START 2 S.H.I.F.T.
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

S.H.I.F.T MISSION STATEMENT:

To assist in providing therapeutic services for those who want to move forward and enhance one's own quality of life. Counseling services provide individuals with therapeutic tools for learning how to improve their emotional coping and conflict problem solving skills as a means for maintaining a healthier ongoing recovery process.

What does SHIFT mean?
SHIFT is change, alter, and remove. SHIFT is a motive to mobilize individuals,couples and families in order to remove familiar patterns of unhealthy and self destuctive thoughts and behaviors.

S.H.I.F.T.'s ACRONYM:
Share,heal, Insight, Flourish,Triumph

SERVICES:
SHIFT provides counseling to individuals,groups,couples and families. The focus of treatment is to provide a safe place to address issues directly. Services are given based upon personal needs.

Visit our Website at www.start2shift.org

1:40 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Treatment &Support for Families of Individuals with Autism
Category: Life

Karen Cohen LMFT is now providing treatment and support for families of people with Autism.

If you live in the Southern California Area and are interested contact Karen at:

Phone:(818) 400-1001
E-mail: contact@start2shift.org
You can also visit her website at www.start2shift.org.

More Information to come....

5:23 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Radio Show:Harmony - Rock n' Roll Psychotherapist 4/15 @ 6pm
Current mood: creative
Category: Music

..> ..>

Radio Show : Harmony - Rock n' Roll Psychotherapist 4/15 @ 6pm

Radio Talk Show Information Date: 4/15/2007 Radio Station: KMRJ M995 & KSCF Free FM San Diego & CBS/Free FM San Diego Time and Show: 6pm- Sunday Night Music Meeting Host: Dwight Arnold - (National Program Director MSnap Inc. & Music Director of KMRJ) Guests : Karen D. Cohen LMFT & CBT Chris Baca Music Industry Vet. Subject: How to address group conflict in Musical bands in order to avoid band break up.

9:31 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

S.H.I.F.T. Co-Parenting Services
Category: Life

S.H.I.F.T

Share Heal Implement Family Trust

CO-PARENTING Services

"I never want to do what my parents did.  I don't want my children to go through what I went through as a child. I was told by mom to let the court know that my father did bad things to me so she could have full custody. I had to wait until I was 18 to get to know my dad"

 -Laura C. age19

Children experiencing a high conflict divorce and child custody hearings and the dissolution of the family structure will do better if the parents help to reduce emotional trauma by preventing parent alienation through co-parenting sessions. Co-parenting exists with any parenting arrangement, regardless of its formal designation.  Time-limited co-parenting services can help to avoid parental sabotage. To shift from dysfunctional dynamics to functional interpersonal dynamics is planning agreements between the parents by having them attend sessions for:

v     Cooperation

v     Communication

v     Compromise

v     Consistency

Working with a high skilled family therapist with expertise in mediating and maintaining neutral boundaries is primary in working with individuals in high conflict divorces.  The counseling goal is to ONLY focus on the importance of their specific parental roles and NOT their relationship. Addressing and acknowledging both parent's parental concerns is significant to their child's welfare, in terms of future emotional and interpersonal development.

Parent Alienation Syndrome:

Prevention of Parent Alienation Syndrome is necessary. Addressing child custody disputes over child rearing is a means of avoiding the possibility of developing Parent Child Alienation Syndrome. Children must not see themselves as collateral or as a pawn when parents disagree on how their child is being raised in separate households. Co-parenting Only sessions are to help the parents learn how to communicate and problem solve as co-parents only; not to be used as relationship counseling.Co-parenting only sessions will help the children in coping with divorce and custody arrangements. Parents should be reminded that they will always be their child's basic role models, and that the affects from a high conflict divorce or child custody dispute yield the child/children as the real loser/s. The child/children will be affected by their parents and how they parent their children separately or together, emotionally or unemotionally. The most positive affects are found when both parents are involved in the parenting process and are emotionally involved in the relationship they have with their child/children.

