Therapy - for how long?

In a recent article in the Sunday Review entitled “In Therapy Forever?” Jonathan Alpert equated long therapy with bad therapy. While some people might agree with his point of view and find that short, focused therapy works well for them, Alpert's article fails to recognize mental diversity. In rebuttal, Deborah L. Cabaniss, a director of psychotherapy training at Columbia University, makes a good analogy: changing the way “we think about ourselves, relate to others, or deal with stress” is like trying to lose or keep off extra weight. As with physical habits, breaking mental ones can take a long time. After all, it probably took time to develop them in the first place!Read the entire article here: Is Quick Therapy the Best Therapy?

HIV-status and government regulation

A recent case in Sweden of a 31-year-old woman being sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison for not disclosing her HIV-positive status to her partner prior to engaging in unprotected sex brought up some interesting issues about the criminalization of HIV transmission. It seems odd that consensual sex between adults should be brought under government control. Even worse, these regulations may discourage people from wanting find out about their HIV-status, since if the potential offender is unaware he or she is HIV-positive, that individual is not subject to criminal sanctions. This law has not reduced the spread of the disease and contributes significantly to further stigmatization of those living with HIV or AIDS.Read the entire article here: Is Criminalization of HIV Transmission Effective? Swedish Case Reveals Why the Answer Is No

Emotional Fitness

We all know how important physical fitness is to our body's health, but the term “emotional fitness” isn't quite as common. Emotional fitness keeps our relationships healthy by creating stronger, more nurturing bonds. What kinds of exercise keeps our emotions “in shape”? Barton Goldsmith, PhD says that sharing new experiences strengthens a relationship, as does striving for mutual goals, providing emotional support, and having constant, honest communication. Even if you and your loved one have been together a long time, don't forget the bedroom! Physical connectedness also helps maintain stronger emotional ties.Read the entire article here: 10 Ways to Nurture Your Relationship

Communication Success Tips

Communicating is an integral part of maintaining a healthy, working relationship. However, as we all probably know, this can be quite difficult. It is easy to fall into habits of ineffective communication, so it is helpful to recognize what kinds of statements could be causing problems. “You-directive” statements like “you need to ___” or “you have___” sound judgmental or commanding and have a tendency to generate negative responses. Don't make it personal. Instead of generalizing or ordering, discuss the person's specific actions, not his or her overall character. Focusing on what the listener is doing wrong makes it hard to move in a more positive direction.Read the entire article here: Are You a Poor Communicator? Stop the Damage and Improve Relationships

Women and Stress

Do you often find yourself preparing a meal, doing laundry, writing emails, and talking on the phone all at once? Women especially have many roles to fill, both at home and in the workplace. While this hones multitasking skills, overly-high expectations can be a major source of stress. When it is impossible to finish everything perfectly, women need to remember to stand back and praise the work they did instead of criticizing themselves for what they weren’t able to get to. Don’t wait to be an empty-nester or for retirement:  living a less stressful life can start right away. Live in the present and learn to think positively.Read the entire article here: Women and Stress: Be Kind to Yourself

Who’s talking? Women’s rights

I’d like to share this local article with you. Susan B. Levy, Executive Director of Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center writes about the current political debate on women’s healthcare.  Levy asks women to speak up about these issues. She cites some controversial claims, such as the Wisconsin legislator who believes women who suffer domestic abuse should just “deal with it.” She offers a rebuttal with useful facts about unwanted pregnancies to suggest that taxpayer spending would actually be increased if access to birth control and safe abortions were denied, because of poverty among single mothers and low educational attainment for both mother and child. Levy asks women to speak up about these issues.Read the entire article here: Reclaiming the Conversation

Thinking about open marriages

A recent 20/20 feature on open marriages sparked interest in this lifestyle. An open marriage can reduce pressure on spouses to continue to “spice things up” in the bedroom or to fulfill other expectations. But is having your cake and eating it too, right for you? If this is a last-ditch attempt to save your marriage, maybe not. Research on this kind of relationship shows that they have met with limited success, since the term “open marriage” means different things to different people. If this is a lifestyle that interests you and your spouse, having a mutual agreement that spells out exactly what this means to each of you would be key in making it work.

Read the entire article here: Open Marriage: It’s Intriguing But It's So Not For Me

Cognitive Therapy Course Creates Calm

In today’s fast-paced world and tough economy, the mind and body are put under a lot of stress. Too often we become so concerned about the future or regretful over the past that we are unable to think constructively and actually resolve the worrisome issues. To help individuals learn to cope better with difficult situations, the Priory Hospital Brighton and Hove offers a new Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy course. This eight-week meditation and therapy program promotes the ability to live in the present and think clearly through expert guidance and support in a structured group environment.Read the entire article here: Priory launches new Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy course