clinical social work association

The suicide rate in the USA has grown exponentially and people’s sense of loneliness and disconnection has grown. How do we make sense of this? Do we search for meaning, relief, escape?  Will therapy with an existential underpinning help us to let go?  Read on:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/01/existential-therapy-you-can-ask-big-questions/579292/

The DSM V does not list Hypesexual Disorder. Even though the decision to list it is still up in the air, the diagnosis has validity. Debates regarding female addiction in this realm are relatively new based on our culture's view that women's problems with sex were in area of hyposexual disorders. Not so say researchers and therapists who have worked for decades in this area of addiction. 

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/11/sex-addiction-isnt-a-guy-thing/281401/

“Where should we begin?” is the name of a new podcast available from Audible featuring the    work of Esther Perel in the area of betrayal. This is unscripted and raw, allowing for mistakes and miracles.  Listen in for some inspiration for your next session.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/esther-perel-lets-us-listen-in-on-couples-secrets

One of the recent developments with the advent of social media is the issue of online infidelity. A decided difficulty in addressing this with couples is the definition of infidelity. Is the spouse rationalizing his or her behavior since there is no 'skin to skin' contact? Does this still constitute a violation of the marital contract?  Read on for a case presentation.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802380/

The world as experienced by a child on the spectrum is like Alice in wonderland, all open to interpretation. The recognition of these differences is a lot like cultural competence where an awareness eases the transition for both parties. Read on for an example of how to respond.

https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/blog/details/1158/inside-the-mind-of-a-child-with-aspergers?

Emergency room personnel suffer from PTSD given the everyday pain and suffering infusing their professional lives. How are we any different? Having clients recount the horror of discovering a family suicide, seeing a brutal beating, or being a victim of sexual assault? How do we process this without significant damage to our own psyches? Read on and start to acknowledge our reality.

https://journals.lww.com/em-news/Fulltext/2013/08000/Second_Opinion__Stop_Sucking_It_Up

Malcolm Gladwell offers us a psychoanalytic view of the slip of the tongue. In an analysis of Elvis Presley and his music, his fascinating youtube program investigates the interpretation of parapraxis. Watch for an illuminating discussion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNYIfiCHNSY

Studies of autonomy often focus on the level of freedom within a society.  It's difficult to be self directed if the environment is so controlled that the person feels no sense of personal power. In the attached meta-analysis the researchers focus on “learning to cope autonomously with the challenges of an open environment.” When working with clients, the evaluation of person in environment is a tenet of our practice. Read on for a 'graphic' understanding of this topic.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3805057/

In this age of risk management and ethics in practice, we have a dilemma, to touch or not to touch. Like most in life, absolutist thinking just doesn't work. If you recall from your training the work of John Bowlby, touch was a lifeline. Guidelines to aid us in appropriate use of healing touch are outlined in this article from the Zur Institute. This topic is worthy of a revisit especially in today's world.

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

How can we help clients with mental health disabilities navigate with their employers?

Job accommodation should be an expectation for the client but many employers have little idea regarding how to help. Unfortunately many employees will fail to come forward because of fears of stigma and isolation. This article highlights suggestions for both the employee and the employer 

https://www.bna.com/worker-mental-health-n73014450290/