Wednesday, December 26, 2012

7 things parents can do post-Newtown without government


These simple common-sense steps are adapted from a post I published on my blog after the horrific Newtown, Conn., massacre. Our hearts ache, but we are not completely helpless or hopeless in the face of evil and the unknown. And we are not alone. This Christmas, cherish life, keep faith and practice self-empowerment.

7. Teach our kids about the acts of heroes in times of crisis. Tell them about Newtown teacher Vicki Soto's self-sacrifice and bravery. Tell them about Clackamas mall shopper Nick Meli, a concealed-carry permit-holder whose quick action may have prevented additional deaths. Tell them about Family Research Council security guard Leo Johnson, who protected workers from a crazed gunman. Tell them about the heroic men in the Aurora movie theater who gave their lives taking bullets for their loved ones. Tell them about armed Holocaust Museum security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns, who died fighting back against the museum's nutball attacker. Tell them about armed private citizen Jeanne Assam, who gunned down the New Life Church attacker in Colorado Springs and saved untold lives.

6. Train our kids. When they see something troublesome or wrong, say something. Students, teachers and parents, if a young classmate exhibits bizarre or violent behavior toward himself or herself, report it right away. If it gets ignored, say it louder. Don't give up. Don't just shrug off the "weirdo" saying or doing dangerous things, and don't just hope someone else will act.

5. Limit our kids' time online, and control their exposure to desensitizing cultural influences. Turn off the TV. Get them off the bloody video games. Protect them from age-inappropriate Hollywood violence. Make sure they are active and engaged with us and the world, and not pent up in a room online every waking moment.

4. If you see a parent struggling with an out-of-control child, don't look the other way. If you are able to offer any kind of help (your time, resources, wisdom), do it. Don't wait.

3. We still don't know the medical condition of the Newtown shooter. But we do know that social stigmas are strong. We don't need government to take immediate, individual action to break those stigmas. There are millions of children, teens and young adults suffering from very real mental illnesses. Be silent no more about your family's experiences, your struggles, your pains and your fears. Speak up.

2. Prepare and protect your community. Joe Cascarelli of Westcliffe, Colo., wrote me about how he and other citizens took their children's safety into their own hands. "It was 10 years ago that our sheriff put an ad in the local paper to initiate the formation of the Sheriff's Posse. About 40 of us volunteered; today we have about 20 active Posse members. Eight years ago, the Posse command staff offered to provide the local school district with daily security patrols when the school was in session, at school athletic events and during school dances including the annual prom." Law enforcement conducted emergency drills, training to prepare for mass shootings and joint sessions with first responders.

"The Posse has continued its patrols at school events and during the school day. Posse patrols have become a visible, accepted part of our community," Cascarelli told me. "Anyone intent on harm would see armed uniformed personnel at the school daily. The Posse even has an Amber Alert at the local rodeo. When an atrocity like Columbine, Virginia Tech and most recently in Newtown, Conn., happens, all we hear is carefully crafted words of grief, heartrending interviews with parents, and TV's talking heads with knee-jerk 'solutions.' Well, our little community has implemented a local solution. Trained, armed volunteers daily protect our children. What is the matter with the rest of the country? Where are concerned parents and citizens willing to carve out some time to provide similar security?"

1. Teach our kids to value and respect life by valuing and respecting them always. And in loving and valuing life, teach them also not to fear death. The Catholic hymn "Be Not Afraid" offers time-tested solace and sage advice.

[by Michelle Malkin]

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Merry Christmas

Don & Yvonne Brock
From our home to yours.

Friday, December 21, 2012

5 Common Mistakes Men Make After Divorce


Adapting to life after divorce is hard for guys under the best of circumstances. But you can make it easier on yourself, your ex, and your children if you avoid some of the most common mistakes.

1. Dating Too Soon

Too many men seek out a new relationship before the dust has settled on their divorce, says psychologist Sam J. Buser, PhD, coauthor of The Guys-Only Guide to Getting Over Divorce. They rush into new relationships -- and often into new marriages -- within the first year.

"That's no doubt the biggest mistake," says Buser, who is based in Houston.

Buser says that men often jump into dating because they're lonely, vulnerable, and sad, and they're looking for someone to help them feel better.

"The relationships they start do not often work out in the long run," he says. "I advise my patients to wait at least two years. I've never had a man take me up on that advice, but I do try to slow them down."

He also advises men to date casually at first.

"Tell the woman you've just been through a tough divorce and that you're not ready for a committed relationship," he suggests. "Acknowledge that it is not the right time for that."

