The Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy, Training & Education, Inc
November 2014
The Institute Insider
Keeping you connected ~ Nurturing your professional growth
In This Issue
Meet Our Faculty
Lisa's Blog: Connecting to and Honoring the Past
How Can We Make Positive Family Memories
Clinician Resources
NEW This Fall - From Trauma to Curiosity: Connecting to Animals and Nature
Discover our Fall 2014 Trainings
Pre-Order Lisa's NEW Books and SAVE 20%
Talk Radio w/Lisa Ferentz
Talk Radio w/Lisa Ferentz

Meet Our Faculty
Susan Osofsky
Susan Osofsky, LCSW
Susan Osofsky, LCSW is in private practice in Richmond, VA., specializing in the treatment of OCD, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and trauma. Before she entered private practice 17 years ago, Susan worked on a Crisis Intervention team at a Community Services Board, where she provided both crisis intervention to the community and Critical Incident Stress Debriefings to law enforcement, fire and rescue workers. She has also worked in community corrections and residential drug treatment. In addition to her faculty position at The Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy Training and Education, she also presents at national conferences and gives university continuing education seminars. Susan is a dynamic speaker who uses humor, case examples and experiential activities to complement her presentations. 
 
Learn more about Susan here.  
______________

Register now for Susan's training, "Effective Treatment for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder."



Quick Links
Visit our website at

Learn more about us 

 

Bring the Institute to you 

 

Discover our workshops 

 

Check out our blog 

 

Email Lisa at

   

Click to Follow on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Click to Connect on LinkedIn
View our profile on LinkedIn

View suggested videos and subscribe 
to our channel

View our videos on YouTube

Message from Lisa Ferentz LCSW-C, DAPA  

Founder and President

 

Dear Friends,

 

There is a lot going on in the world right now, and depending upon who you ask, the "important" things to focus on and process might include: the switch to daylight savings time; the winners of the World Series; mid-term elections; an erupting volcano in Hawaii; the ongoing threat of Isis and terrorism; or the panic that has captured the nation regarding the arrival of the Ebola Virus in the U.S. Since the latter seems to evoke profound psychological distress, anxiety and worry, as well as actual somatic symptoms, this month's newsletter will take a closer look at the impact that mass fear and overblown, relentless news coverage can have on us emotionally, cognitively, and physically. 

 

By focusing on Ebola, it is not my intention to activate unnecessary anxiety in you, dear reader, so rest assured that despite the frantic news reports, the chances of actually contracting the virus are "miniscule." Be more concerned about getting your flu shot! But if you feel any lingering anxiety after reading the blogs, we have just the answer for you: be sure to attend our upcoming training entitled, "Effective Treatment for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder!"  


Warmest Regards,
    
Lisa Ferentz

 
 
Please share this newsletter with your colleagues so they too may benefit from the valuable resources published.  Thank you.


The Impact of the
Ebola Frenzy
by Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C, DAPA

  

As the air becomes cooler and crisper, and lawns are blanketed in a crunch of crimson and gold leaves, it's a time to celebrate the wonders of Mother Nature. Yet fueled by relentless news coverage and misinformation, many Americans are preoccupied and panicked about the Ebola threat. It's a source of tremendous worry, exacerbated by the uncertainty associated with the disease as well as the prognosis and treatment outcomes for those not connected to more sophisticated medical care. The irony is that the anxiety it evokes can manifest somatically in some of the ways that mimic the symptomatology of the virus! 

Ebola Anxiety: A Bigger Threat Now Than the Virus Itself
by Amy Norton
Consumer.healthday.com

Headlines remain riveted on the three Ebola cases in Dallas. But, mental health specialists say overblown fear is a much bigger health threat to Americans. President Barack Obama on Friday appointed an Ebola "czar" to oversee the U.S. response to the virus, which has infected two Dallas nurses who cared for a Liberian man who died of Ebola this month at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. But the U.S. cases are miniscule in the context of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa that's concentrated in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and has so far killed more than 4,500 people, according to the World Health Organization. 


Clinician Resources
(click on the link below to learn more)

Books

Videos
  • How to Overcome Your Fear of Illness
    by Dr. Brenda Shoshanna 
    This brief video provides advice on overcoming fear of your illness. Dr. Shoshanna, author of FEARLESS: 7 Principals of Peace of Mind 
Helpful Tips for Clinicians and Medical Professionals
Clinician Tip: When clients become overly obsessive about a health scare in the news, it's not unusual for them to misinterpret the somatic symptoms of stress and anxiety, assuming it is "evidence" of having contracted that disease. Remember to do some psycho-education about the physical manifestations of stress, and encourage them to do mindful breathing, comforting guided imagery or relaxation exercises, as well as gentle yoga or power walking to see if the symptoms begin to abate. Introducing cognitive distractions such as crossword puzzles, word searches or Sudoku can help to short-circuit obsessive thoughts. It's equally important to encourage your clients to step back so they can analyze their symptoms objectively, helping them to let go of their fears if objective facts cannot substantiate them. Lastly, urge your clients to limit their exposure to Internet, television programs, or magazine articles that exploit or fuel the publics' fears about an illness.

Self-Care: We can always use a gentle reminder about practicing what we preach! Listening to our clients' intense fears about sickness or contracting a specific illness can create a subtle but pervasive sense of worry in us as well! Just as we help clients to stay focused on objective facts and not allow their emotions to distort reality, we, too, need to apply that same objectivity to the way we approach our own symptoms. For clinicians, the root source of stomach upset, headache, body aches, or lethargy is often connected to emotional. mental or physical fatigue, or not taking the time to eat properly, physically stretch,or emotionally re-ground throughout the work day. Stay mindful of doing those simple things as you work. In
naddition, limiting our exposure to sensationalized media stories is as important for us as it is for our clients as we get an extra dose of panic and anxiety from our clients during their sessions.

Discover our Fall 2014 Trainings

Immerse yourself in a wide range of clinical topics and take part in informative and experiential workshops that will provide you with current theory, tools for assessment, evaluation and diagnosis, as well as strategies for creative and effective treatment.


November trainings include:

December trainings include:

* Ethics CEUs

 

Now on Sale - Order Lisa's New Books and SAVE 20% Online
Lisa's new workbook, "Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors," and the second edition of her book "Treating Self-Destructive Behaviors in Trauma Survivors: A Clinicians Guide" can now be ordered online.
 
Use discount code IRK71 and SAVE 20%.  
 
Learn about Lisa's new books here. » 
 
Order your copy today. » 
Join Lisa's NEW Facebook Page

Looking for the latest clinician articles, trends and reports? Want to keep abreast of valuable blogs and videos that will help you grow as a therapist and enhance your practice?  'LIKE' and follow Lisa on her new Facebook page here for all this and more!

Download Lisa's Podcasts of Inspired Journeys
Developed to inspire and inform, Inspired Journeys focuses on how to overcome and transcend trauma through empathy, self love, forgiveness, self awareness and acts of kindness.  Gain insight from interviews with authors, clinicians, and everyday people who have experienced or witnessed adversity and all of its life changing consequences. Each episode shares shares valuable information to help you find meaning even in the most difficult traumatic experiences, and come to understand that survivors can thrive, pay it forward, and help others to heal as well.  

Click here to stream podcasts of Lisa's informative talk show directly on your computer.

The Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy Training and Education, Inc. is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland. CEU approval for all trainings is also granted to Psychologists, LCPC's and MFT's. In addition, reciprocity has been granted for clinicians in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia.