Month: July 2013

Treating OCD in Boca Raton

In treating OCD in Boca Raton it is important that we understand that OCD stands for “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,” a type of anxiety disorder that can be incredibly disturbing to people’s functioning.  In treating OCD in Boca Raton keep in mind that the ‘Obsessive’ component refers to unwanted and intrusive thoughts that come repeatedly despite the fact that the individual is disturbed by their presence.  Obsessive thoughts can take many forms including fears that one has not adequately washed their hands, have not sufficiently turned off appliances or locked doors.  In addition, in treating OCD in Boca Raton we discover that many people have intrusive and repetitive thoughts of sacrilegious content, harming others, or engaging in inappropriate sexual acts. Read more

Tips for Finding a Couples Therapist

When considering tips for finding a couples therapist, keep in mind that many couples seek the help of a couples therapist to enhance their existing healthy relationship or to address issues creating a negative impact.  We often see couples in therapy on TV or in movies, hear about couples therapy experiences through friends and family, or even wonder about what it would be like to have our own therapeutic experience.  What often stops us from taking the step to beginning couples therapy is that we don’t know where to start or the tips for finding a couples therapist.  How do you find the right couples therapist for you and your partner, especially if this is your first time in couples therapy?  Well, hopefully we can give you some tips for finding a couples therapist that will help you make an educated decision.

When searching for a couples therapist, there are a variety of factors to consider.  One of the first tips for finding a couples therapist is that you want to research the educational background and amount of experience that your potential couples therapist has attained.  This one of the tips for finding a couples therapist takes into consideration that a couples therapist should have a minimum of a master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, Mental Healthy Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a comparable degree within the field of mental health.  This one of the tips for finding a couples therapist also considers they should be licensed in their field of practice within the state and preferably be members of the professional organizations in their field on a local, state, and/or national level.

Another one of the tips for finding a couples therapist is that it is also important to consider the therapist’s level of experience.  In considering this one of the tips for finding a couples therapist you want to ensure that your therapist has completed a variety of practicums, internships, and work experiences that have given them a general and comprehensive background of practice.   An additional factor of this one of the tips for finding a couples therapist is that you also want to know that your therapist has worked extensively, not just with individuals, but specifically with couples and is prepared to work effectively with you and your partner to address your unique needs.

Another of the tips for finding a couples therapist is that oftentimes, the best way to find a quality professional is to ask the trusted sources in your life for personal recommendations.  Family members, friends, spiritual leaders, teachers, and physicians may be ready and willing to share their experiences and referrals with you if you feel comfortable enough to ask.  If not, the internet can be a comprehensive resource for not only finding names and locations of potential couples therapists, but also for filtering through the information they present online to evaluate whether or not they are the professional for you.  If you have any questions about any of these tips for finding a couples therapist or would like to speak to a Proliance Couples therapist about your needs and goals, we are always here to provide support and information.

What is Offered by a Life Coach in Boca Raton Florida

Many of us have a tendency to consider New Year’s Day the time to look at our lives, create new goals, and set out on a path of personal change for the new year.  While this can be a successful method for some, we often give up on those goals after a short time and lose focus on personal growth until the next year comes around.  As a Life Coach in Boca Raton Florida, I always feel that it is important to check in with oneself on a regular basis and constantly assess what is going well and what could use improvement.  At Proliance Center, we offer the unique experience of working with a Life Coach in Boca Raton Florida to help our patients develop a plan for personal growth or change in any area of their lives they would like to improve.

Amid all of the personal responsibilities, projects, activities, family, social, community, and financial commitments we have, it is often difficult to see the big picture.  With all of these pressures, we can easily feel overwhelmed or even lacking direction.  A Life Coach in Boca Raton Florida can help you to find direction, get “unstuck” in a sense, or achieve specific goals that you have had trouble attaining on your own.  This process offers a source of motivation, confidence, organization, and structure needed to make changes with the support of your Life Coach in Boca Raton Florida to ensure your accountability.  Though being a Life Coach in Boca Raton Florida is a new and fast growing profession, it has proven results through the success of its clients.  Developed from the field of positive psychology, a Life Coach in Boca Raton Florida helps clients to identify and use their personal strengths and attributes to find personal success.  If you’re interested in learning more about obtaining a Life Coach in Boca Raton Florida, feel free to call us at Proliance Center to help you determine if it’s right for you!

Causes Of Selective Mutism In Children

Before beginning a discussion of causes of Selective Mutism in children it is important to define what Selective Mutism is. It is defined as a complex childhood anxiety disorder in which a child, who has the ability to both speak and understand language, fails to speak and communicate effectively in certain environments or social settings. However, to be clear, this is not the same as a child with mutism who never speaks, because they are unable to. Rather these children select not to speak.

Selective Mutism usually occurs in children under the age of 5 and presents most often in social settings or in school. Since the child’s ability to speak and understand spoken language isn’t impaired, children with Selective Mutism are able to speak and communicate in settings where they are relaxed, comfortable and secure. For this reason, speaking may occur in environments that are more familiar, such as at home with their family.

The cause of Selective Mutism is not known, however most experts believe that children with the condition inherit this through a familial tendency to be inhibited and anxious. As a result, some affected children have a family history of anxiety disorders, extreme shyness, or Selective Mutism, and most children with this condition have some form of extreme social phobia or social anxiety.

It is not uncommon for parents to think that the child is refusing to speak, however the child is really unable to speak in certain settings. For a child to be diagnosed as having Selective Mutism, this pattern of mutism must be observed for at least 1 month. This does not include the first month of school, since shyness is common during this period. It is important that other causes for the child not speaking be taken into consideration.

What is Manic Depression Treatment?

The most important thing in Bipolar disorder or Manic Depression Treatment is to get help from a medical doctor, such as a psychiatrist.  He or she may conduct an interview, physical examination, and lab tests to begin the process of Manic Depression Treatment. Bipolar disorder cannot be detected through a blood test or brain scan, but this process can eliminate other causes of unusual mood changes, such as a stroke or brain tumor. The doctor may conduct a mental health evaluation or refer the person to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist.

A psychiatrist is trained and experienced with diagnosing and treating mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder and can be very helpful in Manic Depression Treatment.  The psychiatrist will begin by asking questions about any family history of mental illnesses. Then he or she will continue by getting a complete history of symptoms. Input from family and friends should also be included in the medical history.

In looking for Manic Depression Treatment, people tend to seek help when they are experiencing depressive symptoms.  As a result, this can be mistaken to be major depressive disorder also known as unipolar disorder, which is bipolar with out the manic symptoms. It is for this reason that family members are asked to give a brief description of the person’s symptoms early in the process of Manic Depression Treatment.

To treat this disorder, medication is given to gain better control of mood swings and related symptoms. There is no actual cure for bipolar disorder, since it is a lifelong illness, but an effective maintenance plan in Manic Depression Treatment includes medication and psychotherapy to help control symptoms. Several different medications may need to be tried before the best course of treatment is found in Manic Depression Treatment, since not everyone responds to medications in the same way.

A male and female interlocking hands in what appears to be a strong, happy relationship.

Building Communication with Relationship Therapy

Most couples will argue from time to time. For the most part, this is normal behavior, because loving someone doesn’t necessarily …

Man sitting on couch holding hands over his face as his partner walks away angrily.

The Five Stages of Ending a Long-Term Relationship

Sometimes relationships just aren’t meant to be. Love has plenty of ups and downs, but increasing negativity can be a sign …

Vintage photo of a peaceful, beautiful nature scene with river and trees.

Smell The Roses: The Benefits of Nature Therapy

With the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and responsibilities, it can be hard to remember to take time to “stop and …