This TED Talk by Gary Wilson, "The Great Porn Experiment," is a relatively new resource that examines the effects of internet porn on consumers. (Erectile Dysfunction in young, otherwise healthy men is the most striking one, but the breadth and depth of distressing side-effects will amaze you.) He adds credence to his case by showing how abstaining from porn ameliorates these symptoms. Gary is an engaging teacher. The slide show that illustrates his talk drives home his points superbly. Although he has lots of fun with the topic, his big heart shines through and his deep care for men stuck in a porn rut is unmistakable. (from here)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSF82AwSDiU&feature=player_embedded
Gary is host of www.yourbrainonporn.com. The site arose in response to a growing demand for solid scientific information by heavy Internet erotica users experiencing perplexing, unexpected effects: escalation to more extreme material, concentration difficulties, sexual performance problems, radical changes in sexual tastes, social anxiety, irritability, inability to stop, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
As a physiology teacher with a particular interest in the latest neuroscience discoveries, Gary was aware that their symptoms might be the result of addiction-related brain changes. Applying the website's concepts of brain plasticity, many former users have braved withdrawal, reversed their symptoms and restored normal sexual responsiveness.
The site has been linked to from hundreds of threads in forums from over thirty countries, with posts numbering in the thousands. Gary blogs for "Psychology Today" and "The Good Men Project" on the extreme plasticity of adolescent brains, the evolutionary context for today's flood of novel cyber "mates," and the neurochemical reasons why superstimulating Internet delivery has unexpected effects on the brain.
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Media & Early Learning
My mom sent this to me and I found it so interesting! I actually watched this entire TEDx clip regarding media and early learning.
- Early experiences condition the mind. Connections between brain cells change based on experiences our children have while their brain triples in size between birth and age 3.
- Initiation of television viewing is now (on average) 4 months of age.
- Prolonged exposure to rapid image changes (like on a TV show designed for an infant) during critical periods of brain development may precondition the mind to expect high levels of stimulation. This may then make the pace ofreal life less able to sustain our children’s attention. The more hours a child views rapid-fire television, the more likely they will have attention challenges later in life.
- Cognitive stimulation (reading books or going to a museum) reduces the likelihood for attention challenges later in life.
- What content your child watches on TV matters: the more frenetic or violent the TV show, the more likely your child will have attention challenges later in life. Television shows that move at a typical pace may be far better for our children. Educational shows showed 0% influence on attention challenges later in life (Mr. Rogers, Sesame Street etc.)
- New studies (using mice) may demonstrate that learning suffers with excess TV viewing.
- We need more real time play for children. (Get out the blocks or get outside!)
http://seattlemamadoc.seattlechildrens.org/what-does-tv-do-to-my-kids-brain/
AAP Guidelines:
1. Limit children’s total media time (with entertainment media) to no more than 1 to 2 hours of
quality programming per day.
2. Remove television sets from children’s bedrooms.
3. Discourage television viewing for children
younger than 2 years, and encourage more interactive activities that will promote proper brain
development, such as talking, playing, singing,
and reading together.....
AAP Guidelines:
1. Limit children’s total media time (with entertainment media) to no more than 1 to 2 hours of
quality programming per day.
2. Remove television sets from children’s bedrooms.
3. Discourage television viewing for children
younger than 2 years, and encourage more interactive activities that will promote proper brain
development, such as talking, playing, singing,
and reading together.....
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Sharing chores contributes to better marriage and parenting quality
Category: Newsletters; Marriage Tips
By Krysti Dagley
With many working mothers now being outside of the home for as many hours as their husbands, the division of household chores and childcare is now being investigated by researchers.Lauren Barnes, BYU Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student, recently explored how division of labor affects parenting and the marital relationship. Barnes said this study highlights fathers’ contributions to childcare more than previous studies because the division of labor questionnaire included tasks that are traditionally more father-oriented such as bringing a child to activities or going to games.
