By Sue Shealy, MSW, ACSW, DCSW Introduction When the dying process moved from the home into hospitals and other institutions, Americans may have lost much of what earlier generations knew about the care of the dying and how to deal with loss and the process of...
Mind & Spirit
Your Options in Stress Management
By Franklyn Okoye, DSW What Is Stress? How Can I Eliminate Stress from My Life? How Can I Tell What Is Optimal Stess for Me? How Can I Manage Stress Better? What Is Stress? Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our...
Grief and Loss: What you need to know
Be patient. It can take months, even years to fully process your grief after losing a loved one.
Five Myths About Grief
The Myth We only grieve death. People should leave grief at home. We grieve in slow predictable pattern. Grieving means letting go of the person who died. Grief finally ends. The Reality We grieve all losses. We cannot control where we grieve or what will trigger our...
The ABCs of Stress
By Bette J. Freedson, LCSW, LICSW What Makes Situations Stressful? Stress is a normal part of life. It can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry or anxious. And what is stressful to one person is not necessarily stressful to another....
About Stress Management
Introduction What Is Stress? Impact of Stress on the Body Self-Help Strategies Keeping Diaries and Journals Introduction As you wait impatiently in the crowded supermarket check out line after work, your daughter calls on your cell phone, announcing that she...
About Obsessions and Compulsions
Introduction Suppose I Suspect I Have OCD? What Is OCD? How Is It Treated? How Pervasive is OCD? Can a Child Have OCD? Do I Have OCD, or Just High Standards? How Is a Child's OCD Treated? Introduction How many times have you walked out of the house only to...
Treating Co-Dependency
By Carol Juergensen Sheets, MSW, ACSW Introduction Are you a person who needs the validation of others to feel good about yourself? Are you so preoccupied with others that your own sense of self depends on how your children, husband, or wife is doing? If so,...
Eating Disorders: Overview and Trends
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness—20 percent of affected individuals without treatment. The mortality rate drops to 2 to 3 percent with treatment. One percent of females between the ages of 10 and 20 have anorexia nervosa and 2 to...
Anxiety in America
Nearly 20 million Americans (1 in 9) are affected by anxiety, which is the most common mental health problem in the United States. Statistics show that: At some time in their lives, nearly one-quarter of the American population will have an anxiety disorder. Women are...
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Recent Articles
Weight Bullying: Body Image Q&A
By Judith Matz, MSW, LCSW You have been a social worker and psychotherapist specializing in body image for many years. Does the public reaction to the incident involving news anchorwoman Jennifer Livingston who received a negative e-mail from a viewer surprise you? ...
ADD vs. ADHD: What’s the difference?
Q&A with William Shryer, MSW, LCSW What's the difference between Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ? The difference between the two has to do with the behaviors a child may exhibit. For example, boys are more...
Teaching Kids Conflict Resolution
By Bette J. Freedson, LCSW, LICSW You can teach your kids that conflict is normal and that handling conflict effectively does not mean you will always get your way. Teaching kids about compromise is a big part of these lessons. Basic Strategies of Conflict Resolution...