While it is completely natural for an adolescent to pull away from his parents, teens are faced with far too many dangers for parents to simply accept the lack of communication. When a child is unwilling to disclose the details of his school and after school activities, how can parents hope to keep him safe? Furthermore, difficulties with a child can significantly impact a marriage. Differences of opinions about what is or is not acceptable can put undue strain on the relationship between parents.

Eventually, with all of this turmoil and animosity, communication between everyone breaks down until the whole family falls out of sync with one another. In some cases, it can feel as though there is no family unit, but rather a group of individuals who share a living space. This emptiness can lead to depression, drugs, alcohol, affairs and even suicide. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and all efforts to extend an olive branch have failed, it may be time to consider family therapy as an option.

Family therapy can strengthen the bond between all members of the family and enable individuals to experience a fulfilling home life. Couples who were once considering divorce can be reminded why they fell in love to begin with while children and teenagers develop a renewed sense of trust and stability. Major changes will not occur immediately, but some smaller changes may be apparent shortly after the first session.

In therapy, individuals learn to stop blaming each other and to use positive ways to solve conflicts before they spiral out of control and lead to resentment, anger and permanent damage. The techniques learned in family therapy can offer a new perspective and help each family member better understand and respect each member and his differences. Disagreements are a normal part of every relationship; no two people can have the same opinion about everything all the time. The key is to work through these conflicts together. But when this cannot be achieved alone, family therapy may be the best answer.

These changes, of course, are completely unintentional, but after experiencing the rigid lifestyle of the battlefield, the relaxed pace back home can seem lazy and careless. Moreover, witnessing the suffering of battle and losing comrades, who have become like a family, can leave permanent scars. Eventually, many soldiers become callous and unemotional. This subconscious defense mechanism helps an individual cope with a reality in which opposing forces are constantly trying to kill him.

While this is an effective means of survival during deployment, it is of particular concern to spouses who do not know how to interpret this uncharacteristic behavior. In military life, soldiers learn to read one another and communicate with few or no words. However, at home communication between partners often suffers, which leads to arguments. Because it is so difficult to have a conversation without a disagreement, many veterans simply withdraw altogether, becoming isolated from all social situations.

Though there are considerable challenges for veterans and their families, there are effective methods that have helped countless military families achieve the patience and understanding required to heal and develop a stronger bond.

Prolonged Exposure

This therapy is effective in over 80 percent of individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder. This individualized behavior therapy recreates the traumatic event through memory and engagement. This unique form of therapy forces the individual to face the event and its triggers head-on. With time, the individual will develop confidence and courage, eventually overcoming it altogether.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Developed by Francine Shapiro specifically to help rape victims and PTSD patients and based on her theory that traumatic experiences overwhelm cognitive and neurological coping mechanisms. Consequently the memory of the event is incorrectly processed and stored as a defective memory. EDMR effectively subdues the influence of these troubling memories and helps patients develop more appropriate means of dealing with it.

Cognitive Processing Therapy

A variation of cognitive behavior therapy, cognitive processing therapy works to help individuals process the traumatic memories, thereby reducing the effect of their triggers. In this form of therapy, specific situations are broken down into more manageable events, helping the individual understand his feelings and adapt better coping mechanisms.

With all of the sacrifices they make to protect their country, veterans deserve to lead healthy, fulfilling lives once they return home. While there are no quick fixes for the mental and emotional damage sustained in combat, therapy can provide hope and enable veterans to regain control of their lives.

The stimulus at the center of an addiction can be one of any number of things, including prescription drugs, gambling, television, shopping, adrenaline, computers, pornography, and even food. In some cases, as with prescription drugs and food, the addiction may have begun as a perfectly normal, healthy thing, however, using too much or for reasons other than the intended purpose can lead to a hazardous cycle of addiction. This often happens when a person turns to food for comfort or uses prescription medicine for a feeling of nirvana. Consequently, something that would pose no threat to most people becomes a dominant force that cannot be overcome. Fortunately, therapy programs have been found to be extremely successful in treating all types of addiction.

