Southeast Psych will be hosting a workshop on Posttraumatic Growth in Clinical Practice in June. Dr. Richard Tedeschi, who is considered one of the foremost experts in the study of posttraumatic growth, will be presenting her e at our Southpark office. He will discuss how therapists can help clients struggling through significant loss or trauma find their way toward deeper living, greater compassion, better self regard, and more appreciation of life. This workshop is open to all therapists but space is limited! Here is a quick overview:

• What is posttraumatic growth? Any positive change experienced as a result of a traumatic life event or crises
• What forms does it take?
  • A new opportunity that has emerged  as a result of the trauma
  • A change in relationships with others
  • An Increased sense of personal strength
  • A Greater appreciation of life in general
  • A deepening of spirituality
  • Who: Dr. Richard Tedeschi
  • What: Workshop on posttraumatic growth
  • Where: Southeast Psych – Southpark Office

6060 Piedmont Row Drive South, Suite 120, Charlotte, NC 28287

• When: Friday, June 28 – 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
• Details: $50 cost, 3 total CEU’s (APA-approved sponsor, Category A)

 Contact Patsy at checkout@southeastpsych.com or 704-552-0116 to register

For more posts, follow us on Twitter @SoutheastPsych or on Southeast Psych Facebook

Southeast Psych’s Dr. Desaree Festa was recently at an AAPHERD Convention and saw U.S. Olympic champion Steve Mesler give a talk on giving back to the community.

Steve Mesler is a 3 time American Olympian in 4-man bobsled. Steve and his team won gold for the U.S. for the first time in 62 years at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. His Olympic accomplishments have put him into the category of elite world class athletes. Steve is taking his athletic influence a step further into American classrooms. He is the co-founder of Classroom Champions which brings  Olympians and Paralympians into the classroom using technology. The idea behind the program is that role models and heroes help shape kids’ worlds. Technology today allows us to digitally connect these heroes with kids in schools all over regardless of the location. We all had our favorite athlete growing up. How cool would it be to be able to interact with them at school?  Classroom Champions takes elite Olympians and connects them with students using monthly video chats and lessons. The “athlete mentor” uses their own personal journey to teach about goal setting, competition, the hard work of training, and perseverance. The program also works with teachers to incorporate the activities into the curriculum.

Steve is a perfect example of an athlete expanding his influence into other areas of life. Using the platform of Olympic achievement and fame, he is reaching out and educating kids across the country. His work is still tied into athletics, but in a very different way. Steve, who graduated with honors from University of Florida, has been able to successfully apply more than just athletic skills to his work. He is also a consultant, motivational speaker, and TV host/commentator. Even after competing and succeeding at the ultimate level in sports, Steve has been able to continue to expand his passion and incorporate new facets of athletics into his life. He is an athlete that has gone above and beyond the competition in more ways than one.

To more about sports psychology contact Dr. Desaree Festa at dfesta@souteastpsych.com

Stay connected: Mind Over Body Facebook | @MindOverBodySEP

This summer, kids will be out of school and in need of enriching activities and outlets. Our Flicks and Friends group is a perfect opportunity for kids to have summer fun and learn social skills. We have four kid-friendly films lined up that also have a great message. In addition to pizza and snacks, there will also be activities and discussions related to the movies.  This group is a great way for kids to meet friends outside of school and learn social skills while they do it. It will be run by Dr. Kelley Bolton and Dr. Andrea Umbach, who are both developmental experts. Kids will learn to learn behavioral regulation and socialize with other kids in a group setting.

The four films include:

• Hook
• Wreck-It-Ralph
• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
• Parental Guidance

If you are looking for a way for your child to practice social skills in a really fun way, this group is the perfect summer opportunity. It starts Thursday June 20 and goes through August 22. Sibling discounts are available!

See the flyer for more information.