To help prevent the possibility of parent alienation syndrome, parents are referred by either or both attorneys to seek short-term counseling services from a licensed family therapist who specializes in high conflict divorce and child custody. The therapist must have expertise in Co-parenting counseling sessions only. One must not refer clients to a therapist who takes sides with either parent. Co-parenting Only sessions are a minimum of 6-10 sessions. Therefore, depending on the case the therapist is to either encourage or inform both parties to seek professional counseling for Co-parenting issues and NOT couples therapy. The Licensed Family therapist must remain neutral in order to help the parents learn how to communicate and relate as co-parents only when it comes to child raising. Without it, the child will suffer if they have to be the go-between two households.

7:56 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

S.H.I.F.T. (Addictions Aftercare Services)
Category: Life

S.H.I.F.T Aftercare Services

 "Once the pink cloud is gone and the honeymoon is over, the real work begins"

Jay C., a recovering alcohol and cocaine addict with Bi-polar disorder.

SHIFT  is an out-patient service that focuses on hard to treat persons with episodic and cyclical substance abuse relapse. SHIFT aftercare treatment is  for learning how to replace learned self destructive behaviors, thoughts and emotions by learning to practice new skills and techniques in order to prevent on going unhealthy  patterns of behavior. Aftercare helps undo negative emotions, thoughts and behaviors by learning how to express and contain emotions, as well as improving inter-personal communication skills.  Individual, couple group and family counseling and support can help the individual to strengthen  his or her personal, familial, and professional relationships in order to enhance and maintain a better quality of life.

Statistics show that 60% of alcoholic & addicts relapse within three months of being discharged from treatment.

Persons with addictions and co-morbidity factors go through cycles of :

• Heavy Use / Abstinence
• Harm Reduction /Relapse
• Manipulating therapy and rehabilitation programs and leaving against medical advice
• Masking relapse from their families, physicians and sponsors
• Sporadically attending self-help meetings and sober living programs
• Medical non-compliance

Psycho-social factors that increase the risk for relapse

• Family histories of alcohol, substance abuse
• Psychiatric, psychological, and physical disorders
• Moderate to major life stressors / Loss of familiar negative social contacts
• Social isolation and lack of support from family and friends

AT RISK TRIGGERS:

 EMOTIONAL

PHYSICAL

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL

FAMILY

VOCATIONAL

 SPIRITUAL CONFLICT.

What are the tools to help build recovery?

Self Help programs are the hammer and Therapy is the nail.

       Aftercare treatment is necessary once a person has been discharged successfully or unsuccessfully from an inpatient or residential treatment program. Aftercare programs usually include weekly 12 step meetings, fellowship groups, sponsorship, and sober living. The key ingredients to a healthy recovery is structure and support. To sustain and maintain a HEALTHY RECOVERY  the individual has to develop his or her own treatment program that meets their OWN INDIVIDUAL NEEDS and not the needs of others.

        There is no such thing as cookie cutter approach to prevent relapse. Individuals who have five or more years are in full remission. Two steps forward, three steps backward, four steps forward, and three steps backward. A recipe for a healthy recovery process is to shift back and forth between old and new emotions thoughts feelings and behaviors in aftercare treatment.

        Change is difficult, stress means change. Recovery from alcohol and other substances and  behaviors have to be managed through a ongoing relapse prevention programs. Otherwise it's just a matter of time for the next relapse to occur.  To continue to move forward in on-going recovery he or she has to develop an awareness or insight into personal emotional factors, and interpersonal relationships.

        When someone stops going to aftercare they no longer need help, They will refer to themselves as  an "ex junkie" or "former addict." are not used to identify a person in recovery. Persons who try to rationalize and justify  their  leaving treatment is often in ongoing denial. Using rationale for actions to pull  away from on-going participation in aftercare puts  someone at very high risk  to  relapse and chronically relapse with episodic and binge drinking.

