Prolonged Grief Disorder is a complication in the grieving process that prevents the person from adjusting to the loss. It closely resembles depression but is slightly different and can cause as much mental and social turmoil in one’s life. Unlike depression, prolonged grief has a definite source.
Prolonged Grief disorder is a complication in the grief process. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
The article, “The pain of prolonged grief disorder” by Allison McCook looks at what Prolonged Grief Disorder entails and the conditions that must be met to be diagnosed with it. She states,
“Every human being will experience grief at some point in their lives — it’s a fundamental human experience. “I think it’s important to underscore that people are equipped to grieve, and for the most part people do it OK,” says Anthony Mancini, a psychological researcher at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York. But some mourners are not OK. When my mother died, I developed what’s known as prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a different sort of grief that psychologists are just beginning to acknowledge and understand. People with PGD — sometimes called “complicated grief” — aren’t just struggling to “get over it.” They have a defined disorder”
Complications in grief can occur and when they do, individuals sometimes need care and guidance from a licensed professional counselor.
Professional counselors can also become certified in Grief Counseling. AIHCP offers a four year certification in Grief Counseling for qualified professionals. The program is online and independent study.
Anxiety and depression can overlap but they by themselves are two independent different mental issues which can cause extreme distress. Anxiety is a alert state of stress when stressors are no longer present. Depression is an overlapping sadness that persists and exists usually without reason. Both can lead to mental states of distress and usually need treatment from a professional.
Anxiety and depression shares similar symptoms but are different. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program
The article, “Anxiety vs. depression: Similarities and differences” by Zia Sherrell looks closer at the differences between anxiety and depression. She states,
“Both conditions can also cause physical symptoms. For instance, a person with anxiety may present with chest pain or dizziness, and someone with depression may experience changes in their appetite or sleep patterns. Despite the similarities between anxiety and depression, it is crucial to understand the key differences to ensure the best treatment and management approach. Keep reading to learn about the key similarities and differences between anxiety and depression, including the symptoms, causes, and treatment methods.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program as well as AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification. Both programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking four year certifications. Please review and see if they meet your academic and professional goals.
Protecting one’s child and teen from drug abuse is a large concern in parenting. Drug abuse can not only harm one’s child academically but also potentially lead to premature death. With so many different type of substances and drugs available, parents need to educated and prepared to help their teens deal with the pressure and dangers of drugs.
It is important to help teach your teen how to stay drug free. Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Counseling Certification
The article, “10 tips to safeguard your teen against substance abuse” from High Way Mail lists ten things a parent can do to better protect teens. The article states,
“Teens need structure to stay safe. Setting clear rules about drugs and alcohol can help. You can’t guarantee that your rules won’t be broken but research shows that teens who have clear rules, even if they’re broken, are less likely to get into serious trouble than teens who don’t.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Substance Abuse Counseling.
Death and life are a cycle. Ironically, joy and grief also coincide with each other. The death of one loved one can be overlapped with the birth of another. Pets are also an overlap of death and life. Many individuals find new dogs or cats to love, while still grieving the loss of another. Many individuals feel they may be replacing a past dog or cat, but the reality is, one is loving another while never forgetting the other. It is like having multiple children. No child replaces another but only enhances one’s life.
For many the decision for a new puppy can be difficult. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Program
The article, “What I’ve Learned from Loving a New Dog While Grieving Another” by Annette McGivney looks at her journey of caring for a new dog, while still in the acute process of grieving the loss of another. She states,
“Last April and May, I tried to live without a dog and focus entirely on grieving Sunny, but I soon found myself looking at puppies online at two in the morning. One thing led to another, and in early June I drove to Pueblo, Colorado, to pick up Trudy after a rescue organization reached out to me. My contact there knew I was planning to wait at least a year before bringing another dog into my life, but she convinced me to go for it. “This dog really needs someone who is active and can spend a lot of time with her,” she said. “You would be perfect.” Trudy’s elderly owner lived alone and had dementia. He had kept her isolated in a cement dog run for her entire young life.”
