Counselor Toolbox Podcast

Summary – Consistency: Rules, routines, reactions – Responsiveness: To individual needs and preferences – Attention: For being lovable and positive behaviors – Validation: Of their thoughts, feelings and way of being in the world – Empathy: For how their sensory and neurological differences impact them emotionally, cognitively, interpersonally, physically – Solutions: – To help them become more mindful and mitigate or prevent triggers for unwanted behaviors. – To help them develop the skills needed to engage with a neurotypical world.

Summary ~ Once clients are mindfully aware of their thoughts, sensations and urges and willing to accept the moment, they need skills to tolerate that distress ~ Help clients develop a menu of options which they can select from when they are in crisis. ~ They feel how they feel ~ Help them tolerate the distress until the intense emotions subside and they can get into their wise mind.

Summary • Depression is the cluster of symptoms created when there is a neurochemical imbalance in the brain. • What causes the imbalance can be emotional, cognitive, physical, interpersonal, environmental or some combination of the above. • Part of the strengths based approach means helping people see what they already are doing to prevent or deal with the symptoms • Biopsychosocial means • Examining all causative factors • Recognizing that all factors are reciprocal in nature.

Summary • Anger and anxiety are normal emotions that help people survive. • Answers can often be found by asking: “What happened to this person that would trigger this reaction?” • Situations that trigger anger and anxiety often involve a sense of being unsafe, a loss of something, emotions that are unable to be handled effectively, and an alteration of how that person envisions the future. • Problems arise when anger and anxiety are misinterpreted or the person does not have the skills to deal with the problem • Anger is not a simple emotion, it often covers up shame, embarrassment, guilt and/or anxiety. • By helping people identify the roots of their anger and more effective strategies, they can be empowered to reduce the frequency and intensity of these emotions and more effectively cope when they do arise.

Summary • There are many similarities between Pain, mood and addictive disorders • Integrated, concurrent, biopsychosocial treatment is vital • Mood impacts pain which impacts life satisfaction • Recovery supports realistic beliefs and identifies controllable factors àenhanced outcomes • Patients with current addictions or mental health issues need concurrent treatment

Summary • Self esteem begins in childhood • Being aware of self helps people identify their strengths and develop their “me” identity. • Part of self esteem development includes • Values identification • Understanding wants vs. needs • Addressing cognitive distortions • Being aware of sensations, feelings and thoughts • Helps choose behaviors which are in unison with values • Helps support people through the difficult moments • Silences the critics • Clarifies who people are and what people want

Summary • Losses encompass more than death or a person or loss of property • Failure to acknowledge losses can cause unhelpful reactions in similar future situations • It is important to explore feelings and reactions in terms of their functionality---how are they benefitting the person • It takes at least a year to deal with significant losses • Many times there are multiple ancillary losses that need to be addressed • How people deal with grief and loss varies widely. • Grieving is a form of crisis • The body is on high alert which likely impacts sleep, eating and energy to work or socialize • Minimizing vulnerabilities is important to reduce unnecessary frustration and avoid confirming helplessness • Ultimately it is hoped that the person can identify how they are stronger or better off from the experience

Summary ~ Failure to develop a primary attachment relationship can be viewed as a loss (or something that was needed that was never achieved) ~ When examining the behaviors of adult or adolescent clients whose primary attachment was disrupted, the traumatic impact can be seen. ~ In order to help people reconcile the trauma it is essential to help them ~ Identify and grieve the losses ~ Review and remember realistically what happened (to combat inaccurate schema) ~ Review the assumptive world (if I just…then she will be love me) ~ Develop a new loving relationship with the self ~ Learn how to trust the self and others to form meaningful and supportive relationships

Summary • Contextual CBT involves understanding people’s phenomenological truth • Problems can arise when people • Thinks/feels that they are not who they should be or things are not as they should be • Are unaware of their internal feelings, thoughts, urges • Are unaware of the motivation (in context) of their feelings, thoughts, urges • Use rigid problem solving and conceptualization without considering context or perspective • Contextual CBT uses awareness, mindfulness, radical acceptance and psychological flexibility activities to help people move toward a rich and meaningful life instead of trying to escape or avoid discomfort.

Summary - Children’s cognitive, physical and experiential differences make their anxiety different than that of adults - Children’s symptoms of anxiety also often manifest differently with more irritability, defiance and somatic complaints. - Anxiety disorders are frequently misdiagnosed as ADD, autism, ODD and PTSD - Children’s fears often focus around Maslow’s lower three needs: Biological, Safety, Love and Belonging - Addressing anxiety means helping the child understand, in a developmentally appropriate way, that they will have what they need, they are safe and they will always belong and be loved.

Summary ~ Every person has within them a Self, exile, firefighter and manager ~ Each of these parts has a survival function ~ One goal is helping parts communicate and not overwhelm each other is essential ~ Another goal is helping the Self get back into a position in which it can listen and discern feedback from the parts to determine the best course of action

This is part 2. Both parts cover: Summary • There are endless things you can do with art therapy to: • Express emotions • Enhance mindfulness and self-awareness • Increase happiness • Improve interpersonal communication • Enhance fine and gross motor skills • Develop self-esteem • Teach teamwork

Part 1 and Part 2 teach: Summary • There are endless things you can do with art therapy to: • Express emotions • Enhance mindfulness and self-awareness • Increase happiness • Improve interpersonal communication • Enhance fine and gross motor skills • Develop self-esteem • Teach teamwork

Summary • Depression is the cluster of symptoms created when there is a neurochemical imbalance in the brain. • What causes the imbalance can be emotional, cognitive, physical, interpersonal, environmental or some combination of the above. • Part of the strengths based approach means helping people see what they already are doing to prevent or deal with the symptoms • Biopsychosocial means • Examining all causative factors • Recognizing that all factors are reciprocal in nature.

Flower Empower • A comprehensive approach • The core of the flower is the clinician-family partnership • Assess need • Sustain a caring environment • Educate • Identify and link to resources • The stem symbolizes advocacy activities • The leaves symbolize vision, values and principles • The roots feed the flower (partnership): • Responsibility and accountability • Recognition of the value of the partnership • Respect uniqueness • Resource identification for emerging needs • Results monitoring