Barnes found that equally sharing responsibilities predicted greater relationship quality for mothers’ ratings of the marital relationship. However, the division of responsibilities did not influence fathers’ relationship quality. The study also found that fathers who reported higher marital relationship quality were observed to have more positive parenting interactions with their children.
These positive parenting interactions included parental influence, quality time, consistent discipline and child monitoring.
“This study proves the systemic nature of families, “she said. “The couple’s relationship impacts children directly and indirectly."
So what is the take home message? According to Barnes, it's important as a parent to nurture your relationship with your spouse because the quality of this relationship will impact your children.
“I like to tell couples to go out on weekly dates as one of the first assignments when they come to therapy,” Barnes said.
As a new mother herself, Barnes said she’s found that nurturing her marriage improves her family life and helps her husband feel more involved and more inclined to help out.
“Husbands and wives who share household chores enhance their marriages and help their children to thrive,” she said.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
An Apostolic Warning: Things as They Really Are
"Today I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls...—such as experimenting with actions contrary to God’s commandments or enticing us to think or do things we would not otherwise think or do “because it is only a game. Sadly, some young men and women in the Church today ignore “things as they really are” and neglect eternal relationships for digital distractions, diversions, and detours that have no lasting value.
I offer two questions for consideration in your personal pondering and prayerful studying:
1. Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?
2. Does the time you spend using various technologies and media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve in meaningful ways?
I testify that God lives and is our Heavenly Father...To be “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15) will be a real and not a virtual experience."
-Elder Bednar, May 2009
Violent Video Games May Alter Brain Functioning
Teen Texting Soars; Will Social Skills Suffer?
There are a ton of articles on just about anything arguing all sides
Friday, September 30, 2011
Working Moms & Their Children
I read over this story on Today Moms.
"A new study that tracked nearly 19,000 British children found that little girls with stay-at-home mothers were twice as likely to develop emotional or behavioral problems by age 5 as girls with working moms."
McMunn and her colleagues determined that the healthiest kids, in terms of emotional and behavioral development, were those with two parents in the household, both of whom worked. And that was regardless of maternal education level and household income.
Mom’s job wasn’t always good news. Boys from households where the mom was the sole breadwinner were more likely to display emotional and behavioral problems such as aggressiveness, hyperactivity or withdrawn behavior.
But in cases where the dad was employed, boys with stay-at-home moms were twice as likely to develop behavior and emotional as those with working moms. That difference was greatly diminished, however, once the researchers accounted for maternal depression.
Sounds like work makes moms happier, which leads to more well adjusted kids.
*I would add that work makes moms happier if they want to be working. I have definitely found this true for me. I also find that I need a balance of work and life at home- like about 10 hours of class/work a week. Seriously, I come home excited and rejuvenated. It's great for me.
“There may be something that is very important for girls about seeing their mother participating in society outside the home.”
I think this study is kind of cool. Probably because it's supportive of what I do and I like the idea of women being well-rounded and being able to perform well inside and outside of the home.
"A new study that tracked nearly 19,000 British children found that little girls with stay-at-home mothers were twice as likely to develop emotional or behavioral problems by age 5 as girls with working moms."
McMunn and her colleagues determined that the healthiest kids, in terms of emotional and behavioral development, were those with two parents in the household, both of whom worked. And that was regardless of maternal education level and household income.
Mom’s job wasn’t always good news. Boys from households where the mom was the sole breadwinner were more likely to display emotional and behavioral problems such as aggressiveness, hyperactivity or withdrawn behavior.
But in cases where the dad was employed, boys with stay-at-home moms were twice as likely to develop behavior and emotional as those with working moms. That difference was greatly diminished, however, once the researchers accounted for maternal depression.
Sounds like work makes moms happier, which leads to more well adjusted kids.
*I would add that work makes moms happier if they want to be working. I have definitely found this true for me. I also find that I need a balance of work and life at home- like about 10 hours of class/work a week. Seriously, I come home excited and rejuvenated. It's great for me.