The late comedian George Carlin once said, “life is a series of dogs”, For many pet owners this is true. It is not a series of replacements but a series of sharing life with new faces and one day hoping to see all those faces again together.
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Counseling Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.
Guilt is a necessary emotion. When anchored with a good conscience, it provokes truth and justice when wrong is committed. It prevents future wrong doing in some cases and helps guide the person to proper moral outcome. It is hence sometimes good to feel guilt. If one lacks guilt in appropriate circumstances, it is a sign of a deeper and more sinister moral flaw. Sociopaths are incapable of guilt and can commit the most grievous offenses without any sense of emotional wrong doing.
Victims can carry disproportionate grief. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Certification
For the more tender hearted and as well as those who experience trauma, guilt can sometimes become excessive and over play its reach. It can become a pathological agent that prevents proper healing. When guilt is not properly processed and understood according to reality, it can then continue to haunt a person and prevent emotional healing. Guilt must be processed. If due to trauma it becomes part of dissociative material, then it can linger. It needs to find resolution, where appropriate sorrow is displayed and a chance for change and growth occur. When guilt is stunted, either not accepted or over felt, then it can keep a person stuck in the past.
With trauma, guilt is usually not proportionate and a variety of distortions exist. These distortions continue to exist when individuals keep trauma to themselves and do not face it. This is why dialogue is so critical to healing. It allows the wound to bleed and also the opportunity to discuss falsehoods regarding the traumatic event hence allowing integration of the memory.
Most distortions create an imbalance of guilt. Either the person blames oneself 100 percent or finds no blame at all. Associated with this are usually feelings that one does not deserve to live or survivor guilt. In addition, many individuals feel the guilt is critical to show they still care and that they must punish themselves and repeat the pain. Multiple reasons incur this guilt. Many believe they are guilty because they were afraid, or found relief. Others find guilt in having to kill, making a mistake, finding enjoyment in the event, wanting to die, or expressing extreme hatred. Others find guilt in their actions in not being able to save others, not taking precautions, freezing under pressure, not stopping the abuse, or not saying “I love you” one last time.
Many things can haunt a person who experienced trauma. Depending on the trauma and event, they can differ, but they all carry a haunting voice that judges what one felt, did not feel, did, or did not do. Distortions to the event can amplify the sorrow the person experiences.
Dialogue is obvious the first step in unlocking guilt. Various cognitive therapies look to identify guilt and then properly ascertain legitimacy of it. This involves discussing with a therapist the event itself and verbalizing the details. The patient then must attribute the level of what they think was their fault in a numerical percentage. Following this, the therapist challenges the events and asks probing questions of who else may be at fault. The guilt is then re-assessed and a recalculation occurs in which proportionate percentages of guilt are discovered to be less. This process can be repeated weekly to illustrate to the victim and patient that the guilt attributed is far from fair.
Also, the therapist can help the victim distinguish between the emotion of concern versus guilt, as well as shame and guilt. Many equate these emotions with guilt. The sexual victim may equate shame with guilt. In doing so, one can then start to attack the various distortions of guilt.
It is also important to help the patient understand their decision under pressure. Normal decision making under peaceful situations are quite different than decisions under duress. Fight or flight mechanisms can erupt and many lose rationality. So it is good to point out that one does not think the same way under trauma as if not. A therapist can also help the patient look at the choices that were available, the time constraints, all the information at the time and the intent of the outcome.
Another important way to help one see the past is to have the person play the role of two. As if an advisor or friend, to respond to one’s own criticism. By separating oneself from the event, and counseling one as if a friend, one can then begin to see the overall picture. So many therapists recommend patients play a two role therapy of talking and then responding as two different individuals.
It is important to properly process guilt in trauma. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program
In addition, various rituals can help. Spiritual visualization of healing, as well as finding forgiveness through a higher power.
Through this, one is better able to properly rank their guilt and true proportionate role in the traumatic event. The person can then understand the situation, move on from it and process it. Through this, the victim can be better prepared for the future and understand the role he or she played.
Of course, various therapies help individuals with PTSD and trauma better recollect the situation and process any negative emotions. EFT, Rewind Techniques, TIR and EMOR are all way therapists can better help an individual relate to the emotions and events of a particular trauma. They can also help the person cognitively restructure the event appropriately to reality. Removing inappropriate guilt is obviously an important step.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Program, as well as Stress Management Program and Crisis Intervention Program. All programs are helpful in teaching professionals to guide others through trauma. The programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.
Sources:
“The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery and Growth” by Glenn Schiraldi, PhD
An important skill for children is meditation. Meditation and spiritual and emotional health are many times overlooked in parenting. It is important for parents to help their children develop spiritual skills with their faith and mental overall health.. Meditation is an excellent way to help develop a child’s faith but also as a way to deal with stress and anger in life. Whether the techniques are Eastern or Western, instilling in a child the ability to look inward is an important skill. The idea of meditation for children is gaining more and more acceptance also in schools where it can be utilized in a secular way to help calm and quiet children.
Children can benefit from meditation too. Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals
The article, “Meditation for Kids: The Basics and the Benefits ” by healthessentials from the Cleveland Clinic takes a look at the importance and basics of meditation for children. The article discusses the numerous benefits children can receive from meditation. It discusses the types of meditation that work best with children as well as proper ways to work with kids learning meditation. Also importantly, the article discusses how meditation can form bonds within the family. Overall, meditation carries enormous benefits for children. The article states,
“Kids can benefit from meditation at any age. However, it’s important to adjust the form based on how old they are. For instance, if you struggle to make it through a five-minute seated meditation session, don’t expect your little one to cruise through it.”
“Meditation for Kids”. March 25th, 2022. Healthessentials. Cleveland Clinic.
Meditation is a commonly used mental health intervention that has been shown to be effective in a variety of settings and for a variety of populations. Meditation is a mindfulness-based intervention that can be used to increase awareness of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. Research on meditation has shown that it can be an effective intervention for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. The health benefits of meditation have been well-documented. Meditation has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve symptoms of conditions like insomnia and chronic pain.
Meditation for Children
There are many benefits to meditation, especially for children. Meditation can help children focus and concentrate, while also teaching them how to control their emotions and impulses. Additionally, meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, and can promote a sense of calm and wellbeing. All of these benefits can help children in school and in their personal lives. Hence children who are struggling in school may benefit from meditation training at home or from another mental health professional.
There is a growing body of evidence indicating that meditation can have a number of benefits for students, including reducing stress and anxiety, improving focus and concentration, and increasing self-awareness and empathy. Given these potential benefits, it makes sense to incorporate meditation into the school day, either in the form of a brief class period devoted to mindfulness or as part of the curriculum in other subjects such as health or history.
There are many types of meditation for children. Some common ones include mindfulness meditation, concentration meditation, and visualization meditation.
Mindfulness meditation is a type of meditation where children focus on their breath and being present in the moment. This type of meditation can help children to become more aware of their thoughts and emotions. Concentration meditation is a type of meditation where children focus on a specific object or sound.
There is also growing body of research indicating that meditation can be an effective intervention for anxiety in children. Meditation involves the practice of mindfulness, or moment-to-moment awareness, which can help children to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings and better able to manage them. A number of studies have found that meditation can decrease anxiety levels and improve coping skills in children.
Finally, meditation can strengthen bonds with the family. When it comes to finding inner peace, many people turn to meditation. By focusing on the breath and letting go of thoughts, meditators can achieve a sense of calm. In addition to providing individuals with a sense of peace, meditation can also help improve relationships within families. By teaching family members how to meditate, they can learn how to better communicate and connect with one another.
Conclusion
In conclusion, meditation can be a very beneficial tool for children. It can help them to focus and concentrate in school, to control their emotions, and to deal with stress. The benefits of meditation for children are numerous. Meditation can help children to cope with stress, anxiety and depression. It can also improve their concentration, memory and sleep quality. Moreover, meditation can boost the immune system and help children to develop a positive outlook on life. There are many types of meditation that can be beneficial for children. With so many different ways to meditate, there is sure to be a method that is perfect for every child. Try out a few different types of meditation with your child and see which ones they enjoy the most. Meditation can help children to relax, focus, and feel more calm.