In the past, addiction therapy was limited to treatment for drugs, alcohol or tobacco. However, in recent years, the field has become receptive to virtually all forms of addiction. Still, the more common addictions have remained chemically induced. Unfortunately, not everyone suffering from an addiction believes he has a problem. Often, he may feel he is in complete control and be blind to the effects of his addiction. Therefore, the only way for him to receive the help he needs is to force him into a treatment program.

Individuals who are ordered to seek treatment rarely enter with a positive perspective. However, after several sessions, a therapist is able to break through the layers of dependency and convey the true gravity of the situation, what has happened because of it, and what, potentially lies ahead if treatment is unsuccessful.

Providing that the person is willing to wholeheartedly participate in the treatment, he can seek therapy on his own. The type of program he chooses may be individualized or a group session. Individualized therapy might benefit someone who prefers a high level of privacy, whereas group therapy involves a network of individuals in different stages of the treatment process. In group therapy, a person will not only benefit from the knowledge and insight of a therapist, but also develop relationships with others who understand the process and can relate to the challenges recovery can present.

Addiction is a serious problem for countless people and their loved ones. This tragic disease can significantly impact a person’s health, personal relationships and finances, and can even result in death. However, therapy can help these individuals pick up the pieces and regain command of their lives. There is hope for recovery and life after addiction.

Though therapy dogs provide a valuable service to people, they are not considered “service dogs”, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. Typically, therapy dogs are not owned by the patients that they help. They make special visits to a multitude of different people. Moreover, they are not recognized under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The special service provided by therapy dogs is regulated by the individual institutions that they visit. Thus, the hospital, nursing home or other facility may impose specific limitations and requirements on the dogs and their handlers.

Available in a variety of breeds, therapy dogs are chosen based on their personalities. Known for their gentle, affectionate traits, therapy dogs are no strangers to being stroked or harshly petted. These special creatures may visit numerous patients every day and must therefore be at ease with strangers. The primary goal of the therapy dog is to provide physical contact to help those in pain feel somewhat alleviated. In addition, therapy dogs are able to provide a temporary distraction from the person’s situation.

To become a therapy dog requires extensive testing and subsequent accreditation, which is offered by numerous organizations throughout the United States. Safety is a top priority in the field of therapy dogs. So, to determine if the dog is equipped to deal with a variety of situations and people, testing is based on the environments and types of people he is likely to encounter. Only after the dog exhibits a calm, friendly temperament, even in the most stressful situations, is he considered a viable candidate for accreditation.

Unlike people, dogs do not have prejudices or preconceived notions about people, they genuinely want to be useful and have no motives. As such, they are able to offer a unique type of therapy. These talented animals are making a significant difference in the lives of many people in difficult circumstances.

Yoshi the therapy dog

This revolutionary system consists of three chief components; a neurostimulator, which is approximately the size of a pocket watch, houses the battery and electronics that create the brain pulsations, a programmer, which resembles a car’s keyless entry remote, allows modifications and regulation to be done remotely, and a patient controller, which is a compact device that enables patients to turn the neurostimulator on and off.

In addition to these components, there is a network of leads and extensions which are surgically placed in the brain to transmit currents and signals. Then the neurostimulator is implanted just beneath the skin in the chest. Once fully the entire system is implanted and fully functional health care practitioner programs the neurostimulator.

Not everyone suffering from depression was a candidate for this study. Only patients who matched a precise profile were granted the opportunity to participate in the Broaden study. Patients were required to be within the age range of 21 and 70 years old and have a history of major depressive disorder (MDD), beginning prior to age 45. Patients were also obligated to have tried a minimum of four different medications in conjunction with other forms of therapy.

