CAMFT/ACTCF-AGM/AGA 2019

CAMFT/ACTCF-AGM/AGA 2019

Badge of Life Canada

Since I last wrote to you, I have attended two seminars/workshops, both having to do with Trauma. I shall talk a bit about both so I don’t fall behind. Next month I shall be attending more meetings, seminars and taking mini vacations etc……I will not be seeing clients but will be taking appointments beginning 2 Dec. I will also be doing paperwork required for my own college. I will be available all month except Sundays and holidays. Next year I shall take December off. I attended the Badge of Life, Best Practice For Organizational Wellness. There were interesting speakers from Homewood, from Australia, and from Police and Firefighters. I do encourage any veterans, and EMS suffering from PTSD to consider contacting them. I had attended a function two years ago but had to miss last year due to conflicting schedules. I usually book whatever conference I see first of interest, pay for it and then even though something more interesting comes up, I have already committed myself and my money. They did have a gala which I did not attend. There was another party I missed as well. This function was held in Woodbridge, bordering Etobicoke. The food was amazing though they didn’t have a vegetarian platter of sandwiches - my loss. The rice cheese balls were the best I ever tasted. It was held at The Jewel Event Centre, which I won’t forget. They certainly took care of our palate. I find that as soon as I venture from Toronto, vegetarians are forgotten, although that is rapidly changing. I had the honour of speaking to a Metis elder who educated me on some of my ignorance. I listened to stories from EMS suffering from Trauma which I won’t share because it is not my place to do so. It is their stories and for them to share with whom they wish. I listened to the psychologists speaking of their own stories and research. There is nothing really new that I haven’t shared with you. I was glad to learn that they too are using brain stimulation as those for the American Army though it seems slightly different. My own studies and text books were mostly from the Americans and when I asked why, it was simply not being written by Canadians. That is changing and I am just completing reading 600 pages of a text book regarding Personality Research Theory, which was written by Gordon Flett from York University. They have an excellent Psychology program and I don’t say that because that is where I earned by degree. I say it because it impressed Uof T Psychology department when I went to inquire. I ended up taking a Masters in Ministry and Spirituality at UofT simply because they called me first and accepted me immediately after my interview. I had actually been waiting for a response from Ryerson, psychology department as well. Snooze and you lose. Life is a book of knowledge. So, I want to break down some of the support Badge of Life Offers, incase anyone is interested. I know that there are veterans and EMS reading my Blog. If you feel you can benefit from any of these resources don’t hesitate to contact them. Badge of Life is led by Toronto Police veterans. I am always amazed and pleased how many people try to help their own and try to incorporate volunteer programs for those who have worn the same boots. I would also encourage other EMS persons who are now therapists to consider attending one of their meetings. I still find it routine that therapists, psychologists, etc…..though interested in helping EMS still do not fully comprehend the culture. I have talked about that before so won’t get further into it. Badge of life does have a web site: badgeoflifecanada.org. They offer weekend and six day programs according to their brochure for “first responders dealing with moral injury and operational stress injuries.” There is H.E.L.P Equine for Military, Police, Fire, Corrections-EMS-911 dispatcher. “Setting the standard for Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and personal development for Military, First Responder and their families affected by PTSD and operational stress injuries. This is located in the country setting. If interested you may look up their web site at