2. Isolating Yourself

After a divorce, it's easy for guys to let themselves become isolated, especially if the ex gets custody of the kids. That's another big mistake. It can worsen feelings of depression, guilt, and loneliness, a potentially dangerous mix. Divorced men are twice as likely to commit suicide as married men.

Divorced men are also more prone to alcohol problems, so be careful of starting down that road.

"You don't have to drink every day to have a problem," Buser says. "Drinking a six pack is a binge."

Buser's advice: Connect with other guys. Call up old friends, join a softball team, a club, or a professional association.

"Expand your social and professional network to avoid isolation."

He also says that the aftermath of a divorce is great time to go back to school. It keeps you active, stimulates your mind, potentially advances your career, and gets you out of the house.

3. Introducing Your New Partner to Your Kids Too Soon

You've met someone new. You're excited and happy. Good for you. Just don't make the mistake of expecting your kids to be upbeat about it.

"The last thing the kids want to see is parents getting involved with someone else," says Gordon E. Finley, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in issues facing divorced men and an emeritus professor of psychology at Florida International University in Miami. "They are going to be unhappy. Date when you feel ready, but leave the kids out of it."

Buser agrees. "Focus on the other adult when starting a relationship," he says. "She can meet the kids when you know you are serious."


4. Giving In to Hostility

Don't make the mistake of continuing to fight with your ex, especially if children are involved.

"You don't want to be seen as an enemy or an antagonist but as a co-parent," says Arizona State University professor emeritus of psychology Sanford L. Braver, PhD. "I'm not saying that that will be easy, but everybody will be better off."

Braver, co-author of Divorced Dads: Shattering the Myths, recommends that men consider conflict and anger management classes. In his research, he's found that when dads learn how to put compromises before conflict and competition, both the kids and the parents do better.

"Learn to manage as well as you can from the middle ground," says Braver. "Diplomacy and negotiating skills are key."

Being civil with your ex may encourage more flexibility in terms of custody, and potentially more time with your kids.

"If divorced spouses have a working relationship, they can agree to informally bypass some stipulations," Finley says. "Workloads go up and down, schedules can shift, and you want some way to take that into account."

5. Backing Off From Parenting

If you're a dad, divorce doesn't change that. Your child still needs you as a father, not as a visitor.

"That should be the most important thing from the man's point of view: His child wants him and his child needs him," Finley says. "Maintaining the relationship is important for your child's developmental outcome: social, emotional, and educational."

Finley warns against becoming what he calls a "Disneyland dad," who acts as if his role is to show up on weekends and show the kids a good time.

"That's not good for you or your kids," Finley says. "Help them with their homework. Talk about what's on their minds."

Before divorce, some dads, Buser says, make the mistake of yielding much of their parenting role to their partners. There's a possible silver lining to divorce if they put in the work, however.

"Lots of guys have never had experience as the primary caregiver, and they don't know what to do and have trouble adapting," Buser says. "But divorce gives them an opportunity, when they are with their kids, to be a full-time parent for the first time. They often become better fathers after divorce."

[By Matt McMillen, WebMD Feature]

Counseling children following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting


When the lives of six educators and 20 children between the ages of 6 and 7 were cut short in a mass shooting at a Newtown, Conn., school Dec. 14, the entire country found itself reeling.

The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School is the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, following only the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre. It is, however, the most deadly shooting to take place at an elementary school.

Deb Del Vecchio-Scully, the executive director of the Connecticut Counseling Association and trauma expert, says the ages of the victims and the fact that the shooting took place at a school make the tragedy resonate with people in every corner of the country.

“School is supposed to be a safe place,” says Del Vecchio-Scully, a member of the American Counseling Association. “Not just [Sandy Hook Elementary] is going to be affected but also other schools in the area. There are going to be long-reaching effects on parents and children that we are going to see in the days, weeks, months and years to come.”

And as the community of Newtown grieves, Del Vecchio-Scully says the initial question is how the tragedy should be discussed with children.

“You want parents to be the source of information,” she says. “Not other kids, not the news.  Be honest and direct, take your cues from your child and respond accordingly.”

Del Vecchio-Scully recommends keeping children away from news reports, as studies have shown they can increase the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder.

She says counselors, parents and teachers will need to be mindful of the way they help children cope with the tragedy because kids are still mentally and emotionally maturing.

“The younger child’s brain  is not developed to understand the permanence of death, and that’s going to add a difficult layer to it,” Del Vecchio-Scully says. “[Children] are the ones who are going to ask ‘What happened? Why can’t I go back to school?’”

