviewed by physicians for medical accuracy, too.
Check it out at: http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/adult-adhd.aspx
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05.03.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:31 pm by Administrator
What a beautiful day here in southeastern Wisconsin. It really feels like spring today. I so enjoy being out in the garden checking to see what is starting to grow. I find it very relaxing. I’ve really been practicing living ‘in the moment’. I think it’s a great way to reduce worry and anxiety. I came across a quote which touched me on this very topic –
“Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, but set earnestly at the little task near your elbow, letting that be sufficient for the day, for surely our plain duty is not to see what lies dimly at a distance but to do what lies clearly at hand.”
I’ve forgotten to write down the author of this quote, but will have to go back and look.
There’s really so much that is negative and worrisome in the news, we tend to live in a worried and anxious state, while we miss the small things that make life worthwhile. I should learn something from my dog who had a busy day and now lies resting and calm beside me.
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04.15.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:28 pm by Administrator
We may not be able to do great things;
But we must do small things with great love.
Mother Teresa
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04.10.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:13 pm by Administrator
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, this is one of the most common complaints I here from couples at the start of therapy. I think the real problem is not that people can’t communicate – I think we communicate all the time! After all, someone (and I don’t remember who) said “we cannot NOT communicate.” We are communicating something all the time, although it may not be exactly what we want. We are sending messages via body language, looks, sighs, etc.
I think the real problem is that we don’t listen! Converstaions between partners often times are more like debates – point/counterpoint. No one really listens to the other’s words because we are too busy in our minds contructing our reply (retort, position, opinion).
I’ve heard it said “we were given two ears and one mouth because we should be listening twice as much as we are talking”. Check it out – see if you are really getting what your partner is trying to tell you.
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04.06.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:34 am by Administrator
For more information about me and my psychotherapy practice, go to www.creativemft.com
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Posted in Uncategorized at 12:26 am by Administrator
Tomorrow I will be in a continuing education seminar presented by Froma Walsh, PhD. Dr. Walsh will be discussing family resilience, and how it pertains to family recovery from trauma, loss, and crisis. I am looking forward to hearing her speak and learning practical applications.
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03.31.09
Posted in Books at 7:51 pm by Administrator
I just finished reading a great book – “Against Medical Advice” by James Patterson , Hal Friedman, and Cory Friedman. For anyone who has has child with difficulties, or if you need a lesson in courage and love, this is an amazing book about amazing people. Although much is painful to read , I guarantee that at the end you will be warmed by a family’s strength, perseverance, and love.
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