5:40 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

FAQs for Families & Friends of Gays/Lesbians
Category: Life

1:51 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Males and Eating Disroders
Category: Life

7:24 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

ADHD Diagnosis Criteria

The diagnosis of ADHD is often over used. In order to ensure the diagnosis is correct please read the following symptoms:

In diagnosing attention- deficit hyperactivity, physicians and mental health
professionals use the following criteria:

There must be a clear evidence of a significant
problems in social and academic or occupational
functioning.
Some of the symptoms were present before age 7.
Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two
or more settings, such as home and work or school.
The symptoms are not better accounted for by another
Mental disorder, such as a mood or anxiety disorder.
And exhibit SIX or more of the following symptoms of
innattention for at least SIX months:

1)Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
2) Often has difficulty sustaining concentration
3)Often has difficulty sustaining attention
4)Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
5)Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or work duties.
6)Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
7) Often avoids tasks that require sustained mentaleffort
8)Often loses important things
9)Often is easily distracted
10)Often is forgetful.

Or exhibits SIXor more of the following symptoms of
hyperactivity or impulsivity for at least SIX months:

1)Often figets or squirms in seat
2)Often leaves seat inappropriately
3)Often feels restless
4)Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activiities quietly.
5)Oten acts as if "driven by a motor
6)Often talks excessively
7)Oten blurts answers before questions have been completed.
8)Often has difficulty awaiting turn
9)Often butts into conversations or intrudes others.
Source: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourthedition, 2000.


If you have been diagnosed with ADHD an estimated 80f persons improve on proscribed medications.Resisting medication due to side affects and feelings of being out of control often results in self medication with drugs and/or alcohol.See a mental health professional if you have chosen to self medicate and/or unable to maintain self coping skills to organize and structure your life style to reduce symptoms.

9:06 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Eating Disorders
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

Eating disorders:

All eating disorders are primary diseases Compulsive overeaters binge to relieve depression and begin a destructive cycle.  Binge eating episodes are followed by resolutions to stop bingeing and adhere to diets.  These resolutions are eventually broken, filling the Compulsive Overeater with guilt and depression, leading them back to binge eating again. Eating disorders are complex diseases and not just a condition that can be treated with willpower. They meet the definition of a disease because like other diseases they have a particular destructive process for an individual, with a specific cause (that cause can be either known or unknown), and display characteristic symptoms. All eating disorders are primary diseases and not the secondary result of some other disorder. They are chronic conditions with an identifiable progression and predictable symptoms. Eating disorders arise out of the combination of genetic, sociological, and psychological factors 

What is Anorexia:
Anorexia is a disorder where the main characteristic is the restriction of food and the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight. Any actual gain or even perceived gain of weight is met with intense fear by the Anorexic. Not only is there a true feeling of fear, but also once in the grasp of the disorder, Anorexics experience body image distortions. Those areas of the body usually representing maturity or sexuality including the buttocks, hips, thighs and breast are visualized by the Anorexic as being fat. For some Anorexics, weight loss is so severe there is a loss of menses. In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, Anorexics participate in restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diuretic abuse. If Anorexia Nervosa is left untreated, it can be fatal.

What is Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimics are caught in the devastating and addictive binge-purge cycle. The Bulimic eats compulsively and then purges through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, ipecac, strict diets, fasts, chew-spitting, vigorous exercise, or other compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Binges usually consist of the consumption of large amounts of food in a short period of time. Binge eating usually occurs in secret. Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also obsessively involved with their body shape and weight.

What is Compulsive Overeating

Compulsive Overeaters are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating and depression. They often use food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings. Binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of these feelings, but is unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and depression. Binge eating, like Bulimia, often occurs in secret. It is not uncommon for Compulsive Overeaters to eat normally or restrictively in front of others and then make up for eating less by bingeing in secret. For other Compulsive Overeaters, binges consist of grazing on foods all day long. Similar to Anorexics and Bulimics, Compulsive Overeaters are constantly struggling and unhappy with their weight. The number on the scale often determines how they feel about themselves. Medical complications can also be severe and even life threatening for Compulsive Overeaters.

Genetics

Research on the genetic component of eating disorders has focused on neurochemistry. Researchers have found that the neurotransmitters serotonin and neuroepinephrine are significantly decreased in acutely ill patients suffering from Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa. These neurotransmitters also function abnormally in individuals afflicted with depression. This leads some researchers to believe there may a link between these two disorders. Besides creating a sense of physical and emotional satisfaction, the neurotransmitter serotonin also produces the effect of feeling full and having had enough food.

What is Co-dependency

 Family members of eating disordered individuals, similar to the family members of alcoholics, are viewed as co-dependents. "Co" from Webster's dictionary means together, with or joint. Dependent is defined as influenced, controlled, or determined by something else. For eating disordered individuals that something else is the eating disordered behavior. A co-dependant is someone whose life is intertwined with the eating disordered individual. Unknowingly their attitudes and actions enable the eating disordered individual to continue their behavior. By enabling the eating disorder individual, co-dependents not only contribute to the dysfunction in the eating disorder individual but also cause dysfunction in their own life. The co-dependents along with the eating disordered individual fall into a dysfunctional pattern of living and problem solving which is facilitated by a set of unspoken rules within the family.

Intergenerational Family perspective:

Co-dependents who as adults become involved with an eating disordered individual often come from an eating disorder, substance abuse or other dysfunctional family themselves. Usually, they grew up in a family where one parent was missing. This does not have to mean that the one parent is physically missing, but more likely that the one parent was absent in their role as a parent. The parent may be eating disordered, a substance abuser, suffer from an illness, grieving over the loss of a loved one or even a single parent. In all these circumstances the co-dependent feels abandoned, if not physically than emotionally.

Sociological Perspective :

Environmental conditions reinforce the practice of an eating disorder. We live in a society that reinforces the idea to be happy and successful we must be thin. Today, you cannot read a magazine or newspaper, turn on the television, listen to the radio, or shop at the mall without being assaulted with the message that fat is bad. During adolescence, a particularly vulnerable time to the development of an eating disorder, the influence of peers becomes important. Self monitoring and comparing ourselves to others becomes central to our psyche. Peer teasing and pressures to conform to the norm are common in the background of eating disorder individuals. As our bodies developed and changed, how others and we reacted to these changes influenced our eventual body acceptance. Other societal issues include dysfunctional families, sexual abuse, physical abuse, domineering coaches and controlling relationships.

Psychological Perspective:

The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Just as an alcoholic/addict uses alcohol/ chemical substances to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting to deal with feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem overwhelming. Through the practice of the eating disorder, the individual may feel a sense of partial control over their seemingly uncontrollable life. Some of the underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthless, identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions. The practice of an eating disorder may be an expression of something that the eating disordered individual has found no other way of expressing.

Such as:

 Harm avoidance                                                  

Constricted emotions 

Rigid thinking                                                   

Highly impulsive to gain control

PerfeFamily coctionists                                                     

 High family achievement and perctionism

Highly intelligent IQ 123-135                           

Need to be in control

Depression

Anxiety irritability:

Mood swings

Irrational thinking

Angry outbursts

Defensive and hostile expressions  

Behavioral Features

Anorexia

Obsessive Compulsion

Slowly chews food

Excessive exercise

Drug addiction

Multiple addictions:

Bulimia

Laxatives

Diuretics

Caffeine abuse

Sexual promiscuity

1:40 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

A Road to Somewhere

A ROAD TO SOMEWHERE

Road lanes help to give direction,

Pathways provide known instruction.

A fork in the road provides choices,

Moving forward engineers voices.

Karen Cohen
July 03,2003

12:08 AM - 2 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment