June 3rd, 5:30pm @ Doorways
Presentation Led by Jan Hamilton, MS, PMHNP-BC, CEDS
Jan is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in Adolescent and Young Adult psychiatric care, founder of Doorways, committed to adolescents and family health.
The June parenting workshop will educate parent about brain development by discussing what’s “normal” and what could indicate a mental health issue that needs treatment with counseling or medication.
May 6th – 5:30pm-6:30pm at Doorways
What is the balance between feeding our kids “healthy” choices and teaching them it’s okay to enjoy foods with less nutritional density?
Orthorexia is the term used to define the obsession with healthy eating. Come discuss ways to encourage your kids to make good choices without creating food rules that can lead to a harmful preoccupation with food”.
Led by Bethany Dario, MPH, RDN, Registered Dietitian
Bethany Dario is a Registered Dietitian who graduated from Bluffton University majoring in Food and Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics. She completed a clinical internship with The Cleveland Clinic and completed a Master of Public Health at Grand Canyon University. She has had specialized training in eating disorders and has treated anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Bethany has lead body image groups for the department of Psychology and sororities within Greek Life at The University of Texas at Austin.
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This presentation will highlight recent neuroscience findings in eating disorders. There will be a focus on set shifting, learning, habit formation, and reward pathways that underlie the symptoms seen in Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder with a focus on the corresponding functional pathway changes seen in the brain. We will discuss how these neuroscience findings can be translated into treatment modalities for treating eating disorders including nutritional interventions, medications, transmagnetic stimulation, and therapeutic interventions (CBT, DBT, MBT, CRT). There will be an in-depth discussion of the effects of malnutrition on the brain and the interaction between nutrition and mood/emotional regulation and how nutrition can be effectively utilized as a tool in treating these difficulties. The overall goal is for attendees to have an understanding on brain changes in functions and structure that occur in treating disorders and how knowledge of this can drive the appropriate interventions. 8:30-8:50 am Registration/Networking 8:50-9:00 am Announcements/Intros 9:00-10:30am Presentation 10:30-11:00 Questions/Networking Sheraton Crescent Crestview Room 2620 West Dunlap Ave (I-17 & Dunlap) Phoenix, AZ 85021 **Breakfast Included**
Topic: Current Drug Trends affecting our Kids
Speaker: Jason Klarer, LAC, Licensed Associate Counselor
-What are some common drugs your kids might be exposed to?
-Is Marijuana really harmless?
-How could you tell if there is a drug problem with your kid?
Jason is a licensed counselor who specializes in substance abuse issues, mood disorders, co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis), and faith based counseling. He received his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Arizona University and went on to work for the Phoenix Rescue Mission- treating individuals who struggle with addiction and poverty. Jason has significant knowledge and experience of recovery and formerly oversaw the various recovery ministries of Vineyard Church North Phoenix. Jason uses a Person Centered Theory approach which incorporates CBT, Mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing. When not working, Jason enjoys playing basketball with his son, reading, and serving the homeless population.
The Substance Use Disorder IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) at Doorways is a group therapy program for teens ages 13-17 who are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse. The program will take place at our teen counseling clinic in Phoenix, Arizona.
IOP may be recommended for those who do not need medically-supervised detox. IOP can also enable people in recovery to continue their recovery therapies following successful detox, on a part-time yet intensive schedule, designed to accommodate school and family life.
In the Substance Use Disorder Intensive Outpatient Program, you receive services primarily through group therapy. Groups are small and generally do not exceed 10 people, allowing for a safe and supportive environment.
Doorways has insurance contracts with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna and United Behavioral Healthcare for our IOP services. Please contact your insurance provider for coverage limits.
Call us at 602-997-2880 or email IOP@Doorwaysarizona.com for more information. This IOP is set to begin in March of 2019.
February’s Doorways Parenting Workshop will be focusing on Self-Esteem and your teenagers. We will explore the current effects social media is having on our kids. How does what they watch, subscribe to and give hours to affect their precious self-esteem? And what can we, as parents, do to encourage a true and right perspective on their self-perception and worth?
Join us!
Monday, February 4th from 5:30pm-6:30pm at Doorways for this Free workshop!
Our parenting workshops are FREE, informative, lively and will leave you knowing you are not alone in this journey of raising teenagers.
This workshop will be led by:
Jason Ellis, MA-Pastoral Services
Behavioral Health Paraprofessional
Jason has spent the last 30 years in youth ministry in Arizona and Oregon. He has a heart for young people and families and longs to see them living life to the fullest. He spends time in the outdoors as often as possible, has a recent growing love of pickleball and makes amazing pizza in his wood fired pizza oven at home.
Jason is married, has 3 kids and is currently enrolled in the MFT program at the Phoenix extension of the Fuller campus. Jason has spent the last three decades working with teenagers and raising three of his own.
The workshop is free, but seats are limited.
Text 602-999-8389 to confirm your attendance.
