Category Archives: Health: Mental Health

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Health: Mental Health

Fierce Conversations Offers Free Online Mini-Course to Help Strengthen Personal Relationships During Stay at Home Orders

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Conversation skills have never been more important as we navigate this new reality; we believe the lessons provided within this mini-course will elevate the connections between the important people in our lives – and focus at home first.


SEATTLE (PRWEB)

Today Fierce Conversations launched a new, free online course focused on “shortening the distance” during the coronavirus pandemic, even with those in close proximity. Fierce Conversations for Social Distancing will teach participants how to have conversations that strengthen relationships using proprietary tools that have improved organizations for over 20 years.

“The distance we feel in our professional and personal relationships often has nothing to do with physical proximity, however, in our current situations we can also feel very disconnected and distant,” said Stacey Engle, President of Fierce Conversations. “Conversation skills have never been more important as we navigate this new reality; we believe the lessons provided within this mini-course will elevate the connections between the important people in our lives – and focus at home first.”

Fierce Conversations for Social Distancing is broken out into 3 distinct lessons from Fierce leaders:


  • Susan Scott, Founder & CEO discusses the importance of conversations with yourself during quarantine. Participants will learn about the challenge of interrogating reality and why a personal stump speech should “sing to your soul,” especially in times like these.

  • Ronna Detrick, SVP of Learning dives into key conversation skills used in the workplace and how she uses these same skills as a mom with grown daughters who have moved back into the family nest.

  • Stacey Engle, President shares from her personal experience as a self-described extrovert working at home alongside her introverted husband and the ways they use Fierce Conversations to manage it all.

In addition to the course videos, participants will receive worksheets to further their learning. These include a personal stump speech template, a list of 5 conversations to have with family and friends with tips for prioritizing these, along with 10 actionable conversation starters to use with your partner.

“Social distancing is hard and affects us all in different ways, to different degrees,” continued Engle. “We know that strained relationships only make things harder. We hope individuals will take advantage of these tools, and begin to have the conversations that matter.”

For more information, or to register, please visit https://shortenthedistance.fierceinc.com

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About Fierce

Fierce Conversations is a training company that teaches you how to have effective conversations. Fierce has trained hundreds of thousands to become expert conversationalists who save their organizations time and money by knowing what to talk about, how to talk about it and why it matters for the bottom line. Fierce programs have been successfully implemented at blue-chip companies, nonprofits, and educational organizations worldwide, including Capital One, Wal-Mart, CHRISTUS Health, Coca-Cola, CARE, and Verizon. The company has been honored as an Inc. 500|5000 company eight times, named to TrainingIndustry.com’s “Companies to Watch” list twice, and has won numerous awards for top companies to work for in the state of Washington. Learn how to have conversations that matter at http://www.fierceinc.com.

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Health: Mental Health

Gaggle Partners with Districts Nationwide to Increase Student Safety While Learning Remotely

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Districts that haven’t previously partnered with us are lining up to implement our student safety solution in this time of remote learning tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.


BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (PRWEB)

Since mid-March, 131 school districts across the country have partnered with Gaggle, either conducting an initial purchase of its safety solution or acquiring increased services or support. The new partnerships are all designed to help district leaders avoid tragedies and save lives as students engage in their education through remote learning.

The Gaggle safety solution combines artificial intelligence and trained safety experts to provide real-time analysis and review of students’ use of online collaboration platforms, such as Google’s G Suite for Education, Microsoft Office 365, and Canvas. Gaggle assists districts in proactively identifying and supporting students who are struggling as well as creating a safer school environment by building a culture for improved digital citizenship.

“Gaggle is a supporter of the Council of the Great City Schools, so even before we had a direct partnership with them, that affiliation served as a really important value add,” said Jason Matlock, the director for emergency management, safety, and security at Minneapolis Public Schools in Minnesota.

“For many districts like ours, not only does Gaggle provide a type of service we wanted, they were one of the only companies during the first couple weeks of the pandemic who did not inundate us with calls and emails despite the obvious value as schools moved into e-learning.”

