A counselorssoapbox.com video by David Joel Miller, LMFT, LPCC
What is complex trauma?
Not everyone who experiences a trauma ends up with a mental illness. Some traumas are easier to heal from than others. Researchers have described a condition called complex trauma which is a subtype of PTSD and more difficult to heal from. This video explores what complex trauma is and the signs and symptoms someone with complex trauma would experience.
A counselorssoapbox.com video by David Joel Miller, LMFT, LPCC
Could you have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness caused by exposure to stress. It is similar to some other trauma and stress are related disorders. People with PTSD may also experience several other mental illnesses. What are some of the signs and symptoms of PTSD? How would you know if you were experiencing PTSD?
A counselorssoapbox.com video by David Joel Miller, LMFT, LPCC
The six types of hallucinations.
We say hallucinations most people think immediately of seeing things or hearing voices, but there are six primary types of hallucinations. Some hallucinations are connected to mental illness. Drug use can cause temporary hallucinations or if the drug use damages the brain those hallucinations can become permanent, something we call substance-induced hallucinations. This video explains briefly the six types of hallucinations.
Will your counselor keep your secrets?
If you’re considering counseling, it’s important to understand what things you tell your counselor will be kept secret and what things they may be required to report. This video explains the concept of confidentiality, exceptions to confidentiality, and how to tell if the counselor will keep your secret.
Part of the drug treatment field involves efforts to prevent drug use disorders or to reduce their impact. Counselors need to be knowledgeable about drug education, and the various types of prevention initiatives. Drug prevention includes primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention. There are three basic prevention models around which programs are built, the sociocultural model, the disruption of consumption model, and the prescriptive model. It’s important that drug prevention programs not end up being advertising for drugs. Prevention may include drug resistance training and life skills training. Other prevention initiatives include social host ordinances, worksite prevention programs (EAP) establishing college drinking norms, and harm reduction.
Drug Counseling Video #11 Recovery.
What is recovery from addiction and alcoholism? After drug treatment comes recovery. Recovery involves many dimensions. This video explores how we measure recovery, the role of feelings and recovery, and relapse triggers. Unhelpful thoughts can be detrimental to recovery and it’s important to recognize when you’re having unhelpful thoughts. Recovery also involves learning how to handle urges and what to do if the recovering person should have a relapse.
Drug Counseling Video #10 Individual Counseling Skills.
Two basic drug counseling skills involve the use of motivational enhancement and the knowledge of the stages of change a client may be moving through. Stages of change include pre-contemplative, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and possible relapse. Skills needed for motivational interviewing include the ability to express empathy, develop discrepancies, roll with resistance, and support self-efficacy.