In addition, Del Vecchio-Scully says, it’s often hard for children to find the right words to describe how they feeling about what they’ve experienced.

Del Vecchio-Scully recommends giving children a creative outlet as a way to express their feelings. “Kids act out their worries and concerns through play and their artwork,” she says.

Because the event is still recent, Del Vecchio-Scully says most reactions a child may exhibit for the next week or two can still be considered normal. This may include regressive behaviors such as wanting to sleep in bed with parents, bed-wetting or acting out.

“Normalizing and fostering a sense of safety and routine is important right now, and that’s going to start at home,” she says.

It is also important for parents to foster open communication and to be open and honest about their feelings as well.

“Kids are very sensitive,” Del Vecchio-Scully says, “ and they’re going to get their cues from their parents.”

Similar to parents, teachers should also focus on maintaining a daily routine and should aim to answer questions from students to the best of their ability.

Del Vecchio-Scully says the impact of the trauma and the mental health needs of communities are layered like concentric circles.

“The inner circle includes the children, school staff and first responders who witnessed the event and/or the crime scene, as well as the officials who informed the families of the death of their loved ones,” she says. “Next are the parents of the surviving children and those whose children were killed. On the more outer rim of the circle is the rest of the greater Newtown community and the entire Connecticut community.”

The fourth layer includes the general public watching the tragedy unfold in the news media and through social media who are vicariously impacted, Del Vecchio-Scully says.

Crisis intervention is already occurring in Newtown, and for most counselors, Del Vecchio-Scully says, “our services will be needed once the crisis period passes and a void in caring for the community is evident.”

Although Del Vecchio-Scully says that now may not be the time for therapy, counselors, too, can take on the role of listener for those impacted by the shooting if the situation calls for it.

But in the months to follow, Del Vecchio-Scully says, “the crisis intervention teams will withdraw, creating a void of support, which will result in a shift of responsibility of the ongoing mental health needs of the community to local agencies and volunteer counselors.”

Counselors should be on the lookout for individuals who are at risk of re-traumatization.

“Newtown was one of the towns that was hit by Hurricane Sandy,” Del Vecchio-Scully explains. “They went without power for a week. As traumatic events get layered, the ability to cope gets less.”

This is also the time for counselors to focus on individuals in the outer concentric circles — those who may not have been directly impacted by the events in Newtown but are having trouble coping.

The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary will have an especially far-reaching impact because a school setting is something that all children share and experience, Del Vecchio-Scully says.

Del Vecchio-Scully says the events mirror the attacks on 9/11. “The world watched in real-time, and individuals will be impacted in some way that we can’t really know right now,” she warns counselors.

Del Vecchio-Scully stresses the importance of the role of counselors in helping children and communities cope and move forward in the months following a tragedy such as this.

“Kids are extraordinarily resilient,” she says, “and we have to give them the chance to be.”

[by Heather Rudow, Counseling Today]

Monday, December 17, 2012

Responding to the Connecticut School Shooting: Six “T’s” for Helping Kids through Trauma


Six “T’s” for Helping Kids through Trauma:

  1. Togetherness. This is a night where your kids need to have you close. They need to know they’re safe. Pull in together as a family. Pray together. Be together. The antidote to trauma is safe, loving relationships. Coddle your children a little bit more. Stay in close proximity to them, particularly if they’re anxious or afraid.
  2. Touch and Tenderness. Touch is an expression of affection that reinforces proximity and closeness. It produces a calming affect. Fear makes our minds race and wander, but tender touch dispels it. Hold a hand. Stroke your children’s hair. Let them sit in your lap. Wrap your arms around them. Kiss them. Be present emotionally. If they’re acting out a little bit with anger, rebellion or defiance, it very well could be a fear response. Be sensitive to their behavior.
  3. Talk. The questions will come: “Will a shooter come to my school?” “Why did he hurt those kids?” Be present, sensitive, and don’t offer pat answers. Engage them in age-appropriate discussion. Contrary to what many of us believe, talk doesn't perpetuate anxiety—it helps to reduce it. Avoid graphic details, but don’t skirt around the issue. Become a safe place for them to bring their questions.
  4. Truth. Fears of the unknown can paralyze us. Anchor their hearts in truths like, “Not everyone in the world is bad. You’re safe now. God loves us and is close to us.” Remember, our kids absorb us. Your mood, thoughts, and actions directly influence theirs. These truths flow through you—Mom and/or Dad. Share the promises of God’s Word with your kids. Pray for, and with, them.
  5. Triggers. Someone screaming. A door slamming. A siren. What children experience or see on the news can deeply affect them. Don’t let your kids get overdosed with the news stories and all the gory details. This can lead to nightmares, excessive bouts of crying, deepening fear, and not wanting to attend school. Be attuned to your children. Don’t react to their emotions, respond lovingly.
  6. Time. Don’t rush or ignore this process. Over the next several days, we will all be flooded with information about the shooting. Keep your life as normal as possible. Sameness and routine reinforce the message of safety for your kids. Your family stability over time will help dispel their fears.