www.HELP-PTSD.com. “Badge of Life is a peer-led charitable volunteer organization committed to supporting police and corrections personnel who are dealing with psychological injuries diagnosed from service.” It was a full day for me listening all day and networking. Hallowe’en is coming up and so I have been taping horror movies. I am not into the slashing and dashing that is so popular nowadays. I do make exceptions for Stephen King. There is one of his movies coming out that I want to see next month. Anyhow, I was watching “Poltergeist” night and was pleasantly alone with one of my pets sitting on my lap. I was stretching out and sometimes I have both pets stretching out on my lap and legs as well. I am telling you this story because for the next work shop I used this as an example of my igniting my sympathetic nervous system. I am watching the movie and my sensories are increasing I am on alert, I then feel someone touching me on my left shoulder from behind and I jump. Do I flee, do I fight, do I freeze? It was my male pet placing his paw on my left shoulder, ready to climb over me. I was so fixed on the movie that I never noticed him. I didn’t think he had such a big paw. We all jump and the two ran out of the room. So, I begin laughing and of course they come back in once they know that they are safe. Safety is paramount. They had me laughing, a nice flow of recovery. So in this benign situation, I used it to explain the embodying of the practice of befriending our nervous system. This seminar was very technical with terminology which I won’t bore you with. I am a firm believer in KISS. I had a math teacher who treated us as if we could not figure out 1+1. I got my highest grade in high school that year. She was an author of teaching math books. She was actually amazing. In this seminar we talked about Complex Developmental Trauma in therapeutic work with clients, working with somatic practices and therapeutic interventions. It was a fun day and I picked up some tid bits which I can use in group therapy to encourage a safe place or with private clients suffering trauma. There was also some handouts to assess trauma. I also got to catch up with my previous supervisor and mentor, what an amazing man. Since there were all therapists in the room and we were sharing therapeutic techniques, I will use it for my practice. So, I hope some of this has been interesting. I don’t only work with trauma. I do not specialize. I work with everyone from what ever they are suffering from, it may be a specific problem such as problems with a co-worker, having anger issues, suffering from grief, shame etc…..I work with couples who want to work on their relationships. I won’t work with a couple if one is having an affair and won’t give him or her up. This is only because I don’t think you are serious about working on your own relationship with your partner. I also stop seeing couples if there are ulterior motives, aside from working on their relationships. I work with families as well. One thing I found interesting at the latter workshop is about EMTR. I don’t use that practice. I was talking to one young therapist at the Badge of Life who informed me that she uses it and has found it to be most effective. At the work shop where the psychotherapist has trained only in trauma and all clients suffer from trauma, said that one of her clients who had EMTR came to see her. She could not come out from that experience and it took a while. I found that very interesting. I am not saying that to discourage anyone but to alert you if you have had the same experience. You can come out of it with treatment if required. I had almost considered taking a course about that and have changed my mind. What I do mostly is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. There are other therapies I use depending on the client. We are all different and what will work for one, will not on another. I focus on whatever research is happening and is effective. That provides so much promise and hope for people who are suffering. Have a nice week. I hope some references will be useful for you. Happy Hallowe’en. Keep safe. Who is that behind you? What do you think? Coffee break.