It is estimated by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) that individuals in excess of 21 million suffer from a depressive disorder. Of these, nearly 4 million people are believed to have symptoms so severe that medications and other forms of therapy are essentially useless to manage. With such a broad spectrum of people in search of help to control or eliminate this debilitating condition, deep brain stimulation could provide a level of relief unlike any other. While not a cure, this promising treatment opens up a world of possibilities and it could be the gateway to a highly sought-after cure. Time will tell if this type of therapy will become a mainstream treatment and it will be interesting to see what comes next.

Therapy helps couples improve communication by recognizing issues and resolving discord. In many cases, an individual may not understand his partner’s perspective which can create resentment, anger and hurt feelings. Some individuals fully subscribe to the notion that admission resolves problems. However, simply naming a problem is merely the beginning of the process of healing. By allowing an impartial intermediary to hear both sides, problems can be worked through and negotiated. This intervention often leads to a compromise that both parties are comfortable with.

A relationship or couples therapist has the same knowledge and capabilities as other therapists, but he has chosen to specialize in relationships. This specialty is generally not limited to marriages, but also family relations and couples. The insightful experts possess extensive training in the area of marriage and family and help determine the underlying causes to damaging conflict in attempts to salvage the important relationships at stake. Relationship therapists work to help couples and families heal and reinforce connections.

However, while helpful in reaching common ground, therapists do not choose a side or tell couples who is right or wrong. Instead, a therapist may offer suggestions to help couples communicate more effectively. Moreover he can provide tools and techniques to resolve current conflicts, as well as others that may arise in the future. Therapy, when employed correctly, can help improve the overall condition of a relationship. Effective communication builds a stronger bond within the relationship, allowing one to better convey his own thoughts and feelings to his partner, while understanding a differing opinion or view. Through therapy, couples can learn to accept each other’s differences, solve problems and even quarrel in a healthier manner.

Therapy is a comprehensive process that does not work overnight. There are no short cuts. The amount of time spent in therapy is contingent upon individual progress, as well as the degree of destruction at hand. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution in therapy. While some couples may only need short term therapy to work through a specific crisis, other couples may need to engage in more intensive counseling over the course of several months. Still, if both parties are willing to be patient and put forth the effort, the relationship may become better than ever before. Once channels of communication are opened up and partners have a better grasp of one another’s feelings, the possibilities are virtually endless.

Milton Erickson

Hypnosis originates from ‘hypnos,’ the Greek word for sleep. This form of therapy is administered by lulling an individual into a state of heightened relaxation. This altered state of awareness or trance allows the person to deeply focus on an image or idea, thereby increasing his responsiveness. Contrary to popular belief, hypnotherapy is not a form of mind control. The individual does not lose control of his mind or free will. However, hypnotherapy is very effective in teaching people to better identify and comprehend their own actions.

Every event that occurs in life is responsible for a specific physical and emotional response. Thereafter, similar or related events trigger the same response. In most cases, this pattern is helpful in keeping us safe. However, in other instances the subsequent response can be unhealthy. The process of hypnotherapy utilizes a series of stages to break down these connections as a means of targeting the offending habit or behavior.

Stages of Hypnotherapy

Reframing the Problem

In the first stage, the hypnotherapist will generally attempt to reframe the problem by exposing the event that initiated the undesirable reaction. Once the problem has been reframed, the therapist can begin to help divide the memory of the event from the behavior associated with it and implement healthier behaviors.

Relaxation

This stage is the most universally acknowledged part of hypnotherapy. At this point, the individual becomes more in tune with his inner self and his surroundings as the muscles throughout the body loosen up and the brain activity slows. During this heightened level of awareness, individuals tend to be more receptive to the suggestions of the hypnotherapist resulting in an increased probability of success.

Dissociation

This is the process of effectively stepping outside of one’s self. The tool of dissociation is employed to help recreate the traumatic episode from which the unhealthy behavior originated. Primarily used for subjects having endured severe physical or psychological anguish, dissociation allows the individual to view the incident from an outsider’s perspective. Even if the subject has no conscious memory of the event in question, he may be guided to its re-creation as a way to resolve the resulting damage.

