23rd counseling skills conference...struggle toward the realization of who you really are . . . not...

Cardwell C. Nuckols, PhDDon Meichenbaum, PhD

Jean Kilbourne, EdDRobert J. Ackerman, PhD

23rd Counseling Skills Conferenceu Las Vegas, Nevada u

Mel Pohl, MD, DFASAM Linda Graham, MFT

Darryl Inaba, PharmD

Contributing Sponsor

Colin Ross, MD

Stephen Ilardi, PhD

Pat Love, EdD Reid Wilson, PhD

Call 800-441-5569 for More Information or Visit

www.usjt.com

SPECIAL FOCUS ON

Trauma Treatment

Love, Sex, and Relationships

The Brain and Addiction

Co-occurring Disorders

Anxiety and Depression

Opioid Addiction Treatment

Suicidality Awareness

FACULTY INCLUDES Dennis Daley, PhDMargot Escott, LCSW Sandra Felt, LCSWFred Hanna, PhDHeather Hayes, MEd Stephen Ilardi, PhDDarryl S. Inaba, PharmD Todd Langus, PsyDPat Love, EdDDavid Marlon, MBA, MS Colin Ross, MDReid Wilson, PhDRobert Wubbolding, EdD

EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITIES For exhibit information, contact Lorrie Keip: 800-851-9100 ext. 9220

Heather Hayes, M.Ed

23rd Counseling Skills Conference Las Vegas u October 24–26, 2017

California Consortium of Addiction Programs

and Professionalswww.ccapp.us

IITAPwww.iitap.com

Hemet Valley & Sage Retreatwww.hvrc.com

Montevista Hospitalwww.montevistahospital.com

UR1 Professionalswww.ur1professionals.com

We take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and exhibitors:

CONTRIBUTING SPONSOR PARTICIPATING SPONSORS

American Addiction Centerswww.americanaddictioncenters.org

844.488.9446 • 115 E. Park Dr. • Brentwood, TN 37027

23RD COUNSELING SKILLS CONFERENCE

2

23rd Counseling Skills ConferenceLas Vegas u October 11–13, 2017

Continued on page 4

On the Frontlines: The Critical Role of Counselors in Navigating the Changing Landscape of AddictionDavid Marlon, MS, MBA, CADC

The US does not just have a problem with ad-diction; it has recently grown to have a severe issue with opioids and overdose deaths. Five percent of the world’s population can be found in the US, but the US consumes 80 percent of the world’s supply of opioids. In 2016 there were over sixty-four thousand overdose deaths in the country and over twenty thousand of those deaths were associated with fentanyl, a

synthetic opioid that is fifty to one hundred times stronger than morphine. The rise in drug use and overdose deaths in America can be tied to several issues:u Prescription pills and “Big Pharma” influence are plentifulu Synthetic drugs like bath salts and spice are easily ac-

cessed in various illegal locationsu Vape pens are sold everywhere with everything from es-

sential oils to THC to methu Marijuana is legal in more than half of the USu Music and culture among youth not only highlights drug

use, but promotes itu Twelve Step programs have not changed since AA was cre-

ated in 1935, but America sure has Since the US and its drug use has changed so drastically, so

must treatment of substance abuse and addiction. There are several things that we, the first and last line of defense against this disease, can do differently to stay updated with the times.

DocumentationIn the past ten years of being a counselor, I thought I was amaz-

ing. I would speak with individuals daily and was very good at stopping someone from leaving ACA or AMA. I barely document-ed my interactions with clients and did not see the use since our facility was successful in treating individuals. I now know that it can only help us, and clients, to know everything about every in-teraction our clients have had. We can use this knowledge to grow in the space of treatment instead of treating each situation as a new one and dealing with items as they come.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)This is not the same thing as “maintenance treatment.” When ad-

diction is confirmed, the use of MAT has proven to be highly effective in lowering overdose risk, decreasing risk for HIV and hepatitis C,

and increasing patient retention in treatment. As treatment provid-ers in 2017, we need to be open to alternatives to the absti-nence-based model in the interest of our clients’ recovery.

EthicsEthics should be on our minds constantly. As health care profes-

sionals, we need to always be aware of what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how we are doing it. When treating people with the disease of addiction, however, we need to be hypervigilant that we are always operating ethically. We are the role models for these in-dividuals trapped in a disease that makes them do bad things—even the slightest infidelity could be harming to their recovery.

