Therapist Blog Challenge #10: Celebrate an Awareness Day

Let an awareness day or month inspire your next professional blog post.

Each year we celebrate a variety of awareness dates that highlight and bring attention to a variety of challenges that people face in the U.S. and across the world. October is National Depression, Mental Health Screening Month, and World Mental Health Day. These awareness dates can make for easy blog topics. Find an awareness date that matches the work and client you are passionate about and let it inspire your next blog article.

This post can be an excellent opportunity to educate your clientele. Find statistics from reputable sources to share with them regarding the particular topic you hope to bring awareness to. Post or share quizzes, assessments or symptom lists. Share events that are happening in your area that they might be interested in attending. Remember to post on or before the date you would like to highlight!

Here are some ongoing or upcoming dates for 2013:

October

• Depression & Mental Illness screening month
• ADHD Awareness Week (Oct. 13 to 19)
• OCD Awareness Week (Oct. 14 to 20)
• National Bullying Prevention Month

November

• Survivors of Suicide Day (Nov. 23)

December

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Dec. 3)

Lists of these awareness dates can easily be located online and happen during almost every month of the year. Dates include everything from Mental Health Month to things like Schizophrenia Awareness Week. So, what are you waiting for. Get blogging to raise awareness for a cause close to your heart.

This part is new! Once you've written your blog post, click the option below "click to view/add link" and to post it on the link party below!

Additional reminders about the 2013 blog challenge

• Write and post your blog article in the next 2 weeks. If you miss the deadline or you read this article months later, that’s OK too.
• Post a link for this blog challenge in the InLinkz widget above.
• Read, comment, and share other therapist’s articles.
• Tweet your post using hashtag #therapistblog and tag @julie_hanks so I can retweet it.
• Pin it on the challenge Pinterest Board. I’ve invited everyone who posted a comment on the initial blog challenge post as collaborators so you can pin onto the group board.
• Spread the word and invite mental health colleagues to join the challenge. Articles can be added anytime throughout the year.
• Write no more than 600 words, make it easy to read, use a conversational tone, and gear your articles toward your ideal client (not other professionals).
• The goal of a professional blog is to provide value to your website visitors, help them get to know your professional perspective, increase traffic to your private practice website, and build your practice.

Stop Trying So Hard To Be Happy

You may be surprised to learn that “moderation in all things” applies to moods, too. June Gruber, a professor of psychology at Yale University compares happiness to food. We need it, but too much of it can actually cause problems. While happiness is associated with many positives like a stronger immune response, longer life, and ability to endure painful experiences, it also has a "darker side".

Research suggests that happier may people tend to:

1) Engage in riskier behavior

Dr. June Gruber’s research suggests that too much happiness can lead to higher levels of risk-taking behavior, excess alcohol and drug use, binge eating. Negative emotions, like fear, have a protective value warning of dangers.

2) Drop out of school earlier & earn less money

People with the highest life satisfaction at young ages are reported to drop out of school earlier and later in life have lower income levels earning about $3500 less than those who reported less life satisfaction in early ages according to research by Dr. Edward Diener.

3) Make snap judgments that reflect stereotyping

Dr. Galen Bodenhausen’s research in 1994 simulated a student court -  half the students were told to think about mundane activities from the previous day and the other half were put in a positive mood. The ones in a positive mood easily convicted Juan who beat up John while the others were divided.

4) Be more easily deceived

People want a happy jury of happy people are easier to deceive, can’t detect lies as easy and can’t tell a thief from an honest person as suggested by Dr. Joe Forgas’ research.

5) Act more selfish

Dr. Joe Forgas’ research found that when asked to divide raffle tickets, happier people keep more for themselves while sad people tend to divide tickets evenly.

Instead of focusing on trying so hard to feel happy try these strategies:

1) Focus on developing high quality relationships

2) Engaging in meaningful activities that bring joy

3) Accept that negative emotions have their place

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson discovered that at a ratio of at least 3 to 1 positive to negative emotions is where people flourish and thrive in life and relationships.

World Mental Health Day: I've Never Met A Shrink Who Didn't Need One

My grandpa used to say, "I never met a shrink who didn't need one," as if that was a valid reason for not seeking help for mental health problems. After being a therapist for nearly two decades, I totally agree with my Grandpa.

Therapists are an interesting and colorful bunch and we definitely have our own share of mental health problems. I'd take grandpa's phrase even farther by saying I've never met a person who didn't need a shrink. We can all benefit from examining our experiences and getting an outside perspective from a mental health professional during difficult times.

The most effective therapists I've worked with, as a colleague and as a client, are those who've already worked through some of their own mental health and relationship struggles with a therapist, have a handle on their own pain and vulnerability, understand their family relationship patterns, and are comfortable walking with others through their pain. Not only is working through issues with your own therapist good for your own mental health and personal relationships, it's also good for your therapy practice.

Here are 5 Reasons Your Own Therapy Is Good For Your Practice:

1- Increased empathy for and effectiveness with clients

Being willing to be "the client" in therapy is a gift to your own clients. Just like it's impossible to be a trail guide on a mountain you've never climbed, it's impossible to take a client into emotional terrain you've never traveled before. As we sit with clients in their painful crises, we are better able to "go there" with them in the therapy process if we can access of our own experiences.

2- Awareness of countertransference keep clients engaged in therapy

After training and managing therapists for several years, I've noticed that those who've done their own work in therapy have a better handle on countertransference issues that arise with their clients, they are less overwhelmed by the feelings, and they are more willing to process their own emotions in supervision. Therapists who have done their own therapeutic work  are better able to keep clients engaged in meaningful therapy, which is crucial to success in private practice.

3- Feel deserving of success and financial compensation

Therapist's I've supervised or consulted with who have difficulty collecting fees, setting boundaries, or allowing themselves to be successful in their practice are usually plagued by unresolved issues from their past. Working through your own childhood wounds, past trauma, or family of origin issues can free you to create and to embrace your own success in private practice.

4- Healthy boundaries with client's and colleagues

Therapists who've done their own work are less likely to enact their unresolved issues with colleagues and clients. They are also able to set and maintain appropriate boundaries with clients with out guilt. For example, if a therapist is still stuck in trying to please a parent, it may be extremely difficult for a therapist to tell a client that they don't have any evening appointments available because they may want to avoid dealing the client's disappointment.

5- Create a meaningful practice and avoid burnout

Your own work in therapy allows you to be a healthier individual and create a thriving therapy practice. Unresolved and untreated mental health issues will block your success. Your business will likely mirror the places you're stuck personally.  Doing your own therapy work will allow you to feel empowered to work with clients that energize you, work from an abundance mindset, and feel worthy of professional success.

How has your own work in therapy impacted your private practice?

Read my World Mental Health Day blog post on JulieHanks.com "Do your emotional family history"