Creative Solutions

How common is domestic violence in first responders

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 05:35:00 GMT

Domestic violence is a problem that affects people from all walks of life, but it is especially prevalent among first responders. An estimated one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, but for first responders, that number is even higher. Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics often see the worst of humanity daily. They witness brutality, death, and destruction firsthand. This can take an emotional toll on even the strongest person. Add to that the stress of shift work, long hours, and being on call, and it's no wonder first responders are at a higher risk for domestic violence.

Counseling services can provide the support and protection victims of domestic violence need to heal and move on with their lives. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please seek counseling services immediately.

Counseling services can make all the difference for victims of domestic violence. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, counseling services can provide the support and protection needed to heal and move on with their lives. Don't suffer in silence - help is available. Seek counseling services today.

The silent epidemic of domestic abuse among first responders often goes unreported. These brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect others, but they often need protection. This blog post explored the high rates of domestic violence among first responders and offered counseling services to help those affected.

Who experiences the highest rate of domestic violence?

Women
Women ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 generally experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence

What profession has the highest domestic violence rate?

That would be police officers. Studies have found that a minimum of 40 percent of officers' families have experienced domestic violence. This can include anything from harassment and stalking to homicide. Social workers are experts in victim support but need practical cooperation, especially with the police, to help victims. Often their documentation on a case is not regarded as evidence in front of the court. There is abundant advice on how to deal with domestic violence – but in practice, prevention, detection and mitigation do not occur as often as they are needed.

Though most first responders can put the trauma of their job behind them when they return home, for some, the emotional weight of what they've seen manifests in harmful ways–namely, through domestic violence. Though it isn't discussed as often as it should be, data shows that domestic violence is a severe problem among first responders. If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, please reach out for help.

Our team at Creative Solutions specializes in helping first responders, and their families heal from trauma with our counseling services. Please don't suffer in silence–hope and help are always available.n. If you see any combination of these red flags in a person you know, reach out privately and tell them that you are there for them—no strings attached. If they need help but don't want to involve the police, offer to go with them to get restraining orders or help find safe shelters. And finally, if you are a victim yourself, please get help. You deserve it.

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How a Counselor Can Keep Someone from Committing Suicide | Creative Solutions

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 06:48:00 GMT

Working with suicidal clients can be intimidating and potentially even traumatic. It is also reasonably common. A 2003 survey of 238 predoctoral psychology interns found that 99% had treated at least one suicidal client. Among the same survey respondents, 5% had experienced the suicide of a client. Other research suggests the chance of losing a client to suicide rises as psychotherapists progress in their careers. In one survey, 28% of psychotherapists reported losing at least one client to suicide at some point.

So, what should we do when a client is suicidal?
Here are six things you should know:

Know About Laws and Protocol
Legal and ethical requirements are important when working with suicidal clients. Before you begin working with clients at your site, make sure to brush up on the federal and state laws related to reporting suicidality in your client population.

Know How to Ask
Always remember to ask each of your clients about suicidality.
Even that sweet old fellow who reminds you of grandad, or the 11 year old girl who presents with mild anxiety about cooties. Asking about suicidal thoughts can feel awkward at first, but your comfort will increase with practice.
The experience of suicidality is commonly broken down into three parts: ideation, intent, and plan

Know About Suicide vs. Self-Harm
An important distinction to make when assessing for suicidality involves differentiating suicide from self-harm, sometimes referred to in literature as "non-suicidal self-injury" or "NSSI". Suicidality and self-harm fall under a broad definition of self-directed [5]. As a therapist, recognizing the difference between suicidal and non-suicidal self-directed violence is important.

Know About Protective and Risk Factors
In addition to identifying the presence of suicidality and self-harm, you can estimate the relative risk of your client based on research.

Know About Your Resources
The first time I did a risk assessment, I felt really alone. How was I, a meager psych intern, supposed to keep this person safe?
Luckily, psychologists and counselors only represent one piece of the continuum of care for at-risk clients. Let's talk about what resources will be available for you and your client.

Know What to Do
After you have identified the presence of suicidality/self-harm and calculated some of the risk, you can feel more confident about taking the next step in treatment.
So, what is the next step?
First, calculate your client's safety risk.

Counselors can help prevent suicide by providing support and resources to people who are struggling. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please reach out to a counselor or suicide hotline today. Remember, suicide is preventable, and there is help available

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What’s the Difference Between Coaching and Consulting for Business?

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 04:30:00 GMT

So, what's the difference between coaching and consulting for business? The most significant difference is that business coaches help their clients achieve specific goals while business consultants provide expert advice. In other words, coaches help you take action and get results, while consultants give you direction. Another key difference is that coaches typically work with clients over an extended period (weeks or months), while consultants typically work with clients for a shorter period of time (days or weeks).

So, which one is right for you?
If you need help taking action and achieving specific business goals, then business coaching is the way to go. If you need expert advice on improving your business, then business consulting is the way to go.

Still not sure which one is right for you? Business coaching and consulting are both great options for business owners who want to improve their businesses. The best way to decide which is right is to schedule a consultation with a business coach or consultant. This will give you an opportunity to discuss your needs and goals and see if coaching or consulting is the right fit for you!

