WEEKLY INTERVENTION IDEAS: JUNE 14TH EDITION
Theme: Allyship
WEEKLY INTERVENTION IDEAS: JUNE 14TH EDITIONTheme: Allyship Kid /Teen Strategy of the Week: Caregiver/Child Allyship: Enhancing attachment and attunement between the parent/caregiver and kid/teen is one way to build allyship in the relationship. Facilitate one of the following activities with the kid/teen and their caregiver in a session; these can also be used in between sessions as well as within sibling relationships and friendships: o Back drawing: Have one person draw a picture on the other person’s back, and ask them to guess what they drew. Take turns. Sample Progress Note: The focus of this session was… The therapist facilitated attachment activities (name activities) to help the child and their caregiver strengthen their attachment, increase parental attunement, and assist the child in feeling safe and seen. The dyad (engaged/did not engage/etc.) in the activity, and they reported that it was (fun/difficult/refreshing/etc.) Adult Strategy of the Week: A Language of Allyship: One way to build allyship in relationships is knowing your own love language(s) as well as the love language(s) of the important folk in your life. These languages being: affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts. With this awareness, it can support a friendship, couple, or family dyad connect in meaningful ways with one another. Write down the order of your love languages here: Compare your lists. What’s the same? What’s different? Next, each person makes a list of things that would make them feel loved, using the top two love languages. This is a way for you to explore the things that you really value, and it’s a way for your partner/friend/family member to get some ideas for ways to make you feel loved. Ways that Person 1 Feels Loved Ways that Person 2 Feels Loved Source: https://ideas.ted.com/whats-your-favorite-persons-love-language-heres-how-to-tell-and-how-to-use-it/ Sample Progress Note: The focus of the session was to (tailor based on tx plan). The therapist provided psychoeducation about ways to build a strong relationship through the five languages of love. The Ct. (was able/not able) to identify their own love languages as well as the a love language of someone close to them. Trauma Strategy of the Week: Effective Allyship in Relationships: Cultivating interpersonal allyship is important for building a strong support system in one’s life. There are several interpersonal effectiveness strategies that can help relationships thrive. The following acronym from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is used to help remember ways to tend to relationships effectively: o GIVE Source: https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/dbt-interpersonal-effectiveness-skills.pdf Sample progress note: The focus of this session was… The therapist used psycho-education about interpersonal effectiveness skills (GIVE) to help reduce the Ct.’s relationship distress and enhance communication strategies. The Ct. reported that the psycho-education was (helpful/not helpful), and they were (able/not able) to explore how the psycho-education could be applied to their past and future experiences. Mindfulness/Meditation of the Week: Safe/Calm Space Guided Imagery: Developing a sense of safety from within can support us in both being an ally with oneself as well as show up as an ally with others. 1. Find a comfortable position where you can relax and breathe easily. 2. Start by noticing your breathing. Focus on filling the belly when you inhale and notice it empty on your exhale. Scan your body. While continuing to focus on your breathing, allow any tension or discomfort to dissolve with your next few exhales. 3. While you continue to breathe, allow your mind to take you to a safe, comfortable, place. Just allow this to happen. The place may be familiar or new. If you see or hear something that makes you uncomfortable, just go ahead and change the image. 4. When you find this special place, take a few moments to notice what you see. Look around, are you inside or out? What surrounds you? 5. Also notice what you hear. If you’re outside, notice if you hear water or animals. If you’re inside, notice what sounds are in this place. 6. Now, take a moment and notice how this place feels. Is it warm or cool? What kind of surface are you sitting or lying on? What are the textures of the clothes you are wearing? How does your body feel in this place? 7. Take a moment to notice if there are any tastes and smells in this place. Perhaps there is the smell of grass if you’re outdoors or something cooking if you’re indoors. 8. Now, take a few moments and just be totally present in this safe place, noticing all of your senses. Just be in whatever way is comfortable for you. As you are in this place, notice that something that was hidden before catches your attention. It could be a sound, image, object or feeling. This is a special gift that you use whenever you need to feel relaxed and safe. 9. Remember that this is a place you can visit whenever you need to feel safe. All you need to do is take a few deep breaths and think about this place. 10. Begin to become aware of the surface you are sitting or lying on, notice your breathing returning to normal, and open your eyes whenever you are ready. Source: https://changetochill.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Special-Place-Guided-Imagery.pdf Sample Progress Note: The focus of this session was… The therapist led Ct. in a mindfulness activity to create a safe/calm space. Ct. (engaged/did not engage in the activity), and they reported that the mindfulness activity was (helpful/difficult/not helpful). We’re Here to helpOur wellness experts will be happy to take care of you. You can CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment now or call (612)223-8898. Meet CliniciansWe’re united by our commitment to providing effective, relevant, and innovative mental health support at all stages of your journey. Click Here to find out more about who we are, where we come from, and how we live out CARE’s mission every day. The professionals at CARE are actively collecting and creating resources to help with what you need. We’re Here for You. from https://care-clinics.com/weekly-intervention-ideas-june-14th-edition/ from https://careclinics.weebly.com/blog/weekly-intervention-ideas-june-14th-edition