Exercise Eases Traumatic Injury

Legion Periodical Sep/Oct 19 pgs 12 - 13 reports that traumatic brain injury changes the way brain cells communicate with one another. Genetic alternations can lead to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well as other neurodegenerative conditions. Veteran Affairs Medical Centre in San Francisco found mild concussions double the risk of a veteran developing Parkinson’s disease. Veterans with both mild Trauma brain injury and PTSD have an enlarged amygdala ( tied to emotions that is key in triggering PTSD symptoms. The British Military Researchers found disturbance in balance and eye movement is common following concussion caused by blast and blunt trauma and worsens when combined. This predicts poor long-term mental health. A lead researcher, David Johnson is assessing the effects of intensive exercise on Trauma brain injury and will be releasing the results this year. I shall be attending a few seminars talking about Trauma and will be reporting any news to you. I have begun writing my fourth book, which I promised to write and dedicate to a friend of mine dying from cancer. I have stalled to long. She wants it to be funny. I can do funny. However, I have to kill some people in the process. No one shall be harmed. If you are interested in any of my books, you may order a book to be mailed to you or download a copy of my second or third. Have a good weekend. www.silvaredigonda.com

Voting on the Brain - Monday is quickly upon us. Who are you voting for? Why? These are rhetorical questions.

This has been an awful period, trying to determine who to vote for. I have listened to all the candidates, listened to all the “false news” (I pay close attention to who spreads hate of any kind and it is only reflective for me, on who is responsible for it). I was getting really nervous and wondered if I would be staring at the voting list on Monday and still not know who to vote for. I have never been in that position before. I have been selecting different candidates at different times during the day or week, and I have never been this undecided, when it comes to voting. Last night I watched Peter Mansfield interviewing Canadians across Canada and I heard more voices, some reflecting my own concerns. I have also payed attention to the polls. So with all this information how do I deduce who I think is best to lead our country? I have given this a lot of thought because voting is a big deal. Who best represents my own views? So here goes. What has my own interaction with politicians been like? In my neighbourhood the Liberals are very active. Last election here, the NDP won in my riding which came as a surprise to many. I have never had a NDP representative come to my door. The liberals come in droves. They are educated, well spoken and generous with their time. They fight hard at the municipal and provincial level. They are often on the news speaking on behalf of our concerns. At the provincial and municipal level, they serve me well. Then there are the Conservatives. For the first time last summer I met the Conservative in my area. He came with his mom. I found I had a lot in common with his mom. How many people bring their moms to work with them? I recommend not bringing your mom for a work interview. I talked shop with his mom. He has followed up an email now that the campaign is on. When I told him he was the first Conservative candidate I saw at the door, he revealed that he had heard that a lot. Today I have my door open and screen door locked and am waiting to see who will be coming to the door. I never saw any other representatives. Will that change today? When I spoke to a Green Party representative at Word on The Street and mentioned I never heard a peep in my neighbourhood, he said there weren’t enough to go around. Ok! That can be a problem Huston! Ok, what have I got from the Federal Level? There is Pierre Trudeau. Can I forgive the SNL disaster? Can I forgive buying a pipe line? Has there been a request for forgiveness? Yes, for the “black face”, but does anyone really think that Trudeau is prejudice? He has done much for immigration. Interesting how that came out just before the elections. He was a Drama teacher. Show me a play where you do not dress up the best you can for a production. That may include changing your colour. Ok, maybe it wasn’t the smartest move but who hasn’t done something dumb in their lifetime? I wouldn’t be able to stop counting. Anyone perfect out there? I just got an email from the Conservatives asking me to volunteer. That is two emails now. He is very simpatico. I do get a lot of emails from Ford’s nephew at the municipal level and his nephew does work hard in his community. Ok I have had no communication with any other party. Why? Where are their volunteers? How come I have no one knocking on my door right now? My priority concern right now is global warming. There are still people who don’t understand or believe in global warming. That is a problem if they are in a position where they can do something about it. There is a generation of young people right now out there, becoming loud for immediate action. Are they being heard? Their generation will be the most affected. I attended a three day lecture regarding global warming over 10 years ago and at the time we were informed that it was too late. Not our generation and not our children but after that life as we know it is over. We were told that we were at edge. We were told that we could do nothing to change that but we could make it sooner if we were not careful. Careful was not the word used. So, it is evident that global warming is a serious concern for me. I empathize with the youth because we have made a mess for them, that they may not be able to overturn. Do the Conservatives take that serious? When one sent me an email wishing me a Merry Christmas, I indicated my concern of global warming. He did not respond. Sometimes, silence speaks volumes. Sheer does want to do something about crime. That is also a concern of mine. Then there is the NDP. Singh understands that global warming is a serious concern. He wants to make some changes which are favourable. Then there is the Green Party who probably has the most effective change for climate warming but she also wants to make changes that I am very much against. She wants to legalize drug possession. How can I vote for that? She wants to consider pulling out from NATO. That is a no no for me. How can I vote for that? Can I for the sake of serious work at delaying global catastrophe? What I also heard last night was how older people seem to be loyal to certain parties for better or worse, while younger people do not. I can understand that. There was a time where loyalty counted a lot, but it worked both ways. People worked for companies for a very long time, some got pensions or other bonuses, people could afford homes, a car etc……Young people today are more educated, but have more difficulty finding a standard of affordability etc……Of course they are going to vote for who can help them get back on track for a positive future. So, I feel more prepared to go to the voting polls. I may not stand there looking at names and wondering who should I vote for? Am I still undecided? Yes. But, I know what I don’t want and do want when it comes to issues. I’m more prepared than I was a week ago. Of course there might be someone knocking on my door today who may just sway me one way or another. There might be a knock that will encourage me to better understand something I may be missing, that they can provide to help me decide to vote. Who you vote for is your business. However, please vote. There was a time when women could not vote. There was a time when persons of colour could not vote. There are places in the world where people do not have a choice. There is no such thing as democracy. Just look at Hong Kong whose people are trying so hard to fight to retain their freedom. We live in a beautiful country and a beautiful world. We have a responsibility to take care of it and our freedoms. We are stewards who have not done a great job in protecting those who cannot protect themselves, we have failed our wild life. We have failed at preventing hunger. Maybe a prayer is in order to discern to make the right choice. Every vote counts. We are reflective of our leadership. What do you think? I think I hear a knock at the door.

Signs and symptoms of Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma... continues from notes

