Crisis in Children’s Mental Health

\Since March 2020, we have all been trying to stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. One unexpected outcome of the pandemic has been the devastating impact on the mental health of children, exacerbating the children’s mental health crisis.  While many experts suggest that youth were already facing a mental health crisis prior to the pandemic, data from the Centers for Disease Control suggest that the emergency department visits for a mental health concern increased for children ages 5-11 (by 24%) and adolescents ages 12-15 (by 31%).  In addition, data collected through a Kaiser Family Foundation poll showed that parents reported that their children’s mental health is currently worse than prior to the pandemic.

 

When we examine the mental health crisis among Black youth specifically the suicide rates among Black youth have continued to increase faster than other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. In addition, many facilities that target child and adolescent mental health reported being significantly understaffed, wait times for services increased, and there is a lack in diversity of mental health providers to address the unique mental health needs of diverse youth. Collectively, this led to the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Children’s Hospital Association declaring a national state of emergency on child and adolescent mental health in October 2021. 

 

We know that Black youth disproportionally face additional stressors that negatively impact mental health including racism and health inequalities and disparities.  While Black Mental Wellness does not provide direct clinical care, we provide trainings for a range of individuals involved in the care and development of youth, specifically, mental health professionals, school systems/school staff, national youth mentorship programs, non-profit organizations, and colleges/universities. Further, we create and implement programming to directly educate various populations about child and adolescent mental health, provide trainings on cultural sensitivity when assessing and treating youth, and in work directly with youth. We also actively work with youth in-person and in virtual spaces to learn initial ways to identify their feelings and engage in healthy coping strategies.

 

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Upcoming Webinar

We invite you to join us on our webinar “Strategies for Increasing Diversity and Supporting Students in the Mental Health Field” on July 11, 2022

 

 

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About Black Mental Wellness

Black Mental Wellness is a corporation of licensed Clinical Psychologists who are passionate about addressing mental health and wellness concerns specific to the Black community.

www.BlackMentalWellness.com

Addressing the Need for Effective Crisis Response and Treatments for Suicide: Childrens Institute in Los Angeles

Dr. Lisa Firestone has been invited to conduct online workshops on Effective Crisis Response and Treatments for Suicide since the pandemic. These 6-hour workshops provide licensed mental health professionals with the required 6 hour continuing education units and training required for license renewal.  Childrens Institute (CII) in Los Angeles is an agency that has invited Dr. Firestone to provide this training on several occasions.

 

At Childrens Institute (CI) throughout the last few years, there has been an increase in referrals for situations that involve suicidality amongst children, youth, and families. In response, CI made the decision to provide a focused training on suicide for their staff.

 

The data shows that suicidality among our youth continues to rise. The increase in numbers means that anyone working with children and youth will be exposed to suicide at some point in their careers. We knew that information and training such as this, help staff be better equipped to respond to children, youth, and families in crisis.

 

Anyone working in community mental health or working in our schools could benefit with such a training.  We now plan to provide this type of training on a yearly basis.

 

Here are some comments from our staff that attended the training

  • It was so helpful to go through the safety planning step-by-step
  • This training helped me be better equipped to assist clients in this area by such a knowledgeable trainer.
  • I particularly appreciated the statistics and they were applied to the population. Also risk factors and how to identify them.
  • I enjoyed the presenter providing real examples of how to use the skills being taught.
  • I appreciated that the trainer was extremely knowledgeable and provided an informative and engaging training with video examples that supported the training elements.

 

Childrens Institute (CII) was founded in 1906 by Minnie Barton to provide shelter to women.

To this day, women continue to play a powerful role at CII. CII has grown to expand the reach within the communities we serve with innovative programs and services. Children’s Institute’s (CII) two generational approach strengthens individual, family, and community capacity for healing, wellness, and success. CII has four main campuses serving the Los Angeles communities:

Otis Booth, Watts Campus, Long Beach Center, and Figueroa Center.

 

To learn more about Childrens Institute visit childrensinstitute.org               

Ingrid E. Mürrle, LMFT
Senior Clinical Specialist

Childrens Institute

 

If you’re interested in booking a training with Dr. Firestone, contact Jina Carvalho at Jina@glendon.org

 

Online Course:

If you’re interested in learning more from Dr. Lisa Firestone on Suicide: Effective Risk Assessment and Intervention click here.

Treating OCD with Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy:

An Interview with Dr. Daniel Zamir

 

Dr. Zamir is the president of the Anxiety and Panic Disorders Clinic of Santa Barbara. He will join us this April for a CE Webinar on “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Key Principles of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).” Sign up now to join the live event or to receive a video recording after the webinar’s taken place.

Q: Is there a genetic basis for OCD? Does it tend to run in families?

 

A: OCD does run in families and twin studies indicate a high degree of genetic influence on whether someone will develop OCD. Researchers are even starting to determine specific genes that likely play a role in the development of OCD. See more here.  

The environment can play a role in that highly stressful events can trigger OCD symptoms for someone who is already susceptible to OCD. High stress situations can also trigger relapse in someone who has achieved remission from OCD. 

 

Q: Do you think Jeffrey Swartz’s Book Brain Lock is helpful for OCD patients to read as an adjunct to their therapy and their medications? For example, can they successfully follow the four steps Relabel, reattribute, refocus and revalue recommended by Swartz, and achieve a gradual decrease in their symptoms?

 

A: I have found this book useful for conceptualizing OCD and having a simple and straightforward plan for dealing with OCD. I think it could be a useful adjunct to therapy. I have also found the books Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts to be very useful for people to use during treatment for OCD with ERP to increase understanding and progress.

 

Q: Is it necessary to trace the psychological factors influencing OCD to early childhood trauma in order to effectively deal with the symptoms?

 

A: This is not necessary and likely to be misleading. There is no evidence that OCD is caused by childhood trauma. We have effective methods for treating OCD that get at the root of the problem. These methods address the core aspects of OCD. OCD is a highly heritable condition and childhood trauma does not appear to be the primary driver of OCD symptoms.

 

Q: What part do fears of death play in triggering a “Sticky Brain” ( an obsessive thought process and avoidant compulsive behaviors?)

 

A: For some people OCD can be related to fear of death or fear of other bad things happening. ERP addressed this directly and would involve exposure to these fears and the development of greater tolerance of things that are outside of our control. ERP can help people to develop acceptance of things that are outside of their control and to help them to habituate to anything that they are afraid of. Additionally, it helps them to develop greater tolerance of uncertainty and less reactivity to fearful thoughts. 

Q: What part does the critical inner voice play in maintaining OCD patients’ obsessive rumination and providing them with incorrect perceptions of reality?

 

A: I think it would be misguided to see intrusive thoughts related to OCD as a critical inner voice. These intrusive thoughts have a different origin and are fundamentally different than self-critical thoughts. That being said, people with OCD are often highly conscientious and they may be more prone to negative self-talk. When this is the case, these critical thoughts also need to be addressed. 

 

Q: Do you think the methods of Voice Therapy can be effective as an adjunct to Therapy in cases of OCD?

 

A: In the event described above where someone has negative self-talk in addition to OCD, voice therapy or cognitive therapy interventions may be necessary to address these self-critical thoughts.

 

Q: How do you help kids get over a fear of dogs, or thunder, or germs?

 

A: While these are not necessarily related to OCD, there are related methods of exposure therapy that can be used to treat phobias in kids and adults. Gradual exposure or systematic desensitization to feared stimuli can help people to overcome their fears and phobias. 

 

Q: How do you deal with the anger that patients express toward you when you are encouraging them to gradually give up a avoidance behavior?

 

A: I don’t tend to see a lot of anger, as I attend to building a strong therapeutic relationship with my clients. I also help them to have a clear conceptualization of their OCD such that they are highly motivated to eliminate avoidance, compulsions, and safety behaviors that maintain their OCD. I develop collaborative treatment plans with clients and get their buy in early so that they are the ones pushing for change and helping to identify their own behaviors that need to be changed in order for them to gain relief from their OCD

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Challenging the Fantasy Bond

By Dr. Robert Firestone

 

The Glendon Association is pleased to announce the publication of Challenging the Fantasy Bond, a timely revision of Dr. Robert Firestone’s popular book, The Fantasy Bond, which was first published in 1985. Over the last few years, the staff at the Glendon Association has been encouraging Robert Firestone to update The Fantasy Bond, but his interest in writing new books and articles kept him from taking on the task. Then, in early 2020, when the world suddenly shut down and he had to quarantine to avoid Covid, Bob began looking for a project to take on during the pandemic, and Glendon’s request came to mind.