Consultant Coach
• Even when one person is the main client contact, the consultant usually works with more than one person, often in a team, group, board, or department.
• Structures projects for specific deliverable or result, which the consultant is primarily responsible for
• Usually problem-focused, i.e., identifies and tries to correct problems or weaknesses Builds on the client's strengths
• Regarded as the "expert" who will solve problems (the magic bullet)Enables the client to solve problems or change things for the better
• A consultant brings technical expertise to advise on solutions
• If behavior change is needed, consultant generally does not get involved in it
• Gathers data and reports on what needs to be done
• Time-limited; generally short-term and project-oriented results
• Provides information
• Goals generally related to programs and funding
• Requires limited commitment from client to implement

Coach
• Works on a one-to-one basis; may coach more than one person in an organization, individually
• Supports the client in achieving her or his own result or outcome
• Coach brings relationship expertise to support the client's solutions
• A focus on individual and interpersonal dynamics supports behavior change
• Facilitates growth
• Occurs over a period that generally involves renewable contracts; focused on long-term results
• Promotes self-discovery
• Values-based goal setting
• Maximizes client's commitment to implementing solutions

If you're not sure which service is right for your business, don't worry.

Contact us, and we can help you figure out what type of support will best help you achieve your goals. We offer coaching services to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses, as well as consulting services to provide ongoing support and guidance. With our help, you can take your business to the next level. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch today!

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5 Ways to Calm Recession Anxiety: Tips for Coping with Financial Stress

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 09:21:00 GMT

“We are being asked to expand and allow for so many crises, so many stressors to enter our energy field, we have to pull back,” she said. “We have to regain our power.”

2. Meet with a financial advisor
Since anxiety is really about uncertainty around future events, talking to a financial advisor could ease your mind, said Klontz, an associate professor of practice in financial psychology and behavioral finance at Creighton University Heider College of Business.

Northwestern Mutual’s 2022 Planning & Progress Study bears that out. Some 54% of U.S. adults said they are somewhat or very anxious about their finances, according to the survey, conducted with Harris Poll Feb. 8-17 and based on a sample of nearly 2,500 people.

However, that percentage drops to 46% for people who work with a financial advisor and 47% for those who self-identify as disciplined planners.

3. Do a ‘worst-case scenario’ exercise
This is Klontz’s favorite exercise, which leads you through what would happen in response to a series of events.

Talk about your fears, such as “I’m worried about a recession,” and then ask yourself, “Then what would happen?” Continue on from there, so if the answer to the first question was “I may lose my job,” ask yourself “Then what would happen?” Keep running all the scenarios from there, Klontz said.

“The worst-case scenario exercise is like jumping off an emotional cliff,” he said. “When you run through the scenarios, it is not life-threatening and it is not as bad as they fear it would be.” On the other hand, the stress that can do real damage. “Financial stress can kill you but it is rare that our financial situation is life-threatening,” Klontz said.

4. Take a moment
It may sound trite, but taking a moment to pause and take a few deep breaths can really help, according to Klontz.

“When we become emotionally flooded, we become rationally challenged,” he explained. “The key is to calm down your emotional brain before you make any decisions.” That can stop you from making bad financial decisions, like panic-selling stocks when the market goes down.

5. Expand your frame of reference
When the market sells off and the chart for the week makes it look like it fell off a cliff, that’s a narrow frame of reference, Klontz said. However, as a long-term investor, you want an expanded frame of reference. When you do that, the cliff actually looks more like a pothole, he explained.

"Stretch it out 10 years, 15 years,” Klontz said. “It is a steady climb up a mountain, with a couple potholes along the way.”

Also remember that people are typically invested in more than one asset class, so when you see the market dropping, know that your diversified portfolio may not be sinking as deeply.

Anxiety can be paralyzing during times of recession. However, there are ways to cope with the stress and anxiety that come with money worries. By narrowing your focus, meeting with a financial advisor, doing a worst case scenario, and taking a few deep breaths, you can take steps to managing your anxiety. If these tips don't help or if you feel like your anxiety is too much to handle on your own, please contact us for help. We offer treatments for all types of anxiety disorders and would be happy to assist you in any way we can.

SOURCE:
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/08/how-to-cope-with-recession-anxiety.html

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2 Years Later: Depression and the Pandemic

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 07:01:00 GMT

Most striking was that a year into the pandemic, depression rates remained high, despite hopeful signs of reducing infections and deaths. In April 2021, people were lining up for COVID-19 vaccine shots , doctors were finding better COVID-19 treatments and efforts to reopen society were under way. But by that point, the share of adults in our survey reporting symptoms of depression had gone up to 32.8%.

Worse yet, that higher 2021 number included 20.3% who had reported symptoms of depression both in April 2020 and in April 2021. This finding suggests that poor mental health driven by the pandemic was both prevalent and persistent.

What are people most depressed about as it pertains to the pandemic?

It was found that people in households earning less than US$20,000 a year were 3.5 times as likely to report persistent depression symptoms as those making $75,000.

It was also found that people who had $5,000 or more in savings or a bank account reported less persistent depression. Having more assets, however, did not reduce the depression inducing stress of losing a job, suffering relationship problems or experiencing financial difficulties during the pandemic.

Why it matters

Nearly 1 million U.S. lives have been lost to COVID-19, and there have been almost 5 million hospitalizations . But measuring the effect of the pandemic on the nation’s mental health is just beginning. And we believe the pandemic’s sustained impact on the nation’s mental health is unprecedented.

What we don’t know is whether depression and anxiety will continue to be such a significant problem in the months and years ahead. What we do know is that people who were struggling with mental health problems before the pandemic are still struggling, and that many more people have joined them.

This suggests that depression and anxiety caused by the pandemic may become a long-term public health concern, one that requires both immediate attention and sustained focus. We need to find ways to support those who are struggling now and help prevent others from experiencing these problems in the first place.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, there are resources available to help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/seven, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources. You can also call the Lifeline
at 800-273-TALK (800-273-82553).If you are in a crisis, text "HOME" to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Trained counselors are available 24/seven. Lastly, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness' website for additional resources and support options. Together, we will get through this.

Parts of the post were originally published on The Conversation UK.

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