Somatization - How we get stress and hold it in our body - eg. headaches, muscle aches etc… Avoidance of Clients - not returning calls or taking time. Impaired ability to make decisions - not knowing where to go with person or not knowing what to wear. Silencing Response - change topic- can discourage a client- minimize client’s stress. Wishing or suggesting clients get over it and move on. We may become angry or sarcastic - use humour- fake interest or listening. Discussion: Are there any specific clients whose stories I have difficulty listening to? How do I silence my clients? What am I defending against? What do I need to be clinically effective? There are two kinds of debriefing. 1. Formal Debriefing - supervision, case conferences 2. Informal Debriefing - AD HOC conversations between colleagues, variety of setting and times. Low impact disclosures: Are you “sliming” your colleagues? Are you being slimed? Can you still be properly debriefed if you don’t give all the details? She says yes. Four Steps: 1. Increased self awareness. 2. Fair warning. Prepare to hear difficult story. 3. Consent - Is it ok that I do that with you? 4. Low Impact disclosure - start with lowest to highest. Can say she was raped with no details. Colleagues appreciate it and you don’t re-traumatize yourself. Sometimes you need to tell the whole story. Strategy # 2 - Taking stock of where you are. Pro Quo - Professional Quality of Life Scale. Use the tool every 3 to 6 months. If drastic changes can increase or decrease tool use. Can download at www.tendacademy.ca tabB - calculates it for you and it is user friendly. TAKE CARE OF ME. Wash, brush teeth, dress, make coffee, feed pets, etc…..what is your routine……. Wake up, go out - dancing, skating etc……. Wake up: go shopping etc….. travel etc…… Couples: Money and work style Strategy # 3. Early Warning System: television and radio announcements. Weather warnings, amber alerts, codes in health care, emergency or health action plans. Develop an early warning system. Job satisfaction, personal life going well, good self-care, absence of all but a few signs and symptoms. Pro Quo: High or average on compassion…..etc…… yellow: consistent. Scores not as good as last. Job satisfaction challenges. Strategies: good self care in practice. What factors are contributing to yellow zone? Make whatever changes, even small ones. Therapy/ supervision if need it. Ensure solid work/life. Early warning: Consistent prescience of signs and symptoms. Low job satisfaction, cynicism, exhaustion, experience trauma system. Red Zone: don’t minimize, get help, make changes for self care. Strategy: Get professional help. Make changes to move back. Strategy # 4. Self Care: Helpers are not good at putting self care strategies in place - we don’t follow our own advice. We feel guilty when we do self care. Develop a transitional ritual. That’s enough about compassion fatigue for now. I normally hand out a stress tip brochure for clients as well as a stress test which was given to me in undergrad. A certain degree of stress is required for optimal performance such as an exam, however, stress can lead to physical illnesses if not controlled. For myself, I have been practising self care since my first career without even realizing it. I try to maintain a balance life style which is productive in my personal life. I suggest that you think about where you are at in your own lives? How do you really feel? What changes can you make in your own life to enhance it? What is stopping you from making positive change? What do you think?

Tiresome scams - don't fall for it.

Greeting to you, my name is Burrick Richard Maxwell, I'm an Lieutenant General. and I work under the United Nation here in Afghanistan. I decided to contact you to see if it can Interest you to join in this deal. Please reply back to me so that we can communicate and I will give you more details. I will be waiting to hear from you. Via this email below

Compassion Fatigue

Compassion Fatigue (notes) There is a course in Kingston by Francoise Mathieu who teaches there regarding this topic. It is 20 hours long and I would love to take this course but it is too far and too long for me being away. It may or may not be something I would consider in the future. Our instructor took this course and so I shall be sharing with you. The training is “Walk the Walk.” So, here goes. What is Compassion Fatigue? (Figley (1982). We are all profoundly effected by the work we do and if we are not, we may be suffering from compassionate fatigue. Our work though mostly rewarding can be difficult. Difficult clients, case loads - we are at primary risk for compassionate fatigue. It is an occupational hazard. There are three terms. Compassionate fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Burn Out. Compassionate Fatigue refers to the profound emotional and physical erosion that takes place. Vicarious Trauma - stories we hear from our clients. Burn-out - exhaustion. The difference: we have not lost compassion. Why Compassionate Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma? 1. Nature of the work - case content and workload (what is our balance). 2. Our own vulnerabilities. Eg. if we are grieving, our own trauma, experience etc….more vulnerable. 3. Cynical and negative colleagues. 4. Insufficient training. Risk Factors: The more trauma cases you have, the more likely you are to develop Vicarious Trauma. - Inexperience (emotional impactful) - being isolated from other therapists (private practice). Huge risk factor. Our own trauma history. Negative and positive implications. - Personal injury or illness. concurrent life crises - divorce, grief. Don’t have the energy. Stress is cumulative. Migrating Factors : 1. Access to social support (at home and at work). 2. Working part time doing trauma work is highly protective. Variety is healthier (that is what I do). 3. Reflection on compassion satisfaction. 4. Adequate training about Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Burn Out is protective. Next Week Signs and symptoms of Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma.

Catch up and bringing you up to date - Who to Vote for in this election. My woe.

