Kellen V. posted an article on
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Feb 3, 2012, 7:50 pm
In any relationship disputes and conflicts are going to arise. However, there should be rules about what is and is not appropriate during a fight.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Jan 18, 2012, 12:20 pm
As some of you may know, I never watch television. So it was interesting during this recent holiday, to be introduced to reruns of the A & E series, "Intervention". Interesting stuff.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Jan 1, 2012, 7:07 pm
When counseling people who are working hard to change their own behavior I have to warn them that these changes will affect everyone with whom they interact. This is especially true of family members. And there may be some startling or unexpected reactions.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Dec 19, 2011, 10:51 pm
The mother grinned broadly and triumphantly when she announced that the psychiatrist had diagnosed her child with ADHD. "I knew it!" "No one would listen to me, but I knew it, and I was right!"
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Dec 19, 2011, 10:49 pm
The holidays can be a time of great celebration - or great frustration - or both! If you are needing a bit of help during the next two weeks I will try to be more available than usual. In the meantime, here are some previous articles which might prove helpful: All previous articles about staying san... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Nov 30, 2011, 8:20 pm
The shopping experience this season seems to be inordinantly dangerous! The usual hustle and bustle people experience during the Christmas season seems to be fraught with a lack of empathy for others this year. What can you do?
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Nov 18, 2011, 10:14 am
David Richo, in his book, How to Be an Adult, does a beautiful job of describing the difference between drama and real anger.
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Nov 13, 2011, 9:56 pm
Mental health professionals from around the world are signing a petition contesting the proposed changes to the DSM-5, as the medical model of mental illness continues to have its validity challenged.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Nov 6, 2011, 1:54 pm
"To call normal children diseased, abnormal, chemically imbalanced. To make patients out of them for profit. This is not only anti-scientific, it is contrary to our Hippocratic oath. It is immoral, and it should be exposed and stopped."
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Nov 2, 2011, 11:07 pm
Hello loyal readers. I apologize for my absence, but I had to get some things straight in my own life. So I quit my job working for an abusive boss and asked myself what kind of counseling I would do if I could any kind at all. I've seen a lot of violence and I've learned that there is only so much ... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Jan 5, 2011, 4:42 pm
I could hear the screaming from outside of the house. I stopped and listened for evidence of escalation and/or violence, decided it was just screaming and decided to go do something else until the battle was over. Aren't the holidays fun?
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Jan 4, 2011, 2:23 pm
A reader has asked for suggestions on how to interview a potential therapy group. That is a great question! I wish more clients would ask questions, especially up front.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Dec 24, 2010, 12:39 pm
Though the holidays are supposed to be a time for family, for celebrating and for taking a break from work, they can sometimes have the opposite effect. Old family battles can be resurrected, celebrations can become calamities and the rest we hoped to get dissolves into a flurry of shopping, planni... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Dec 8, 2010, 1:36 pm
Last year I posted several articles about maintaining your mental health during the holiday season. I'm sure I'll be posting new ones this year, but it doesn't hurt to recap past posts. I doubt the stressors of the holidays have changed in one year...
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Nov 29, 2010, 5:42 pm
I spent some time with a hypoglycemic friend and her family this weekend. It was disturbing to witness the attempts by certain members of her family to sabotage her efforts to be healthy. I also attended a seminar on intimate partner violence. Both of these events caused me to ponder, "What is lo... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Nov 24, 2010, 4:01 pm
I watched a social worker trying to "save" a woman from a domestic violence situation just the other day. It was disturbing to say the least.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Oct 25, 2010, 4:43 pm
I'm watching a fellow staff member get Scapegoated. You can tell she was the Hero of her family of origin and this sudden shift in roles is rocking her world.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Oct 25, 2010, 4:30 pm
Jung at Heart writes about "Things to Worry About" on his blog. His worries? Overmedicated children.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Oct 14, 2010, 9:29 am
He is six years old. His mother begins the intake stating that he is "ADHD" and "Bipolar". She tells me his 3 year old little sister is also "Bipolar". She states this as if it were a fact. She continues...
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Oct 6, 2010, 2:32 pm
A therapist against the death penalty? I'm sure no one is shocked by this. We are famous for being flaming liberals. However, my primary objection to the death penalty may not be what you suppose, i.e. that criminals can be rehabilitated.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Oct 6, 2010, 1:44 pm
There is an adage in parenting, "Praise the Positive". This concept, which is so important in parenting, is equally applicable in the work place."
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 29, 2010, 12:14 pm
In working with clients struggling with depression I often find that the work environment provides a lot of distress and discontent. I've not been exempt from these influences myself and always find the strategies of management to be somewhat curious.
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Sep 29, 2010, 11:09 am
It is a sad day here in Austin as we watched yet another student of the University of Texas shoot himself to death. We are reminded of Charles Whitman who did the same thing in 1966.
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Sep 22, 2010, 12:08 am
The Department of Justice has issued a press release regarding criminal charges against the pharmaceutical company responsible for the manufacture of Lexapro and Celexa.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 21, 2010, 2:02 pm
Alcoholics. A recent article in Time reports that heavy drinkers live longer than nondrinkers. Moderate drinkers faired the best. But the finding that heavy drinkers came in second - above teetotalers - stunned many.