 

In the Spring of 2020, Bob put together a team to work with that included his original collaborator, Joyce Catlett, his daughter, psychologist Lisa Firestone, and his usual editors, Jo Barrington and Tamsen Firestone. The five of them revised The Fantasy Bond with the mission of bringing The Fantasy Bond into the 21st century. By the summer of 2021, Challenging the Fantasy Bond was complete and, by early 2022, APA had published it.

 

The organization and purpose of the book mirrors the original; to elucidate the fundamental theory of the fantasy bond. The first section introduces the fantasy bond and includes information about the fantasy bond in relation to Separation Theory and then in relation to couples and families. The second section discusses the dimensions of the fantasy bond, including the idealization process within the family as well as one’s negative self-concept. The third section explores the behavioral manifestations of the fantasy bond which have deleterious effects on individuation. This includes a discussion regarding unfulfilling inwardness, withholding and regression, as well as the impact of the fantasy bond on one’s sexuality.

 

The Fantasy Bond has continued to sell well over the years, greatly helped by word-of-mouth, thanks to people like Marc Maron and his WTF podcast. While these readers have been benefitting from the ideas put forth in this classic work, they have also been having trouble identifying with examples that have become dated and old fashioned. The examples in Challenging the Fantasy Bond are new, and therefore more reflective of the population in today’s world, representing various sexual orientations, ethnicities, ages, occupations, and income groups.

 

In addition, Challenging the Fantasy Bond has the benefit of the last 35 years of research and developments in the realm of psychology and related fields. This new book includes the latest findings from the neurosciences, attachment theory, and terror management theory. During the years between the publication of these two books, Drs. Robert and Lisa Firestone have continued to research and to develop the concept of the critical inner voice, which has led to a further assessment and development of Voice Therapy methodology. These findings are presented in Challenging the Fantasy Bond.

 

The concluding section of Challenging the Fantasy Bond expands the concept of the fantasy bond by exploring it more broadly, applying it to the operations of society at large. In a discussion of theoretical issues, the last chapters examine the function of the fantasy bond as it relates to death anxiety, society and conformity, and, finally, polarization, prejudice, and warfare. In the Introduction, Robert Firestone writes,

 

This edition is especially timely because it identifies significant psychological and social factors, based on people’s defensive responses to existential fears, which contribute to malignant prejudice, warfare, terrorism and ethnic cleansing. Developing an understanding of the role played by the fantasy bond as a powerful defence against death anxiety that ultimately leads to polarization and divisiveness between groups and nations, may well be essential to human existence.

 

ORDER YOUR COPY

 

Pages: 287
Item #: 4317595
ISBN: 978-1-4338-3581-0

Publication Date: February 2022

Format: Paperback
Availability: In Stock

Challenging the Fantasy Bond is available on Amazon, APA’s website, and local independent bookstores.

Challenging the Fantasy Bond: A Search for Personal Identity and Freedom

by Robert W. Firestone, Ph.D.,

Why are many of us compelled to repeat the pain of our past, while avoiding positive experiences that could enrich our lives?

This much-anticipated follow-up to the critically-acclaimed and bestselling The Fantasy Bond tackles the complex question of why so many of us are compelled to repeat the pain of our past while avoiding positive experiences that could enrich our lives.

In this thought-provoking book, clinical psychologist and theorist Robert Firestone explains how the fantasy bond, an illusion of connection, develops early in childhood to cope with the pain and frustration resulting from parental misattunement, neglect, or mistreatment. It is manifested as a destructive internal thought process, the critical inner voice. Later, the fantasy bond is extended to family members, intimate partners, and social groups. In Challenging the Fantasy Bond, Dr. Firestone presents his latest thoughts and observations about the self-defeating aspects of this process and places the original concepts in the broader context of his overall theoretical approach, Separation Theory.

Compelling case studies illustrate how the critical inner voice causes considerable pain and discomfort and interferes with intimacy. These case studies demonstrate how Voice Therapy, a cognitive/affective/behavioral methodology, can be used to counteract these destructive internal messages and help individuals embrace the present, instead of reliving the past.