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The dangers of taking hard drugs like heroin and cocaine have been highlighted over the years. Recently, the abuse of prescription drugs appears to be on the rise in America’s young population.
This may be due to a popular misconception that prescription drugs are less harmful than street drugs. However, studies show that over-the-counter medications can be equally addictive and could lead to fatalities if they are not used according to doctor’s direction.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), people aged 18 to 25 are the top abusers of prescription drugs in the US. Data from the NIH shows that up to 1,700 young adults died from the abuse of prescription drugs in the US in 2014.
The number of people in this age range who die from an overdose and other forms of prescription drug abuse yearly has spiked since 1999.
Types of Prescription Drug Abuse
There are three main categories of prescription drugs that are widely abused:
1. Depressants: These types of drugs, which include sleeping pills and barbiturates, have varied effects on patients including drowsiness, reducing anxiety, lowering blood pressure and more. Some examples of depressants that are abused include Xanax, valium, amytal, phenobarbital, Ambien, sonata, and more.
2. Medications Containing Opioids and Morphine: Drugs which contain opioids and morphine are arguably the most abused today. Currently, the US is dealing with what has been described as an opioid epidemic.
As many as 19,354 people died in 2016 due to abuse of opioids. These drugs are usually prescribed for pain relief. Some examples of opioid and morphine-derived medicines that are widely abused include medications that contain codeine, Roxane, methadone, Duragesic, Vicodin, oxytocin, Darvon, and many others.
3. Central Nervous System Stimulants: As you can probably guess from the name of this category, stimulants are drugs used to induce increase energy and alertness in patients. Some stimulant drugs that are abused include Adderall, concerta, biphetamine, Dexedrine, Ritalin, and more.
How Prescription Drugs are Abused
The abuse involves using the prescription drug for non-medical purposes or failing to use it in the way prescribed by the doctor. Some people swallow multiple tablets of these drugs, some inject them, some smoke them, and some even snort them.
Why Prescription Drugs are Abused
There are several reasons why people abuse prescription drugs. Some of the reasons are:
Dangers of Abusing Prescription Drugs
There are many dangers of abusing prescription drugs.
1. Physical Dependence and Addiction: This is one of the top consequences of abusing drugs. People can quickly develop a craving for the stimulation that prescription drugs provide. This often leads to physical dependence and addiction.
2. Risky Behavior: People who abuse prescription drugs tend to engage in risky behavior which can result in accidents or imprisonment.
3. Crime: Drug abuse and crime are closely linked. People who abuse prescription drugs are likely to commit crimes.
4. Use of Illegal Drugs: Abusing prescription drugs can lead people to start abusing street drugs.
5. Unstable Relationships: Another consequence of abusing prescription drugs is troubled relationships. People around drug abusers tend to have a hard time coming to terms with their poor choices as well as their mood swings and this often damages their relationship.
Doorways Can Help You Deal with Prescription Drug Abuse
If you are abusing prescription drugs or you have a friend or relative who is, Doorways can help. We have a team of dedicated staff who help every step of the way by providing a safe and supportive environment.
Our approach involves helping patients identify the things that made them start abusing prescription drugs and offer counseling to enable them to overcome these issues. Give us a call now at 602-997-2880.
Social pressures, exposure to a wider range of emotions and situations, and the challenges of living in a highly connected world can affect adolescents in many ways.
Some adolescents face fewer challenges in their growing years, especially if they have a strong support system.
Others face more challenging situations and can develop mental or physical disorders such as depression, anxiety issues, eating disorders, or addictions.
If your child is struggling or is facing specific individual behavioral challenges, it is only natural that you would want to find ways help them.
If they open up to you, fantastic. But if the lines of communication have gone quiet, dialectical behavior therapy (or DBT) might be the best option for helping your troubled teen.
What is DBT Therapy and How Can It Help My Child?
DBT offers a highly structured approach to help adolescents deal with the pressures and challenges of their growing years.
The therapy is a potent combination of individual cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, assertiveness training, and the four components of DBT which include mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
In adolescents, the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which controls personality, behavior, and problem-solving ability, is still developing. Because of this, adolescents don’t always consider the outcomes of their behavior and actions.
They are more vulnerable to intense emotions. And because they haven’t yet developed a clear sense of self, this impacts their problem-solving and decision-making abilities, especially in situations where emotions run high.
Adolescents also tend to be more impulsive and conflicted in their interpersonal relationships. This can leave them confused and unsure about how they should act, talk, or behave in a difficult situation. Often, it is this lack of clarity which drives them towards reckless behavior.
This is where DBT can prove to be highly effective – it helps teens and young adults understand their emotions, develop skills to better manage their emotions, and make specific behavioral changes which can help improve their lives.
Adolescent Issues Treated Using DBT
DBT is a highly effective program for dealing with emotional instability and extreme behavior. The therapy is especially effective in treating teens and young adults who are prone to self-harm and suicidal tendencies.