I was going to provide you with more notes about sex and aging but I believe it fell behind my desk drawer which I will have to take apart and I am not prepared to undertake that mission right now. So, I shall take that as a sign to stop talking about the Guelph Conference and move to my next workshop of professional development titled Compassion Fatigue. I shall do that in my next entry which I will do right after I submit this entry. Soon we will be returning to the polls to vote. I am still undecided. How are you doing? Any better? Watching my English version of the debate was not inspiring. They were loud, talking over each other, taking cheap shots of each other and I wondered if they were not so lucky, as I was in elementary school where in grade eight we learned how to debate. Who is giving a cheap shot now, hey? I was hoping for a civilized debate where each person would just tell us what their objective for our country is. I wasn’t really impressed with anyone fully. We are so busy making fun of Trump when we should be focusing on our own problems. Let me see how I can deduce who I should vote for? We have Trudeau who concerned me when he bought a pipe line and concerned me more when the Attorney General exposed being forced out of office when he wanted to change the rules so a big business corporation would not face criminal charges. Trudeau said it was to save jobs. For you who have been reading my blogs or reading my books, know by now that I believe in equality, and that includes the law. I could forgive everything else. That bothered me. Then we have the Conservative party which seem to support big corporations and I am doubtful they are concerned about global warming. Then we have the NDP and the Green Party. The Green party takes global warming very seriously as much as I do. However, they want to legalize drug possession. Again, you know how I am against drugs especially since I see the destruction of people who are addicted. When things are legalized it gives the public that it is safe and it is not. Then we also had the peoples party talk and I have my concerns as well as the Quebec block. I do think we need more public newscasts of all candidates to make an informed decision. There is too much at risk nowadays. There is an increase in crime, an increase in my city of shootings and gangs etc…..There is a bigger divide between the rich and poor etc….Instead of learning from other countries, we are joining them in our descent. Racism which I had foolishly believed had been obliterated is not only in existent to the most naive, but growing. Why? Bullying is rampant in schools and it is not being handled at all well. Just recently a high school in Hamilton had a child stabbed to death while his mother watched. There is nothing worse that a child dying but actually seeing it being done and not able to stop it is devastating for the parent. How did this happen? Teens from the school now are telling the media how prevalent bullying is at that school. Why has it got this far? Shameful. So, when I watch a debate program of people who want to run my country, I expect a level of maturity deserving of the job. I expect honesty and would love to see people who cannot keep their promise being forced to step down. So, yes, I am undecided. I will vote, I just don’t know for who. I am sure many of you have been in this boat before. I honestly think we need to revamp the entire system. We keep making the same mistakes and greater ones. Politicians should listen to experts in their field and not think they are beyond the people. As I deduce who I should vote for, I know that the most serious concern right now is Global Warming. I think more people are becoming aware of how devastating this will be. Perhaps I should vote for the person who will try their best for this cause and to eliminate poverty at home and the world. However, that person will not win, so should I vote for someone to keep someone else from power? I have a bit more time to think about this. What do you think? What are your challenges when it comes to voting? Why is there so much polarization? What do you think? I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. We do have a lot to be thankful. We still live in a beautiful planet and share with so many. God bless.

Sexuality and Aging

I am going to start this because I promised but will continue next week. I need to catch up because I am booking for workshops/seminars etc….and didn’t even finish this Guelph Conference yet. That’s what happens when I try to write to you about three days worth. This lecture was provided by Clinical Psychologist, Dr T. Kukkonen, Phd, CPSYCA. She is a sexual researcher. This is from a bio social perspective. Dr Kukkonen reported that there is sparse information on the topic. There are a lot of myths of sexuality. Society thinks of reproductive life and then nothing. One undergrad said sex ends when you have kids. Surprised, but the idea is still prevalent. Dr Kukkonen spoke that sexuality is a wonderful way to enjoy life. Increase sexual satisfaction (not casual) is significant to happiness and health. Age related facts - Sex does not occur in a vacuum. Chronological age is not equal to biologic age. The physical changes. Exercise and eat well to slow down the changes. Physical changes are the thinning of the vaginal wall. Less lubrication; less muscle tension; less intensity of organism; increase of painful intercourse; chronic and acute illnesses. Sedentary individuals have significant increase in risk of myocardial infarction (MI) during sexual activity as compared to a physical active individual. Sexual activity is the cause of less of 1% of all acute MI. Impact Arthritis: decrease in increase; decrease blood flow; decrease endurance; decrease engagement; decrease sense of attractiveness; decrease satisfaction; increase sensitivity to touch. Compensation is adapting to the situation. It might take more time. Sex toys may help. Enhance communication. People who have wonderful sex have wonderful communications. Mental changes. How is that going to effect sexuality? next week will continue ………… Have a wonderful weekend.