autism

Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder with persistent deficits in social communication and interactions across multiple contexts. It includes several hallmark symptoms such as verbal delays or complete lack of spoken language, difficulty communicating non-verbally and impairment in social-emotional recipricity, and inability to use multiple social behaviors such as eye contact, facial expression and associated gestures. Additionally, autistic children often fail to develop peer relationships, lack social interest and don't seek to share enjoyment with others. They often develop restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, such as fixated interests, insistence on sameness, and stereotyped motor movements.

Understanding the culture of autism is key to helping these children develop sensory tolerance, especially in dealing with non-preferred input styles and stimulation. For example, knowing a child's preference for processing visual information as compared with auditory and language processing helps parents and therapists develop individualized treatment plans that are structured to meet the needs of each child. Also, understanding that autistic children focus on details, but have difficulty combining ideas and understanding how those details fit together helps parents and teachers organize a structured environment which minimizes distractions and interference. Helping these children shift attention and make smooth transitions between tasks is one of the challenges to therapy, but also serves as a crucial tool for sustaining attention and developing tolerance for non-preferred activities. Incorporating the use of visual supports to help sequence daily activities and simplify individual tasks allows for greater focus and control over distractions in the environment.

To learn more, have a look at these resources:

http://autismnavigator.com/
https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/video-glossary/

adhd

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is characterized by symptoms of inattention, lack of focus, difficulty following through on tasks, forgetfulness, and problems with organization skills. Additionally, children with ADHD have difficulty sitting still, frequently fidget and move around, talk excessively and interrupt others, and have a hard time waiting their turn or following rules of social engagement. These symptoms persist for at least six months and negatively impact performance at school, home, and in social situations. In addition to interfering with social, academic, and occupational performance, these symptoms are present in two or more different settings and prior to age 12.

Fortunately, there are several treatment strategies that research has proven to be effective for people suffering from ADHD. If left untreated, the symptoms of ADHD can be difficult to overcome and often debilitating when faced with tasks requiring organization, focus, and follow-through. Many children (and adults) with symptoms of ADHD find it very hard to pay attention and remember things, making it hard to complete tasks and interact effectively with others. A combined treatment approach of medication management and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a great strategy for helping those affected to overcome obstacles and function effectively.

If ADHD is affecting your life or someone you love, feel free to contact Optimistic Counselling to arrange an appointment for evaluation and assessment.

Anxiety

Anxiety arises as a human response to environmental pressures or stress. It can take many forms, but most often appears as persistent worries, fears, doubts or negative thoughts about our ability to handle work or obligations in our lives. Additional symptoms of anxiety include restlessness and irritability, feeling keyed up or on edge, difficulty concentrating and lack of focus, sleep problems, muscle tension, and being easily fatigued or exhausted.

While a moderate level of anxiety can actually help motivate certain people to accomplish tasks and maintain goal-directed behaviors, excessive anxiety can become debilitating and interfere with our daily functioning. Large amounts of anxiety that build up within us and go untreated can develop into more serious problems such as social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, separation anxiety and panic disorder.   

Many evidence-based treatments for anxiety are available. Some of these strategies include slow breathing, muscle relaxation exercises, and channeling negative emotions in a more positive direction. By identifying anxiety as it arises, and dealing with it appropriately, one can minimize the negative impact of anxiety and lead a more fulfilling life.

DEPRESSION

Depression is something that affects us all in varying degrees, especially during times of stress or grief. What we do to address these feelings of sadness and despair is paramount to the outcome of our emotional state of mind. Utilizing both cognitive and emotional training, we can strengthen our minds to become adept at dealing with a plethora of adverse events and negative mood states.

The cycle of depression begins with sad mood, followed by listlessness and inactivity, which in turn leads to further sadness and dread. Therefore, increasing both physical and mental activity often helps to disrupt the downward cycle. Additionally, examining false beliefs and challenging irrational thoughts are ways to reduce negative thinking. Since we are a direct product of our thoughts, and thoughts influence our mood states, then it follows that changing our thoughts to the more positive will uplift our mood state. This can be done through conscious effort and practice.

Through a combined program of cognitive-behavioral and existential training, it is possible to develop more control over states of emotion. By developing new abilities to manage sadness we boost our coping skills repertoire, enabling us to overcome feelings of grief and distress. Different strategies can be employed for different situations, and the cognitive toolbox unfolds...