Stay connected: Southeast Psych Facebook | @SoutheastPsych

]]> http://blog.southeastpsych.com/2013/05/21/flicks-and-friends-summer-group/feed/ 0 http://blog.southeastpsych.com/2013/05/20/how-the-concept-map-can-help-you-study/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-the-concept-map-can-help-you-study http://blog.southeastpsych.com/2013/05/20/how-the-concept-map-can-help-you-study/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 14:06:20 +0000 Ben Berg http://blog.southeastpsych.com/?p=4714 So you’ve got a test coming up with a whole lot of key words and ideas. The extensive list of people, places, or terms can seem overwhelming and hard to wrap your head around. There are a couple of approaches to a test like this. You can study the terms passively and simply reread or repeat them. Or you can study actively and really make the connections your brain needs to remember the material. On this episode of the Mind Matters show, Becky Thomson shows us that a great way to accomplish this active studying is by building a concept map. This means taking the terms and making distinct connections between them to form a cohesive understanding of the concept. A concept map can be created in 3 easy steps:

1.       Choose your main idea: take the unit title or topic name (parts of a cell, for example) and place it in the center of your map in a box

2.       List key terms: these are all the important items you will be tested on (nucleus, DNA, mitochondria, etc.)

3.       Create your map: make connections from the main idea to the key terms one by one (the cell “is controlled by” the nucleus)

Concept maps can be hand drawn or digitally created with a site like bubbl.us. Once your map is complete, you will have a very visual and accessible understanding of the key terms. Creating the relationships between topics and terms gives your brain another connection to the information. The concept map will make studying a much more active process and will give you another approach the next time you have a list of key terms to tackle.

Another great way to study actively is by using the format shift.

Stay connected: Mind Matters Facebook | @MindMatters_SEP

The weather is finally warmer, and the school year is coming to a close. Here are five events to check out this weekend taking place in the Charlotte area.

1. Drumstrong 2013: This unique, multicultural musical charity event has something for everyone! Live music, vendors, health expo, KidZone activies, a 24-hour drum circle, and more. The event will raise money for cancer awareness, education, and survivorship. Register online.
2. Buskapalooza Street Performance Festival – III: Friday, May 17, 5:00 p.m. – Street performers of all kinds will be gathering on the streets of Charlotte starting at Trade and Tryon in honor of the premiere of BUSK!, a documentary on local street performers. Learn more.
3. Get Outdoors and Play Festival: Saturday, May 18 – Get the kids outside to enjoy the weather at this free event at Latta Plantation. Kid friendly activities include bug hunting, canoeing, sand castle building, mud art and more!
4. Cuthbertson Color Fun Run and Band-Aid Family Festival: Saturday, May 18 – Come out to Cuthbertson Middle school for a 5k Color Fun Run (you will be covered in color powder by the end) and stay for the family festival on the football field afterwards!
5. Charlotte Aquatics Passport to Safety: Sunday, May 19, 2:00 p.m. – Bring your kids out to “travel” with their passports through safety training zones including fire, water, biking, and more.  There will be a fire truck, hands on activities, and an appearance from Monkey Joe! Learn more.

Check back on Fridays for future “Top 5” lists!

Stay connected: Southeast Psych Facebook | @SoutheastPsych

There is an online movement in the social media world dubbed “thinspiration.” If you do a quick search on Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, or Instagram you will find copious amounts of photos, quotes, diets, tips, and posts targeted at young girls. The problem is that the majority of these pictures and posts have an emphasis on girls who are grossly underweight. The thinspiration tags are being used as a way to promote anorexia and bulimia in young adolescents. You will find pictures of extreme cases of anorexia being used as inspiration to reach that “ideal weight,” which in reality is incredibly unhealthy. Users are spreading this media and advocating dangerous and unhealthy methods of weight loss.  It’s a viral sensation.

Although some social media sites like Pinterest have tried to implement barriers to stop the spread of “thinspo” media, the users are just heading over to other sites like Instagram and Twitter.  There is a petition happening on change.org right now aiming to ban thinspiration hashtags from Twitter. The hashtags include things like #thinspo, #thinspiration, #proana (for pro-anorexia), and #promia (for pro-bulimia). These trends are dangerous and are incredibly triggering for women and men struggling to recover from Eating Disorders.