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Gay Pride Flags: A Brief History from CAREDid you know that there are over 20 different LGBTQ flags? Each has their own meaning and tell a story of individuals and groups within the LGBTQIA+ community, represented by the various colors in stripes, shapes, and symbols. The Gilbert Baker Pride Flag is the first rainbow flag designed by activist and artist, Gilbert Baker. Baker was challenged to create a symbol of pride for the gay community after meeting Harvey-Milk, politician and gay rights activist. Milk become the first openly gay elected official [1977] to hold a visible position in a major US city, San Francisco. Milk’s time in office was tragically cut short after being assignation only one year later, November 27, 1978. The Gilbert Baker Pride Flag made its first appearance at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. The first rainbow flag had eight colors, with each having a special meaning. Pink = sex. Red = life. Orange = healing. Yellow = sunlight, Green = nature, Turquoise = magic/art, Indigo = serenity, Violet = spirit. The Traditional Gay Pride Flag include six stripes (minus the pink and turquoise)
Over the years, various flags were designed to represent LGBTQ people as symbols of pride that helped provide visibility within social movement, with the June 1969 Stonewall-Riots as a catalyst to social change in the fight against discrimination. The Philadelphia Pride Flag included black and brown stripes to the Traditional Gay Pride Flag to symbolize people of color. This flag made its first appearance June 8, 2017. A more inclusive version, the Progress Pride Flag, designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018 included white, pink, and light blue striped chevron design. Pink and light blue represent the traditional colors associated with baby girls and boys while white represents those who are intersex, transitioning, or non-binary. Black and brown stripes represent both people of color and those who are lost due to AIDS. Flags such as the Bisexual Flag, Pansexual Pride Flag, Asexual Flag, Polyamory Flag, and Intersex Flags were created to increase visibility of bisexual, pansexual, asexual, polyamorous, and intersex individuals. The Genderfluid Pride Flag, created by JJ Poole in in 2013 consists of five horizontal strips to represent gender. Femininity = pink, Lack of gender = white, Both masculinity & femininity = purple, All genders = black, Masculinity = blue. The Genderqueer Flag, designed by Marilyn Roxie in 2011 includes the color lavender to represent androgyny/ queer identities, white to represent agender identities, and green to represent outside the binary.
Additional flags to represent specific subcultures such as the Leather Pride Flag, Rubber Pride Flag were created as well as specific flags representative of sexual or romantic attractions such as the Polysexual and Aromantic Flags. Pride flags that represent communities such as the Straight Ally Pride Flag, Lesbian Pride Flag, Demisexual Pride Flag, and Two-Spirit Pride Flag were also created. The flag is a beautiful representation of pride and identities within the LGBTQIA+ communities. At CARE Counseling, we pride ourselves on being an LGBTQ+ ally, where all are welcome. If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and often feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, you are not alone. Our clinicians understand that your experiences are important and that intersectional can affect your experience in therapy. This year, CARE is excited to be a proud sponsor of Twin Cities Pride. We would love to meet you! You can also schedule an appointment with an LGBTQIA-friendly counselor here. Written by: Charlotte Johnson, MA, LPCC We’re Here to helpOur wellness experts will be happy to take care of you. You can CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment now or call (612)223-8898. Meet CliniciansWe’re united by our commitment to providing effective, relevant, and innovative mental health support at all stages of your journey. Click Here to find out more about who we are, where we come from, and how we live out CARE’s mission every day. The professionals at CARE are actively collecting and creating resources to help with what you need. We’re Here for You. from https://care-clinics.com/gay-pride-flags-a-brief-history-from-care/ from https://careclinics.weebly.com/blog/gay-pride-flags-a-brief-history-from-care WEEKLY INTERVENTION: JUNE 7TH EDITIONTrauma Awareness Kid /Teen Strategy of the Week:Emotional Thermometer: Understanding emotions and how we experience them in response to a significant life event can help to build awareness and resilience in the midst of trauma. Also, knowing about the range of intensity with feelings supports kids and teens in recognizing both the natural and manageable experience of emotions. The emotional thermometer provides a helpful visual and analogy of the range of emotional experiences: o Start by having the client draw a thermometer, with the number 0 at the bottom and 10 at the top. Sample Progress Note: The focus of the session was (tailor based on treatment plan). The therapist engaged the client in activity on building emotional awareness by identifying feelings on a thermometer ranging from 1 to 10 in intensity. The client responded to the activity by (fill in the blank). Adult