David Susman

Singing the Praises of Music Therapy

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We’ve probably all had the experience of hearing a favorite song and how it immediately brings back thoughts, feelings and memories, both happy and sad. Music really is the universal language, and it has the power to move us deeply. But did you know that music therapy is a well-established treatment now often used to help individuals with mental illness or addiction? I was fortunate to be able to interview Jennifer Jarred Peyton, a board-certified music therapist and colleague in …

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You Can Thrive in Your Recovery

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Rob Houston This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked Rob Houston about his history of mental health challenges and about some of his current activities. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? RH: It was 1998. I had lost my job of 9 years; …

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Look for Moments of Inspiration, Hope and Joy

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Sometimes it’s easy to get discouraged about life, work, school, relationships, our health, the future or other challenges we may be facing. It can be even more difficult when several problems pile up all at the same time. We may think “How much more can I take?” or “When will this be over?” I’ve certainly heard many stories of hopelessness, despair, depression, anxiety, fear, shame, and heartbreak over the years in my work as a clinical psychologist. But at the same …

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9 Proven Strategies To Help You Change Problematic Behaviors

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In a previous post, I talked at length about the “Stages of Change,” an effective research-based approach outlining a series of five steps that people go through when attempting to change many problematic behaviors, such as losing weight, stopping smoking, quitting drugs and alcohol, and reducing stress, anxiety or depression. To recap, the five stages of change are: 1) Precontemplation – not ready for change; 2) Contemplation – getting ready for change; 3) Preparation – ready for change; 4) Action …

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Are You Ready For Change?

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Have you ever struggled with changing a persistent, problematic behavior? Maybe you’ve wanted to stop smoking, quit drinking alcohol, reduce depression or anxiety or lose that extra weight, but you’ve never been able to make it happen. Perhaps you have even tried repeatedly over several months or years, but you’ve made little or no significant progress. You may now feel it’s fruitless to make another attempt and that you’ll never change. The stages of change Actually, there’s a lot of …

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A Dozen Tips for the Safe Use of Psychiatric Medications

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Many individuals receiving care for mental illness or substance misuse are prescribed psychiatric medications as an important part of an overall treatment plan which often includes psychotherapy, other therapies and suggested lifestyle changes. In the treatment settings where I’ve worked, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with many highly experienced prescribers, including psychiatrists and nurse practitioners. I’ve also benefited from the wisdom of several terrific pharmacists. From these professional experiences, I learned first-hand just how important it is to take psychiatric …

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Finding a Sense of Peace

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Suzy Favor Hamilton This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked Suzy Favor Hamilton, former Olympic athlete, best-selling author of “Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running from Madness,” and mental health advocate to share a little about her journey and how she’s doing today. Here’s our interview: DS: As we know, mental health issues don’t just emerge overnight. Tell us about when you first started becoming aware …

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‘First Aid’ for Mental Health Concerns

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Most of us are familiar with basic first aid approaches to manage medical situations, or perhaps you’ve even had a first aid course at school or work. But did you know you can now take a special type of first aid course to learn how to better handle mental health concerns and crises? I had heard about “Mental Health First Aid” some time ago, so I was very excited when I was able to attend a one-day class in my community. I’d like …

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