“Districts that haven’t previously partnered with us are lining up to implement our student safety solution in this time of remote learning tied to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gaggle founder and CEO Jeff Patterson. “Even more telling is the number of current customers who have now added our Hangouts monitoring to their account—we have seen that increase by 1,200%. That phenomenon is due to districts understanding that schools need to protect their students, who are now having to work together from their homes and using the Hangouts chats to do so.”

With the recent move to remote learning, a greater number of students are using Hangouts for project collaboration, live class discussions, peer mentoring, virtual office hours, foreign language practice, and online study groups. This popular digital tool also provides a way for coaches and teachers to direct message their players and students, eliminating the need to share personal phone numbers. In all of these instances, Gaggle can evaluate suspicious content, alerting school officials of unsafe situations and even contacting local law enforcement when time is of the essence.

Many districts have also opted for increased support in the form of the recently released Gaggle Safety Management for Teams, created in partnership with Microsoft Teams. This brand-new solution brings together the security and privacy of Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams with the real-time monitoring of Gaggle Safety Management to help provide a safe workspace for students and teachers.

“It is very important to Peoria Public Schools that we are able to ensure the safety and well-being of our students in their digital environments, which for us includes Microsoft Teams,” said Michelle Seipel, the director of technology at Peoria Public Schools in Illinois. “Having Gaggle as the safety net in place for our students, including their communications in Teams, is crucial to us as at this challenging time of remote learning. This is important not only to us in the district, but also to our students’ parents.”

About Gaggle | http://www.gaggle.net

Since 1999, Gaggle has been the leader in helping K-12 districts manage student safety on school-provided technology. Using a powerful combination of both artificial intelligence and trained safety experts, the safety solution proactively assists districts 24/7/365 in the prevention of student suicide, bullying, inappropriate behaviors, school violence, and other harmful situations. Most importantly, Gaggle continues to help hundreds of districts avoid tragedies and save lives, while also protecting their liability. In the 2018–19 academic year, Gaggle helped districts save the lives of more than 700 students who were planning or actually attempting suicide. For more information, http://www.gaggle.net and follow Gaggle on Twitter at @Gaggle_K12.

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Health: Mental Health

Registration Now Open for 2020 Virtual Symposium Presented iaedp™ Foundation

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PEKIN, Ill. (PRWEB)

Registration for the International Association of Eating Disorders Professional’s (iaedp™) 2020 Virtual Symposium, the online education and training conference offered by iaedp™ to replace the group’s annual in-person Symposium, is now open and available at iaedp.com. For those who had registered to attend the original 2020 iaedp™ Symposium, previously scheduled for the end of March in Orlando, there is automatic registration for the 2020 Virtual Symposium.

The 2020 Virtual Symposium presented by iaedp™ provides healthcare professionals the same continuing education units (CEs) opportunity that the original in-person Symposium offered, but safely and conveniently online. “This time in our country is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. Yet, in spite of that, it is important to all of us at iaedp™ to provide our members and others who depend on iaedp™ for continuing education to provide accessible training in the latest, innovative research presented by some of the very best professionals in our field,” said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director at iaedp™.

“When the coronavirus so quickly enveloped our country and compromised the health of all of us, we knew we could develop a plan that would allow all the planning and effort put in to the

original in-person 2020 Symposium still benefit all of us who were planning to attend. We have accomplished that with the 2020 Virtual Symposium,” said Harken.

“The 2020 Virtual Symposium will allow everyone who participates the opportunity to earn up to 28 CEs, at an individual’s own pace, until the virtual Symposium closes in late July. There will be access to all virtual Symposium workshops and keynote sessions and an interactive Exhibit Hall, so there is no need to choose or stop viewing once CEs are complete,” continued Harken.

About the iaedp™ Foundation: Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions. MemberSHARE.iaedp.com is an iaedp™ business journal and online member resource to learn about noteworthy member achievements, continuing education webinars and U.S. and international chapter activity and events; for more information, visit MemberSHARE.