Banning these hashtags would not eradicate the problem but is a step in the right direction of stopping the spread of this hazardous trend. Eating Disorders are a serious mental health problem and social media trends like this are only fueling the fire.

To sign the petition and spread the word, visit change.org.

For more posts, follow us on Twitter @SoutheastPsych or on Southeast Psych Facebook

The following is an article by Dr. Brooke Thompson, GWU. To read the original post, click here. 

Stress is an inevitable part of our lives – we must meet our deadlines, feed the kids, walk the dog, and tend to the many other responsibilities of daily living. It is quite easy to get so caught up in our daily routines that we don’t take the necessary time to de-stress. As one of the biggest sporting events of the year, the NCAA basketball tournament, has come to an end, I find it only fitting to focus on one of the tournament’s major stories as an example of the perils of ignoring our stressors and failing to de-stress.

If you had a chance to watch the Louisville Cardinals play the Duke Blue Devils in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, you saw something you won’t likely ever forget. Kevin Ware of the Cardinals jumped to block the shot of one of his opponents. There was nothing unusual about the jump – he wasn’t engaging in high flying acrobatics, he wasn’t surrounded by anyone as he landed – it was a simple jump with a not so simple landing. As Kevin hit the floor his leg bent in a way that no leg should ever bend and he suffered what can undeniably be called one of the worst injuries in college basketball history. The reactions of his coaches and teammates spoke to the magnitude of the injury; several threw their towels over their faces while others fell to the floor in tears upon seeing the bone protruding from Kevin’s leg.

As I watched, I wondered how a solid bone could break so easily. You sometimes see these types of injuries in car accidents and maybe even in high contact sports such as football, but not in basketball, and not as a result of simply landing after a jump. Something must have damaged the bone to make it susceptible to such a significant injury. Although we can’t be sure, it is believed by some that this injury was caused by an underlying stress fracture. A stress fracture is a break in the continuity of a bone that occurs as a result of repeated use and inadequate rest. Having such a fracture will certainly affect the integrity of the bone and overtime, if not treated, the bone will no longer be able to support the body even in relatively simple movements.

Although most of us don’t physically tax our bodies to the extent that an elite athlete does, we all have experiences that cause us stress on a daily basis. If we let those experiences wear on us and don’t properly attend to our needs then we too may lose our solid foundation and become susceptible to “injury” – whether that injury is physical or psychological.

So, what can we do to ensure that we maintain our solid foundation so we don’t get sidelined like Kevin Ware? The first step is awareness. By identifying the stressors in our lives we can take the necessary actions to either eliminate them or find ways to effectively cope with them. At times we become so accustomed to our stress that we don’t even realize we are experiencing it. Taking the time to identify stress allows us to differentiate between a relaxed state and a tense state. Once we are able to differentiate between these states, the next step is to take the time to relax and de-stress. It is important to pause every once and a while, take a deep breath, and take some personal time. Even just a ten minute break can be beneficial. This time of mental rest and recovery may very well be the difference between successfully coping with your stressors and becoming overwhelmed by them.

By increasing awareness of your stressors you will be able to catch those “stress fractures” before they result in any serious damage like Kevin’s injury. But even if your stressors cause damage there is still hope. Although he won’t be playing basketball anytime soon, Kevin will make a full recovery and will play again. His spirit is strong and he was simply happy to cheer for his team to win the championship. And win the championship they did, with Kevin Ware watching each play from the sidelines. Although I haven’t followed the Cardinals much during the season, I couldn’t help but root for them this tournament season!

So, remember this story as a cautionary tale. Don’t allow the stress of everyday life to become overwhelming. Take the time to become aware of your daily stress and give yourself the necessary rest. What better month than April, Stress Awareness Month, to start your journey to a happier, healthier and more relaxed life.

