Interface Consultation Services, PLLC

A study by Dr. Nada Stotland presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry indicates that teen girls, moreso than teen boys, tend to focus more on negative self-image and the feeling that problems are unsolvable. Girls have a tendency to have a poorer self-image and feelings of vulnerability. There also appears to be differences in how depression is manifested by different races. Asian girls tend to describe more anxiety which is reported to lead to a decreased self-image and fears of failure. African American girls are more likely than Caucasian girls to have depressive symptoms beyond teenage years. To read more.....

The very essence of the creative is its novelty, and hence we have no standard by which to judge it. Carl Rogers Creativity is like the sea; ever moving, ebbing and flowing. At times, article ideas for our blogs come very spontaneously; other times it is a struggle to identify and develop relevant and interesting topic pieces. Of late, the creative energy seems to have washed out to sea, being pushed and pulled somewhere at the mercy of other forces, unsure when it will wash ashore again. Speaking of the sea; we love the sea, its mystery and majesty, its calming influence and its unbridled movement. Amidst it’s mystery contains a quiet yet powerful life force, it’s ever moving and changing forces affect us individually and the earth it touches. On a scale of lesser grandeur, so goes our professional creativity. At times the energy is high and its impact obvious. We can touch individual minds and in turn, perhaps, influence the world in a greater way. As unpredictable is the sea, so unc

A study by Cornell University published in the May 2006 special issue of Development Psychology on use of the Internet by children and adolescent s . The study indicates that message boards and some teen-oriented blog providers have been providing a different type of outlet and support system for teenagers. These spaces have become one of the primary places for teens to socialize. Teens who may be more socially withdrawn in a school situation may feel more willing to discuss emotions and cutting behaviors. Researchers have found that the internet provides a safer space for teens to talk about a secretive behavior but also maybe increase other teens curiosity to the phenomena. Teens discuss experiences, encouragement, triggers, concealment and at times methods. As clinicians, we have found that self-injurious behaviors have become more prevalent among teenagers the past couple of years. These behaviors in the past have been indicative of serious emotional disturbances but as Hollywood S

Working professionally with children and their families can be challenging, frustrating and rewarding. For those families that have a motivation and openness to addressing family dynamic issues much can be accomplished toward a positive and enduring change in the family system functioning. At other times, families are less willing or able to explore issues systemically (this would consist of considering and incorporating all family members, their inter-relationships and how it all contributes to dysfunction within system). More times than not, those “closed” family types present for mental health treatment with desperate and unrealistic expectations for treatment; their mantra frequently being, “Fix My Kid!” As most mental health professionals realize, "fixing" a person’s emotional, behavioral and mental health is impossible; helping people through understanding, teaching, guiding, insight, etc offers opportunities for change and growth but this requires work, effort, commitm

The UK Health Secretary – Patricia Hewitt announced on 4/16/06 that people suffering from depression in the UK will have better access to psychotherapy. The UK has been using anti-depressants as the first line there for people with mild to moderate depression despite the research indicating that the use of psychotherapies such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) provide excellent results and may assist people with new coping skills and ways of thinking that may decrease the likelihood of a relapse. The combination of medication and psychotherapy as treatment for depression has increased efficiency. People who are healthier have a better work history and people who are employed have a better health history. What are the real costs? In the UK it appears they have been using “medications only” for what Hewitt calls the, “quick fix solution”. It’s also the “cheaper” solution, but they are now trying to pilot using both or just psychotherapy, hmmm... What about the US? Where are we on

Say what you want about the politics of war in the Middle East, about the governments’ policies and practice with maintaining US troops in that region. The fact of the matter is, US soldiers are experiencing service-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and are being insufficiently treated both in the field and upon returning state-side. PTSD symptoms can be transient or enduring; they can be mild to severe; they can be minor or significant in the impairment of day-to-day functioning. It is interesting that the terminology and diagnostic classification of PTSD emerged, in large part, from combat experiences of Vietnam veterans, so who should know more about identifying and treating combat mental health than our defense department. Recent military-initiated mental health referrals for soldiers who were stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan related to combat PTSD were only 22% for returning soldiers. There have been statements inferring that too much attention by military com

I smell something, but I don't say anything because I am wondering if it's just me. The smell is getting stronger. Some else says I smell some something burning! Me, too! Me, too and it smells electrical! I was away at a PESI seminar. Everyone started to unplug anything that was electrical in the room. The hotel staff came in to assist us. It was determined to be a fire in the kitchen. We improvised, opened the back door to air out the place and continued on! Flexibility, a good thing! What was the name of the kitchen? Red Hot and Blue The cooks have to live up to the name! Actually, all jokes aside the food was great and the hotel staff wonderful. I was a Girl Scout, so you know I always try to be prepared.

Crisis is a time of extremes, fear and opportunity. As healing professionals we want to focus on the opportunity for growth, healing and change. By defination, a crisis is short-term. We have a wonderful window of opportunity to make a great impact in people’s lives as well as our own when we see people in crisis. The potential for change is high because of the vulnerability that comes with crisis. People’s defenses are down including their maladaptive and adaptive defenses. These are some tips that might help you in preparing to see someone in crisis. Make a Connection – This is Imparative! What is the real crisis? Instill hope! Display confidence Specific Interventions Coping skills Client must leave with direction and a plan! Seeing people who are experiencing an emotional crisis can be very emotional for the professional as well as the client. Stay calm, be prepared and if you are feeling unable to subjectively intervene seek support, consultation and assistance.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a study indicating the prevalence rates for Autism in the United States. 5.5 out of 1,000 children have been diagnosed with autism past estimates have ranged from 1 to 9 out of 1, 000. This is the first in a series of studies to be done be the Atlanta-based CDC. There has been recent debate about whether a preservative used in vaccines are linked to an increase in prevalence of these disorders. The CDC is first considering if there is a statistically significant increase in autism. The results of this study my also include autism spectrum disorders such as Aspergers and pervasive developmental disorder because of their relationship to autism.

The National Institute of Mental Health has been conducting research on the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication in the treatment of chronic Schizophrenia. Phase 2 findings have been published for review on their website. In summary, Phase 2 studies compared the medications, called "atypical antipsychotics," with each other in two different groups of participants. In one group, patients who had stopped taking a phase 1 medication because symptoms were not adequately relieved were randomly assigned to get one of four medications: clozapine ( Clozaril ), olanzapine (Zyprexa) , quetiapine (Seroquel), or risperidone (Risperdal). In that group, clozapine was the most effective. Forty-four percent of the patients who changed to clozapine stayed on it for the rest of the 18-month study, compared with 18 percent of patients who had changed to the other medications. On average, patients stayed on clozapine for 10 months, while patients on any of the other medications stayed on t

Screening and intervening for high risk mental health situations can be anxiety-provoking and stressful for healthcare and public servant professionals. Effectively and confidently managing or “triaging” these patient types requires knowledge and training. It is very common that mental health consumers will be calling or presenting in various community places, such as ER’s, call centers and police dispatch, physician offices, police officers in the field and counseling centers. The time to address these situations is before confronted with them. In Tuscon, AZ on May 11th and in Phoenix, AZ on May 12th, Craig Judd , psychologist, will be providing one-day seminar trainings on this topic, High Risk Mental Health Triage – “How To” Assessment and Intervention Techniques for Telephone and Face-to-Face Emergencies. Coordinated through PESI Healthcare, PESI , interested professionals can register for this valuable, must-attend seminar. No longer will you avoid, second-guess or inappropr