If you are interested in teaching your child how to meditate, there are many resources available to help you get started.
Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking to become a Meditation Instructor.
Additional Resources
“Mindfulness-Oriented Meditation for Primary School Children: Effects on Attention and Psychological Well-Being”. Cristiano Crescentini, et.al. Front. Psychol., 07 June 2016
Sec. Developmental Psychology. Access here
“Teaching Meditation to Children and Beginners” . Sumi Loundon. Insight Journal. Spring 2004. Access here
“The Basics of Meditation for Kids of Any Age”. Sarah Lindberg. September 29th, 2020. Healthline. Access here
“Science Shows Meditation Benefits Children’s Brains And Behavior”. Alice Walton. October 18th, 2016. Forbes. Access here
ADHD looks different in adults and may be difficult to spot, especially for individuals who have lived their whole life thinking their behavior is normal. It is important to discover if one has ADHD in order to improve one’s life style in every venue of life. This is especially true with work and relationships.
It is important to identify if you have adult ADHD. Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Program
The article, “ADHD looks different in adults. Here are 4 signs to watch for” by Tamara May looks closer at signs of ADHD in adults and what one can do. She states,
“Many people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may not receive a diagnosis until adulthood. Adult symptoms can look a little different to those of childhood. Knowing what to look for is important, so people can get support to help them better understand themselves and meet their full potential. People, including some clinicians, may not be aware of adult ADHD and how symptoms may change as a person develops and grows. We aim to change this through the development of an Australian ADHD guideline, which is based on evidence and now open for feedback.”
Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as an ADHD Consultant.
Prescription drug abuse is a chronic problem in the United States. Misuse and illegal transfer of prescriptions, especially pain pills and ADHD medications are a big problem for many people. Addiction, especially to opioids are on the rise and physicians are becoming more reluctant to prescribe addictive medications. There is hope to overcome this addiction but it involves determination and desire to move away from these types of drugs.
Prescription drugs when misused can cause serious addiction problems. Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Counseling Certification
The article, “How Prescription Drug Addiction Is Treated” by Michelle Brooten-Brooks looks closer at how these types of addictions are treated. She states,
“In 2020, 1.2 million people in the U.S. misused prescription pain relievers.1 Prescription drug addiction often starts with medically-prescribed needed use, such as following surgery or injury. Gradually, use becomes misuse, resulting in substance use disorder or addiction. When that occurs, prescription drug addiction treatment is necessary.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Substance Abuse Counseling.
Within Christianity, the belief that God created two sentient type of creatures, namely angels and humans is universal. By sentient, one infers that an individual is made in the image and likeness of God in that the individual or species has an intellect and will that can reason beyond physical problems but actually acknowledge the issue of existence itself. In this understanding of to exist or not to exist, sentience allows one to truly understand good and evil and to also contemplate a higher power.
This is far more than mere solving of puzzles as one can see in primates or dolphins, but realizing the very essence of “to be or not to be”. Despite the intelligence of many animals and emotional ranges, animals such as primates or dolphins do not write about existence itself. Animals merely exist. Abstract concepts of existence itself and the choice to adhere or not adhere to moral principles are of a higher cognitive level, which is referred to sentience. Sentience makes one made in the image and likeness of God. It gives one knowledge, choice, and self awareness. It is spiritual in nature, but many non sentient things can have spirit, but it is the spiritual qualities of humanity and the angels that make them separate from other creation.
Is one to conclude then that only angels and human beings are sentient? From observation, no other creature on Earth possesses the qualities of sentience. While many creatures on Earth display amazing intelligence, they do not illustrate sentience. As a Christian, is it then fair to say only human beings and angels are sentient?
While it has yet to be proven or at least acknowledged, the limitless nature of the universe ultimately has other life. Is some of this life sentient? One cannot answer but one cannot also limit God’s creative power to the creation of other sentient life forms. With the creation of other sentient life forms as a possibility, speculative theology looks at the role of Christ and His redemptive act coincides with other alien sentient beings.