Challenging our illusions of a merged identity and moving toward separation and individuation are essential if we are to become fully autonomous human beings. This thorough update of a classic work is particularly timely in its identification of the existential fears that contribute to prejudice, political divisiveness, and ethnic strife.

2022, American Psychological Association; 1st edition

Paperback — 287 pages
ISBN: 1433835819

 

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Daring to Love

by Tamsen Firestone
Robert Firestone, Ph.D.

When it comes to finding love, are you standing in your own way? Daring to Love will help you identify the internal barriers that cause you to sabotage your love life, open yourself up to vulnerability, and build the intimate, lasting relationship you truly desire.

After a breakup, most of us spend a lot of time thinking long and hard about what the other person did to cause it, rather than reflecting on ourselves. It seems self-evident that we want our romantic relationships to work, and that love and long-term commitment are our ultimate goals. But what if our desire for love is actually not as straightforward as our emotions make us believe? What if, instead of pursuing love, we are unconsciously pushing it away?

In Daring to Love, Tamsen and Robert W. Firestone offer techniques based in Robert Firestone’s groundbreaking voice therapy—the process of giving spoken word to unhealthy patterns—to help you understand how you are getting in your own way on the quest for true love. Love, the Firestones argue, makes us vulnerable and triggers old defenses we formed in childhood, causing us to sabotage our relationships in myriad subtle—and not-so-subtle—ways. Using the voice therapy strategies in this book, you will be able to identify your own defensive patterns and uncover the destructive messages your critical inner voice is telling you about yourself, your partners, and your relationships.

If you’re struggling to cultivate lasting relationships, this book can help you embark on your next romantic journey with more openness and self-knowledge.

2018, Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc

Paperback — 208 pages
ISBN: 1684030730

 

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Overcoming the Destructive Inner Voice

by Robert W. Firestone, Ph.D.,

Many people grapple with destructive thought processes or a “critical inner voice” that directs their behavior and, to varying degrees, limits their lives. Using deeply personal and very human stories based on his own clinical practice, noted psychologist Robert W. Firestone illustrates the struggles of his clients to give words to this “enemy within,” and in the process overcome its damaging influence. These revealing and captivating stories offer glimpses into the uniquely human relationship that develops in the therapeutic encounter and demonstrate the powerful impact that the experience has on both client and therapist.Dr. Firestone is the originator of a therapeutic method called “Voice Therapy,” by which clients learn to identify the language of the defense system and eventually separate their own point of view from its harmful effects. Each story provides an intimate look into one person’s life, illuminates aspects of his or her “dark side,” and highlights an important insight into the therapeutic process.This sensitively written book will evoke emotional responses in readers, and inspire them to take action to challenge the dictates of their own inner critic. Taken together, these stories underscore the distinctive merits and continuing relevance of the therapeutic process, especially in our distracted, technological world increasingly detached from feeling.

2016, Buffalo, NY: Prometheus

Paperback — 240 pages
ISBN: 1633882519

 

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The Enemy Within

by Robert W. Firestone, Ph.D.,

The Enemy Within: Separation Theory and Voice Therapy is a compendium of the life work of renowned theorist and clinical psychologist, Robert Firestone. The book brings to light his holistic approach to understanding human behavior, relationships, and crucial socio¬ political issues. Separation Theory is derived from Firestone’s primary focus in psychotherapy on helping individuals separate from critical thoughts and destructive emotional ties or fantasy bonds. Voice Therapy — a powerful technique that enables clients to challenge destructive thoughts – is illustrated with compelling case examples. In addition, The Enemy Within reveals the important impact of death awareness on life. A basic defense against death anxiety is a strong identification with the in-group and at the same time, a tendency to polarize people against others with different attitudes and beliefs. The author’s thesis is that this collective defense contributes to ethnic strife and the problems of racism, terrorism, and warfare. The book is a valuable and timely contribution to the literature in the mental health field and the other social sciences.

2017, Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc

Paperback — 432 pages
ISBN: 1934442577

 

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Creating Thriving Relationships with Dan Siegel

Watch Now

 

 

In this Webinar:

This Webinar will feature a lively discussion between friends and colleagues Drs. Dan Siegel and Lisa Firestone on the essential elements to create thriving relationships. Siegel and Firestone will draw on the latest wisdom from the fields of neuroscience and attachment, as well as their own combined six decades of working with couples to offer insight into the power of love and connection. In addition, they will offer mindful strategies for creating more closeness, presence and joy in romantic relationships.

