ADHD Consulting Training Program Article on the Debate of Medication in ADHD

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

A big issue with any mental problem is medication.  Medication while helpful can also produce numerous side effects.  It is always best if coping and counseling can help alleviate an issue.  This is not always the case so the question of when and what is always central.  ADHD also comes into play with various medications to help alleviate the symptoms.  The big question is if medication is best for a particular individual or not.

Is medication always the best answer for ADHD? Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Training Program and see if it meets your professional goals

 

The article, “The ADHD debate: To medicate or not to medicate, that is the question” by Dr Hanli Ratenbauch explores this debate in greater detail.  The article states,

“The debate on whether or not to medicate is a difficult one. Parents are concerned about the consequences if you don’t medicate before your child reaches adulthood.  Of the 5-9% of children diagnosed with ADHD, 70% of people carry it into adolescence and 50% into adulthood. As we age, the hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour decreases, but the non-core issues relating to peer relationships, self esteem, family function and social skills can remain negatively impacted.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Training Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals

 

ADHD Consulting Training Program Article on ADHD in Both Children and Adults

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

ADHD affects adults and children differently.  It is important to know the symptoms for your child or even yourself.  The subtle differences manifest in different ways for adults and children.

ADHD’s symptoms manifest differently in adults and children. Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Training Program

 

The article, “Psychologist explains how ADHD affects adults, children differently” by Lisa Davidson reviews how these differences manifest.  She states,

“Childhood symptoms may have gone undiagnosed or written off as ‘just being a kid,’ as there is developmental truth to that,” Waters said. “However, if the symptoms persist, increasing concerns about how they interfere with daily life and relationships will be noticed.” Adults with ADHD can suffer in a slightly different way. “Symptoms include a variety of behaviors including procrastination, difficulty sustaining attention, lack of organization, lack of motivation,” Waters said.”

Relationships are affected in different ways for those suffering from ADHD.  Performance and interaction are common denominators that translate differently from school to work from parents to spouses.  To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Training Program.  The program helps behavioral health and healthcare professionals learn the necessary knowledge and skills to help both children and adults.

 

EFT Certification Article on Tapping and Stress

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

EFT has been touted as a way to help alleviate many disorders.  Included in this, are ways EFT can help with stress, sleep disorders and weight loss.  Individuals can remove negative energy through the technique of tapping and open energy outlets, similar to acupuncture, to help individuals.

EFT can help alleviate stress and even help with lack of sleep. It helps remove negative energy. Please also review AIHCP’s EFT Certification Program

Please also review AIHCP’s EFT Certification Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

 

How has COVID-19 changed the grieving process

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Woman in mourning arranging flowers and candles on the gravestoneWritten By Miranda Booher

Many people have lost their lives to this pandemic which leaves behind many loved ones to mourn. These people who have died from COVID-19, often do so under sad and isolated circumstances.

How has COVID-19 changed the way people grieve the death of loved ones? Keep reading to learn what COVID-19 means for the grieving process and how technology is adapting to the changes.

Losing a loved one in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

Visitors to all hospitals and healthcare facilities have been greatly restricted due to COVID-19 in accordance with the recommendations that were set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

As such, since the start of this pandemic, people who end up dying in the hospital often find themselves dying alone. They tell their loved ones final goodbyes on the cellphones of busy nurses who barely have the time to be in the patients’ room making the phone calls possible. One nurse name Heather who works in the emergency room of a community hospital in Northwest, Ohio said:

¨I am helping patients in the emergency room talk to their loved ones on Facetime to tell them their goodbyes. It’s drastically different from how it worked pre-COVID-19. The worst part to me is that we are actually seeing very few cases of COVID-19 in the hospital setting, but they are taking extra precautions, which has prohibited guests of any kind from visiting. I fear that the mental health effects of the lockdown will be worst than those of the actual disease itself.¨

Every hospital and healthcare facility will vary a bit when it comes to the exact policies regarding visitation. However, it’s pretty universally accepted that if the patient is positive for COVID-19, then they are allowed to have no visitors at all. It’s also the case in vast the majority of hospitals that visitors of any kind are restricted or only allowed to visit in specific circumstances.

It’s hard not being able to say your goodbyes in person

A lot of people find solace and closure in the final conversations they are able to have with a loved one right before they die. The distancing and isolation circumstances, whether that is at home or hospital, make it harder for people to get that same kind of closure when their loved one is dying.

