Are you acting as a caregiver to a loved one? If you are helping to care for an elderly parent or family member, your partner or spouse, or a child that is battling a serious illness or other medical condition, you are considered an Informal Caregiver. According to womenshealth.gov, 36% of Americans served as informal caregivers and provided unpaid care...[ read more ]
As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, many therapists have had to quickly pivot and offer their clients online sessions in an effort to continue the important therapeutic work and progress clients have already made. These changes were also implemented to help abide by the social distancing guidelines to flatten the curve. Fortunately, many therapists were already practicing online like...[ read more ]
How do I get through this?! This is a question so many of us have been asking ourselves, our families, friends, loved ones, and communities. And even as we worry about getting through each day of the Covid-19 pandemic, one thing I see on a daily basis is the resiliency of humankind. Even though we're scared, we help each other....[ read more ]
PTSD - The Invisible Wound PTSD is caused when someone experiences an event that threatens their life or safety. PTSD can also develop after learning that a loved one’s life or safety was seriously threatened. After experiencing a traumatic event, most people experience trauma symptoms because PTSD is basically just our natural fight or flight response to danger. Symptoms include:...[ read more ]
Traumatic injuries are caused by things like car crashes, gunshot wounds, assaults, work-related injuries, and falls. Survivors of traumatic injury are at an increased risk of developing PTSD and depression with 20-40% developing one or both disorders. When survivors develop PTSD and/or depression, they are less likely to recover from their physical injuries, which can make it more difficult to...[ read more ]
At times, it can feel nearly impossible to find the motivation to keep showing up to work week after week, especially after working long hours or dealing with crises and looming deadlines. As health care professionals (defined as anyone caring for the mental and physical health of others), we may often feel overwhelmed with caring for patients who have experienced...[ read more ]
As a psychologist treating survivors of trauma, I have been honored to bear witness to my patients’ incredible journeys and transformations. Along the way, I have been unavoidably exposed to their trauma-related suffering, including childhood traumas, sexual assault, traumatic injuries, loss, and natural disasters. Exposure to my patients’ traumas has put me at risk of developing Vicarious Trauma (VT). Vicarious...[ read more ]