clinical social work association

We are unlikely to commit one of the Seven Deadly Sins with client, but are we going to make errors in our comfort with the informality of today’s counseling environment.  Read on for a reminder and a heads up.

https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/blog/details/923/ethical-boundaries-in-an-age-of-informality?

Fred Luskin offers a new look at forgiveness from the perspective of ‘NO’.  A video worth watching creates the opportunity for dialogue regarding this topic.  He follows this discussion with a three step program focused on grief.  Watch on:

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_is_forgiveness

We talk about gut instincts, how about influencing that gut with psycho-biotics?  Dr Oz has educated us about probiotics and their effect on our health, now microbiologists at the University in Cork, Ireland are studying the effect on mood and mental health.  The jury is still out on whether we can improve mental health in this way. It is on that Mind-Body spectrum where many new discoveries are changing our outlook.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/gut-week-gut-brain-axis-can-fixing-my-stomach-fix-me/

What is transformational in your life?  We clinical social workers depend on language to help us create a healing presence.  Our colleague, Marlanda Dekine, as part of the Speaking Down Barriers movement,  shares with us the power created with poetry. Listen to this Ted Talk for real inspiration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0y1I5kK3j4&mc_cid=c823bb9ecd&mc_eid=5437c4ec16

Studies of narcissism have received a lot of press in the past few years, but does the general public actually have a handle on what it is?  The work sited here looks at the elements of narcissism from the point of view of agency and community.  Do those with narcissistic traits embellish their self assessment with their dominance or with their social acceptance? 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201604/what-actually-happens-when-narcissist-looks-in-the-mirror

This very provocative essay from The Guardian really forces you to think.  Should we let go of mindfulness and fake it?  Read on to see what some classical Chinese philosophers suggested.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/09/forget-mindfulness-stop-trying-to-find-yourself-start-faking-it-confucius?

Can meditation lessen violence in certain populations?  Today we are in the midst of a mindfulness movement.  This requires no medication, no equipment just a labile mind.  Read on for this report on the research.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/muom-cgm031316.php

Haven’t we all been able to look back at those cases that lacked clarity in ‘the doing’ that come back to us at a later date.  Maybe they actually return to therapy and you get a second chance reading this shared remembrance brings you back to reflection. 

https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/blog/details/752/

We know a lot more now than in the past regarding brain function.  Unfortunately, we are learning even more about extreme reactions and their effect on our safely.  We are wired for aggression when stressed in certain ways.  Following is an explanation of all that hypothalamic response.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160207-brain-violence-rage-snap-science-booktalk/

Our expectations for our kids are skyrocketing.  Just like Prairie Home Companion, they are all on track to realize their futures as geniuses.  But the reality is there aren’t any increased numbers of graduates of professional programs even though more espouse interest in pursuing those graduate degrees.  Why you ask?  Read on for some thoughts based on recent research.

http://qz.com/642351/is-the-way-we-parent-causing-a-mental-health-crisis-in-our-kids/