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Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 21, 2010, 1:24 pm
I work in a homeless shelter so I see a lot of street people. While leaving the building the other day I overheard two coworkers derogatorily discussing a well known prostitute who was in the alley. It made me sad. If only they knew.
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Sep 20, 2010, 5:37 pm
Through the years I have attended numerous Suicide Prevention training programs. They always raise a great deal of concern and many questions for me. My colleagues and I often discuss this, but rarely do so in public. Perhaps the conversation should be brought to the fore. Comment - Like
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Sep 17, 2010, 1:28 pm
On his blog, The Last Psychiatrist, discusses 2 cases of "honor killings". He explores the motivations behind them and suggests an interesting solution for preventing them in future generations. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 14, 2010, 11:55 am
If you want to know what is going on in a child's mind, the best thing to do is hand them a crayon, not talk to them. Comment - Like
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Sep 13, 2010, 6:52 pm
A close colleague, Dave Ray, has posted an interesting article on his website about social work and politics. His observations about the place of policitics in social work with clients is intelligent and germane. The same should be said of religious views. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 13, 2010, 3:31 pm
Dr. Ken Eisold, a psychoanalyst writing for Psychology Today states in his article, "Anger and Exercise", "Anger is a normal and adaptive response to an attack or a threat. It has been useful in our evolutionary struggle for survival. The brain detects the danger and the body is aroused and energize... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 7, 2010, 3:48 pm
Throughout the years I have worked with several clients who were criticized or rebuked by family members or Alcoholics Anonymous sponsors for using psychiatric medications as a "crutch". Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 7, 2010, 3:20 pm
Throughout the years I've agonized when working with dual diagnosis clients who attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or any of their sister programs. Too often there are well-meaning people in the groups who take it upon themselves to give psychological or medical advice. All too often, this resul... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 2, 2010, 11:28 pm
The opposite of being totally consumed by someone you cannot live without is not being totally consumed by someone you can't stand. The consumption is still there, only inverted. The opposite of love, therefore, is not hate... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 2, 2010, 11:24 am
The after school program called to say they had a medical emergency with a child and could not locate the mother. They were asking if we could help them find the mother and have her call them. Then the drama started... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 1, 2010, 11:30 am
... that is the question. A veteran of Vietnam was talking about his experiences over there, coming home and the trauma he experienced and he made an interesting statement. The mental health professionals, the V.A., his family and his friends all want him to heal. But he disagrees. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 1, 2010, 11:17 am
The more I see of the pharmaceutical industry's (a.k.a. "Big Pharma") influence on how we think about human behaviors and their treatment, the more worried I become. Alternet's articles, " How Pharma Giants Are Getting Rich By Calling Our Life Problems 'Medical Disorders'" and "Do Yo... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Sep 1, 2010, 10:55 am
And I cry. I cry as I do dishes. I cry in the car running errands. I cry when I look into those beautiful eyes and know they will not look back at me much longer. And that's what you do. You cry. Cancer sucks. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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May 4, 2010, 11:12 am
I'm working with a family who is going through an interesting transition as they move the Scapegoat role from one member to another and using intellectualism to do it. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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May 3, 2010, 12:49 pm
I listened to this veteran of the "war" in Iraq and understood what he meant. I've seen this with abused children and victims of domestic violence. It's a curious feeling - unless you've been there. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Apr 21, 2010, 11:45 am
I am reading the August 2009 edition of Yoga Journal and there's an interesting article about practicing yoga as a couple entitled, "Grow Your Love". I'm a firm believer in the healing and restorative powers of yoga for mental health, but I'd never thought of using to strengthen a relat... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Apr 21, 2010, 11:44 am
When talking about the problem of homelessness there seem to be two ways of thinking about the problem: 1) that people are homeless strictly because of social problems (i.e. not enough affordable housing) and 2) that the people are homeless strictly because of their personal shortcomings (i.e. not ... Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Apr 21, 2010, 11:31 am
I think the worst thing about depression is the insidiousness of its symptoms; all of which further contribute to the ever deepening spiral into the dark abyss of meaninglessness. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Mar 30, 2010, 3:36 pm
One of my readers reminded me of this movie. It is a beautiful, but heart wrenching documentary created for a son, about his father. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Mar 22, 2010, 4:53 pm
Trauma nightmares can not only rob you of sleep but make you dread going to bed at night. They can become a force that destroys you mentally and emotionally. It's important to learn techniques for handling them so they don't handle you. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Mar 22, 2010, 3:22 pm
A recent article on the Child Psychology Research Blog, "ADHD Medications and School Performance" cites a research study which shows that "medication alone may not have a significant impact on" the childrens' school functioning. Comment - Like
Kellen V. posted an article on
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Mar 22, 2010, 3:17 pm
The New York Times has a wonderful article on anxiety, "Understanding the Anxious Mind" which seems to suggest that we are born with an anxious temperament. Personally, I wonder. Comment - Like
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