The Presidents Council provides iaedp™ support and includes: Center for Change; Center for Hope of the Sierras; Center for Discovery; Eating Recovery Center; Willow Place; Laureate Eating Disorders Program; The Meadows Ranch; Rogers Behavioral Health; Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders; Selah House; The Renfrew Center; Timberline Knolls; Veritas Collaborative; Alsana Eating Disorder Treatment & Recovery Centers; Silver Hill Hospital, Walden Behavioral Care and KIPU.

The 2020 iaedp™ Symposium is proud to announce Bronze Sponsors: Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists, Simple Practice and Transcend ED.

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Health: Mental Health

Pandemic Resilience Test Insights – New Study Looks At The World’s Battle Of Wits With COVID-19

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The fallout of the pandemic has left at least some people anxious, sad, and worried for the future.

Adapting to the pandemic, and its physical, mental, social, and economic impact, has been a struggle for many.

Find ways to make productive use of your time, and direct that negative mental energy into something positive.


MONTREAL (PRWEB)

COVID-19 isn’t just physical health issue. It has been a test of resilience, tenacity, and patience, as people try to protect themselves against an enemy they can neither see nor hear. This new, unprecedented reality of isolation and social distancing, of governments and medical officials learning on the fly, has left people wondering what tomorrow will bring. Recent statistics collected by PsychTests.com using its new Pandemic Resilience Test reveals that people are doing what they can to acclimate to the unknown, but it has not been an easy ride.

In an effort to help people cope, psychometric experts at PsychTests released a free Pandemic Resilience Test that allows individuals to assess their current state of mental health, their stress level and coping strategies, and offers practical tips to improve grit and psychological hardiness. When researchers analyzed people’s responses to the pandemic, it revealed a number of noteworthy insights about the state of the world’s mental health. For example:

AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC

> 40% of people are experiencing moderate to extreme stress.

> 31% are ruminating to the point where it’s affecting their sleep and/or ability to concentrate.

> 27% are experiencing moderate to severe anxiety.

> 31% are feeling sad.

> 48% are at least somewhat worried about their health, safety, and finances.

> 5% believe that humanity is doomed, and that the pandemic is ushering in the end of the world.

IN TERMS OF ALL THE UNKNOWNS REGARDING COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS

> 5% find the uncertainty terrifying and don’t know how to handle it.

> 39% said that they’re afraid, but doing their best to cope.

> 56% accept the ambiguity and are just going with the flow.

> In addition, 62% believe that information about the virus shared on social media should be taken with a grain of salt.

HEALTHY COPING STRATEGIES PEOPLE ARE USING TO ADAPT:

> 68% said they are doing their best to keep the current circumstances in perspective.

> 67% regularly remind themselves that things will get better.

> 65% use an outlet to relieve stress, such as exercise, meditation, or deep breathing.

> 60% are using humor.

> 58% are actively problem-solving to develop strategies and solutions to improve their circumstances.

> 57% make it a point to look for the silver lining.

> 55% said they are focusing on the good in their life rather than the bad.

> 52% are taking time to relax and unwind.

> 52% are talking things out with people they believe can help (e.g., doctor, therapist, financial advisor, etc.).

“We are facing a reality that that most of us have never faced before,” explains Dr. Jerabek, president of PsychTests. “Granted, the SARS and H1N1 outbreaks were not that long ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic has grown far beyond them, and has a large part of the world in lockdown. This compulsory isolation, along with the fact that we are dealing with a new virus that doesn’t have a vaccine, has stirred up a great deal of fear, frustration, and confusion. It is clear from our statistics that people are struggling to cope with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there also seems to be a sense of acceptance, and that is a good sign. People are accommodating the current reality as it is, and recognize that all they can do right now is take precautions, and adapt. They know that this won’t go on forever, so they’re sitting tight, and making the best of a tough situation.”

“For those who are not adjusting well, my advice would be to stop, take some deep breaths, and put the circumstances in perspective. Things look bad now, but they will get better. Use this time of isolation for self-development. Learn new coping techniques, like deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness. Pick up some skills, or learn a new language. Find ways to make productive use of your time, and direct that negative mental energy into something positive. Most importantly, recognize that you are not alone. We are all in this together.”

