Interface Consultation Services, PLLC

Can't Sleep? Me either!

Stronger label warnings for Psychostimulants (drugs used in the treatment of ADHD)? The consensus move by the Food and Drug Administration's pediatric advisory committee leaves in doubt whether the agency will require the so-called "black-box" labels on the drugs, which include Ritalin . The panel, in simply recommending easier-to-understand language on the labels, broke with another committee that had recommended last month that the drugs include the more dire warnings. There were over 90 studies indicating symptoms of visual and tactile hallucinations in children after starting these medications as well as studies indicating the possible risk to the cardiovascular system. These concerns would seem logical for this class of drugs, stimulants. There seems to have been different points of view about the dangers of these medications and the research presented. Last month a FDA committee proposed the use of the strongest labeling. For now there will be an easier -to- und...

What is it to feel the heart...to know the self? To know the feelings of light, love and emotion with intensity? Shaking, furry, running with fear Oh, little rabbit you are there Acceptance in motion Noticing and moving with the wind Like a kite in a wind storm You will find me Pacing and prowling for the right moment Oh, sly coyote you are there Ever moving...never ending The elixir of being...feeling... Emotions is the energy of life

Much is written of late with regard to focusing on and promoting a “person-centered” approach to mental health and counseling treatment. Person-centered treatment planning has gained momentum mostly in the community mental health industry where federal and state funding for services influences treatment policy and procedure. Consequently, oversight and strict monitoring by governmental agencies guides or directs the treatment philosophies and service guidelines. But as with all rules and policies, individual or agency interpretation has a way of defining the actual implementation of treatment services and to that end the concept of “person-centered planning” has taken on what is more akin to a “person-directed” treatment process; that interpretation, we’re sure, was not the original intention. In addition to these policy and procedure influences, the general lay person is exposed to more and varied information about mental illness. Television shows about mental illness, pharmaceutical ...

As the general population becomes increasingly exposed to and educated about mental illness and options for treatment, as professionals we are seeing both a lessening of the stigma around mental health as well as an increase in "self-diagnosing" of psychological disorders. For so many years, mental illness was viewed with negativity, apprehension and misconception. In more recent years, there has been a greater understanding and acceptance that people do indeed suffer from emotional and psychological illness and this awareness has opened doors for those in need of professional treatment services. This is a good thing. Unfortunately, like with anything, there does exist an upside and a downside. The downside, of more available information on mental illness and mental health, is the phenomenon of self-diagnosing. “I am Bipolar”, “I am ADHD”, “my child is schizophrenic”, “and my child is schizophrenia, bipolar and ADHD”. This is not uncommon. We do believe it is human nature to...

Loyalty is dead, the experts proclaim, and the statistics seem to bear them out. On average, U.S. corporations now lose half their customers in five years, half their employees in four, and half their investors in less than one. We seem to face a future in which the only business relationships will be opportunistic transactions between virtual strangers. FREDERICK F. REICHHELD, The Loyalty Effect Making connections, nurturing those relationships, valuing others, communicating appreciation, and relationship investing long-term are key elements to mutually rewarding and successful relationships both in business and personal life. We believe that loyalty is earned and based on an ongoing commitment of mutual respect, trust and value of one another’s strengths and contributions to the relationship. Our beliefs about loyalty personally or in business may seem outdated but values are just that. Values! Principl...

Discussions about the crisis in health care in our society occur frequently. Many people struggle with being uninsured or underinsured. The premiums continue to increase which in turn increases the pool of consumers who are uninsured. How often do you hear noise about behavioral health care? As of December 2001, all states accept Alaska and Wyoming had some percentage of Medicaid Managed Care for medicaid recipients. The insurance enrollees in managed carebeen steadily increasing since then, both in the commerical and public insurance sector. How do you get what your clients need from behavioral managed care companies? What about liability? What if clients don't get the care that they need and something tragic happens? Will I feel responsible and will I be liable? The best defense is a good offense! The best protection against liability is experience, training in high risk suicide assessment and other high risk situations (knowing the profile of the suicide completer, know the pro...

This entry was inspired by another a blog called The Awakening . A moving story of courage, love, emotion, spiritual journey and healing that would be an inspiration to almost anyone. The integration of spirituality and psychology dates back to the very beginning of the study of Psychology. Carl Jung identified archetypes and the collective unconscious as spiritual in nature. He describes a oneness among beings and across time. The "Blue Book" and the 12 step programs for people who struggle with addictions have clearly defined spirituality as a vitaingredientnt in recovery. 12 step programs are being used for OCD, eating disorders, families, gambling, etc you name it there is probably a 12 step group for it somewhere to aid in healing and recovery. More recently DBT an evidenced- based practice for Borderline Personality Disorder has incorporated Mindfulness as a key in skills training techniques. Marsha Linehan , the founder of DBT reportedly immersed herself in eastern s...