Some of the common disorders in teens and young adults which can be treated with DBT include the following:
DBT uses both individual therapy and group therapy to treat adolescents with multiple problems.
So, while group sessions provide the required skills and space for overcoming specific challenges, individual sessions focus on personal issues and difficulties (emotional distress, addictions, or suicidal tendencies) thereby ensuring the adolescent makes parallel progress in both areas.
Awesome Attributes
DBT can help teens and young adults face the challenges of gaining more control over their emotions while also helping them to acquire the skills they need to navigate through difficult situations.
It can also help adolescents who, because of mental health disorders, may feel alienated from family and friends.
DBT Therapy at Doorways
Our DBT program focuses on a holistic therapeutic approach to help participants overcome the difficulties and challenges in their lives. We understand the degree of distress can be different for everyone.
At Doorways we use a multi-pronged program which includes:
All these components work together to help teens and young adults make necessary behavioral changes in their lives.
If your child or someone close to you is struggling with an addiction, or any kind of mental disorder, please connect with us at Doorways. We can help in identifying the underlying cause for the condition and provide professional counseling and help. You can also give us a call at 602-997-2880.
Every parent wants their teenager to succeed in school. You’ve no doubt made a lot of sacrifices to ensure they have access to a solid education.
But with each passing year, academic pressures increase – more homework, growing difficulty of assignments, assessments are stricter and more time-bound.
There is greater pressure on teens to not only perform well, but to do so consistently. After all, higher education possibilities depend on how well a student performs in high school.
In addition to academic pressure, there is the added pressure of after-school activities, such as sports or clubs, or an after-school job. These are often seen as ways to help students gain entrance to universities or even win a scholarship.
Performing consistently well under pressure in all these areas can take a toll on your teen’s mental and physical health. If you feel they are buckling under pressure, then it is time to step in and help.
The Extreme Stress of Falling Grades
Falling grades can lead to a lot of stress among high schoolers and their parents. The natural tendency of most parents is to push the student to work harder.
However, if your teen is falling behind on homework or assignments, and it’s affecting their grades, then it could be due to poor prioritization of their academic and non-academic pursuits.
It could also be because they are struggling with certain concepts or subjects. In these circumstances, pressuring your teen to continue to perform well can be extremely stressful.
Moreover, some parents over-manage their high schooler’s lives. While the intentions might be well-placed, it can lead to your child buckling under the pressure to please you.
In some instances these falling grades can lead to depression or other mental health conditions such as anxiety. Students may become vulnerable to substance abuse or even resort to stimulant abuse to keep up.
5 Important Steps in Dealing with Academic Pressure
Given how competitive schools and the job market have become, performing well is important. It is normal to expect your child to aim high.
However, if your child is struggling with academic pressures, then there are a few things which can help them cope with the pressure better.
Rest and Relax
Long hours at school, followed by time spent on homework and after-school activities can leave your teen with little time to rest and relax. On top of this, enough rest and relaxation might be exactly what they need the most. If your high school age child is not getting enough of both, it might be a good time to go over their schedule and make necessary changes.
Timely Breaks
As adults, we tend to take breaks or schedule some “me-time” as a way of dealing with work stress. The same should be said of our high schoolers – they need time to do things that calm them and bring them joy. While this shouldn’t mean spending more time in front of a video game console than a text book, it CAN mean making sure there are a few hours set aside at the weekend to play those games.
Open Communication
Encourage your teen to talk to you about any difficulties they might be facing at school. Let them know they have your complete support and that you will do everything possible to help them perform better.
Sleep Routine
Lack of sleep is one of the most treatable health risks in kids, especially in the teen population, a group for which chronic loss of sleep has become the new normal. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes, around the onset of puberty, many teens experience what is called a sleep-wake phase delay. This means teens will have a harder time falling asleep and rising at early times. Their circadian preference shifts from a morning type to an evening type. Consider working with your teen to come up with a sleep routine that suits this shift while also taking their school schedule and responsibilities into account.
Consult with a Professional Counselor
If you are unable to help your teen manage academic pressures, consult with a professional counselor. The counselor can help them deal with pressure in a more constructive and healthy manner. Professional help is especially important if you suspect your child has developed anxiety, is struggling with depression, or if they show signs of addiction.
The Rigors of Academics
Academic pressures can impact adolescents mentally and physically. They are under a lot of pressure to ace their classes (or at least try) and to pursue high paying jobs. The kind of competition which exists in today’s world can be unrelenting and it can take a toll on both teens and parents.
Picking up signs of distress and guiding your high schooler through academic intensity can help them deal with their problems better and enable them to deal with future issues and challenges as well.
Professional Counseling with Doorways
If you feel your teen is unable to deal with academic pressure and it is affecting their mental health, it might be time to seek professional help. Connect with us at Doorways or give us a call at 602-997-2880.