Category Archives: Mental Health and Wellness
Managing My Illness?
How do I manage my illnesses? I go to my psychiatrist for tune-ups when I need it, and otherwise keep regular appointments with her. I go to my therapist as needed, and at one time was going weekly after my … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: Relationship between Tobacco Use and Psychosis
Though an association between tobacco smoking and psychotic illness is well known, reasons for the association are more ambiguous. Recent research has associated smoking tobacco with an increased risk for developing psychosis (Gurillo, Jauhar, Murray, & MacCabe, 2015). The authors … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: Sleep and Brain Functioning
A Monday catch-up factoid! We all recognize the importance of sleep, but there is emerging evidence that describes a causal relationship between sleep and emotional brain function (Goldstein & Walker, 2014). The literature indicates that sleep abnormalities are involved … Continue reading
Peer Support and Holistic Recovery
Peer Support not only involves asking open, honest questions and listening, but it also involves modeling recovery. The certification gained through training does not guarantee that the Peer Support Specialist will be able to effectively model recovery to an individual. … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: Optimal Rest for Children after Concussion
Standard care for children who have suffered from a concussion consists of rest. An environment where stimulation is minimized (no school, no physical activities, no strenuous cognitive activity, minimal social interactions, etc.) has been the standard recommendation for many … Continue reading
Texting: The Third Client in the Room
Purpose Dubus (2015) presented a case study example of the utilization of texting in the psychotherapy process with an adolescent female and her father during family therapy sessions. The goals of the article were to highlight generational differences, explore the … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
Insomnia has a high prevalence rate, with 5% to 15% of adults meeting diagnostic criteria (Trauer, Qian, Doyle, Rajaratnam, & Cunnington, 2015). The impact is not limited to nighttime problems; rather, it can be considered a 24-hour problem that is … Continue reading
The Role of a Recovery Story in Peer Support
The sharing of one’s “Recovery Story” is the foundation upon what the rest of peer support is built. A Recovery Story is the telling of the personal journey the Peer Support Specialist has been on in order to reach the … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: Does the “H” in ADHD Really Impair Learning?
Recent models of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have challenged the notion that excess gross motor activity (hyperactivity) impedes learning with children diagnosed with ADHD. Rather, newer models argue that excess motor activity may be compensatory. A recent study conducted … Continue reading
The Role of Wellness Recovery Action Plans in Recovery
Wellness Recovery Action Plans or “WRAP” were developed by Mary Ellen Copeland, PhD, after years of research and her own personal fight with what was then called manic depression. She learned coping skills which helped her begin to live … Continue reading