By Allison L. Cassidy, MSW, LCSW, and Richard S. Kingsley, MD Rape is forced, unwanted sexual intercourse. Rape is sometimes also called sexual assault. Both men and women of any age can be raped. Rape is about power, not sex. A rapist uses force or violence (or the...
Mind & Spirit
Dealing Effectively With Grief
By Simona Seiderman, MSW, LMSW, DCSW Introduction Phase I: Shock, Alarm, and Denial Phase II: Acute Grief Phase III: Integration of the Loss and Grief What You Can Do to Take an Active Part in Working Through Grief Introduction Grief is a process that...
Obsessions and Compulsions: What you need to know
Often people with obsessions will try to reduce or suppress their obsessions by acting out certain rituals, or specific ways of doing things.
When The Mirror Lies: Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder
By Scott M. Granet, LCSW Introduction Case Example Prevalence Indications of Body Dysmorphic Disorder Considerations for Treatment Conclusion Introduction Putting on make-up. Looking in the mirror. Brushing teeth. Combing hair. Billions of people worldwide...
How Social Workers Help with OCD
By William Shryer, MSW, LCSW Introduction Clearly one of the most misunderstood disorders in the field of neuroscience is the diagnosis of "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder." It occurs from early childhood all the way throughout the life span. Diagnosis It is...
Psychiatric Advance Directives: Empowering People With Serious Mental Illnesses
A Psychiatric Advance Directive or PAD is a tool that can help people experiencing a crisis have more control over their care .
Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia Tip Sheet
Introduction Dressing Communication Eating Bathing Introduction Thousands of social workers in the United States who help individuals with Alzheimer's disease or dementia and their families every day in many different settings. Below are tips for anyone who is...
Panic Attack and Agoraphobia
By Jerilyn Ross, MA, LICSW Panic Attack A panic attack is defined as the abrupt onset of an episode of intense fear or discomfort, which peaks in approximately 10 minutes, and includes at least four of the following symptoms: A feeling of imminent danger or...
Does Your Teen Need Counseling?
By Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW Introduction Counseling teens can be tricky business. Often when social workers receives a call for help to counsel a teen it is from from an exasperated parent who no longer can tolerate the behaviour of their son or daughter. The teen is...
Guided Imagery: What it is and how to use it
By Belleruth Naparstek, MSW Guided imagery is a gentle but powerful technique that focuses and directs the imagination. It can be just as simple as an athlete's 10-second reverie, just before leaping off the diving board, imagining how a perfect dive feels when...
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Recent Articles
How to Help Your Child Develop Empathy
By Bette J. Freedson, LCSW, LICSW Wouldn’t it be simple if you could just say to your kids, “Now look you guys, be empathetic!” The blank looks you would get would be enough to let you know that a different starting point might be more effective. How you go about...
Conversion “Therapy” is a Harmful Practice
Q&A with Michael Ian Rothenberg, PhD, LCSW Dr. Rothenberg, as a psychotherapist, you have counseled many LBGT clients but you do not offer reparative therapy? What are your objections to it? As a social worker and a psychotherapist I have, first and foremost, a...
Disaster Relief After Hurricane Sandy: How Social Workers Helped
John D. Weaver, LCSW, BCD, ACSW is a founding partner of Eye of the Storm, a Nazareth, Penn., company that provides private mental health consultation and training services. The firm specializes in disaster mental health, crisis intervention, and risk management...