Nurses and doctors are the ones who hold the hands of strangers as they conduct virtual meetings with the family and friends of dying patients who are not able to visit their loved ones in person. Clinicians who are suddenly thrusted into these positions are left to carry burdens of stress and sadness, even though they may not have any training in grief counseling.

Healthcare professionals who are adequately trained in end-of-life care, such as hospice and palliative care teams, are feeling overstretched beyond their capacity at the moment because of the rising need. The shortage is compounded by the fact that hospice nurses are already in short supply, as it takes a special kind of person to work in this field of nursing.

Loved ones actually begin the grieving process by being present with the person who they know is going to soon die. Many people use this time period to resolve any issues or messy emotions, such as feelings of denial and guilt, which are common. People who have been robbed of these quality moments before the end of life may feel a lack of closure.

Funeral bans make it hard to gather in tribute for the deceased

Funerals are also banned. Small gatherings are illegal in many states. For more information on the restrictions on small gatherings and funerals, you can see this list of coronavirus restrictions in every state from AARP.

The ban on gatherings and funerals means that many of the rituals associated with this level of the grieving process are being missed, such as:

  • Watching the casket be lowered into the ground
  • Holding a wake or sitting shiva
  • Having people visit your home and share memories about the departed

All of these therapeutic steps are being bypassed, and because of COVID-19, people need to learn new ways to mourn from home.

Creative technology solutions for social distance mourning

New ways of connecting with the community when a loved one dies are beginning to emerge as a result of the situation. Heart in Diamond is a company who allows people to send in some cremated ashes or hair from a loved one, and have it turned into a diamond. Creative memorials such as this help people who missed a funeral or other memorial pay tribute to their loved one.

We grieve together as we move into the future

All of us are grieving as we make it through this pandemic. Even those of us who have not and will not lose a friend or family member, we still experience the grief of losses. Whether it’s the loss of a job, the predictability of life day to day, or even the toilet paper, we grieve the life we once knew and hoped to live. We must be kind to ourselves and to others and recognize where these feelings of depression, rage, anxiety, and hopelessness are coming from.

There is no crystal ball that can show you how your journey with grief is going to be, but perhaps some of these new digital solutions can help us deal with death during COVID-19 and share memories in a new way

 

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s  Grief Counseling Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a Grief Counseling Program

Working From Home: Is It Possible For Healthcare Professionals? 

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

laptop with smart phone on wood tableWritten by Lucy Peters

More employees are working from home today than ever before — as many as 9.8 million Americans worked remotely in 2019 before the pandemic hit, Pew Research reveals. When it doesn’t compromise patient care, healthcare organizations can benefit from implementing work-from-home programs, which reduce staff burnout, improve care coordination, and boost patient revenue. Some healthcare roles can be successfully performed from home, however, healthcare organizations must take care to establish clear guidelines and provide the necessary equipment and technology.

Incorporating work-from-home programs

Telehealth is a relatively new service replacing in-person appointments; it allows healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat patients effectively via virtual appointments. Video chat software is all that’s required to facilitate telehealth. Physicians therefore only need to appear in-office for the most acute patients. Staff who support patients without dealing with them directly — in the fields of marketing, claims management, medical records management, and patient intake, for example — can also work from home efficiently. Healthcare organizations will generally find some tasks need to be performed in person while others more flexible can be done remotely. Most simply, this could mean sharing office spaces on set days to treat patients, while staff then work from home on the other days of the week.

Secure technology and HIPAA compliance

Remote workers must continue to be HIPAA compliant and protect the organization’s network, sensitive data, and electronic personal health information (ePHI). Workers who handle electronic health records will need to use VPNs (virtual private networks) to access them at home. Devices and apps should be encrypted and password protected (two-factor authentication provides maximum security). Additionally, any devices used to view ePHI should always have up-to-date security software installed. Cloud-based communication systems allow workers to collaborate remotely, however any systems used should be third-party certified for security standards (the HITRUST CSF certification is most widely used in the healthcare industry).

