Benefits of University-Based Mental Health Training Clinics
For over 20 years, a significant part of my job has been to direct a university-based mental health center. Our center is affiliated with the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky. The...
View ArticleTake the “What Do You Know About Mental Health Medications?” Quiz
Perhaps you or someone you care about takes medication to help manage a mental health condition. There’s a whole alphabet soup of such medications, from Abilify to Zyprexa and everything in between....
View ArticleAnger Management for Voters?
Guest Blog by Joan Cook, Ph.D. It’s hard not to feel all the anger spilling out at presidential election campaign rallies, particularly from the fans of Donald Trump. As a psychologist who’s spent a...
View ArticleThinking Outside the Box to Treat Serious Mental Illness
Not long ago, I attended an educational program on cognitive enhancement therapy, or CET. Chances are you may not be familiar with this type of treatment. It’s a rehabilitation-focused approach which...
View Article7 Myths about Physical Restraints in Psychiatric Facilities
We’ve probably all seen movies such as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (starring Jack Nicholson), where an individual with a mental illness is placed in a straitjacket in a psychiatric hospital due...
View ArticlePsychotherapy Works!
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...
View ArticleIt’s National Recovery Month!
Each September, SAMHSA, the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sponsors “National Recovery Month” to increase awareness of mental health and substance use issues. Key themes...
View ArticleFighting Opioid Abuse and Chronic Pain
Guest Post by Amanda Merchant, Ph.D., Lisa Willner, Ph.D. and Jonathon Cole, Ph.D. Psychologists who treat those with chronic pain are well aware that living with daily pain for months or years on end...
View ArticleLearning About Mindfulness
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...
View ArticleA Dozen Tips for the Safe Use of Psychiatric Medications
Many individuals receiving care for mental illness or addiction are prescribed psychiatric medications as an important part of an overall treatment plan which often includes psychotherapy, other...
View ArticleSinging the Praises of Music Therapy
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...
View ArticleOvercoming the “8 Reasons Why People Don’t Get Treatment for Mental Illness”
My most popular blog post to date is “8 Reasons Why People Don’t Get Treatment for Mental Illness.” In it, I described several common obstacles and barriers which often keep people from seeking or...
View Article20 Life-Changing Benefits of Psychotherapy
Have you ever considered seeking psychotherapy to help you manage or overcome a personal or emotional concern? Or perhaps you’re engaged in therapy currently or you have participated in the past. We...
View ArticlePicture a Healthier You Through Art Therapy
It’s commonly said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Art can move us, inspire us, and it can be either a satisfying hobby or a very rewarding profession for a talented few. But it’s not widely...
View ArticleRecovery After a Suicide Attempt: ‘A Journey Toward Health and Hope’
Perhaps you (or someone you care about) have had such significant distress, depression or hopelessness that you attempted to end your life by suicide. However, if you’re reading this, I’m so glad you...
View Article‘A Roadmap to Behavioral Health’: A Review
Navigating the mental health system to obtain appropriate care for mental illness and addictions often seems akin to trying to pilot a small airplane through a turbulent thunderstorm in the dark. It’s...
View Article“Why Don’t People Get Treatment? (& How Can We Help?)”– CXMH Podcast Interview
I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Robert Vore for the CXMH Podcast. Let me first tell you a little about Robert and the podcast, then we’ll dive into a little preview of what we...
View ArticleFinding Quality Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
If you or a friend or loved one is in need of treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, often one of the biggest challenges is finding an accessible and affordable program that provides high quality...
View ArticleThe Top Reasons Why People Don’t Receive Needed Mental Health Services
I’ve written several times about the important issue of the need for affordable and effective treatment for mental health issues. I’ve also thoroughly discussed several of the main reasons why large...
View ArticleLessons Learned from Mariah Carey’s Struggle with Bipolar Disorder
It was big news when pop megastar Mariah Carey recently disclosed that she has been dealing with bipolar disorder since being diagnosed in 2001. In an interview with People magazine, Carey said she is...
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