CRG Newsletter: Winter Edition
Dec. 2011, Volume 1 (3)
In This Issue
Coping with Holiday Stressors: Tips for Adults
Transition to College: Staying on the Right Track
Book Review: Don't Bother Me Mom - I'm Learning
Physician's Corner: Melatonin
Provider Spotlight: Christine Kerr, Ph.D., LMHC
Meet the Staff: Mary Teter, RN
"Taste of College" Workshop
2012 Groups
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Greetings!

Welcome to the Winter 2011 Edition of the CRG newsletter! The theme of this newsletter is transition and change: transitions we go through during the holiday season, changes we want to see occur during the coming year, transitions our children go through as they move from high school to college and then adulthood, and the societal changes we must adapt to in order to stay young.

 

Psychology is the study of human behavior and I find it to be the most fascinating subject imaginable. I have had the privilege of practicing psychology for almost 30 years. While I enjoy the book learning involved in this field, I find that interacting with people every day provides the most fertile soil for learning about people. It is through these interactions with friends, family, co-workers, clients and even those I casually meet that I have come to recognize how differently we all respond to change.

 

Many of us - especially the young - embrace change. Those individuals who are spontaneous and flexible in their approach to life seek change, enjoy the challenge of a new task or opportunity, and are quick to change gears. As English philosopher Alan Watts wrote, "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." But often those who quickly begin to dance don't finish what they started before "the plunge." Those individuals need to surround themselves with individuals who are more cautious and attentive to detail in order to accomplish what was started.


And then there are those who are like
Maxine, the aging and acerbic Hallmark character. On Black Friday, I saw Maxine quoted on a Hallmark sign that read, "Change is good - as long as I don't have to do anything different." Maxine represents the other end of the spectrum of change - she is entrenched in her habits and rigid in her behavior. Those individuals refuse to buy cell phones, think that the internet is a highway, and can't see the similarities in today's youth and the youth of previous generations. We will push them into the future kicking and screaming.

 

Ask yourself whether you are closer to Watts or to Maxine in how you respond to changes and transitions. Then ask yourself how those around you respond.   This could be your spouse/partner, your child/children, or co-workers. Be honest with yourself about how you handle transitions and what impact your approach has on those around you. If you embrace change quickly and then leave others to tidy up your details (your loved ones may call it your mess), should you try to slow down? If you take painstaking time to adapt to change, are you being left behind? How can you work more effectively with those around you to work as a team in making changes and smoothing out the strain of transitions?

 

In this edition of the CRG newsletter, we have articles devoted to the multiple transitions expected of us over the holiday season and the start of the new year, the transition from high school to college, the changes that parents must make in order to keep up with the digital age of our children, and information about the ways in which CRG is trying to provide new and improved services to you and your family.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read on. We welcome your feedback. If you and your family or co-workers find yourself struggling to communicate about and adapt to change, you may benefit from taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a well-researched personality test used to assist individuals and groups in better communicating and working as a team. Ms. Nancy Lindhjem and Ms. Diane Widdifield, School Psychologists with CRG, are trained in the administration and interpretation of this instrument and would be happy to assist you in better understanding yourself and your relationships with others.

 

Sincerely,

 

Julie T. Steck, Ph.D., HSPP

Psychologist and Founding Partner

Coping with Holiday Stressors: Tips for Adults
Susan Sherer-Vincent, LCSW, LMFT (Marriage and Family Therapist)

With pleasant thoughts of food, family and decoration, the holidays can be a source of joy for many people. For others this time of year can be associated with anxiety, depression, and stress. It is easy to get overwhelmed with an accumulation of tasks like gift buying and wrapping, writing and mailing cards, traveling, parties, cooking, and bills. If the holidays are stressful for you, you're not alone. People already pre-dispositioned to stress can find themselves feeling "blue" and more stressed than usual at this time of year.

 

So what can you do? We suggest you plan for stress.   When stress has a hold of you, it is hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if there is a history of the holidays being difficult for you.

 

The good news is you don't have to let stress ruin your holidays; there are some practical steps you can take to help manage these negative emotions. You can begin by developing a simple approach that helps you set realistic goals. You may even enjoy the holidays more than you thought you would.

 

Continue reading for tips to prevent holiday stress and depression.

Transition to College: Staying on the Right Track
David Parker, Ph.D. (Postsecondary Disability Specialist)

As families are well aware, the college admissions process has become more competitive in recent years. Even during these economically challenging times, a college degree is likely to enhance a person's employability, independence, and quality of life. Over a lifetime, a college degree predicts much greater earning power. Adults with a high school diploma, on average, earn $30,000 annually; those with a 2-year degree, $36,000; and those with a 4-year degree, $46,000.

