News from Collaborations COPING WITH TRAUMA Weekend Group for Adults (One group for women. One group for men.) Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your feelings of anger, loneliness or confusion? Are you constantly alone in your thoughts? Have you ever felt disconnected from others? Do you ever wish you had others who understood you? Then come and join others who feel the same way you do. Contact Laura O’Neal, LMHC 617-682-6666 HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ GROUP This group provides a safe place for high school girls to share their experiences with other teens. Please contact Kate Badertscher, LMHC (617) 538-3550 for more information. Date & time TBD Location: 275 Turnpike St, Canton, MA More information here. PARENTING FROM WITHIN Every feel like you don’t know how to parent anymore? This group is for you! Parenting has a way of making us lose ourselves. We focus on our children, on tasks, on expectations, on what others are thinking of us, on achieving, on being all things to all people; all at great personal expense. All of us have untapped wisdom that can help us be the parent that we want to be. Join us as we develop the competency and confidence to parent from within. We will focus on: • developing our sense of self by tapping our innate wisdom • understanding our own reactions/feelings to conflicts with our children and where they come from • how to manage our anger/frustration with better self- awareness • how to express emotions to our children in a healthy and direct way that can build compassion, respect and empathy When: Mondays (call for dates) Time: 6:00-7:30 Cost: $200 for 4 sessions For more information or to register contact: Joan Balaban, LICSW - Ph 781.575.1292 or Arunas Kuncaitis, Ed.D - Ph 781.828.2356 275 Turnpike Street, Canton, MA 02021 WOMEN’S GROUP - Women of all ages invited! · Navigate a life transition · Find new direction in life · Know yourself better · Gain insight into the success or failure in relationships · Or merely connect more meaningfully with others. Women are invited to join and support each other during the very personal challenges of life transition. Feeling uncertain and anxious about life after change or loss of a relationship, job, lifestyle or youth? Feeling connected with other women may give you the support and validation you need to get your feet on the ground again. The purpose of the group is for women to join each other when feeling the pull of an empty nest, exploring issues of intimacy, soul searching for the life work that would provide purpose and meaning. If you ponder, “what do I want to do for the next 20 years of my life, and with whom?” consider joining with others on the same mission and deliberately navigate your life toward the path you actively choose. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about the group, please call Susan Fornaro, LMHC, ATR at 508-272-6690. Susan Fornaro, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Registered Expressive Therapist FEAR OF FAT: MEN & BODY IMAGE DISTRESS by Dr. Daniels Steve (not his real name) met with me to discuss a problem with "self-esteem." This 26-year old man suffered from negative body image most of his adult life and an undiagnosed eating disorder for eight years. He was too emabarrassed to seek help and only admitted his symptoms after assurance that his body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are not just a "woman's problem". Actually, in the twenty-first century thousands of men are suffering from body image problems and eating disorders. Men and boys spend billions of dollars on muscle building supplements, steroids, and other products that claim to help them improve their appearance. Body dissatisfaction among boys and men is highly underreported because of the notion that “real men” don’t worry about their looks. According to research studies comparing men’s and women’s body image in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s, men are becoming almost as dissatisfied as women with appearance overall. In some categories more men than women report dissatisfaction. My male patients are both shocked and comforted when they learn of the national percentages of men who report that they smoke for weight control purposes, diet severely during the week in order to control their weight, and vomit for weight control. Indeed “Steve” is not alone in his struggle. The secretive eating and weight related rituals of some men are so well hidden that often family members, friends, and physicians are unaware of the problem. The various forms of body preoccupation and disordered eating behavior are part of what researchers have dubbed “The Adonis Complex.” The good news is that med struggling with these body image problems need not suffer in silence any longer. There are specific strategies available to help boys and men address their negative body image and the associated shame and low self-worth. For more information, please contact Dr. Daniels at 781-975-0390 or drelaynedaniels@verizon.net. INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS The IFS model of psychotherapy, developed by Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D., is collaborative, nonpathologizing, and enjoyable. People are viewed as having all the resources they need to lead open, productive lives, rather than as having a disease or deficit. People are seen as being constrained from using their innate strengths by problematic relationships within themselves and with the people around them. IFS is designed to help people heal their young wounded parts within, thereby releasing their resources. Following treatment, clients report feeling calm and confident, with far more compassion for themselves and others. For more information: http://www.selfleadership.org IFS therapists at Collaborations: Joan Balaban, Nancy Berkowitz, and Carol Garfinkle. EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING EMDR, developed by Francine Shapiro, is a treatment that allows painful memories to be processed so that clients can develop new insights, changes in memories and develop improved beliefs about themselves. After EMDR processing, clients generally report that the emotional distress related to the memory has been eliminated, or greatly decreased, and that they have gained new and positive ideas about themselves. To learn more about EMDR click here. EMDR therapists: Tanya Faynberg, Carol Garfinkle, Marie Andree Pierre-Victor, Sal Rizzo and Denise Sullivan. TREATMENT FOR TRAUMA Coping with terrorism is a national concern. Many clinicians at Collaborations in Clinical Care are experienced in dealing with trauma, stress and adjustment difficulties. Several clinicians are trained in EMDR, a treatment specifically designed to help people recover from traumatic experiences. For more information please call or review our Specialties Page or Providers Page. MARRIAGE LABS’ PEARL OF THE MONTH - Monthly relationship morsels of wisdom, free here.