To schedule an interview with Dr. Jerabek, go here: https://calendly.com/ilonajerabek/15-min-consultation-with-dr-ilona-jerabek (15-minute interview or less) or https://calendly.com/ilonajerabek/30-min-meeting-with-dr-ilona-jerabek (30-min interview)

The free Pandemic Resilience Test can be taken from this link: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/4106

This test is also available free of charge to all ARCH Profile clients (employers/companies, coaches, and therapists) who can offer it as a screening and personal development tool to employees and clients. Businesses can request a free demo for this or other assessments from ARCH Profile’s extensive battery here: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1

To learn more about psychological testing, download this free eBook: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr

About PsychTests AIM Inc.

PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com).

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Health: Mental Health

iaedp™ Foundation Announces First All-Accessible Virtual Symposium

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“The iaedp™ Symposium remains one of the best ways for health care professionals to earn CEs in our field of eating disorders treatment,” said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director at iaedp™.


PEKIN, Ill. (PRWEB)

The iaedp™ Foundation is announcing the 2020 Virtual Symposium, a safe, convenient and accessible way to experience the educational and networking benefits of the group’s annual conference. The 2020 Virtual Symposium will run from May 15 to July 31, 2020.

Attendees who registered for the 2020 iaedp™ Symposium originally slated for March 26-29 in Orlando automatically will be enrolled in the upcoming virtual Symposium and do not need to register for the 2020 Virtual Symposium. If an individual was not registered for the original 2020 iaedp™ Symposium (in Orlando) and would like to register for the 2020 Virtual Symposium, details can be found at iaedp.com.

Unlike the original 2020 iaedp™ Symposium, the 2020 Virtual Symposium offers all those who participate a robust and dynamic opportunity to view all sessions and workshops as well as the experience of the interactive Exhibit Hall. There is no daily schedule since all sessions are available and accessible online. For a full listing of all available sessions, in English and Spanish, and speakers, including keynote speakers, visit iaedp.com.

From body image and exercise therapies to innovative research and family issues, most all of the sessions scheduled for the original 2020 iaedp™ Symposium will be fully accessible to all participants of the iaedp™ 2020 Virtual Symposium.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the offering of the first virtual Symposium from iaedp™,” said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director of the iaedp™ Foundation. “It is a truly safe and fully accessible

experience.

“The iaedp™ Symposium remains one of the best ways for health care professionals to earn CEs in our field of eating disorders treatment,” said Harken.

For more information about the 2020 iaedp™ Virtual Symposium schedule and registration, and to register online, visit iaedp.com.

About the iaedp™ Foundation: Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions. MemberSHARE.iaedp.com is an iaedp™ business journal and online member resource to learn about noteworthy member achievements, continuing education webinars and U.S. and international chapter activity and events; for more information, visit MemberSHARE.

The Presidents Council provides iaedp™ support and includes: Center for Change; Center for Hope of the Sierras; Center for Discovery; Eating Recovery Center; Willow Place; Laureate Eating Disorders Program; The Meadows Ranch; Rogers Behavioral Health; Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders; Selah House; The Renfrew Center; Timberline Knolls; Veritas Collaborative; Alsana Eating Disorder Treatment & Recovery Centers; Silver Hill Hospital, Walden Behavioral Care and KIPU.

The 2020 iaedp™ Symposium is proud to announce Bronze Sponsors: Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists, Simple Practice and Transcend ED.

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Health: Mental Health

New Book Gives Advice on Providing Support to Widows and Widowers

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This book was written as a practical tool offering solutions to some very basic challenges a person encounters in dealing with a widow


WINTER GARDEN, Fla. (PRWEB)

Author Cynthia Mascarenhas shares practical advice for those seeking to show their support for a widow or someone caring for a terminally ill spouse in Walk with a Widow. Empower. Educate. Prepare: A Guide to Launching the Walk with a Widow Program ($13.99, paperback, 9781630507336; $6.99, e-book, 9781630507343).