Respond, Return & Reflect

Before awakening from the hypnotic state, the therapist will reiterate the session to judge the subject’s attitude toward the suggested modifications. The subject will then be brought gently back to his original state of awareness at which time he and the therapist will discuss the session, possible progress or concerns and how to approach the next phase of his treatment.

While not a form of instant gratification, hypnotherapy can be very effective in treating addiction, pain management, anxiety, phobias, and weight loss, as well as numerous other conditions. However, individuals must understand that the process may require multiple sessions and is not 100% successful in all cases. Additionally, hypnotherapy is not a replacement, but a supplement to other medical treatment. To begin hypnotherapy, patients must obtain a valid medical diagnosis from a licensed physician, because the hypnotherapist will need a specific idea of what is to be treated. An accurate diagnosis is crucial to hypnotherapy, as focusing on the wrong issue could worsen or prolong the condition.

Click here to begin the registration process.  Use coupon code ‘carepaths’ when signing up.

We will verify your relationship with Care Paths upon registration.

MyTherapistMatch.com is pleased to announce that Corey Quinn, CEO , will present “The Virtual Couch: Online Behavioral Health,” at the Health 2.0 conference to be held Sept. 25-27, 2011 in San Francisco.

The Health 2.0 conference is the chosen forum for the hottest health IT technology launches and is attended by established companies to preview the latest innovations improving patient care and scout new talent. Software developers, physicians, start-up companies, global corporations, HIT vendors, payers, providers, and health care leaders gather each year to ensure they are the first to see new, innovative health technologies before they are introduced to the rest of the world.

Quinn will be speaking during the The Virtual Couch: Online Behavioral Health session on September 26th at 2:40pm and will examine the importance of a match between a therapist and client leading to powerful breakthroughs in coaching.

The Health 2.0 community consists of hundreds of organizations and thousands of inventors. Well over 1,000 of those IT and health care professionals are expected to attend the Health 2.0 conference, during which dozens of health pioneers will demonstrate how they are using technology to advance the delivery of health care. The conference agenda may be viewed here or you can follow #health2con on Twitter for the latest conference news.

According to Matthew Holt, Health 2.0 co-founder, “Health 2.0 is known for its ground-breaking technology demos from health IT trailblazers and we believe Corey’s presentation will motivate seasoned health IT veterans, empower newbies, and provide guidance for those in the trenches.”

Whenever a person feels overwhelmed, there’s a good chance that multiple issues are causing their troubles. Until someone is able to identify their stressors, there’s no way of overcoming them. One way of discovering the underlying reasons for your anxiety is to list everything in your life that cause you distress. Reflecting on the possible explanations for why you feel so overwhelmed in times of trouble can help you to uncover any life changes that need to be made. Once you’ve identified your stressors, you can begin working on conquering them. Whether the changes you wish to make involve facing an unnerving stressor or learning a new coping skill for dealing with the inevitable hardships of everyday life, coming up with a plan is the best way to start.

For every list of problems, there’s always a number one that rarely, if ever, gets crossed off. Whatever is occupying the number one spot has resisted previous attempts to rid it from the list, which is the reason it’s still at the top. It may be something you’re avoiding dealing with, it could be a task that’s too hard or it just might not be the right time. If possible, reach out to family and friends for support, as your list can become less intimidating by including family and friends in your efforts. If their assistance isn’t enough and you still find yourself becoming easily overwhelmed, contacting a professional counselor or therapist is recommended.

Since life is unpredictable, one must be open to revising their plans and reevaluating their goals if necessary. Make sure to set realistic goals for yourself so that you don’t become discouraged, but make sure to congratulate yourself for the successful changes you make. Never discount the benefit of praising yourself, as a stronger sense of accomplishment and self-worth will only aid in achieving your goals. While there’s no way to completely rid your life of stress and anxiety, you can work on finding a way to make life enjoyable once again.