 

 

There are NO CEs available for this Webinar.

 

Learn about the eCourse “Love and Connection” with Drs. Lisa Firestone and Dan Siegel.

Understanding and Overcoming Adverse Childhood Events

Recent research has changed our understanding of how our early childhood experiences affect us throughout our lives. This Webinar will illuminate the dramatic impact of Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) as well as life-changing ways a person can heal and overcome their effects.

 

  • What are ACEs?
  • What impact do ACEs have on our lives?
  • How can Positive Childhood Events (PCEs) counter the impact of ACEs?
  • What therapy methodologies have proven effective in treating ACEs?
  • How can people enhance emotional regulation, heal from, and overcome ACEs?

 

$15.00Add to cart

 

In this 90-minute Webinar, Dr. Lisa Firestone will explain the role of ACEs in shaping a person’s life. She will define what ACEs are and explore recent eye-opening findings on their short and long-term effects on people’s mental and physical health.

Participants in the Webinar will learn interventions both in childhood and adulthood that can be extremely beneficial to those affected by ACEs. Dr. Firestone will illuminate the value of creating a coherent narrative to help people make sense of their experience and resolve early trauma. In addition, she will explore the role of Positive Childhood Events (PCEs) in buffering the impact of ACEs.

Dr. Firestone will further introduce Trauma-informed Therapy as a powerful method for healing from ACEs and will outline the steps of Voice Therapy as a cognitive/ behavioral/ affective approach to understanding and challenging painful attitudes people have internalized that relate to their trauma.

Finally, she will share tools people can use to enhance their emotional regulation and help them with anxiety that can arise when addressing early trauma. All of these tools can help people make sense of the impact of their childhood, so they can live more freely in their present lives.

 

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define Adverse Childhood Events
  2. Describe interventions that can help people overcome Adverse Childhood Events
  3. Discuss a cognitive/affective/behavioral approach for challenging painful attitudes related to trauma
  4. Describe tools  to enhance emotional regulation

 

Presenter: Lisa Firestone, Ph.D.
90 Minutes
Price: $15 (CE’s not included)

 

$15.00Add to cart

 

1.5 CE Credits sold separately More Info Here

 


 

Ordering Information:

 

Once payment is received, you will be e-mailed a full video recording of this Webinar along with all presentation materials.

Optional CEs (1.5) may be purchased through R. Cassidy Seminars for $10. A link to purchase CE credits will be included in the email containing all your Webinar resources. More Info Here


 

 About Lisa Firestone

 

Dr. Lisa Firestone Phd, Lisa Firestone, Psychalive, The Glendon AssociationDr. Firestone is the Director of Research and Education at The Glendon Association and a Senior Editor at PsychAlive. An accomplished and much requested lecturer, Dr. Firestone speaks at national and international conferences in the areas of couple relations, parenting, and suicide and violence prevention. Dr. Firestone has published numerous professional articles, and most recently was the co-author of The Self Under Siege: A Therapeutic Model for Differentiation (Routledge, 2013), Sex and Love in Intimate Relationships (APA Books, 2006), Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice (New Harbinger, 2002), and Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion: The Wisdom of Psychotherapy (APA Books, 2003).

 


 

Continuing Education Information:

 

This event is co-sponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars.  A link to purchase CE credits will be provided to all Webinar registrants.

Satisfactory Completion

Participants must have paid tuition fee, signed in, attended the entire seminar, completed any accompanying reading assignment, completed an evaluation, and signed out in order to receive a certificate. Failure to sign in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available.

Psychologists

Cassidy Seminars is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education for psychologists. R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for this program.

Social Workers

Cassidy Seminars, ACE provider #1082 is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program. Approval Period: April 15, 2012-April 15, 2015. R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for the program. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval. Social workers will receive 1.5 live or homestudy continuing education (clinical, social work ethics) clock hours in participating in this course.

Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.

Note: Many state boards accept offerings accredited by national or other state organizations. If your state is not listed, please check with your professional licensing board to determine whether the accreditations listed are accepted.