After witnessing such a horrific loss, it is difficult for family and friends to know how to help a loved one whose spouse has passed away. Speaking from experience as a widow herself, Mascarenhas walks those who are willing through a checklist of do’s and don’ts, as well as financial and other practical matters that need to be dealt with.

“My own personal journey as a widow revealed to me that the church, family, and friends are ill-equipped for the task of showing support for a widow. They may want to make a difference but do not know how. This book was written as a practical tool offering solutions to some very basic challenges a person encounters in dealing with a widow,” said Mascarenhas.

Cynthia Mascarenhas is a Registered Nurse and Independent Legal Nurse Consultant. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Orlando Chapter of Legal Nurse Consultants and on various committees for the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants. Mascarenhas was widowed on February 4th, 2018 when she lost her husband of 29 years, Franz Mascarenhas, to a sudden heart attack.

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Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world’s largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. Walk with a Widow Empower. Educate. Prepare is available for purchase as a bundle that includes additional training resources Please contact 321-276-9590 or cmascarenhaslnc@gmail.com to place an order.

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Health: Mental Health

Lief Therapeutics Announces Agreement with Genoa Telepsychiatry to Launch Nationwide Remote Mental Health Service

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Model wearing Lief Smart Patch

Lief Smart Patch for mental health

“The field of mental health has been missing objective data to help guide excellent clinical decision-making and convergence on best practices and standards of care. Lief’s work establishing valid biomarkers is an important step towards bringing more objective data into the behavioral health arena.


SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB)

The need for remote health care services grows with the evolving COVID-19 crisis. In particular, those with mental health care concerns, such as anxiety and depression, need alternative methods to continue their self-care while reducing face-to-face contact. Lief Therapeutics provides seamless access to tele-mental health services through its remote patient monitoring platform, which includes a discreet wearable device and virtual behavioral health coaches. Aiding access to remote monitoring platforms like Lief, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has expanded its Medicare telehealth coverage during the COVID-19 crisis, enabling more patients to get virtual care services from their doctors without traveling to a healthcare facility, or worrying about affordability.

Lief’s wearable Smart Patch tracks and improves the emerging gold standard biomarker for mental health, heart rate variability (HRV), while its clinician dashboard enables healthcare providers and Lief’s behavioral health coaches to remotely monitor patient progress. Adding to these offerings, individuals can now be directly connected to mental health services with or without a primary care provider’s referral. Lief’s platform can be a one stop shop for those seeking personalized HRV biofeedback training in conjunction with expert feedback from licensed mental health providers.

Lief’s recently inked agreement with Genoa Telepsychiatry, part of OptumRx and a leading outpatient telepsychiatry community in the U.S., enables individuals to access a mental healthcare provider through Lief’s mobile platform, no matter where they are. Approximately 111 million people live in “mental health professional shortage” areas, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 60% of U.S. counties have no practicing psychiatrists, and most of those counties are rural, according to a New American Economy report. The nationwide shortage of psychiatric providers has made it increasingly difficult for many to access mental healthcare, particularly those in underserved communities. Telepsychiatry has emerged as a solution to lack of access to mental health care because it enables patients to see providers remotely over secure video-conferencing technology. As the need for social distancing grows during this unprecedented global pandemic, so too does the need for remote access to mental health care tools.

Genoa Telepsychiatry serves behavioral health communities in more than 35 states and provides care to more than 250,000 individuals annually. Coupled with Lief’s access to biomarker data and HRV biofeedback training, Genoa’s telepsychiatrists can provide behavioral health support to help individuals manage their mental health more holistically. Samir Malik, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Genoa Telepsychiatry shares, “The field of mental health has been missing objective data to help guide excellent clinical decision-making and convergence on best practices and standards of care. Lief’s work establishing valid biomarkers is an important step towards bringing more objective data into the behavioral health arena.”

Lief’s agreement with Genoa Telepsychiatry enables individuals to access innovative mental health care solutions directly, cutting down on wait times and reducing barriers to care. Lief’s novel direct to consumer telemedicine offering empowers those in need to improve their mental health using personalized HRV biofeedback training, as well as expert guidance from telepsychiatrists and Lief’s HRV coaches.