With the changing landscape of addiction and treatment, we need to be aware of what works, what does not, and be open to all paths to sobriety and recovery. There are four therapy types that have been known to work for a variety of different individuals; abstinence, harm reduction, moderation management, and aversion therapy can all be useful for the right people at the right times. In general, the longer individuals are in some form of treatment, the better. Research has shown that treatment must last, on average, at least three months to produce stable behavior change. While the exact length of time will vary with each person, programs lasting at least ninety days (prefer-ably longer) have been shown to be much more effective in reducing drug abuse and criminal activity, compared to those lasting less than ninety days. No matter the duration of each therapy, we must utilize all the tools provided to us to save the lives of our clients.

Mindfulness, Emotions, and Pain TreatmentMel Pohl, MD, DFASAM

We are a culture that abhors feeling pain, avoiding it at all costs. And it turns out that the more we fight against or resist pain, the more we suffer. Some fundamental misunderstand-ings have led us to where we are today.

The biggest problem with our approach to pain is that we confuse acute pain with chronic pain, as if chronic pain is just a longer version of acute pain. We also believe we should be able to diag-

nose the source of the pain and then resolve it by manipulating or cutting out the damaged tissue. Another misconception is that if there is no evidence of tissue damage, then the pain must not be real!

These basic misunderstandings have led us to medicate, oper-ate, and ultimately give up on patients whose pain does not get better. Here are some essential truths about chronic pain.

David Marlon, MS, MBA, CADC

Mel Pohl, MD, DFASAM


3

C O N F E R E N C E R E P O R T S

23rd Counseling Skills ConferenceLas Vegas u October 11–13, 2017

On the Frontlines: The Critical Role of Counselors in Navigating the

Changing Landscape of AddictionDavid Marlon, MS, MBA, CADC

The US does not just have a problem with addiction; it has re-cently grown to have a severe issue with opioids and overdose deaths. Five percent of the world’s population can be found in the US, but the US consumes 80 percent of the world’s supply of opioids. In 2016 there were over sixty-four thousand overdose

The Art of ForgivenessRobert J. Ackerman, PhD

“Do you think I should forgive?” This question is often asked therapists, especially those helping adult clients who have been injured by trauma either as children or adults. Obviously, there is no easy or single answer to this question. Forgiveness is personal, and I believe it is one of the most personal deci-sions clients will make. Forgiveness may or may not be part of a therapeu-tic process. In fact, the is-sue may not even present itself during current thera-py, but rather emerge much later in clients’ re-covery. For some clients, facing a decision about forgiveness is always present and is often post-poned until they are ready to forgive. For oth-er people, forgiveness does not seem that im-portant, even though it might remain as unfin-ished business.

Since forgiveness is such a personal issue, I believe therapists can help clients through that process. I would never tell clients they need to forgive, but rather that they can decide for them-selves how forgiving or not forgiving will contribute to their recovery and to where they want to go. Recovery is a process, and getting ready to forgive is part of it. Clients often know whether or not they are ready and therapists can facilitate this process.

Often one of the best ways to help clients is to identify the benefits of forgiveness. Research has revealed benefits such as that forgiveness helps to reduce depression and anxiety, increases self-esteem, reduces anger and inappro-priate behaviors, and helps to reduce mistakes and harm in future relationships.

There are many types of forgiveness and not all of these achieve the desired results of peace of mind or personal

growth. For example, forgiveness can be divided into sever-al categories. The first of these is shallow forgiveness, which is not based on personal growth, but rather forgivers do not want to make waves or fear retaliation from the person or people who harmed them. Those receiving forgiveness can incorrectly assume that forgiveness means that all is well when it is not or at least it creates the illusion of peace. Of

course the disadvantag-es of shallow forgiveness might include feeling in-complete and denied a true forgiveness process. Totally rejecting forgive-ness is another way that clients might approach forgiveness because they view forgiveness as be-ing weak. A third type can be based on acceptance, by which forgivers can accept all the emotions involved in the need to forgive as well as the pro-cess itself. It means that they are no longer stuck because of the injury and that they can now protect themselves. Finally, for-giveness can be interac-tive. This means that for-givers and perpetrators can work through the in-jury that has occurred, depending on perpetra-tors’ ability to earn back trust and perhaps love.

