Have you, or someone you know experienced a traumatic event? Chances are the answer is yes. Most people exposed to a traumatic event will not go on to have long-term negative emotions or symptoms related to t
Have you had the experience of patients who can’t seem to stop recycling their negative thoughts, ones who make statements like, “My life is just a series of bad events.” and “I can’t change, I’m just hardwired that way.”? As a clinician, I have often revisited the question of “Can people change?” and if they do, how? This has elicited a long-time personal theory that people maintain an initial “knee-jerk” response when triggered, but with the use of therapeutic tools, life experiences and other methods they can learn to be aware of these “old” responses and consciously, and many times within seconds, move toward a healthier, more positive response.
While working on a recent project about military families, I ran across the book Serving Military Families in the 21st Century. Published in April, 2012, this recent text is chock-full of information about working with military families, covering topics that range from military culture to the effects of war on Service Members and their families. The book is co-authored by five subject matter experts and purports to serve as an “introduction to military families and the effects of military service on adults, their relationships, and their children” (p.xi). With its emphasis on both recent research and first-hand experiences, I found it does exactly that. I think it would be a great resource for anyone interested in working with military families.
Previously, I wrote on "My Experience With Pet Therapy." This time around I thought it would be helpful to answer some commonly asked questions I am often asked in my discussions of Pet Therapy with people and during Pet Therapy encounters. In addition, I am including some things I have learned along the way pertaining to setting up Pet Therapy programs and working within the programs.
In 2001, I arrived in Keflavik, Iceland on a freezing cold Friday evening and instantly wondered why I had picked this duty station. That night we were taken to the supply warehouse and were all issued eighty pounds of cold weather gear. The next morning we were on our first training hike which culminated with a traditional hike up Mount Olfus. Upon reaching the top we were all welcomed to the command and presented with the Marine Corps Security Force Company Keflavik Iceland Challenge Coin.