by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

www.DOCintheBiz.com

What is Truly Important for Today? As an addendum to the previous article I wrote, Hope for a Bright Future During These Economically Hard Times, I write this article in an attempt to look at the whole suggestion of keeping hope, staying positive, and looking towards a brighter future in a different light. Instead of just staying up about a bright FUTURE, let’s take a look at what we have in the HERE and NOW and be thankful for that. Let’s realize what our priorities are or probably should be TODAY. If you’d like to do that, please continue reading.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

www.DOCintheBiz.com

We must always keep hope for a bright future even during these economically hard times that many of us are facing today!

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by KC Kelly

www.DOCintheBiz.com

GLCzone- The Health Related Blogging Social Network is Back!

I thought I would divert from the normal article writing practice to bring you some exciting news along with some shameless promotion!

I am excited to announce that GLCzone, A SOCIAL NETWORK PROMOTING TOTAL WELLNESS BLOGS FOR ALL is back up and running with a new look and design.

GLCzone plans on becoming the largest HEALTH related blog index on the Internet!

Whether you are looking to get traffic and promotion for your blog or you are looking for health related information, GLCzone is for you!

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

www.DOCintheBiz.com

The presence of an emotional support animal in one’s life can be an exceptional healing agent for mind/body/spirit infirmities as well as a catalyst for helping to promote wellbeing and quality of life.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

Are There Bad People?  Have you ever heard a child say, “I’m a bad boy” or “I’m a bad girl”? I have always taught the children with whom I have worked and counseled that there is no such thing as a “bad” child. I go on to explain that there are no “bad” children or people, only “bad” choices and behaviors that they may make or exhibit.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LHMC

www.DOCintheBiz.com

Dreams and Goals

How far away is a star?
Is a star truly unreachable?
I guess it depends on what you call a star. YOU are a star. Just as people define “success,” they define what is a star.

What is a dream?
Is a dream soley a state of abstraction… asleep or awake? Are dreams reveries? Are dreams wild fancies or hopes? Is a dream a longing for something usually unattainable? Simply an aspiration or desire? If you want them to be, they can. If you want them to be more than that, they can be that too.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

www.DOCintheBiz.com

What are the Therapeutic Effects of Music?

Music is incredibly powerful in so many ways!

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

Should Children Under a Certain Age be Diagnosed or Labeled With a Mental Illness?

In asking the question: “Should Children Under a Certain Age be Diagnosed or Labeled With a Mental Illness?” one is asking a question that has been under debate by expert doctors around the country, or world for that matter, for years.

In my research as a professional, it has not been determined whether or not children under 3 years old can be clinically diagnosed with depression, an anxiety disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, or bipolar disorder, just to name a few childhood disorders. However, let it be clear that the majority of professionals would probably refute the notion that a child under pre-school or early elementary school age, should be diagnosed, classified or labeled. I am in that majority.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

www.DOCintheBiz.com

The Difficulties of Finding a Medication that Works for You

I had a comment from a reader who truly couldn’t understand my comment, “THE KEY IS TO NEVER GIVE UP!” And I never mind a challenge and the questioning as to what I mean by what I write in my articles. In fact, I welcome questions, comments, and/or concerns. I was referring to the testing out and trying of different medications until you find that right one that works for you, makes you feel whole and functional, and gives you the quality of life that you want and deserve!

At the same time, I completely understand doubting this process and almost feeling like a guinea pig trying all these medications and finding yourself nowhere except sick sick sick as you experience the side effects! This is not always how it works though!

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

How Do I Know What Medication is Best for my Mental/Emotional Disorder?

Many of my readers have asked me this question. I wish there could be one proven effective and safe treatment, or even cure, for those who suffer with mental/emotional disorders.

Firstly, I want to make it clear that I am a doctor of psychotherapy and not an MD, so I can only talk from my knowledge and education about medication here in this public forum as well as privately. Prescribing medication over the Internet is not suggested for anyone. I can discuss my strong familiarity and understanding with all the different clients I have worked with and about their experiences with different medications.

I DO understand many of the difficulties and successes associated with different psychotropic medications. Let me share what I DO know:

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D. LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

Diagnosing, Stereotyping, and Minimizing Stigmas of Mental/Emotional Disorders

When describing a certain disorder, I am usually describing it in a textbook fashion (from the DSM) so that lay people and the loved ones of those who have the disorder can understand. I never say that anything is “black and white”, but to the contrary, that everyone is different.

ALL symptoms of ANY disorder are always unique. Not everyone has the same symptoms or behaviors that are described in the latest and greatest DSM. For example,

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

Deeper Insight into the Act of Crying. I have read and heard many comments to my past article entitled “Is Crying a Sign of Weakness?” and I felt compelled to answer here in a new article. I have written a deeper perspective of crying, what it can do for us, when not to be manipulated by it, and when to take it seriously.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

Is crying a sign of weakness? I don’t believe so. In fact, crying could very well be the opposite. What does crying do for us? I know personally, that when I cry, it releases my stress level immensely. Hey, this is better than throwing, punching, or even worse, right? As women, we do not have to deal as much with the negative social stigma of crying that society has put onto men, but I hope this will fade in time. Because men release their stress levels often in more outwardly aggressive ways, if the social stigma were not pasted onto men about crying, do you think there would be more peace in our world? Maybe. Maybe not.

Is crying is a sign of weakness? I think it is more a sign of strength, courage and even wisdom as I know that my stress level will decrease after those tears are out. And finding ways to release our stress is one of the best things that we can do for ourselves and our overall mental/emotional/physical health. I rarely hear of someone saying they feel more stressed or upset after crying. Unless, they are referring to the bags under their eyes afterwards.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), its Stigma, and is it Treatable?  Many people have written in to me concerning personality disorders, the harsh stigmas that plague them not only by lay people, but professionals as well, and whether or not there is any kind of treatment for these disorders. I’ve realized that lay people, family members of those diagnosed with the disorder(s) as well as the actual person who has the disorder have many questions about what is going with them or their loved one. I understand these concerns completely. Afterall, how can one with this type of disorder have any hope of treatment if others, including professionals haven’t any hope themselves?

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

I was speaking to a man online the other day who was asking me all kinds of questions about how to manage his depression. This was in a public forum. I asked him if he was receiving professional help and he told me, “No, I will manage it on my own. I don’t want to pay for it.” This immediately made me begin to write an article to answer the question: Why should you pay for Counseling or therapy?

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

Is there a social stigma associated with the words psychotherapy, therapy, and counseling?  I believe the answer is an irrefutable YES!! Why? Well, dating back many years in history, people with mental or emotional disorders were seen as “crazies”, “lunatics”, or “psychopaths”. They were cast aside, ridiculed, and even sent away out of their communities. Quite barbaric if you ask me, but people didn’t know how to deal with anything out of the ordinary and so the fear that went along with that line of thinking, made people reject and scorn those with emotional issues.

Times have definitely changed, however, and we should be happy we live in an era where mental illness still has its stigma, but nothing like years past. There still seems to be, however, an indignity against the words psychotherapy, therapy, and counseling, but I think the word “psychotherapy” in particular scares people in a serious way.

Let’s try to break down what the word “psychotherapy” means.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC
www.DOCintheBiz.com

What is the best way for a Therapist to help a client in need? Well, every therapist or “helper” has their own epistomology (way of thinking) of what is best for their clients. Many therapists have their specific models from which they work and don’t divert from their models, while others are more eclectic in their thinking and change their “plan of action” to meet the needs of each and every individual client that comes their way. I happen to be of the latter group of clinical, licensed psychotherapists.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

Attitude, Success, and the Things That Hold Us Back

I consider part of what I do as being a life coach. I work with changing attitudes, thought patterns, self talk, etc., to help people reach goals they never thought they could attain. However, there are both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that get in the way sometimes that are indeed OUT of a person’s control when trying to reach a goal.

The debate will remain on-going whether or not intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors can get in the way, but to add to this debate is not the purpose of this article. The purpose is to discuss what holds us back from success.

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by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

Are there such things as true brain chemical imbalances?  Someone commented on a former article I wrote and respectfully questioned brain chemical imbalances. I appreciated and also respected the question so much and had so much to say on the subject, that it inspired me to write an article.

He asked, “The mind and body are so intrinsically linked that I’m not sure how we can tell which comes first. In other words, could the chemical imbalance actually be caused by some deep unconscious negative thought patterns? Or are the behaviors associated with issues such as bi-polar, depression, etc. inevitable because of the physical/chemical changes taking place first?”

GREAT QUESTION and here is my take:

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