However, this last cat-egory depends on the availability or willing-

ness of perpetrators to want to earn forgiveness. For many victims this is not the case, especially if victims no longer have contact with perpetrators, perpetrators have died or perpetrators con-tinue to inflict harm. An example of this might be having addicted or abusive parents or partners—it creates quite a dilemma, because how do you forgive those who are still harming you?

For clients who want to work on forgiveness with their ther-apists, I recommend considering restoration therapy, which can include forgiveness. As Paul Tillich taught in 1954, it em-phasizes the importance of balancing the concepts of love, trustworthiness, and power.

Dr. Ackerman signs his national best-selling books, Perfect Daughters and Silent Sons.

A fond farewell to Robert Ackerman, a fixture at USJT conferences since 1979. Bob has retired from the speaking circuit.


4

The Art and Science of HealingCardwell C. Nuckols, PhD

Over the past forty years, I have met many clinicians who want to be more than just a cognitive behavioral therapist or certified in EMDR and DBT. This “more” comes from an intuitive understanding realized through per-sonal/spiritual growth. This “more” is the difference between being a technician and being a “healer.”

Can you remember a time when children or clients, or others, came to you seeking help with a prob-lem for which they did not have the solution? And when they came into your energy field, they solved their problem and said, “Thank you.” This outcome had little to do with your degrees and clinical technique and everything to do with who you have become as a result of your humble and honest struggle toward the realization of who you really are . . . not your conditioned ego’s well-defended image of itself but the divinity within you (i.e., self, soul, holy spirit, atman, Christ-consciousness).

Have you ever wondered how some therapists and teachers have a calming influence on those around them and are able to establish positive, change-oriented rela-tionships and do it very rapidly? How do we become such “healers?” There is no path, as a path can only take you to a known place. The journey is between you and the God of your understanding.

Research teaches that one factor is consistently associated with positive outcome in therapy: the therapeutic relation-ship. The therapeutic conditions consist of increased levels of empathy, unconditional regard, and acceptance, largely fostered through nonverbal communication of respect, ac-ceptance, and affective attunement. From this relationship comes hope and positive expectation that clients can and will get better. Clients’ minds are the greatest facilitators of change in neurobiology.

To reach our healing potential, we must take an honest and humble look at who we really are. A movement from a grandi-ose ego operating system to a self (i.e., atman, soul, Christ-consciousness) operating system changes how we view the world. It is the difference between misery and suffering, and seeing love and beauty inside of ourselves and others comes when we develop a grateful worldview.

Have you ever wondered the reason for all the tough times, losses, sorrows, addictions, depressions, and anxieties? Please consider this nonlinear reality: they are neither good nor bad, but are spiritual growth opportunities. This is why good clinicians are “wounded healers.” Healers demonstrate the courage and faith necessary in the realization of their true selves. It is a painful, yet beautiful, journey.

As clinicians grow through spiritual opportunities and life diffi-culties, they become “wounded” healers. I think all healers are working through their own painful life experiences. We cannot

Cardwell C. Nuckols, PhD

All Pain is RealThe nature of chronic pain is different than acute pain since it is

not related to tissue damage, but rather to changes in the brain.Chronic pain is a problem with the “software” of the nervous

system—the processing areas. Unfortunately, it is not uncom-mon for physicians and other prescribers, families, and even pa-tients to misinterpret chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic headaches as malingering or psychosomatic illnesses.

Emotions and Thoughts Drive the Experience of Chronic Pain

Pain lives in the brain along with emotions like anger, anxi-ety, and fear. In order to recover, patients must address the psychological (i.e., emotional and cognitive) aspects of their pain—regardless of physical and/or pharmacological inter-ventions that are undertaken.

Opioids are not the Best Treatment of Chronic Pain and Often Make the Pain Worse

What we use to take the pain away, opioids (also known as narcotics), actually can increase pain in several ways. These medications have been shown to cause inflammation in brain tissues resulting in more pain while on the medicine than off the medicine. This is called opioid-induced hyperalgesia.

Some patients are caught up in a peculiar relationship with the medication. Opioids are perceived as pain relievers and the salience of the effects are often compulsively pursued. Craving for the drug takes the form of pain.

If we are treating someone we must consider benefit versus harm. With opioids for chronic pain, the negatives outweigh the positives. There are significant side effects including but not lim-ited to constipation, sleep apnea, hormonal and immune sys-tem changes, cognitive changes, and risk of addiction.

Treatment of Pain Must Involve Improving Patients’ Function Resulting in Better Lives

If we are going to treat pain, we ought to see evidence of im-proved function. Instead of asking, “What is your pain?” doctors and other clinicians ought to ask, “How is your life?”

Expectations Influence the Outcome and Course of Chronic Pain Management

Our beliefs drive what happens to us. Placebos are a good example of this. The internal messaging and mindset we bring to chronic pain influences the outcome. Anticipating pain causes more pain. This is known as “catastrophizing” and in-volves rumination, pessimism, magnification of pain symp-toms, and helplessness.

Key interventions for chronic pain include cognitive behavior-al therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, movement (stretching, exercise, yoga, chi kung, pilates), avoiding toxic substances (especially nicotine and tobacco), and finally, giving up the ex-pectation of being pain free and accepting the reality of func-tioning better despite having pain.

Mel Pohl Continued from page 2


5

C O N F E R E N C E R E P O R T S

take clients any further than they themselves have journeyed. As we progress along the spiritual path, clinicians can easily see in others what they themselves have struggled with during their time in the desert. Now clinicians can hear clients even when they are not speaking.

“The Art and Science of Healing” presentation starts with the possibility of positive human change. It is who we are and our ability to resonate with clients that creates the founda-tional platform leading to positive outcome. Science has only started to explain how the therapeutic relationship works to facilitate change.

Our spiritual growth is our gift to the world. To take personal credit for this growth is grandiose. God has given all of us unique gifts that need to be cultivated and utilized. We have been granted the gift of healers in order to energetically con-tribute to the well-being of the world. It is a difficult yet beau-tiful road made possible by our willingness to be both honest and humble.

Deadly Persuasion: Advertising and AddictionJean Kilbourne, EdD

Advertising, a $250 billion per year indus-try, could be considered the propaganda of American society. It teaches us to be, above all, consumers; that happiness can be bought; and that products can fulfill us and meet our deepest human needs. The aver-age American is exposed to over three thou-sand ads every day and will spend over two years of his or her life watching television

commercials. In addition to selling products, the ads sell values, images, and concepts of success and worth, love and sexuality, popularity, and normalcy. They tell us who we are and who we should be. Sometimes they sell addictions.

Most people do not pay conscious attention to advertising and, therefore, believe they are not influenced by it. This is not entirely true, and one of my goals is to make these unconscious messag-es conscious, which reduces their power and gives the power back to us.

In this entertaining and fast-paced presentation, I examine the selling of addictive products, such as alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs. My emphasis is on health and freedom—freedom from rigid gender roles, freedom from addiction, free-dom from denial, and freedom from manipulation.

I begin with a look at tobacco advertising and examine how the advertising for e-cigarettes (which is, as of now, completely un-regulated) uses many of the same themes as cigarette advertis-ing, such as the use of cartoon characters and celebrities and the linking of vaping with masculinity, health, and freedom. The to-bacco industry needs to get three thousand children to start smoking (or vaping) every day simply to replace those smokers who die or quit. Half of these children will die prematurely as a direct result of their addiction.

I also examine the portrayal of women in advertising. I make the case that the objec-tification of women affects female self-esteem and cre-ates a climate which can encourage violence against women. It has other conse-quences too. For example, in recent years there has been an increasing obsession with thinness for women and a rise in eating disorders.

The last part of the presen-tation focuses on alcohol ad-vertising. Like the tobacco in-dustry, the alcohol industry

needs to target children and young people and needs to create and encourage addiction in order to be profitable. Ten percent of drinkers consume sixty percent of all the alcohol sold in this coun-try. Many of these drinkers are alcoholics and the industry’s best customers. I also discuss how the alcohol industry targets young women and the role of alcohol in sexual assault.

I illustrate how advertisers target addicts with the promise that products can be a substitute for human relationships and can thus assuage the loneliness that is at the heart of all addictions.

I end the presentation with a discussion of the kinds of public policy measures and educational strategies that will be neces-sary to bring about real change.

Jean Kilbourne, EdD

The Evolution of Cognitive Behavioral TherapyDon Meichenbaum, PhD

Two major themes are central to my forth-coming conference presentations. Given the recent natural disasters of multiple hurri-canes, a primary issue is how to bolster resil-ience in individuals, families, and communi-ties that have been victimized. In the aftermath of traumatic losses most individu-als are affected, but some 75 percent will ev-idence resilience, while some 25 percent de-

velop behavioral disabilities and in some instances develop psychiatric disorders. I will discuss what distinguishes these two groups and the implications for interventions. A construc-tive narrative perspective that highlights the role of the “sto-ries” that individuals offer themselves, as well to others, will be presented.

A second concern to be addressed is the increasing aware-ness that some psychotherapists are significantly more effec-tive in bringing about behavioral change than other psychother-apists. In fact, the top performing psychotherapists achieve 50 percent better treatment outcomes and have a 50 percent lower

Don Meichenbaum, PhD

Continued on page 8

SPECIAL FOCUS ON:• TRAUMA TREATMENT• THE BRAIN AND ADDICTION• CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS• DYNAMICS OF SHAME AND GUILT• NEUROSCIENCE AND THERAPY• ANGER, GRIEF, AND LOSS• EFFECTIVE THERAPY STRATEGIES

CONTIBUTING SPONSOR

PARTICIPATING SPONSORS

Guest House OcalaIntegrative Life Centers

Palm Healthcare

Donald Meichenbaum, PhD

Janina Fisher, PhD

Clifton Mitchell, PhD

Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC

Harvey Milkman, PhD

Scott Miller, PhD

John Arden, PhD

Pat Love, EdD

Jane Middelton-Moz, MS

Judy Crane, LMHC, CAP

Dug McGuirk Holly Cook, LPC Margot Escott, LCSW

Lee McCormick Sandra Felt, LCSW, BCD

Julia Buckey, PhD, ACSW

Tommy Rosen Mary Faulkner, MA, CHT

Also Featuring:

Keynote Speakers Include

What is the Training Institute on Behavioral Health and Addictive Disorders?It is a premier training event, specializing in the core issues facing the mental health and the addictions field. It is where a unique combination of nationally recognized faculty address a wide variety of today’s most relevant topics. The result is a highly acclaimed national training event featuring customized training opportunities for developing new treatment strategies and the sharing of research advances for clinicians and counselors.

Program Focus and GoalsUS Journal Training, Inc. and The Institute for Integral Development present an exceptional combination of inspiring speakers and trainers, addressing today’s most relevant topics. This year’s Training Institute tackles the issues of behavioral health and addictions using an integrated approach, which considers the complex emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of each individual.

Topics IncludeEvolution of Psychotherapy; Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors; Healing the Body, Healing the Mind; Suicide Assessment; Feedback-Informed Treatment; Opiate Addiction and Trauma; Mindful Improv for Therapists; Hypnotherapy for Healing; Transforming Shame; Mind, Brain, Gene; The High Cost of Unhealthy Anger; Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Epigenetics and Adverse Childhood Experiences; Shame and Guilt; Co-occurring Disorders; Healing Grief and Loss; Stress Inoculation Training; Therapeutic Resistance; Narcissism; Natural Highs and Mood Alteration; Religious Extremism; Beyond Duality; Ethics, Medical Errors and more.

Exhibit OpportunitiesFor exhibit information contact Lorrie Keip 800-851-9100 ext. 9220

Named Number 1 in the US on Trip Advisor’s list of Top Beaches for 2016, Clearwater Beach is the only beach in America to make TripAdvisor’s list of Top 25 in the World. Welcome to miles of white-sand beaches recognized for their beauty, pristine sands, and clean water to an area rich with culture and entertainment. Whether you are joining us for the first time or returning, you’ll find much to explore and the area’s natural treasures and cultural gems have never been more alluring. The Jolley Trolley offers quick transportation all along Clearwater Beach, stopping at the Hilton. For additional information, contact the Clearwater Visitors Bureau at (727) 464-7200 or (877) 352-3224 or visit their website: www.visitstpeteclearwater.com

Join Us on Clearwater Beach

Stay With Us Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort

400 Mandalay Avenue, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767Phone: (727) 461-3222 or (800) 753-3954

The Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort as well as Clearwater Beach was not damaged by Hurricane Irma and is fully operational. Spanning 10 acres along the Gulf of Mexico’s shimmering coastline, we invite you to discover the Hilton Clearwater Beach and indulge in a modern, vibrant setting for this conference. US Journal Training has reserved a block of rooms for registrants until January 9, 2018. There is a strong possibility that the room block will fill prior to that date. Room rates at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort are: $215.00 single/double (plus tax). Children under 18 are free. Reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card. For reservations, contact the hotel directly. To receive the conference rate, mention hotel code USJ18. Please be aware of the hotel’s cancellation policy.