Lief Therapeutics is currently offering 10% off new users’ first month’s subscription to its direct to consumer telemedicine services with code NEWYEARSLIEF10.

About Lief Therapeutics

Lief Therapeutics offers biofeedback wearables for mental health to consumers and patients, access to telepsychiatrists, and a remote patient monitoring platform for healthcare providers. Lief Rx, Lief’s prescription-only device for patients, is indicated for HRV-based relaxation training, which, as part of a healthy lifestyle, may help reduce the risk of anxiety and depression. For more information, visit http://www.getlief.com.

About Genoa Telepsychiatry

Genoa Telepsychiatry increases provider availability for underserved communities. Clinical sessions delivered using Genoa Telepsychiatry’s platform may be reimbursable by Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial payers. Genoa Telepsychiatry’s cutting edge, HIPAA-compliant software is easy to use and optimized with features so all the tools needed to manage and operate a successful telepsychiatry program are built in. For more information, visit http://www.genoatelepsychiatry.com.

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Health: Mental Health

LIFT Releases Preliminary Findings from COVID-19 Consumer Experience Study

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These new restrictions on life are challenging in many respects, but they are also making life simpler, easier, and less hectic for many.


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (PRWEB)

LIFT, a healthcare research, design, and marketing strategy firm serving the consumer healthcare and life science spaces, today released preliminary results of its latest study exploring the lived experience of American healthcare consumers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The study is being conducted by LIFT over the course of eight weeks and is focused on a variety of topics such as personal values, community, news and information resources, and various aspects of what LIFT calls the “Five Dimensions of Emotional Truth.”

“The idea behind this study was for the LIFT team to lean-in and use our talents and skills to uncover some of the realities we are dealing with as healthcare consumers in the face of this pandemic, and then share what we learn with our larger community,” said Dave Chlastosz, President at LIFT. Components of the study include one-on-one interviews with LIFT’s in-house anthropologists and an online survey instrument designed to add additional texture to the qualitative findings while simultaneously strengthening the validity of the final data presented.

“We are three weeks into this research effort and we are already seeing some very interesting themes emerge from the data,” added Matt Bradley, lead anthropologist and Vice President of Insights at LIFT. “We designed this as a qualitative study leveraging in-depth ethnographic interviews and a series of open-ended questions to unearth the truth of how consumers feel about this experience at ground-level. As a healthcare consumer myself and someone with a vested interest in understanding life in this new normal, I am very excited to be a part of the study. The results that I am seeing are very compelling.”

Findings of the study are still preliminary but indicate that despite the fact that the demands of social isolation are taxing, there is a theme of personal improvement embedded in people’s opinions and feelings. While self-isolating in quarantine and the practice of social distancing are the new normal for most Americans, a majority of respondents say that they are strengthening key relationships, connecting on a deeper level, rediscovering old networks and tightening bonds with friend groups that were mostly surface-level acquaintances before cases accelerated and “stay at home” orders were issued.

Healthcare consumers share a mixed sense of pessimism and inspiration regarding the demands placed on them during the pandemic. Preliminary findings indicate that a majority of consumers are struggling with many aspects of their social, work and family lives since the advent of social distancing measures were enacted.

“This is a paradox of sorts,” explains Bradley. “There are plenty of contradictory emotions in life, for example happiness is the opposite of sadness and visa versa—yet we can often feel happy and sad at the same time. These new restrictions on life are challenging in many respects, but they are also making life simpler, easier, and less hectic for many. This is an interesting observation that we can find encouraging in times like this.”

Respondents also share that social distancing and isolation resulting from the pandemic has made a positive impact on their wellbeing. When asked “How, if at all, has [the COVID-19 pandemic] impacted your social life?”, more than half of respondents indicated that virtual interactions are clearly on the up-tic, and while a majority of respondents indicated they miss physical proximity to friends, church, exercise, and social connections gained by going into public, more than 71 percent of respondents state that their emotional wellbeing is being positively impacted.

One additional and encouraging theme emerging in the study is the idea that this experience will ultimately shape us into better people—an attitude shared by 67 percent of respondents. “Consider what makes someone a better person,” said Bradley. “Is it accepting personal responsibility? Listening to, cooperating with, and caring for others? Being a part of the solution and doing your part? I think all these things are indications of self-betterment and our data is showing that this is exactly what consumers say they are doing.”

A final report will be made available to the general public and the healthcare industry at-large in the coming weeks. To take the online survey, please click here. For additional information about the research project, or to request a copy of the final study report, please email LIFT at cv19study@lift1428.com.

ABOUT LIFT

Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn. with additional offices in Jupiter, Fla. and Atlanta, Ga., LIFT is an independent healthcare research, design, and marketing strategy firm serving the consumer healthcare and life science spaces. Through the practical applications of design thinking and ethnography, LIFT specializes in illuminating human-centered insights and strategy for healthcare marketers seeking to impact their Share of Experience™. To learn more, visit http://www.lift1428.com.

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Health: Mental Health

Farley Center adds Dr. Melissa Lee Warner to help medical professionals, lawyers, and corporate leaders receive specialized addiction treatment.

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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (PRWEB)

Veteran addiction physician Dr. Melissa Lee Warner has rejoined The Farley Center, the nationally renowned addiction treatment program, as director of its professionals program. Warner previously served as Farley’s medical director from 2000–2013. She returns to lead and continue the ongoing augmentation of Farley’s longstanding professionals program that thirty years ago was one of the first in the country to address the needs of specific professionals and their unique needs. This population includes doctors, nurses, lawyers, and other professionals who must also navigate licensure issues and recovery monitoring by governing boards as part of their recovery. Other professionals, such as pilots or military leaders, who are responsible for the lives of others on a daily basis, are good candidates for the program.

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, access to addiction treatment has been a growing concern and need. Medical professionals are among the top of the list of people dealing with stressful and traumatic situations. While there is great public awareness around the opioid crisis, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism lists alcohol-related fatalities as the third preventable leading cause of death in the United States, killing an estimated 88,000 people annually. Factoring in the surging rise of alcohol sales in recent weeks, we may soon face an even greater and more complicated addiction crisis.

Market research firm Nielsen reported:

  • U.S. sales of alcoholic beverages rose 55% in the week ending March 21

  • Spirits rose 75%

  • Online alcohol sales were up 243%

“We know that addiction can manifest at any time but one of the factors associated both with relapse, and with an escalation of active addiction, are stressors. There are a multitude of reasons why stressors are higher right now than at other points in time,” said Dr. Warner. “What’s important is that we maintain our system of in-depth evaluations, and continue to serve addicted professionals and others who need treatment. We understand that when a window of opportunity opens and someone is willing to get help for their addiction we need to bring them in as soon as possible and get them settled and safe.”

About The Farley Center

The Farley Center provides a continuum of care for individuals who have a primary substance use disorder, requiring intensive, in-depth psychotherapeutic intervention, safe medicated withdrawal, as well as educational and experiential approaches to assist them into recovery. Many of our patients have been diagnosed with complicating medical conditions, co-occurring mental health and/or chronic pain syndromes. Learn more about The Farley Center at http://www.farleycenter.com.

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Pacifica Graduate Institute Announces New Degree Program: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology

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“The new program offers the graduates of our M.A. program in Counseling Psychology the opportunity of a fast track to the doctoral degree by allowing the transfer of nearly a year of credits from their M.A. ” – Joseph Cambray, Ph.D., President of Pacifica


SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (PRWEB)

Pacifica Graduate Institute is an accredited graduate school offering Master’s and doctoral degree programs framed in the traditions of depth psychology. Founded in 1976, with a mission to “tend the soul in and of the world,” the Institute has over 4,000 graduates worldwide and offers eight distinct programs to serve the needs of our students, including Clinical Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Depth Psychology with Specializations in: Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies; Integrative Therapy and Healing Practices; Jungian and Archetypal Studies; and separate programs in Engaged Humanities, as well as Mythological Studies. Pacifica has established an educational environment that nourishes respect for cultural diversity and individual differences, and an academic community that fosters a spirit of free and open inquiry. Students have access to rare and significant collections in the fields of mythology, archetypal psychology, and world cultures, including the private collection of Joseph Campbell, at the OPUS Archives. Pacifica’s two campuses are located between the coastal foothills and the Pacific Ocean, a few miles south of Santa Barbara, California.