Injury and worker’s rights

Remote workers can still be prone to workplace injuries — slips, trips, and falls being some of the most common. Poor home-office setups can also increase risk of objects falling from shelves, burns from hot drinks, or ankle sprains from going up or down the stairs. In fact, healthcare organizations may ask employees to perform a risk evaluation of their home office space; this can be used to identify and eliminate potential issues that may cause injuries. Injuries sustained by remote workers are covered by workers’ compensation law as long as they occurred during completion of a work-related task during work hours. Healthcare professionals can strengthen their chances of receiving compensation if their employer specifically instructed them to work remotely and provided necessary equipment to perform their duties.

It’s possible for many healthcare professionals today to work from home while continuing to provide excellent patient care and service and adhere to industry regulations. Healthcare organizations should always provide workers with the equipment and technology needed to fulfil their roles safely and efficiently.

 

 

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Legal Nurse Consulting Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a Legal Nurse Consulting Program

Anger Management Certification Article on Teens and Anger

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Teens can have serious issues with anger.  It is a difficult time of change both physically and emotionally.   Anger needs to be controlled and parents need to be able to guide their teens through anger and emotion.

Helping children learn to control anger is key part of parenting. Please also review our Anger Management Training

Anger if not controlled can become a big issue for teens. It is also important to learn to control anger as they grow into young adults.  Please also review our Anger Management Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.

 

Hypnotherapy Certification Program on Hypnotherapy and Anxiety

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Hypnotherapy is an excellent way to treat anxiety.  Many individuals need to learn how to calm oneself and hypnosis is an excellent way to calm and teach one subconsciously to handle anxiety.  Anxiety can be a big problem for many and it can cripple many individuals.  Hypnotherapy can play a big role in helping people.

Hypnotherapy can play a large role in helping people with anxiety. Please also review our Hypnotherapy Training Program

 

The article, “How Hypnotherapy Eases Anxiety” from “healthessentials” of Cleveland Clinic looks at how hypnotherapy is an excellent way to help with anxiety.  The article states,

“There are a number of excellent treatments for anxiety but one that deserves a fresh, new look is hypnotherapy. While the presence of the word “hypnosis” may trigger skepticism in the minds of some potential patients, hypnotherapy is a safe, guided experience that involves intense concentration, and focused attention to gain insight regarding how past experiences, emotions and traumas play a large role in creating behavioral patterns.”

To read the entire article, please click here

With hypnotherapy as an alternative method to treat anxiety and becoming more mainstream, it is definitely an option for anxiety.  Please also review our Hypnotherapy Certification program and see if it meets your academic needs.

Meditation Instructor Program Article on Meditation and Sleep

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

With so many articles and so much information on meditation saturating the market, it is pretty much well known that meditation can help with almost anything.  Meditation then of no surprise can also help with better sleep habits.  Sleep is essential to good health and meditation can help one find better optimal health.

Lack of sleep can flood into our daily life. Meditation can help find better sleeping habits. Please also review our Meditation Instructor Program

 

The article, “A Guide to Sleep and Meditation” by Josh Hurst looks deeper into meditation and how it can help with sleep.  He states,

“While there are varying medications and traditional therapies available to treat this disorder, a natural remedy worth trying is meditation. Scientific studies have confirmed that the right meditation practices can be effective treatments for stress-induced insomnia. In this guide, we cover a few options.”

The article goes on to list numerous ways how meditation can help with sleep and how to find better sleeping habits.  To read the entire article, please click here

Sleep is so critical to good health and good overall daily performance in life.  Meditation and other alternative therapies can help one find the sleep they so desperately need.  Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

 

Grief Counseling Training Article on Depression and Physical Health

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Depression is a mental state but like so many mental states, it can affect our physical state as well.  The body and mind are tied together and stress, anxiety, and depression can negatively affect one’s overall health.  Depression has many negative side effects over time and it is important to understand how depression affects physical health and why it is important to get help.

Depression is a serious condition that not only affects the mental side of us but also the physical. Please also review our Grief Counseling Training program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals

 

The article, “Sick from Depression? It’s Not All in Your Head” by the health experts at Healthline discusses how depression can negatively affect the body.  The article states,

“Depression isn’t just in your head. It can affect your entire life, body and all. If you think you’re depressed just remember: You’re not alone. There are tons of resources that will help your mind and body feel better soon”

To read the entire article, please click here

Depression can play a dangerous role in one’s physical health in almost every system of our body.  It is important to remember that depression is a serious mental condition.  It does not mean you are weak or that it is all in your head.  It is important to treat depression as any other illness.  Your mental but also your physical well being depend on it

Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Training Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.

