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San Miguel County Social Service News


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Overcoming the Bystander Effect: Who’s Responsible for Helping

I wonder if others think about the bystander effect or apathy.  Guest blogger, Laura Brownstone, LCSW has been a therapist for over 15 years. In this post, she shares her experiences with the impact of apathy on her community and the value of contributing to the common good. According to Wikipedia,

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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger October 4, 2018

Why Accepting a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Is So Difficult—and What Actually Helps

One of the biggest challenges in treating bipolar disorder is actually accepting the diagnosis. Because, of course, if you don’t believe you have an illness, you won’t focus on managing it. Psychotherapist Sheri Van Dijk, MSW, RSW, has run a group for individuals with bipolar disorder for over a decade.

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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger October 4, 2018

4 Conflict Resolution Skills

Conflict triggers strong emotions and can lead to hurt feelings, disappointment, and discomfort. When handled in an unhealthy manner, it can cause irreparable rifts, resentments, and breakups. But when conflict is resolved in a healthy way, it increases our understanding of one another, builds trust, and strengthens our relationship bonds.

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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger October 3, 2018

Me Too and the Bro Culture: Giving a Voice to Oppression

For as long as America has been a country, men have been king of the hill. However, many men have had difficulty adjusting to relatively recent societal shifts from the increasingly powerful role of women in the workplace to the acceptance of same-sex relationships. With globalization, automation, the decline of

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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger September 28, 2018

Is It a Crime to be Happy?

If we have committed a crime, then it makes sense to feel guilty. Many of the rest of us wallow in guilt that we have not earned and do not deserve. Guilt is the perception that we have done something morally, legally, or ethically wrong. Many of us perceive ourselves

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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger September 26, 2018

Grief is Crazy Making

“For me, it didn’t feel like mom was really dying, until I saw her dead.” ”I felt her hand. I touched her face. She had been dead for a few hours.” Guest blogger, Laura Brownstone, LCSW has been a grief therapist for over 15 years. Her mother passed over seven years

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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger September 26, 2018

Pleasing Others While You Are Miserable

Clare had a big fight with her boyfriend Tom. She wanted him to come to dinner with her passive aggressive, dysfunctional family. Tom, understandably, did not wish to subject himself to this torment. Tom’s own family was critical and demanding. He had few happy memories of his family growing up.

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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger September 26, 2018

Things Are Clearest When Exposed to Frailty

One day a king decided to humble his most trusted servant. He said to him, “There is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to give to the queen for her birthday, which gives you six months to find it.” “If it exists anywhere

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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger September 26, 2018

4 Common Communication Mistakes

You can improve your communication skills by recognizing these four common mistakes. 1) We talk too much! When we talk about something that is sensitive, personal or difficult, we may talk around the subject. We may avoid being specific, trying to be polite, hoping the other person will somehow pick

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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger September 26, 2018

Are You Angry? Could It Be Sadness? Could It Be Anxiety?

Therapist: “Besides angry, how else do you feel when people disrespect you?” Client: “Sad.” Therapist: “Where does that sadness come from?” Client: “It’s always been there.” Therapist: “What’s the worst part?” Client: “Like I don’t count, like I’m not important.” Therapist: “Like you were invisible? Some use anger to get

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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger September 26, 2018