Heartfelt thanks to Jacki Bruni and Yolanda Soto for their amazing event on Saturday, the 2010 Summer Options for Children with Special Needs…An Educational Expo at the Trumbull Library. It was such a pleasure to be included in the mix, to meet so many wonderful service providers and to explain how family therapy can be a final piece in the pie of services that families (and couples) with special needs kids can benefit from.
I have created a link on this blog with all of the wellness services from the event, please use it and share it with others, and I will be adding to the list as I learn of more services or opportunities.
One thing I wonder is how all of these families can come together and assist one another in a new way. Every family is struggling with burn-out, with couple breakdown, with having too much to do and not enough time. How can a community support group be built where things like shared babysitting (of trained and skilled childcare workers) is a real option, where Moms or Dads can share in carpooling to classes or workshops. Just thoughts but I’d love to hear your feedback.
This is my response to the demands made by NOW regarding Paterson and domestic violence.
Throwing Baby out with Bathwater
I am an energetic and committed advocate for breaking the cycle and silence of domestic violence, but I feel like a major opportunity is being lost with all of these demands for Paterson to step down.
Isn’t it fascinating that even the Governor of NY has a flawed and skewed definition and possibly inappropriate response to an alleged domestic violence incident. What a ripe opportunity to make serious headlines and explode the educational potential of following the Governor on a quest for enlightenment. This could be the platform to educate in a new way, break old stereotypes and shatter myths.
Governor Paterson could truly be an advocate for change by admitting that he too is not above reproach and faulty decision making in this very shameful and scary cycle. While I see how and why NOW is reacting the way they are, I would put forth my viewpoint and see if that may spur real change for masses rather than just vilifying one more individual.
This could be the opportunity for Governor Paterson to do what Tiger Woods didn’t.
I have been pondering this post for some time. As a therapist who is focusing much of my information sharing in these posts as reflections on events in the media, I have been thinking about some of the reality TV shows and their therapeutic integrity and appropriateness.
Take A&E’s Intervention. An amazing show, filled with the real pain and trials that addiction submits to everyone in the system. There is no such thing as an addict in a vacuum, loved ones and the community are ultimately involved and harmed in the cycle of addiction no matter how you look at it.
They have introduced some new episode formats, like the one highlighted in the pic here, that are in-depth looks at specific types of drug classes and their impact. This particular one highlights Huffing, something that astoundingly far too many parents are not educated about or aware of. This was a powerful episode featuring not only success stories but some tragic endings as well.
In Seth Godin’s blog, he posted a link to the new movie “Lemonade“. This is a well done, heartfelt and inspirational look at how losing a job may be the best thing that could ever happen to you. I know all too well that this is a truth for me, based on actual experience in my own life.
Watch this 36-minute movie and rethink your ROI on your daily grind and see if a change may be for the better for you as well. 36 minutes may be all that is standing in the way of your true happiness.
Having gone through this particular ringer, as well as years of business experience, MFT3 is well suited to be a source of support should you be ready to make some lemonade of your own.
I was informed today of this powerful interview that CBS Evening News and @katiecouric have run recently regarding the growing problem of teen dating abuse and violence.
The video below shows part of the CBS broadcast and then delves deeper with Jane Randel of Liz Claiborne, Vice President and developer of the “Love Is Not Abuse” curriculum (which is available to your school or group through MFT3), and Catherine Pierce, Deputy Director for the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women.
Please watch, learn, talk with your kids, and share with as many people as you can. Remember that silence perpetuates abuse and violence, speaking up can stop it.
If you are interested in having MFT3 bring the “Love Is Not Abuse” curriculum to your school or group, please contact Katherine Allen at 203-416-6008 x602 or e-mail katherine@mft3.com.
In the final installment of PBS’s “This Emotional Life” series, episode 3 “Rethinking Happiness” focused on happiness, rejuvenation and misperceptions regarding how beliefs that are sometimes associated with happiness may not actually influence happiness at all. Why is the one thing we all crave so elusive?
Happiness, at the core, is a state of mind, a choice, and the debate ensues regarding money and its effect. I fall into the camp of belief that money is only associated to happiness based on the degree of comfort in one’s surroundings that it can create, not that it inherently causes happiness in and of itself (picture curling up in front of a fire with stacks of $20s).
But what about serious depression? I mean, if Chevy Chase, who has lots and lots of money, has trouble finding the correct anti-depressant for 6 years, what does that say about money’s role and strength regarding happiness?
In the end, it is the quality of our relationships that influences happiness, which so perfectly brings us circling back to episode 1, and so it goes.
Be prepared for MFT3 to refer to this series often regarding the multitude of topics that were so beautifully illustrated by PBS. I hope you were as moved by it as I was.
Episode 2 of PBS’s “This Emotional Life” series looks at emotions that are commonly regarded as obstacles to happiness — such as anger, fear, anxiety, and despair. At first blush these seem like pretty heavy topics, don’t I already know all about them, how much enjoyment can I get out of this show when I don’t have those problems?
The thing that this episode, “Facing Our Fears” so poignantly expresses is that we all do have all of these feelings, but what to do when they become unmanageable? And what does unmanageable look like, really?
As a therapist I am proud of PBS for being so thorough and explicit, going to the tough place and shedding light into some commonly dark corners. I will be using these episodes as resources for current and future clients as a launching pad for conversations about grief, trauma, depression, fear, how families of the afflicted can be affected and more.
I cannot wait to see tonight’s last episode. I hope you tune in as well. If you missed episode 2, click here to view the entire 2-hour show.
T-SNAP (Trumbull)
Trumbull’s Special Needs Awareness Program, enabling emergency services (police, fire & EMS) to better respond when individuals with special needs are involved
TPSLD (Trumbull)
The Trumbull Parents of Students with Learning Differences supports parents of children with special needs in all town public/private schools
Notable sites
AAMFT
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Heartfelt thanks to Jacki Bruni and Yolanda Soto for their amazing event on Saturday, the 2010 Summer Options for Children with Special Needs…An Educational Expo at the Trumbull Library. It was such a pleasure to be included in the mix, to meet so many wonderful service providers and to explain how family therapy can be a final piece in the pie of services that families (and couples) with special needs kids can benefit from.
Take 
Happiness, at the core, is a state of mind, a choice, and the debate ensues regarding money and its effect. I fall into the camp of belief that money is only associated to happiness based on the degree of comfort in one’s surroundings that it can create, not that it inherently causes happiness in and of itself (picture curling up in front of a fire with stacks of $20s).