 

Grief Counseling Certification Article on Grief and the Pandemic

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

One of the most difficult challenge during the pandemic is helping the bereaved find the help they need.  Grief Counseling and other mental health aides became suddenly unavailable for many who needed the counseling and care.  The bereaved, those with mental illness, or substance abuse found themselves without the outside world and coping mechanisms.  Furthermore, those experiencing loss were left without the normal social norms to cope with grief.  Funerals were no longer public and many were left without the social support they needed to grieve a loss.  Others grieved the loss of normalcy in life.

The pandemic has prevented traditional ways of counseling the bereaved to be utilized.

 

The amount of loss during the pandemic from human life to simply losing a job cannot be underestimated.  Individuals grieved major losses but also minor losses.   Many felt ashamed to grieve the loss of simpler things when others lost jobs or even family  members.   Those who did lose loved ones were left without outlets to express their loss.  Many became disenfranchised with their losses.  Others became anxious in the uncertainty, lack of leadership, and unorganized response by government to the pandemic.  These anxieties also left many concerned and grieving.

In these uncertain times, things became available through other forms of connection.  Teleconferences with counselors became a new norm.  Telegrief services to help others manage their grief became extremely important and still are extremely important.  These services allow individuals to find validation in their grief when other social norms are not available.

With so much widespread grief, it was critical to be able to help isolated individuals and family units ways to express their losses, whether large or small, and telegrief and telecounseling became excellent ways to give isolated individuals the help they needed to express grief and find the help they needed.

This also opened new venues for grief counselors who may before had been tied to only one geographical location or area.  Grief Counselors can help individuals across the nation through skype or other online media services.  They can provide the professional grief counseling care needed to help individuals express their grief.   Those suffering from mental disorders or substance abuse issues are also able to find the much needed help they need from licensed professional counselors.

During the pandemic, many grievers are unable to find validation of their loss. They are left alone. Telegrief and the ability to contact individuals via skype or other forms of media have helped those experiencing loss find help

 

So while the pandemic created new problems for the grieving it also created new solutions and allowed technology to present answers to existing issues.

It is still important as the pandemic continues for those experiencing loss to seek help.  There are still thousands losing family members to COVID19.  They face situations where funeral arrangements become far more difficult to procure in public due to local restrictions.  Others are grieving loss of income and job or a standard of life they once enjoyed.  The simple loss of a dinner in public or the ability to go to the store without a mask is a hardship for many.   It is important not to degrade the small things during this collective loss.  It is important to acknowledge all losses and not to feel guilty over it.

Grief Counselors and licensed counselors can both help grievers through telegrief services find the help and guidance they need to confront these losses and move forward in the future recovery.  It is critical that noone is left behind in grief when the economy and public spheres become completely open again.   The only way for full recovery is to have mentally healthy individuals who can cope with the grief and the loss caused by the pandemic.

When helping those affected by COVID19, it is important for grief counselors to identify the loss and not marginalize it.  If it is not a smaller loss but a major loss, it is important for grief counselors to realize that collectively, the entire family may be dealing with the same loss and dealing with it in different ways.

Grief Counselors in school settings need to identify that many children are grieving the loss of a normal life.  Many are experiencing family losses,  change in qualify life at home due to parent’s job loss, as well as other ways of life.  It is important to try to validate children’s losses and allow them to express.  It is also important for families at home who face the losses to receive the education and information needed to cope.  This also has to be presented in a safe way that reduces the risk of transmission of the virus.  Many remote presentations may be needed in sharing information.

Whether children or adults, it is scary time.  Grief and loss and uncertainty tie the nation together in one anxious know. It is critical to help stabilize uncertain situations with solid plans that identify the issues, look for temporary solutions and promise eventual returns to normalcy.

The pandemic has forced behavioral healthcare providers as well as healthcare in general to look outside the box. Utilizing technology and applying good grief theory to the problems presented by the pandemic, grief counselors can help the grieving find the coping strategies, guidance and hope they need.

Even though the pandemic is still in its winter stages, there is a future. It is essential that grief counselors help the bereaved recover so society as a whole can recover. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification

 

If you would like to learn more about grief counseling training or would like to become a certified grief counselor, then please review The American Academy of Grief’s, Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.