Strategy of the Week:Window of Tolerance: Our bodies have a natural system (i.e. window of tolerance) to handle stressful experiences, and when that system is activated we become hyperaroused (i.e., fight or flight) and/or hypoaroused (i.e., freeze). Knowing how one’s body reacts in each of these states can help to recognize stress earlier, and therefore allow one to engage coping strategies earlier. The graphic provides a helpful framework for providing psychoeducation on these concepts. o Following psychoeducation, engage the client in a reflection on how they experience their window of tolerance Source: https://www.nicabm.com/trauma-how-to-help-your-clients-understand-their-window-of-tolerance/ Sample Progress Note: The focus of this session was… The therapist used psycho-education about hyperarousal, hypoarousal, and the window of tolerance to help client recognize how they experience stress and safety in their bodies. Client reported that the psycho-education was (interesting/helpful), and they (did/did not) integrate the psycho-education into their narrative. Trauma Strategy of the Week:Seeking Safety: When we experience a significant life event it can evolve our idea of safety, in our mind, body, and relationships. Reestablishing a sense of safety psychologically, mentally, physically, and socially, can support one in feeling more secure navigating life. Here are ideas on how you can begin exploring the idea of safety with clients: o What is safety to you? • Then, engage the client in an activity of identifying safety coping skills such as utilizing the five senses, asking for helping, listing options, setting a boundary, self/other-compassion, imagination, listening to their needs, self-soothing talk, DBT distress tolerance skills, and so forth. Source: Najavits, L. M. (2007). Seeking safety: An evidence-based model for substance abuse and trauma/PTSD. Sample Progress Note: The focus of this session was… The therapist provided psychoeducation on the idea of safety and engaged the client in an activity of defining what safety means to them as well as identifying safety coping skills. The client reported that it was (helpful/not helpful/etc) to reflect on their idea of safety and was able to identify (one/a couple/several) safety coping skills to utilize outside of session. Mindfulness/Meditation of the Week:Emotional diffusion: Creating distance from the experience of a strong emotion can support one in developing greater tolerance of distress and a sense of safety in their emotional experiences. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has various metaphors that help to illustrate how one can de-fuse from emotions to promote awareness, mind-body connection, and resilience with stressful life experiences. o Identify an internal experience that is uncomfortable or that you wish would go away. If you are experiencing anger, fear, anxiety, or sadness, you can often feel it physically somewhere in your body. o If you are in physical discomfort, you can certainly identify a place in your body where that is most significant. For now, focus on the most intense area of sensation in your body. Source: Stoddard, Jill A.; Afari, Niloofar (2014-04-01). The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner’s Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. New Harbinger Publications. Kindle Edition. Sample Progress Note: The focus of this session was… The therapist led Ct. in an ACT mindfulness activity around defusing from emotional experiences. Ct. (engaged/did not engage in the activity), and they reported that the mindfulness activity was (helpful/difficult/not helpful). We’re Here to helpOur wellness experts will be happy to take care of you. You can CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment now or call (612)223-8898. Meet CliniciansWe’re united by our commitment to providing effective, relevant, and innovative mental health support at all stages of your journey. Click Here to find out more about who we are, where we come from, and how we live out CARE’s mission every day. The professionals at CARE are actively collecting and creating resources to help with what you need. We’re Here for You. from https://care-clinics.com/weekly-intervention-ideas-june-7th-edition/ from https://careclinics.weebly.com/blog/weekly-intervention-ideas-june-7th-edition Identity & Therapy at CARE CounselingAt CARE Counseling, we pride ourselves on being an LGBTQ+ ally, where all are welcome. We recognize that taking the first step to seek mental health care can be a difficult decision; therefore, we seek to create an environment that is inclusive and affirming of sexual orientations, gender identity and gender expressions. CARE is “outside the box” to eliminate boxes as gender does not fit neatly into an either-or checkbox. Think more in terms of a spectrum along a continuum or sphere for sex, sexual orientation, gender, and gender expression. Language that is used to define these areas are constantly evolving and expanding. Not only are there biological considerations, but there are psychological and social factors. Relationships, sexuality, and attraction are more complex than a label. There is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to both identity and mental health counseling. It is important to find a place that feels safe and free of judgement to explore topics such as identity as an LGBTQIA+ person, relationships, and sex. Therapy is a place where you can discuss experiences, process feelings, and address mental health. Your identity and your experiences are valid. Experiences of rejection, fears related to coming out, trauma related to homo-bi or trans-phobia are real. Therapy is a place where one should be able to feel comfortable to explore topics related to sexual health between consenting adults with an affirming, sex-positive therapist, such as one who is