The cosmos is so vast that we cannot limit God’s creation.
Once asked regarding what he would do if he met an alien, Pope Francis said he would offer baptism and the message of Christ. This point may very well be true, but the appearance of another sentient life form offers many challenges and questions to Christian theology. For some, aliens offer no crisis of faith to the Christian, while to others, it may very well make them doubt the universal importance of humanity in the cosmos and reduce the Christian faith to just a religion of a particular planet.
I would like to point out a few ideas that may reassure believing Christians that alien life is not necessarily detrimental to the message of Christ. In fact, Christian theology can exist side by with other sentient life.
First, humanity exists within a temporal and fallen sphere. Hence due to the sin of Adam, humanity fell from the grace of God and the protection of the Garden of Eden. Humanity was thrust into a world of suffering, death and loss. It is possible, that other sentient life has been created before and could be created after humanity. Would this sentient form of life be immune from the sin of Adam since they are not human? Angels and humanity were judged separately. So if sentient life does exist in the universe, it could very well be immune from the temporal fall. They very well may have “passed” their test. If not, did this form of sentient life also incur the sin of Adam or their “own sin”. In this case, one of two options emerge. First, Christ’s death was for all temporal existence, or Christ’s death was just for humanity, and the Trinity has other plans for the redemption of other fallen sentient beings.
Second, other sentient life forms will have a different form of revelation. Revelation via scripture is for humanity and through the special incarnation of the Son. Alien life may have a very different form of revelation. This does not mean it is a false creed, but a different form of revelation from the Trinity. It would be difficult to determine if the alien life adhered to a false creed or the universal creed found via the Trinity. It would take investigation. Aliens could also very well be atheistic. One merely needs to look at the variety of false “isms” on Earth. A larger collection of false “isms” could exist in other sentient cultures as well.
What do we make of alien encounters? Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification
Hence the existence of aliens does not harm the faith of a Christian, but in fact opens one to the potential larger plan of God. It again is only speculative but theologians should be prepared to try to re-evaluate Christianity under the lens of the possibility of alien life and how the faith would respond to such an event.
An important aspect to note. One philosophy which has many heretical aspects are the ancient alien theories when applied to Scripture. Assuming interventions and stories about God and angels were in actuality an alien encounter. When these stories in Scripture are interpreted by ancient alien theories to dismiss the supernatural and replace it with the paranormal, Christians must dismiss those notions. Did aliens appear in the past? It is possible, but such stories cannot be used to confuse God’s communication with humanity with paranormal speculation.
As for those who are faced with alien encounters, counseling, especially Christian Counseling must approach the individual carefully. The individual may be psychotic, on drugs, or not mentally well. This is why it is important to refer anyone with such encounters to a professional counselor who can better attest if someone is suffering from delusion or a true event.
In such events as well, Christian theology teaches the possibility of demonic influence under the guise of alien presence. Under such theories, the alien presence shares false ideas that weaken the faith, or push the faithful to doubt the importance of Christ. Obviously it is very difficult to ascertain what is occurring to the individual when paranormal or supernatural events occur and this is why it is important to refer an individual to appropriate mental health professionals.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling.
Hypnotherapy is emerging as a more common approach to helping individuals face trauma, phobias, bad habits and grief. It is a alternative type of treatment but nevertheless a very effective treatment for some in helping the mind heal. It is safe and can help many individuals suffering from a variety of mental issues.
Hypnosis has numerous benefits and is safe. Please also review AIHCP’s Clinical Hypnotherapy Certification
The article, “Is Hypnosis Therapy Real? Here’s How It Works” by Michelle Brooten-Brooks takes a closer look at the many things hypnotherapy can help someone with. She states,
“Psychotherapy helps people with mental health conditions improve their well-being, usually through methods like talk therapy. Hypnotherapy, also known as hypnosis therapy or clinical hypnosis, is the therapeutic use of hypnosis in psychotherapy with a trained mental health provider.1 Hypnosis is a state of trance-like consciousness that makes the mind more open to suggestion.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Hypnotherapy Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking to utilize clinical hypnotherapy in their practice.