Dr. Brooke Thompson is Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Gardner-Webb University.  The GWU School of Psychology and Counseling encourages critical thinking, the awareness of individual differences, and the importance of lifelong learning.

Never miss a post again! Follow us @SoutheastPsych or on Southeast Psych Facebook

College is a huge deal. For all the seniors in high school who are getting ready to head off to school in the fall, there is a lot to prepare for. Although the thought of college can be a daunting one, there are ways to prepare yourself. Our Thriving in College workshop on June, 12 is a one day training session that goes above and beyond the standard college orientation courses. Students will gain insight on academic, social, and emotional preparation from 3 expert psychologists (Dr. Desaree Festa, Dr. Andrea Umbach, and Dr. Heather Wright.) One of the most important parts about preparing for college is planning ahead and giving yourself enough time to prepare.

Topics will include:

• Academic skills: study tips, class formats, organization, scheduling, self-discipline, career path

• Socialization: dorm life, roommates, new friendships, social groups, social media, conflict resolution, healthy relationships

• Daily Living: time management, finances, independent living

• Healthy Living: exercise, eating, sleep, safety

• Emotional Regulation: transitioning, loneliness, depression, anxiety, stress management, coping skills, resources

This comprehensive workshop is for any student entering or transitioning into college. There is also a parent session afterwards to help parents understand developmental changes in young adults and how to remain an ally throughout the college experience.

Check out the workshop flyer.

Never miss a post again! Follow us @SoutheastPsych or on Southeast Psych Facebook

Challenging the notion of the typical classroom can be an essential step for learning success. In a previous blog, we described “reversing the classroom.”  Emphasizing variability in schools is another concept with plenty of potential. The following is taken from QEDfoundation.org   and is written by Jason Flom.

We design for variability we can see. But what about the variability we can’t?

By default, we tend to design learning environments for efficiency and the average student, but in doing so do we limit the potential inherent in the unseen variability of students’ brains? Are we, by default, failing to capitalize on one our nation’s most underutilized assets: diversity? Todd Rose thinks so.

Todd Rose is a research scientist with CAST and a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he teaches Educational Neuroscience. He makes a strong case for re-thinking how we go about designing learning environments that “genuinely support the full range of the learners in our classrooms.” He argues for cultivating an ecosystem of “learning opportunities” through “understanding variability and understanding how to design for it” as a method for leveraging the diversity of our student body, and making schools/cyberlearning more relevant, meaningful, and valuable in the process. We could not agree more.

It is a concept whose time has come.

To read the full blog, and to see Todd Rose’s lecture, click here.

Stay connected: Mind Matters Facebook | @MindMatters_SEP

Let’s face it. We owe moms a lot. From the hundreds of meals she has made to the obnoxious behavior she put up with.  Mother’s Day is this Sunday and it is the least we can do to dedicate a day to someone who dedicated so much to us. Take this weekend as an opportunity to tell moms everywhere thank you. Flowers and a card are always great, but if you’re looking for another way to show her you care, here are 5 ways to celebrate Mother’s Day:

1. Take mom out to brunch – Head to her favorite breakfast spot and take the family for a meal.
2. Take over her to-do list – Run errands for her, grocery shop, clean the house, organize the attic. A busy mom would greatly appreciate a day off around the house.
3. Cook her a meal – Whether it’s breakfast in bed or dinner at home, serve your mom a meal. She will appreciate it. Make sure you take care of the cleanup, too!
4. Take her to the spa – Let mom relax and de-stress. Give her a day away from it all. The Spa at Ballantyne Resort is a great spot in Charlotte.
5. Say thank you – Get the family together and think of all the reasons you are thankful for mom. Take the list and make a personalized card, photomontage, or even a video!  Mom will love it.

Whatever you decide to do, the important thing is that you show your appreciation and let her know all her work doesn’t go unnoticed. So to my own mom, and all the mothers out there – thank you.

Check back on Fridays for future “Top 5” lists!

Stay connected: Southeast Psych Facebook | @SoutheastPsych