For alternate lodging see the US Journal Training website (www.usjt.com) for more information.

For Full Conference Brochure, go to www.usjt.com


8

dropout rate than do average psychotherapists. What do these so-called “experts” do and not do that contributes to these dif-ferential outcomes? How to implement the core tasks of psy-chotherapy that contribute to lasting changes will be described. These critical psychotherapeutic tasks include:

u The ability to establish and systematically monitor the quality of the therapeutic alliance

u Conducting collaborative goal-setting that nurtures hopeu Conducting psychoeducation that includes a discussion

of resilienceu Skills training that incorporates generalization guidelinesu Cognitive processing narrative treatment approachesI will also critically evaluate the current status of cognitive be-

havioral therapies in achieving these treatment objectives.

Digital Technology, the Brain, and RelationshipsLinda Graham, MFT

There is both an upside and a downside to our increasing dependence on our digital de-vices for communicating with our fellow hu-man beings. We can text to schedule a meet-ing while we are walking down the hall, we can stay in touch with family and friends when we or they are far away, we can find a hotel or hospital while we are driving to it.

But researchers are beginning to pay more attention to the downsides, raising questions for our larger society, especially for clinicians.

TimePeople around the world, Americans in particular, spend a lot

of time on our devices. When we spend so much time on our devices, what are we not doing? Young children are not playing with other kids on the playground, riding bikes, playing ball or playing dress-up. Older children are not playing sports, camp-ing, dancing or reading a book. Adults are not playing with their children, playing with each other, daydreaming, soul searching, working on projects that demand depth or concentration or having the meaningful conversations that also require depth and concentration.

AttentionThe human brain is not hardwired for rapid and repeated

shifting of attention. It takes metabolic energy to shift from e-mail to text to tweet back to a work project or to answer a question from your kid as you respond to a coworker’s e-mail. After sixty to ninety minutes of that, the brain goes into fatigue, brain fog. With each shift in multitask mode, there is decreased

performance and an increase in errors. We cannot think clearly or creatively any more. We cannot focus for three to four hours on a project, and that reduction in capacity to concentrate can be permanent. We risk losing the capacity to distinguish the ir-relevant from the relevant.

Resonant Connections, Resonant RelationshipsSherry Turkle, professor of psychology at MIT and early ob-

server of the impact of digital technology on relationships, finds that the style of relating to people now is much more su-perficial, what she calls “pancake style,” rather than “cathedral style” of perhaps fewer but deeper conversations with people. We now have illusions of companionship without demands of friendship—the shortcut handle of one thousand friends on Facebook, but no real close friends, is really becoming truer and truer for more and more people.

This is particularly disturbing among young people who spend seven hours every day texting and tweeting, but who feel more lonely and isolated than before or even feel badly about themselves when they compare themselves to other people’s posts on Facebook, all very carefully crafted and polished for public consumption. Young people do not see the doubts and angst of other people like them; it all looks like MTV. Cyber-bullying is a tragic extension of that.

Decreased EmpathyThis can lead to less capacity for empathy, less capacity to

tolerate messy emotions, less interest in other people’s feel-ings, less compassion for other people’s feelings—people choosing protective distance over vulnerable closeness. So much of what we try to do in therapy is help clients get in touch with their feelings; tolerate, accept, and learn to man-age difficult feelings; learn to use their brains; pick up the emotional signals of others accurately; and assess safe-ty-comfort or danger-toxicity in relationship. Too much time on devices, and clients lose this capacity. Young people may not even know it is a capacity that is missing.

Less Self-AwarenessUnfortunately, the ability to even be aware of what capaci-

ties might be diminishing is also diminishing. People are be-coming less comfortable with solitude, less tolerant of bore-dom, less able to simply reflect, introspect, and daydream. This is more superficial in relationship to others, but also to self. So much stimulation every nanosecond, there is hardly any time left for the brain to consolidate all the learning of the day into long-term memory.

Solutionsu Digital detox (no devices for two to four weeks) to rewire

the brain

u Harm reduction, meaning setting limits and designating times and places to use devices

u Cultivating many pleasurable, person-to-person activities to replace digital dependence

Linda Graham, MFT

Don Meichenbaum Continued from page 5

23rd counseling skills conference...struggle toward the realization of who you really are . . . not...

Documents