By: Moshe Winograd, Ph.D. Active engagement of the family in the treatment process plays a pivotal role in the successful recovery of mental illness. With proper education and open communication with the treatment team, families can help reduce the isolation and suffering that is often felt by someone with a mental illness.
It is normal to feel stress, anger, and depression after a traumatic event, such as the recent one in Pittsburgh. After such an event, some people may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For some, PTSD symptoms may begin later, or may come and go over time. Of those who experience a traumatic event in their…
by: Yehudah Alcabes LCSW, CSAT, CASAC-G, EMDR There are several misconceptions about PTSD and trauma in general, with many associating it with combat or shell shock. People often imagine a stoic war veteran who appears frozen in time. While this is undoubtedly accurate, today, we have a deeper and more complex understanding of trauma, and it’s…
With the constant stream of unethical practices in treatment programs, it is time to unite and be ethical. Heather Hayes discusses some of these unethical practices, and what is being done to raise awareness and make changes. She has been a uniting force in our industry and is taking a leadership role in making a…
By: Lyndsey Karns, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist Self-injury or self-mutilation, a seemingly paradoxical coping mechanism, has been widely misunderstood by the public and to some degree by mental health and medical professionals as it relates to trauma and dissociation. Self-injury can manifest in several forms and degrees of severity, with the object and goal to…
Lifeskills South Florida continues our discussion with Heather Hayes as she talks about intervention and trauma and the role they play in addiction. Heather discusses the complexity of interventions as they deal with impaired brain chemistry, family dynamics and the approach that must be taken to support someone with addiction. She also discusses how traumatic…
As we take time to show honor and gratitude to our Veterans, it is important to not only remember their sacrifices but also to understand the challenges they face once they return home.
Recently the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis led by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie urged President Trump to declare the U.S. opioid crisis a national emergency. Citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Commission said that an estimated 142 Americans die daily from a drug overdose. Drug overdoses…
At some point in our life, we will experience a form of trauma. Often unforeseen, these events can begin and end in an instant or emerge over time. Traumatic events can affect us for the rest of our lives. Many people who experience a traumatic event will recover from the symptoms naturally, however; those who…
As a society, we are becoming more familiar and unfortunately accustomed to devastating mass violence events taking place at home and abroad. However, we see the images flash across the screen of our televisions and social media pages, but many times, we forget the toll events of this magnitude take on one’s mental health.