“There may be something that is very important for girls about seeing their mother participating in society outside the home.”
I think this study is kind of cool. Probably because it's supportive of what I do and I like the idea of women being well-rounded and being able to perform well inside and outside of the home.
Monday, August 22, 2011
A Mother's Influence on Beauty
My mom trained me about beauty from a young age. She would often comment on how grossly skinny some girls were. Or she'd mention that I looked beautiful. Anytime she'd hear me commenting about how wide my hips were or how upset I was about the size of my breasts, she'd remind me that I was beautiful and that my body was a gift from God. She also taught me about the importance of looking like a real woman with curves and how part of our purpose as women is to bring children into the world. Without real hips, breasts, fat storage etc. this wouldn't be possible.
My parents have always been affectionate with each other. I remember my dad always complimenting my mom on how beautiful she was. My mom and dad would go out on fancy dates at least once a month where my mom would wear a silk blouse, skirt and stilettos and put on some flashy lipstick. I always thought she looked beautiful. The funny thing is, my mom isn't exactly tan nor was she a size 2. She knew how to take care of herself and her body and she had confidence that radiated beauty.
My mom is definitely the one who provided the foundation for my definition of beauty to come about. Without the great example of my mother and regular conversations with her regarding healthy body image, wellness and beauty, I would still be very confused and trying to figure out how to fit in. Mothers (and fathers) have such a huge impact on shaping their children's definition of beauty. One expert said, "Parents who maintain healthy attitudes about their own bodies, who model healthy eating behaviors, and who provide nutritious food for their family, preparing, serving, and sitting down to eat meals together with children as frequently as is possible, virtually immunize their child from developing eating problems."1 I thought of a few things that my parents did and wanted to share them with you. Obviously, these tips aren't fool proof, but they will definitely provide a great base from which your can learn and grow.
Here are some tips for mothers to help influence their daughters' definitions of beauty:
1. Never demean your own body. People can tell if you aren't satisfied with your body. It will radiate in how you carry yourself, talk, act, what situations you avoid etc.
2. Respect your body. Don't fall for the fad diets or other tricks that suck you into the unhealthy body ideal of today.
3. Encourage a wellness lifestyle. Do exercises that you enjoy. Eat a well-balanced diet.
4. Be aware of how you may be getting caught in the American ideal for beauty. For example, don't purposefully buy clothes that are a smaller size and then use them as motivation to get smaller.
5. Be aware of comments you make regarding other's appearance and/or eating habits. Never joke, shame or make comments about other's body size and/or eating habits. These off-hand comments may be the most memorable for your children.
6. Talk openly with your daughter about body image and beauty regularly. Help her distinguish between what's real and what's not. Help her have realistic expectations of beauty for herself and others.
7. Help your daughter have a vision for her future that goes beyond her appearance. Help her find hobbies and activities she enjoys and establish goals with her. Encourage her in the activities she enjoys.
8. Pay attention to comments your daughter makes about her body and appearance. Listen and be empathic. Although some comments may be irrational, she still genuinely feels this way. Be there as a person for her to talk to. Engage her in a conversation about what she thinks she could do to improve her body, health, ability to do certain things etc. and how she plans to do this.
9. Teach your daughter that there is no such thing as the "ideal" body. Beautiful bodies come in all shapes and sizes.
10. Encourage your daughter to be aware of and share her feelings instead of harboring them in her body. Young children, especially, tend to manifest anxiety and other stressors in the form of stomach and other body aches.
11. Discourage extreme behaviors such as sleeping too long, too little or too late, dieting, exercising too much or too little. This will help her feel better in her body.
12. Help her have a respect for the many amazing functions and purposes her body serves.
13. Praise your daughter for who she is, not how she looks. Find non-materialistic things to compliment her on such as her ability to get along with so many people, her dedication in work, and her passion.
