27 July 2017

Positive Psychology for Daily Life


I'm offering for the first time with the College of the Rockies Positive Psychology for Daily Life.

It is a three hour crash-course in Positive Psychology.

Course Description
Why do you always try to “fix” what’s wrong or weak? Focusing on the positive attributes is not what we tend to do. If you condition yourself to focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses and positives instead of the negatives you can start improving your positive psychology. Learn how to incorporate five ingredients of well-being on a daily basis: positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaning, and accomplishment.

UPCOMING COURSES
September 27, 2017 at College of the Rockies Cranbrook Campus
November 25, 2017 at College of the Rockies Cranbrook Campus

26 July 2017

According to science, this is when we peak in different skills and attributes

This is a chart that is just fun to look at and create discussion. The data isn't necessarily accurate as it isn't done by samples, rather by users and submissions - so not really science. Nonetheless, read away.
Article here. Original "studies" here.

22 July 2017

How to spot a good therapist


From Psychology Today, they listed 10 ways to spot a good psychotherapist regardless of therapeutic approach.

Here is a snap shot of the ten items.

  1. Good therapy is not friendship
  2. Good therapy is evidence based
  3. Good therapy affirms the clients basic human dignity and worth
  4. Good therapy encourages and models accurate, honest, and timely feedback in communication
  5. Good therapy = good therapeutic alliance
  6. Good therapy encourages the clients idependence and competence
  7. Good therapy considers the clients history and biography
  8. Good therapy takes into account the clients subjective experience and inner world
  9. Good therapy happens when the client does the work
  10. Good therapy offers support, requires learning, and facilitates action

Please go here for the full article.

20 July 2017

18 July 2017

Apparently Guardians of the Galaxy has the most on-screen deaths

According to a study by Go Compare, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) has the most onscreen deaths (see full list here). The movie contains 83,871 deaths, including the 80,000 Nova pilots at the end. That's an astounding 693 deaths per minute! Even if you removed the 80,000; the movie would sit second on the list.

It is also interesting to note that four of the top five body counts are PG-13 movies. This could lead to an interesting discussion if number of deaths should be included in movie ratings, not just how the death happens.

A quick eye-test also suggests there are more deaths in recent movies than older movies. But I can't say definitively.

15 July 2017

Oppositional Defiance or Faulty Neuroception? @monadelahooke


I'm not a believer in the Oppositional Defiance Disorder because it is not organic, rather how the individual is perceived. Dr. Mona Delahooke made a case for this argument on her blog. If there is one part, early on in her piece that I fully agree with, is that "defiance" is often a way for a child to maintain order in their fragile environment.

Here is a teaser from her article:

Over the years I have come to believe that oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is not a label that should be used to describe young children. As a developmental psychologist, I view oppositional defiance as a child’s response to stress. Viewing children’s challenging behaviors on a continuum of stress and stress recovery reveals a whole new way to think about this stigmatizing disorder, as well as a new way to support children, informed by neuroscience.

Consider the case of Timmy, an 8 year-old boy in the foster care system, who was diagnosed with ODD when he was four years old. His numerous behavioral treatment plans seldom improved his oppositional behaviors. Prone to constantly disagree, run away and hit others, the child had been placed in three different foster homes in a single year. At school, after he found out that a beloved PE teacher was suddenly transferred, he refused all class work and eventually threw over his desk, frantic, when the teacher asked him to line up for lunch.

Oppositional defiance? Hardly.

Read the rest here.

13 July 2017

Creating a routine that supports good mental health


Sharon Martin, a liscened clinical social worker, shared tips on how to create a routine that supports good mental health. Here are the highlights:

  • A set bedtime and wakeup time
  • A healthy breakfast
  • Time to blow off steam
  • Exercise
  • Taking medications at the sametime daily
  • Prioritize your to-do list
  • Appreciate what's good in your life
  • Adequate sleep
  • Fun and simple pleasures
  • Build and enjoy your relationships


11 July 2017

Safe Infant Sleep Habits


BC Council For Families outlined some of the unsafe infant sleeping habits, and how it is becoming a public health concern (Read here). Instead of focusing on negatives, let's focus on what to do (as outlined be Erica Simmonds in the article):

Safe sleeping practices 
  • Place infants to sleep on their backs 
  • Place infants to sleep in proper sleeping attire 
  • Ensure infants are sleeping in crib, cradle or bassinet that meets regulation standards, and is properly put together 
  • Ensure there is no loose bedding, such as pillows, toys or blankets 
  • Do not place toys, cords or cables within reach