Therapy

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? Recently I was fortunate to be able to interview Jennifer Jarred Peyton, a board-certified music therapist and colleague …

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Learning About Mindfulness

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A Conversation with Dr. Ruth Baer, Ph.D. I recently had the opportunity to talk with my colleague Dr. Ruth Baer, a clinical psychology professor and internationally recognized expert on mindfulness. I asked her a few questions to help us better understand what mindfulness is and how it can help with a variety of mental health issues. Here’s our conversation: DS: Mindfulness is certainly very popular these days. For those who aren’t very familiar with the topic, what’s a simple way …

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Psychotherapy Works!

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Chances are good either you or someone you know has participated in psychotherapy. In psychotherapy, you and a trained mental health professional work together to help you reduce distress, feel better and work toward achieving your personal goals. But how well does psychotherapy work? I still run into folks who question whether psychotherapy is really effective or not. They question how “talk therapy” can help bring about any positive benefits, and many people still have only the classic image of …

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Thinking Outside the Box to Treat Serious Mental Illnesses

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Chances are you may not be familiar with cognitive enhancement therapy, or CET. It’s a rehabilitation-focused approach which has been shown to improve thinking, memory, attention and other brain functions among individuals with schizophrenia or other serious mental illnesses such as severe depression, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder. According to Ray Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Center for Cognition and Recovery in Cleveland, Ohio, CET is “physical therapy for your brain,” since it targets many of the common cognitive (thinking) difficulties seen among …

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Benefits of University-Based Mental Health Training Clinics

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For over 26 years, a significant part of my job was to direct a university-based mental health center at the University of Kentucky (UK). The center’s mission is to provide effective and affordable mental health services to the community and to provide a site to train doctoral students in the Psychology Department’s clinical psychology Ph.D. program. These centers, also known as ‘training clinics,’ are found on many university campuses. They are typically affiliated with graduate programs in clinical or counseling …

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Why You Need a Little “TLC” for Better Mental Health

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Exercise regularly. Relax. Eat healthy foods. Reduce stress. We’ve heard these recommendations over and over again. They are all widely recognized as being good for your physical health. But did you know these and several other simple but important behavior changes can also be vital for maintaining and improving your mental health? Psychologist Roger Walsh (University of California, Irvine) cites over 150 scientific references to make a very convincing case for incorporating eight “therapeutic lifestyle changes” (TLCs) into your regular routine, …

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How to Choose EFFECTIVE Self-Help Resources

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It seems that just about everyone has read a self-help book, attended a support group or surfed online for health information at one time or another. Thousands of new self-help books are published each year. About 1 in 5 adults will attend a support group in their lifetime and 80% of Internet users have sought health information online. Americans spend an estimated $10 billion per year on self-improvement products. Health-related websites abound, along with online self-help programs and even smartphone …

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How to Find a Good Psychotherapist

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I’m often asked by friends or acquaintances who are seeking psychotherapy for themselves or a family member if I can suggest a good therapist in our local community. I’m always happy to assist, because I know how important it is to have a good therapist and how it’s often difficult to know how to find one. Since this question comes up so often, I thought it might be helpful to review the 5 steps I share when asked about how …

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