Forensic psychologist are asked this question on a daily basis, but this a highly specialized field of psychology. Although mental health professionals in general frequently struggle with the considerations of whether a person's behavior is due to a mental illness or criminal antisocial behavior and once the etiology is determined; what is the appropriate action? Incarceration? Treatment? Both? Because a person has a mental illness does that mean that the person is not responsible for their behavior? The State of Michigan started a jail diversion program several years ago that they have been trying to improve and implement successfully over the years. It's an effort to try and define who the mentally ill are in the correctional system, provide treatment or divert them from the correction facility to treatment entirely. Public mental health professionals are confronted with this question on almost a daily basis. We and our colleagues are asked to provide evaluations for the cour...

Motivational Enhancement Therapy is an evidence - based practice for sustance abuse disorders. It was founded by Miller & Rollnick in 1997. This therapy is based on motivation and social psychology. MET's goal is to motivate clients to use their own awareness and resources to change behavior. Motivational interviewing is a client-centered, directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. The therapist provides a framework and skills sets listed below to assist the client. "Intrinsic motivation for change arises in an accepting, empowering atmosphere that makes it safe for the person to explore the possibly painful present in relation to what is wanted and valued." (Miller & Rollnick, 2002) The Guiding Principles of Motivational Interviewing Respectful Listening Develop Discrepancy Roll with Resistance Support Self-Efficacy Respect the Interaction Among All Disorders Essential Communication Styles As we continu...

Interface - the place at which independent and often unrelated systems meet and act on or communicate with each other. Choosing a name for our business was not easy. We wanted our name to clearly reflect our business purpose while at the same time generate professional recognition amongst our providers and potential colleagues. We understand the importance of first impressions and we were sensitive that our name should represent us, often in a foregoing sort of way. Interface Consultation Services emerged from this process of name selection. It clearly identifies our commitment to professionally connect with others in a collaborative and instructive manner while sharing and providing expertise to others so that they benefit. Interface Consultation Services provides nation-wide training, consultation and service to mental health agencies and healthcare organizations. Contact Us for more information on the types of mental health training and consultation services that we provide.

The topic of firesetting behaviors with children and adolescents gets very little public press and therefore is generally poorly understood by most people. We hear about arson as an adult criminal activity with more frequency and attribute this often to suspicious, insurance-generating firesetting activity. When talking about firesetting that involves children or teens, we can learn more. Stat : About 1 in every 4 fires is intentionally set -- and almost half of these fires were set by youth under the age of 18. Stat: According to the FBI, juvenile firesetters accounted for roughly half (at least 49%) or more of those arrested for arson. Stat: Juvenile arson and youth-set fires result in over 300 deaths and 2,000 injuries annually, and $300 million in property damage and more than 400,000 incidents annually. Juvenile firesetters are comprised of 3 distinct age groups & types. Under age 7 , mostly boys – fires generally started by accident or curiosity Children age 8-12 – some of th...

The media can play a powerful role in educating the public about suicide prevention. Stories about suicide can inform readers and viewers about the likely causes of suicide, its warning signs, trends in suicide rates, and recent treatment advances. They can also highlight opportunities to prevent suicide. Media stories about individual deaths by suicide may be newsworthy and need to be covered, but they also have the potential to do harm. Implementation of recommendations for media coverage of suicide has been shown to decrease suicide rates. Certain ways of describing suicide in the news contribute to what behavioral scientists call "suicide contagion" or "copycat" suicides. Research suggests that inadvertently romanticizing suicide or idealizing those who take their own lives by portraying suicide as a heroic or romantic act may encourage others to identify with the victim. Exposure to suicide method through media reports can encourage vulnerable individuals to im...

The American Psychological Association (APA) has published practice guidelines for several mental disorders including Eating Disorders. Eating disorders can be very difficult to treat and many mental health professionals feel uncomfortable with even the idea of treating these patients. In 2000, the APA released its first edition of guidelines and has recently released a second edition. For a patient diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa the main goals are to: improve eating habits, restore weight to within normal limits, nutrition and normal perceptions of fullness and hunger. The APA gives specific treatment guidelines, level of care recommendations, efficacy calculations, and best practice guides for Anorexia as well as Bulimia. The guidelines discuss the usefulness of medication as well and at what stages in the patient’s treatment medication would be indicated. For example for Bulimia Nervosa they recommend a combination of concurrent treatments; nutritional rehabilitation, psychosocia...