clinical social work association

In a recent article from the Journal of Clinical Psychology regarding the development of OCD, researchers looked at the interpretation of thoughts as opposed to the actual content of the thought.  The two concepts of dissociation and inferential confusion help to clarify what is the process for those suffering from OCD.

www.mdlinx.com/psychiatry/article/106?

More focus is being placed on the issue of workplace stress as workers struggle with 24/7 demands, incivility by coworkers and bosses, and scarcity of alternative jobs.  Social workers often work with individuals under duress laboring with a lack of resources. How does this effect social workers in their response to these demands.  Read on.

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/is-your-workplace-tough-or-is-it-toxic/

Is there really any evidence?  Reading this recent article on how research is conducted and what outcomes are reported is illuminating.  When EBT made its debut, many made the assumption that science finally is making its mark on therapy practices.  But are we there yet?  You decide.

http://jungianstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Shedler-2015-Where-is-the-evidence-for-evidence-based-therapies

Pot is being legalized across the US, but what do we really know about it?  The federal government realizes that research on marijuana is not extensive but we are moving forward in making it available for sale and use.  The expectation among researchers is that more funds will be available as issues present.  Read on for one new study and what conclusions it draws.

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/05/fun-secondhand-pot-smoke-hotboxing-experiment.html

The forward movement to electronic medical records brings with it new concerns about confidentiality.  If Target can’t keep your info confidential, who can?  Any of us who have done electronic billing has software that stores our clients’ diagnoses, Social Security numbers, addresses et al.  How secure is that information?  What about emails reminding clients of their upcoming appointments?   So what about that laptop that you carry?  Is it password protected? 

Read on for more info on how to move forward.

http://www.zurinstitute.com/laptoptheftandconfidentiality.html

Psychotherapy and mindfulness seem comfortable bed-fellows.  Helping clients by cultivating their awareness of their internal environment aids in introspection.  Quieting the noise of one’s life so the moment to moment experience is available is a gift that therapy can bring.  Read on for much more on mindfulness.

http://www.psychotherapy.net/interview/tara-brach-mindfulness-psychotherapy-awakening

The Industrial Age functioned with workers on site with prescribed shifts and roles.  Movement in the work environment towards flexibility and effectiveness has brought about some interesting challenges for most professions.  Examples below are for an industrial plant, but some of the same elements are present in a DSS office, hospital environment or child protective services.  Take a look at how balance can be embraced in a crisis oriented workplace.

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/life-friendly-managers-with-a-win-win-philosophy/

In private practice maintaining a healthy referral base can be competitive.  How can we improve our ‘rep’?  How about outcome measures?  The following article gives a step by step method for discovering our clients’ progress.  What are the predictors of poor results?  What are our ‘real results’ as opposed to highlighting only our most successful cases.  Read on.

http://nationalpsychologist.com/2013/01/track-and-market-outcome-results/101827.html

Research continues to favor personalized treatment.  No cookbook approach will work.  In this case,the evidence lies with the brain.  Some of us will respond better to talk therapy rather than pharmacological therapy.  Read on for a very enlightening review as to what is behind all this.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/08/to-treat-depression-drugs-or-therapy/?

Can we welcome a client's religious belief into the therapy just as we would a client's culture?  What are the caveats in approaching a client and opening the dialogue?

Can a secular therapist without a religious orientation invite the client to explore the impact of the client's belief system.  Read on for a fascinating discussion.

http://www.psychotherapy.net/interview/strawn-psychotherapy-religion?