*I wrote this article as part of the Recapturing Beauty Campaign started by BYU Women's Services (they have a blog, too). You can see my original article here.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Moms: What's your deepest, darkest secret?
- Nearly one in five moms admits medicating their child to get through a special event like a plane flight; one in 12 does it just to get some peace and quiet on a regular night.
- Half have knowingly sent a sick kid to daycare or school.
- 85 percent use their kids to get out of social obligations.
- Nearly one in three uses work as an excuse to avoid taking care of the kids.
- 44 percent of moms would rather be 15 pounds thinner than add 15 points to their child’s IQ.
- One in four fears their partner is a better parent than they are.
- One in ten wishes their child was the opposite sex – and of those moms, 60 percent have boys.
Read More:
http://moms.today.com/_news/2011/08/10/7318658-whats-your-deepest-darkest-secret-moms-confess-in-our-survey
I gotta agree with missing alone time, my post-pregnancy body (for the most part), and sleep!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
What's In Your Car Seat?
Check out the article here (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/08/child-car-seats-contain-chemicals/1)
"It says these substances have been linked to allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer, and babies are particularly vulnerable because their bodies are still developing and they spend hours in car seats."
I don't usually check out this stuff and, of course, most children have survived toxic carseats, riding without seatbelts etc. but it might be worth checking out.
I am still totally in love with the Chicco KeyFit30. Aidan is almost 1 and still hasn't outgrown it. The 30"/30lb limit has made it last a bit longer for us. Remember how most car seats used to have limits of 22"/22lbs? Ick! Of course, the new rear-facing car seat law makes it a bit less exciting that Aidan still fits, but I still LOVE it! He's an inch short of the limit so we'll probably get him a new convertible carseat for his birthday.
Check out what's in your car seat here: http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/childrens-products/product.searchbrand.php
"It says these substances have been linked to allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer, and babies are particularly vulnerable because their bodies are still developing and they spend hours in car seats."
I am still totally in love with the Chicco KeyFit30. Aidan is almost 1 and still hasn't outgrown it. The 30"/30lb limit has made it last a bit longer for us. Remember how most car seats used to have limits of 22"/22lbs? Ick! Of course, the new rear-facing car seat law makes it a bit less exciting that Aidan still fits, but I still LOVE it! He's an inch short of the limit so we'll probably get him a new convertible carseat for his birthday.
Check out what's in your car seat here: http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/childrens-products/product.searchbrand.php
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Relationship Communication
From The Parents Corner
If you are like the average couple you are only getting 2 hours 20 minutes of meaningful connection with your partner. Try the following exercises to increase the time you connect with your partner.
If you are like the average couple you are only getting 2 hours 20 minutes of meaningful connection with your partner. Try the following exercises to increase the time you connect with your partner.
- Partings: Do not part in the morning without knowing one interesting thing that will happen in your partner's day. (2 minutes per day X 5 working days = 10 minutes).
- Reunions: Take 10 minutes to talk about your day (a stress relieving conversation). Partners alternate in actively listening to each other. Support and understanding of your partners experiences must precede any advice giving. (20 minutes per day X 5 working days = 40 minutes).
- Admiration and Appreciation: Find some way every day to genuinely communicate affection and appreciation toward your partner. (5 minutes per day X 7 days = 35 minutes).
- Affection: Kiss, hold, touch, hug each other. Make sure to kiss and hug in front of your kids. This lets them know that Mom and Dad are still in love. (5 minutes per day X 7 days = 35 minutes).
- Dating: Take at least three hours a week for a marital date. During this day conversations about kids, school, work, etc. are off limits. Find out more about your partner, try to understand what motivates them and how you can help them when needed.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Continue in Patience
I love that as part of work I can look through Mormon Messages, read and watch general conference talks and post them on blogs.
My hubby came home after the Priesthood Session and was really impacted by this talk. I finally watched it and it was amazing! We live in a world where so much is available, but I often find myself feeling like I deserve to have things instantly. I loved Pres. Uchtdorf's reference to wondering why he was running slower than those who were not following the Word of Wisdom when he knew the promise was that he could "run and not be faint" by keeping the commandments.
"God's promises are not always fulfilled as quickly as or in the way we might hope; they come according to His timing and His ways."
I told my husband I want to do the marshmallow test with our kids. He said it might be a bad idea because we might start to favor the child that puts off eating their marshmallow and always encourage them to do better just reinforcing what the study had found. He has a point! Smart man.
You can read a news story on the marshmallow test here or read the actual chapter regarding the study here.
My hubby came home after the Priesthood Session and was really impacted by this talk. I finally watched it and it was amazing! We live in a world where so much is available, but I often find myself feeling like I deserve to have things instantly. I loved Pres. Uchtdorf's reference to wondering why he was running slower than those who were not following the Word of Wisdom when he knew the promise was that he could "run and not be faint" by keeping the commandments.
"God's promises are not always fulfilled as quickly as or in the way we might hope; they come according to His timing and His ways."
I told my husband I want to do the marshmallow test with our kids. He said it might be a bad idea because we might start to favor the child that puts off eating their marshmallow and always encourage them to do better just reinforcing what the study had found. He has a point! Smart man.
You can read a news story on the marshmallow test here or read the actual chapter regarding the study here.
Left Brain or Right Brain
Try it out.
Which way is she spinning? Can you make her switch directions?
"These kinds of optical illusions are always fun. What they reveal is how our brain processes visual information in order to create a visual model of the world. The visual system evolved to make certain assumptions that are almost always right (like, if something is smaller is it likely farther away). But these assumptions can be exploited to created a false visual construction, or an optical illusion.
The spinning girl is a form of the more general spinning silhouette illusion. The image is not objectively “spinning” in one direction or the other. It is a two-dimensional image that is simply shifting back and forth. But our brains did not evolve to interpret two-dimensional representations of the world but the actual three-dimensional world. So our visual processing assumes we are looking at a 3-D image and is uses clues to interpret it as such. Or, without adequate clues it may just arbitrarily decide a best fit – spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. And once this fit is chosen, the illusion is complete – we see a 3-D spinning image.
By looking around the image, focusing on the shadow or some other part, you may force your visual system to reconstruct the image and it may choose the opposite direction, and suddenly the image will spin in the opposite direction." (http://theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=27)
Love You, Hate the Porn
I subscribe to a few different marriage blogs and occasionally I find something that is really helpful for me as a therapist.
When working at Women's Service, I had quite a few girls stop by- both married and single- that found out their significant other was addicted to pornography. At any given point, I think around half of my cases have pornography as an issue to be addressed. I'm kind of thinking that about every man has been exposed to pornography at some point in his life, but this could be my therapist brain talking. More women are being exposed to and becoming addicted.
Working with couples on pornography issues can be really difficult. Both individuals are so raw. The wife often feels betrayed and unable to trust. The husband feels so much shame that it's hard for him to function. (I've only treated husbands with this addiction thus far.) I've seen a lot of success in therapy with these couples and individuals, but it's a hard issue for me to tackle. I never know quite how to word things.
I'm still on this journey figuring out what therapy modality I operate from. I believe in attachment theory. I believe that everyone needs a secure attachment figure in their life. I believe that trauma can greatly affect one's ability to trust and be close to others. I believe individuals need to have experiences where they feel safe and secure and can trust. I also believe that true healing is possible and best done with a secure attachment figure.
I really enjoyed Mark Chamberlain's recent blog post. He's currently publishing a book entitled "Love You, Hate the Porn". You can check out his blog athttp://markchamberlainphd.blogspot.com/
Some of the excerpts I liked followed by some of my thoughts:
"Two months my wife caught me looking at porn on my phone. For me it was a relief--I haven’t felt this free in years. Getting this out in the open was just what I needed to finally put it behind me"
"Vance, it’s important for you to know why the news of your porn use hurt Rachel so deeply: precisely because you are so important to her. She relies on your relationship to give her a sense that everything is alright in the world, and so her universe has been turned upside-down. The fact that she cares so deeply is a promising sign that, with work, the two of you will be able to draw together and heal your marriage."
I worry more when a couple comes in to therapy and they aren't even arguing with each other. At least couples that argue still care about each other.
"She needs you close. You’re the source of her pain on the one hand, but mostly you’re “her primary attachment figure,” the one she instinctively reaches for when she’s struggling and in need...Spend more time right there beside her."
I think this is so, so hard for men to do because they feel so ashamed and want to hide. They also are afraid of hurting their wife more or that their wife will be angry (which often happens).
"By the time we reach adulthood and our spouse has become our primary attachment figure, we can still feel connected and secure even if, for example, one spouse is away on extended military deployment. However, when something like pornography seems to threaten our bond, a switch inside of us flips, turning us back into an emotional toddler."
"When it starts to feel like you’re being interrogated and your patience wears thin, hear her emotional pleading behind each question: “You are so important to me. My world turns on how you feel about me. I don’t want anything to threaten what we share together. Tell me again that I come first in your life!”...So tell her again (and again and again) that she comes first in your life."
In therapy, we talk a lot about pursue-withdraw patterns. Often, the pursuer has some underlying need that they are wanting met, but maybe can't express well. Mostly, the wife just wants to know that she is loved and cared for.
"Remember: everything you’ve built together, everything you’ve shared together, everything you’ve felt together is still there! It hasn’t been obliterated by pornography, just buried. With your help, she can heal. And with her help, so can you. Working together, you can make your marriage stronger than it has ever has been before!"
I think the marriages that have gone through hard things are sooooo much stronger than marriages where there have been few struggles.
So, there you go, a tiny peek into my world as a therapist. And just because it's on my mind from talking to somebody earlier, Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnso
n would likely be a good attachment-based book to read to strengthen your relationship.
PS I'm happy to help you find a good therapist if you're ever interested or recommend a good book if I know of one.
When working at Women's Service, I had quite a few girls stop by- both married and single- that found out their significant other was addicted to pornography. At any given point, I think around half of my cases have pornography as an issue to be addressed. I'm kind of thinking that about every man has been exposed to pornography at some point in his life, but this could be my therapist brain talking. More women are being exposed to and becoming addicted.
Working with couples on pornography issues can be really difficult. Both individuals are so raw. The wife often feels betrayed and unable to trust. The husband feels so much shame that it's hard for him to function. (I've only treated husbands with this addiction thus far.) I've seen a lot of success in therapy with these couples and individuals, but it's a hard issue for me to tackle. I never know quite how to word things.
I'm still on this journey figuring out what therapy modality I operate from. I believe in attachment theory. I believe that everyone needs a secure attachment figure in their life. I believe that trauma can greatly affect one's ability to trust and be close to others. I believe individuals need to have experiences where they feel safe and secure and can trust. I also believe that true healing is possible and best done with a secure attachment figure.
I really enjoyed Mark Chamberlain's recent blog post. He's currently publishing a book entitled "Love You, Hate the Porn". You can check out his blog athttp://markchamberlainphd.blogspot.com/
Some of the excerpts I liked followed by some of my thoughts:
"Two months my wife caught me looking at porn on my phone. For me it was a relief--I haven’t felt this free in years. Getting this out in the open was just what I needed to finally put it behind me"
More often than not, the man coming in to therapy hates- I mean really hates- his addiction. He is relieved to have help in recovery.
"Vance, it’s important for you to know why the news of your porn use hurt Rachel so deeply: precisely because you are so important to her. She relies on your relationship to give her a sense that everything is alright in the world, and so her universe has been turned upside-down. The fact that she cares so deeply is a promising sign that, with work, the two of you will be able to draw together and heal your marriage."
I worry more when a couple comes in to therapy and they aren't even arguing with each other. At least couples that argue still care about each other.
"She needs you close. You’re the source of her pain on the one hand, but mostly you’re “her primary attachment figure,” the one she instinctively reaches for when she’s struggling and in need...Spend more time right there beside her."
I think this is so, so hard for men to do because they feel so ashamed and want to hide. They also are afraid of hurting their wife more or that their wife will be angry (which often happens).
"By the time we reach adulthood and our spouse has become our primary attachment figure, we can still feel connected and secure even if, for example, one spouse is away on extended military deployment. However, when something like pornography seems to threaten our bond, a switch inside of us flips, turning us back into an emotional toddler."
"When it starts to feel like you’re being interrogated and your patience wears thin, hear her emotional pleading behind each question: “You are so important to me. My world turns on how you feel about me. I don’t want anything to threaten what we share together. Tell me again that I come first in your life!”...So tell her again (and again and again) that she comes first in your life."
"Remember: everything you’ve built together, everything you’ve shared together, everything you’ve felt together is still there! It hasn’t been obliterated by pornography, just buried. With your help, she can heal. And with her help, so can you. Working together, you can make your marriage stronger than it has ever has been before!"
I think the marriages that have gone through hard things are sooooo much stronger than marriages where there have been few struggles.
So, there you go, a tiny peek into my world as a therapist. And just because it's on my mind from talking to somebody earlier, Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnso
n would likely be a good attachment-based book to read to strengthen your relationship.PS I'm happy to help you find a good therapist if you're ever interested or recommend a good book if I know of one.
How Much Does it Cost to Raise a Kid?
I found this site, visualeconomics.com, and it's super interesting to me. I like this graph. Kids are worth every penny! It's so crazy how much education costs have changed. I would want to know the separation between education and child care, though.
Have You Seen This? Dr. Zoe D. Katze
When online universities started becoming really popular, it worried me for precisely this reason. Now we have to worry about Diploma Mills.
Make sure you know the credentials for those you see- especially for health care. Are they from an accredited program? Do your research as the client/patient.
I'm really sensitive to this. I worked my butt off to get accepted and finish a master's program and am working just as hard on my PhD. The MFT program at BYU is accredited by the AAMFT commission (COAMFTE). We are a very well-known program and one of the best in the nation. I've heard a lot of people say we are Number 1, but I don't really know how it's measured. I was required to provide at least 500 hours of face-to-face (i.e. in the same room) therapy- where I was the therapist- to graduate from my Master's and at least 251 of those had to be relational (couple, family, parent-child). I also completed the 60 credits of required coursework. I'm also a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in Utah (requirements vary by state).
It bugs me that some people trick the public into thinking they are worthy of their career. I have some hard feelings against people like Dr Phil and John Gray (Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus) who either tell people what they want to hear or just create drama for entertainment sake (okay, I've maybe only watched one episode of Dr. Phil).
*Gray received his Ph.D. from the unaccredited institution after completing a correspondence course.
*Dr. Phil did get a PhD in clinical psych in 1976, but his license to practice lapsed. He's said to some that his show does not involve actual psychology or counseling, but I'm not sure if that's what viewers think or know.
Article from here: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=957&sid=14220824
Eichel sent in a resume showing Katze had worked at the Tacayllaermi Friends School in Delaware. Let's take a look at that backwards… imreallyacat.
After working at such a prestigious school the APA awarded Katze a diploma stating that she had met "rigid requirements."
So I say to you Dr. Katze, congratulations. It's not easy becoming a doctor. I started college with hopes to become a dentist. I stepped into my first day of college biology, walked right back out and headed straight to my counselor's office and changed my major… communications. I reached for the stars, but settled for a small hill.