Stress

Stress can arise from many sources. External pressures related to work, financial obligations, relationship challenges, trauma, and major life changes can all increase levels of stress. Furthermore, internal triggers such as negative self-talk, pessimism, procrastination, indecisiveness, fatigue, and lack of motivation can make stressors in our lives overwhelming.

Stress is a normal part of life, and at times serves a useful purpose to motivate us in accomplishing tasks. Nonetheless, prolonged, excessive levels of stress have been linked to a variety of health ailments such as depression, anxiety, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cardiac arrest. Thus, proper management of stress through effective coping techniques is crucial for positive well-being.

A number of learned techniques are effective in reducing stress. Relaxation techniques, for example, help calm the mind and refocus on positive coping strategies. Cognitive behavioral therapy incorporates techniques such as disputing and challenging negative self-talk and reframing thoughts toward more realistic and logical expectations. Finally, exercise and a healthy diet also help mitigate the pressures of stress and fatigue. Everyone experiences stress from day to day. However, how one copes with and reduces stress is key to achieving positive results.     

PTSD

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can affect a person who has witnessed violence or abuse, or has been subjected to the same. Symptoms of PTSD can arise from a single event, or over prolonged exposure to traumatic situations or experiences. These symptoms occur over four distinct clusters and can vary from day to day and across situations. Stimuli in the environment can also trigger symptom expression and intensity. Intrusion Symptoms include memories, dreams, thoughts and even physical reenactments of the traumatic event. Avoidance Symptoms involve avoiding all people, places and things that might remind them of the trauma. Cognitive Alterations refers to loss of memory, irrational negative beliefs, mood changes, and dissociation. Finally, the fourth domain, Arousal and Reactivity is perhaps the most devastating for sufferers and loved ones alike. Arousal symptoms may include angry outbursts, violent actions, reckless behavior, and general over-reactivity to situations.

The good news is that PTSD is treatable, and in many cases people have made great gains in reducing symptom severity and frequency. Yet few research-based programs are being implemented in the areas that need it most. Many populations in developing nations who have experiences with trauma are either neglected of treatment altogether, or have been offered help by someone untrained or inexperienced. In my clinical experience I have seen a wide variety of symptom presentations that ebb and flow within each person across different situations. Depending on one’s mood, symptoms of grief from trauma can range from tense alertness to complete detachment from reality. A person may feel overly alert and vigilant in one situation, or numb and virtually non-responsive the next.

Treatment for PTSD and trauma-related grief begins with a supportive, respectful, and trusting relationship where a client can confess to the therapist their most painful memories and experiences in confidence, knowing that they will be supported and understood--truly validated. The process of working through the trauma can be painful at times, but ultimately necessary to help break down the physiological associations which form in our brains during times of severe stress and danger. When these mental associations to physical symptoms are separated, it allows a person to feel more "themself" again, and helps free them from re-experiencing the trauma.

For further reading on PTSD and treatment have a look at Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman, and Achilles in Vietnam by Jonathan Shay.

Couples counselling

Relationships are difficult, and when lines of communication are closed it can be extremely challenging just to get one’s point across. Try as we might, our partner remains obstinate against compromise. Family members’ best ideas and intentions are attempted, without success. The crucial links that have always brought you back together again, love and trust, are gone. Any attempt at trying to negotiate a compromise seems to fall on deaf ears. Does this sound familiar?

In his book on couples therapy, Dr. John Gottman writes about the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”, four communication styles that predict relationship failure. These, in no particular order, are criticism (verbally attacking your partner’s personality or character to make them wrong); contempt (attacking your partner’s sense of self, intending to insult or hurt them); defensiveness (seeing yourself as the victim to ward off attacks and reverse blame); and stonewalling (withdrawing from the relationship to avoid more conflict and convey disapproval, i.e. silent treatment, one-word answers, walking away).

All four of these relationship styles cause damage to any relationship and make reconciliation even more difficult. Fortunately, there are better ways of communicating that can bring couples closer together and help repair damage that has been done over time. Listening to a hurt partner’s emotions, for example, can elicit feelings of empathy from the other and help the hurt partner feel validated and understood. As Dr. Gottman says, “To make a relationship last, couples must become better friends, learn to manage conflicts, and create better ways to support each other’s hopes and dreams.”

For more information on couples counselling, or to arrange an appointment for therapy sessions please contact us.