kink-allied and poly aware. Whether you are seeking counseling for yourself, your relationship, or a family member, our awesome admin team will help you find a therapist to meet your presenting concerns. CARE therapists take time to get to know who you are and tailor a treatment plan to meet your unique needs. Acceptance, authenticity, and celebration of oneself can be powerful, especially with support of an affirmative therapist. To schedule an appointment with one of our professional counselors, click here. Written By: Charlotte Johnson, MA, LPCC We’re Here to helpOur wellness experts will be happy to take care of you. You can CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment now or call (612)223-8898. Meet CliniciansWe’re united by our commitment to providing effective, relevant, and innovative mental health support at all stages of your journey. Click Here to find out more about who we are, where we come from, and how we live out CARE’s mission every day. The professionals at CARE are actively collecting and creating resources to help with what you need. We’re Here for You. from https://care-clinics.com/identity-therapy-at-care-couns/ from https://careclinics.weebly.com/blog/identity-therapy-at-care-counseling Self Talk in a Digital WorldFor the past few decades we have become increasingly connected thanks to technology. Now, thanks to the global pandemic that began in 2020, we are closer than ever before. From Zoom to text, the speed and intimacy with which we can access one another has given us many wonderful things. We need to remember that with those advancements it is important that we pay attention to our mental health. One of the ways to protect and care for our mental health is through self-talk, and through our inner dialogues we can work toward self-acceptance. When we hear “self-acceptance” many of us think immediately of self-esteem but the two concepts are different enough that they are worth covering here. Self-esteem centers mostly on the positive, the aspects of our personalities that make us feel good. While self-acceptance, on the other hand, is a global, all-encompassing inventory and appreciation for all parts of our personalities; even the parts that are less than favored. Self-acceptance is important because, as we grow from child to adult, carving out a sense of identity helps shape how we view the world and others alongside ourselves. If you have ever gone to the gym and been convinced that everyone was focused on you and your flaws, you see what I mean. In a technologically connected world we encounter hundreds of those internal judgments every day due to the information we take in from the world around us. But what can we do about it? How do we not internalize any potentially negative messages about ourselves? The answers are a lot closer than we realize. Self-Talk Impacts Self-Acceptance You may be thinking, perhaps not incorrectly, that self-acceptance means self-improvement. Because surely, there is something there that we need to fix or repair to be better than we currently are, right? But no! There is no great need to get it right immediately. You likely won’t get it right all the time, anyway. What’s more important is letting self-acceptance be unconditional and trusting the process. Some quick things that you can do to get started toward self-acceptance are: 1. Practicing self-talk centered on acceptance (e.g. “I accept myself as a learning individual even if criticism comes”) 2. Come up with an “antidote” for moments when you need to release yourself from a negative thought spiral. (e.g. “Even though that thing happened, I am still capable and likable because…”) Most importantly, practicing self-compassion will help strengthen your ability to turn to these self-acceptance tools. Know that it is not about perfection, but about the ongoing work that will be built by the day-to-day practice we are building. Many people have an inner dialogue with themselves throughout the day and will use that dialogue to motivate themselves to finishing goals and meeting their (or others) expectations. Whether you talk in your head or out loud, one thing to be aware of is monitoring the quality of the conversations between you and your psyche. Dr. Alison Ledgerwood of the University of California-Davis spoke during a Ted Talk about the human mind and our propensity to lean into the negative. In her studies Dr. Ledgerwood noted that test groups were more likely to adhere to negative beliefs and that it required work to pull focus back to the positive once the mind had already decided on the negative. How to best retrain the brain? One of the best ways she recommends is to focus on the things that keep us grateful. For more information you can watch the full Ted talk here. For further reading check out this article, “How to Build Self-Acceptance: 16 Tips, Activities + Exercises.” To schedule an appointment with one of our professional counselors, click here. Written By: The CARE Team We’re Here to helpOur wellness experts will be happy to take care of you. You can CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment now or call (612)223-8898. Meet CliniciansWe’re united by our commitment to providing effective, relevant, and innovative mental health support at all stages of your journey. Click Here to find out more about who we are, where we come from, and how we live out CARE’s mission every day. The professionals at CARE are actively collecting and creating resources to help with what you need. We’re Here for You. from https://care-clinics.com/self-talk-in-a-digital-world/ from https://careclinics.weebly.com/blog/self-talk-in-a-digital-world |
AuthorHello its me Lisa Johnson i am 32 years old from Mission, TX. I am professional family therapist and i also deals in adult therapy and children’s therapy. Archives
April 2023
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