In an increasingly complex world, the scholarship and service of Pacifica’s faculty, staff, alumni, and students offer a soul-centered “intelligence” integral to what is being asked of us now. A natural progression of our mission is the introduction of a new degree program, to be offered starting Fall 2020: The Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology. The program offers a uniquely immersive, experiential, and relationally designed doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology that will prepare graduates for licensure as licensed psychologists. This exciting new program is deeply informed by principles of psychodynamic psychology, and it emphasizes a psychotherapy practice that appreciates the importance of the unconscious life in the individual and in communities. Following a practitioner-scholar model, the Psy.D. Program in Counseling Psychology represents Pacifica’s commitment to grounding the principles of depth psychology in clinical practice within community settings. Its graduates will be prepared to function as licensed psychologists in a variety of applied settings, including private practice, community mental health, substance abuse, and dual diagnosis settings, hospital and inpatient settings, the nonprofit and private sectors, and many other professional contexts.

Matthew Bennett, Psy.D., a longtime core faculty member of Pacifica Graduate Institute, and Chair of the M.A. Program in Counseling Psychology, will serve as the Chair of the new Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology Program. Bringing together the longstanding traditions and culture of Pacifica’s M.A. program in Counseling Psychology, the Psy.D. will join the M.A. to form a contiguous Department of Counseling Psychology. Matthew Bennett is a licensed clinical psychologist, lecturer, and administrator with experience in public sector mental health and substance abuse treatment. He was formerly founder and first Director of Training for the Ventura County Behavioral Health Pre-Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology and Chair-Elect of the Psychology Department at Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura, California. His research interests include personality disorders, comparative personality theory, and Internet applications for mental health. Dr. Bennett is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer (“Poland III, 1991–1993”).

It is Dr. Bennett’s view that “It’s a rare opportunity to get doctoral-level training in applied professional psychology that’s informed by psychodynamic depth-psychological principles. I would say that psychodynamic perspectives have become scarce in higher education, and this program uniquely combines an applied clinical focus to valuable perspectives that reflect the role of the unconscious and imaginal to our individual and collective psychological lives. The new Psy.D. reflects the momentum of a long-established and highly successful M.A. program that has a proven history of providing both sophisticated clinical training that allows graduates to hit the ground running in a variety of applied clinical settings, while also training our students to be able to tolerate strong emotional experiences and to develop and elaborate capacities for interpersonal attunement.”

Joseph Cambray, Ph.D., President of Pacifica, adds, “The new program offers the graduates of our M.A. program in Counseling Psychology the opportunity of a fast track to the doctoral degree by allowing the transfer of nearly a year of credits from their M.A. This would reduce their doctoral work by a year and correspondingly reduce their costs by the same amount. There are a significant number of alumni who can pursue this doctorate by applying their previous classwork to this end. This will in turn allow them to broaden the range of what they can do as clinical practitioners, i.e., the ability to function at a doctoral level as a psychologist. We’ve also been privileged to offer Coverdell Fellowships for this program. These fellowships are for returning Peace Corps volunteers, who can apply to this program and if successful, receive three years of partial tuition waivers.”

The Psy.D. is designed to be completed in four years total: three years of curriculum plus one year of pre-doctoral internship and dissertation completion. The Psy.D. will require students to complete 1,000 hours of practicum during Years Two and Three of the program, followed by 1,500 hours of internship in Year Four of the program. The Psy.D. program will hold classes on a quarter system, with three sessions per quarter comprising three-day sessions (Friday morning through Sunday afternoon) approximately once each month during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters, with a seven-day Summer session, over a period of three years. The fourth year does not include attendance of classes on campus, although students typically continue to work on their dissertations during this time.

The new Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology Program is currently enrolling for Fall 2020.

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