But now this tiny, four-legged, doctor has inspired me. Now that I know all I have to do is buy a few credentials and work at Tsilanruojayllaermi School for the Gifted and Talented of Greater Salt Lake to become a certified doctor this will be my last entry on ksl.com. I'm going to call my wife right now to let her know in a few short days she's going to be married to a doctor. Thank you Dr. Katze, you have truly inspired me and therefore done your job.
So here's to you kind of smelly, constantly licking yourself and hacking up hairballs in the middle of hypno-sessions, medical professional. Keep inspiring others to become something they are nowhere near qualified to be.
Make sure you know the credentials for those you see- especially for health care. Are they from an accredited program? Do your research as the client/patient.
I'm really sensitive to this. I worked my butt off to get accepted and finish a master's program and am working just as hard on my PhD. The MFT program at BYU is accredited by the AAMFT commission (COAMFTE). We are a very well-known program and one of the best in the nation. I've heard a lot of people say we are Number 1, but I don't really know how it's measured. I was required to provide at least 500 hours of face-to-face (i.e. in the same room) therapy- where I was the therapist- to graduate from my Master's and at least 251 of those had to be relational (couple, family, parent-child). I also completed the 60 credits of required coursework. I'm also a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in Utah (requirements vary by state).
It bugs me that some people trick the public into thinking they are worthy of their career. I have some hard feelings against people like Dr Phil and John Gray (Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus) who either tell people what they want to hear or just create drama for entertainment sake (okay, I've maybe only watched one episode of Dr. Phil).
*Gray received his Ph.D. from the unaccredited institution after completing a correspondence course.
*Dr. Phil did get a PhD in clinical psych in 1976, but his license to practice lapsed. He's said to some that his show does not involve actual psychology or counseling, but I'm not sure if that's what viewers think or know.
Article from here: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=957&sid=14220824
Dr. Zoe D. Katze
By John Clyde
SALT LAKE CITY - All of us deal with individual problems that have to do with our well-being and mental health. Someone who can help you through these problems is a credentialed psychotherapist… Actually, that depends.
World meet Dr. Zoe D. Katze. She's board certified, surprisingly short and has an unfortunate back hair problem… That's because she's a cat. Yes you read that correctly. The feline Zoe Katze is a Ph.D., C.Ht., and a DAPA and she has the paperwork to prove it.  |
Dr. Katze's diploma from the American Psychotherapy Association |
Zoe's owner, Dr. Steve Eichel is a real Ph.D. and was fed up with people claiming to be accomplished psychotherapists by getting credentials through schools known as "diploma mills." So, Dr. Eichel decided it was time for his lazy cat to do something with her life.
Eichel bought certifications from the National Guild of Hypnotists, the American Board of Hypnotherapy and the American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists. He then sent those credentials into the American Psychotherapy Association (APA), which Eichel is a member. The APA then asked for a resume from Dr. Katze. Eichel sent in a resume showing Katze had worked at the Tacayllaermi Friends School in Delaware. Let's take a look at that backwards… imreallyacat.
After working at such a prestigious school the APA awarded Katze a diploma stating that she had met "rigid requirements."
So I say to you Dr. Katze, congratulations. It's not easy becoming a doctor. I started college with hopes to become a dentist. I stepped into my first day of college biology, walked right back out and headed straight to my counselor's office and changed my major… communications. I reached for the stars, but settled for a small hill.
But now this tiny, four-legged, doctor has inspired me. Now that I know all I have to do is buy a few credentials and work at Tsilanruojayllaermi School for the Gifted and Talented of Greater Salt Lake to become a certified doctor this will be my last entry on ksl.com. I'm going to call my wife right now to let her know in a few short days she's going to be married to a doctor. Thank you Dr. Katze, you have truly inspired me and therefore done your job.
So here's to you kind of smelly, constantly licking yourself and hacking up hairballs in the middle of hypno-sessions, medical professional. Keep inspiring others to become something they are nowhere near qualified to be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)