Our children are not immune to the darkness and brokenness of our world. We may think that if we ignore this incident, our kids won’t know about it or feel the impact. Nothing could be further from the truth! Our kids need parents and teachers—those who have influence in their lives—to be emotionally present and invested, especially in moments like these.

[Tim Clinton, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT]

How to Cope With School Shooting Tragedy


In the aftermath of a deadly shooting at a Newtown elementary school, in which 20 young children and eight adults were killed, individuals in the community and across the nation are coping with tragedy and trauma. That trauma can occur without physical injury and can last long after the medical problems heal, according to the American Psychological Association.  Here are some healthy ways to cope:

  • Watch for signs of severe stress:  Signs include re-experiencing the trauma during play or dreams, avoidance of reminders of the trauma and general numbness to all emotional topics, increased “arousal” symptoms such as trouble staying or falling asleep, irritableness and difficulty to concentrate. Fears and phobias often are developed. Children may also keep repeating a part of the trauma.
  • Be supportive: Children will benefit greatly from support and caring expressed by the adults in their lives.
  • Be available: Let children know you are available to talk with them. Let children ask questions. It is OK if you don’t know the answers to the questions.
  • Be caring: Help children express their feelings with care and understanding.
  • Be reassuring: Acknowledge the frightening part of the event. Explain what happened in words the child understands. Reassure children they are safe and loved. and let them know it is OK to feel upset.
  • Be thoughtful: Be aware of how you talk about the event and cope with the tragedy. Children often learn how to cope by watching the reactions of parents, peers and the media. Keep in mind children may not express their concerns verbally.
  • Be creative: For children too young to truly express their feelings, consider expressive techniques such as play, art and music.
  • Remind them that trustworthy people are in charge:  Explain that the government emergency workers, police, firefighters, doctors and other authority figures are helping people who are hurt and are working to ensure that no further tragedies occur.
  • Tell the truth: Don’t pretend an event has not occurred or is not serious - and stick to the facts. They will be more worried if they think the parent is shielding them from the truth. Talk to them. Answer their questions.
  • Get back into routine: To help create a sense of security, try to maintain family schedules for daily activities such as eating, playing and sleeping.
  • Give children the amount of information they can understand: This involves turning off news reports of the event and controlling or limiting their exposure to threatening images on TV.
  • Encourage multiple methods of grieving: Call a therapist or counselor, join a support group, attend a church function or go to a community center where others are holding rituals dealing with grief. Often, during the grieving process, discussing feelings with others helps in understanding the event and knowing you are not alone.

[By Kelly Metz, Digital First Media.  Sources: American Psychological Association (APA), Brett Holden, Ph.D., KidsHealth.org, PBS, National Association of School Psychologists, National Center for PTSD.]

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Mandated reporting of violence risk?

Likely, you are participating in the current national soul-searching after the latest tragic school shooting/mass murder.  In our angst we ask, “Why God?” and “What can we do to try to stop this kind of senseless killing?”  It is the second question that is on my mind right now.

Political debates will abound about gun control measures or the right to bear arms.  In my humble opinion it is time to move beyond that debate to address the treatment of those who are most at risk to engage in mass killings.  I have no idea about the mental status of this most recent killer but that shouldn't stop us from trying to figure out how to better care for such individuals.

Who is at risk?  A complex matter

Violence risk assessments have morphed over the years from clinical judgement (turns out it wasn't very accurate!) to an actuarial approach looking at factors like: active psychotic symptoms, family problems, history of aggression/domestic violence and or criminal behavior, social withdrawal/skills deficits, and substance abuse.  But of course, there are many who have positive indicators on several of these factors who are in no danger of becoming a mass murderer.  And others who meet none who become killers.

One possible (partial) solution

Right now mental health professionals and educators are required to report possible child abuse.  In addition, we counselors have duties to warn and protect when our clients indicate they are an imminent danger to self or other.  Sadly, many adults in high risk categories are not likely to be in treatment (due to costs, treatment availability and refusal) and may not be in contact with educators.  So, what might we do to help those who do come in contact with at-risk individuals?  In some states, all civilians are required to report potential child abuse.  What if we develop a reporting mechanism for civilians to report those who are making statements about violent acts.  To make this work, there are some additional things we would need to do (some of which are not simple).

We would have to engage in a large public awareness campaign and to train law enforcement and even mental health professionals as to these risk factors and develop humane but required treatments
We would need to stop cutting public funds for mental health (and increase quality of community mental health care providers).

We would need to consider limiting some of the currents rights to decline treatment when a number of the risk factors are present (this is, of course, no small matter.  In this country we have the right to be insane…as long as we don't hurt others).

What do you think?

[from “Musings of a Christian Psychologist” by Phil]

Friday, December 14, 2012

Helping Your Children Cope With Connecticut School Shooting

  1. Hug your kids tight and reassure them they are safe
  2. Listen to your kids and discuss with them their concerns
  3. Limit younger kids’ exposure to TV and other media reports
  4. Monitor older kids’ social media activity in relation to the incidents, because that is often where they will share worries or concerns
  5. For more tips on helping your kids cope with a tragic situation, call us for an appointment

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Hoilday Overeating

Whether it's the "holiday blues" or festivities with family and friends, we are all prone to turn to food to meet our emotional needs.  Obesity is one of our nation's greatest health challenges, and a significant concern for those in the helping field.  The statistics are shocking:
  • More than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese.
  • Approximately 31% of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese.
  • Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.
There a number of well-documented health risks associated with extra weight, including asthma, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes—not only among adults, but also children.  However, obesity is not just a physical concern, it’s also an important mental health concern—and a spiritual concern, as well.

Author Kristen Weir of the APA reports, "The repercussions of excess weight extend to the brain…linked to changes in brain structure as well as changes impairments in learning and attention span."  The emotional and cognitive aspects of overeating are important considerations in treatment planning with this population. Oftentimes, stress, emotional difficulties, and faulty self-perceptions fuel overeating and must be addressed in counseling.

There is a connection between physical and mental health.  How can we develop a healthy lifestyle—emotionally, physically, and spiritually?  Here’s several suggestions:

Include the whole family.  "The most successful ways to…shed pounds are interventions that combine diet, physical activity and behavioral recommendations," the article notes.  When an entire family recognizes the importance of physical, spiritual and emotional health, they can begin developing a family culture that promotes these values, developing new traditions and routines.

Build a healthy home environment.  "The trick is to help parents engineer healthy home environments—removing TVs from bedrooms, limiting computer time, making physical activity a routine for the entire family, and teaching parents how to find and prepare nutritious food on a budget,"  Weir shares.

Develop a healthy, active lifestyle.  Preventing and treating obesity isn't as simple as avoiding "junk food." While most interventions focus on the negative—telling people what not to eat—it's important to emphasize the positive as well, such as nutritious holiday foods and ways to incorporate exercise into Christmas activities.

Find emotional support.  Meaningful relationships are an important factor in weight loss or maintenance.  How easy it is to turn to food, rather than God or other people, when we are hurt, confused, overwhelmed or lonely.  As with any other area of change, accountability is critical—not only for exercise, but also to control overeating and find healthier ways to cope with stress.

Incorporate a team approach.  Exercise may be helpful, but without addressing the emotional and cognitive issues often underlying compulsive eating, it will likely be difficult to keep weight off.  By the same token, the best therapy in the world without appropriate lifestyle changes will not be thoroughly effective either.  Building healthy communities requires collaboration between counselors, medical doctors, dietitians/nutritionists, physical trainers, health coaches, and more.

God's Word has quite a few things to say about lack of self-control when it comes to eating.  In fact, Proverbs speaks strongly about the destructive nature of overeating: "And put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite" (Prov. 23:2).  By contrast, we are encouraged, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

This Christmas and New Year’s, we encourage you to evaluate your holiday lifestyle.  More than any other time of the year, the holidays are a season for overeating and overstressing, while exercise and sleep often fall by the wayside.  But long after the "holiday cheer" has come and gone, the negative impact of these lifestyle choices can affect our mental, emotional, and even spiritual health.

[by Laura Captari]

Binge eating disorder to be recognized in the new DSM-V

As the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) is set to be released in May, counselors are preparing for the changes that will come along with it, including the inclusion of binge eating disorder as a mental illness. Binge eating disorder had previously been listed as “under review” because symptoms... continue reading