 

College services for students with non-apparent disabilities (e.g., LD, ADHD, Asperger's, and psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety) have mushroomed in the past two decades. However, many students and families remain uninformed about these important resources.
 

Click here to continue reading "Transition to College: Staying on the Right Track."

Book Review:
Don't Bother Me Mom - I'm Learning
Nancy Lindhjem, Ed.S., NCSP (School Psychologist)

As a mother, grandmother, and experienced school psychologist, I know one thing for sure: I am a "digital immigrant." This is a term coined by Marc Prensky in his bold, eye-opening book entitled Don't Bother Me Mom - I'm Learning to describe those of us who have come into the digital age kicking and screaming (metaphorically, of course). Prensky has master's degrees from Yale, Middlebury, and the Harvard Business school (with distinction) and is the founder of Games2Train, an e-learning company whose clients include IBM, Microsoft, U.S. Department of Defense, and Los Angeles and Florida Virtual Schools. His professional focus has been on re-inventing education to make it more engaging and helping to make the important connections between games and learning. The book is organized into four parts. Part I of the book is entitled "Games are Not the Enemy," with Part II dealing with the "Rise of the Digital Native." He then talks about "What's Different about Today's Games" in Part III. "What Kids Are Learning (On Their Own)" and "How Parents, Teachers, and All Adults Can Get in the Game" make up Part IV.

 

Continue reading Nancy's review of Don't Bother Me Mom - I'm Learning.

Physician's Corner: Melatonin
Jason Rowland, M.D. (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist)

This is a new column for the CRG newsletter. Dr. Joshua Lowinsky and I want to share information through this column about the medical aspects of the conditions that affect our clients. Future articles in this column are likely to cover such topics as diet, exercise, nutritional supplements, physiologic aspects of mental health disorders, and medication options for treating disorders including newly developed medications. I would like to use this first column to share information about a nutritional supplement that I frequently recommend: melatonin.

 

Click here for more information on melatonin.

Provider Spotlight: Christine Kerr, Ph.D., LMHC
Interview by David Parker, Ph.D. (Postsecondary Disability Specialist)

Christine Kerr, PhD, LMHCDP: What is your role at CRG?

CK: I am a therapist to adolescents and adults. I also lead a mothers' support group and participate in CRG's educational outreach activities, such as speaking at our annual conferences.

 

DP: What issues do you address in therapy?

CK: I see adults and adolescents who are facing a variety of mental health issues, including Asperger's, anxiety, depression and stress. I also see individuals and couples dealing with marital and other relationship concerns. I often help adults who are grappling with parenting challenges, and work with clients whose lives have been impacted by divorce. Furthermore, I provide therapy to adolescents struggling with academic, behavioral, and social/peer difficulties.

 

Click here to continue reading about Dr. Kerr and the role she plays at CRG.

Meet the Staff: Mary Teter, RN
 Interview by Sarah Kelly

Mary Teter, RN, is the head of CRG's knowledgeable and caring nursing support staff. The nurses are responsible for assisting patients with their medical questions and concerns. To do so, they triage with CRG's psychiatrists to determine how best to meet the needs of their patients. On a daily basis, the nurses address medication refill and prescription pre-authorization requests, manage clinical feedback and respond to patient and parent questions.

 

Continue reading about Mary's nursing background and her current role at CRG.

"Taste of College" Workshop
David Parker, Ph.D. (Postsecondary Disability Specialist)

Gearing up for college is a huge process that can easily become overwhelming. The good news is, CRG is made up of many professionals with transition/college expertise who can guide and support individuals during this major life transition. CRG will conduct an afternoon workshop this winter to help participants learn how to make a smooth transition to college.

 

Plan to join us on Saturday, February 25th (1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) for "A Taste of College." CRG will conduct this practical, interactive workshop at Indiana Wesleyan University's conference center, located near the intersection of I-465 and N. Keystone Avenue. The workshop is targeted to:

 

  • All high school students planning to start college next fall or who are actively involved in a college search
  • Parents
  • Special Education teachers
  • Guidance counselors
  • Transition specialists
  • School administrators

While the workshop will provide specific information for students with LD, ADHD, Aspergers, and psychiatric disabilities such as depression/anxiety, the sessions will help all students/families develop an effective plan for transitioning to college successfully.

 

Click here for more information about CRG's Taste of College Workshop.

2012 Groups
David Parker, Ph.D. (Postsecondary Disability Specialist)

Due to a very positive response this fall, CRG is pleased to announce an even wider range of groups for children, teens, and adults in Spring 2012. While some groups are therapeutic in nature, others focus on skill development. All groups give participants a cost-efficient way to learn from peers under the expert guidance of seasoned CRG professionals. 

 

To learn more about CRG's groups, please click here.