So You Smoke Pot !


Pot may/may not be addicting if you compare it’s side effects with that of heroin. There may be withdrawal side effects if you are a new smoker. The more you smoke, the less signal anxiety you maintain. This signal anxiety is normal and says to you: Pay attentions, look out, prepare yourself for a test situation for example. Without this normal kind of anxiety, life can run you over like stepping off a curb without looking for that Mac truck coming your way. Yes, pot makes you dumb and the more you smoke, the dumber you get. THC, the major chemical in pot is fat soluble. It accummulates in your brain and is excreated very slowly. It may take weeks/months to get it out of your system, even if you stop tomarrow. Addictions speciallists suggest strongly that you belong to a self-help group like NA or even AA. Why? Because when you stop using and your brain clears, you begin to re-experience the return of anxiety and thoughts you were trying to avoid in the first place. You feel worse! If you have been in a self help program, you have learned to depend upon others to help you though this difficult time, since they have also weathered the storm of becoming normal again. It is a process that gradually helps you grow again. It has be said, that when you use, that you stop growing and when you stop using, that you start growing again. That is why you need a support system of people in the process. It takes time for your brain to heal and function again, and it takes time to learn about your self and your subconscious conflicts that led to the problem(s) to begin with. As you become clean and sober, you become more serious about your own health and growth and learn to turn toward people whom you feel you can trust. As an adolescent, your family may become a strong support system, especially if they can come to understand what your struggles are all about. I include them when I treat children and adolescent as I consider your problem a family one. You are not alone in your growth but it is your decision to choose to grow and not theirs. No one can make you do anything you don’t want to do. But as an older person they can ask you to leave the house by age 18, if things don’t work out. So, one hand washes the other as it is said and your investment in yourself with others helping you through the process, I believe is your best bet. If you think you have a better bet, then discuss it with your parents. I will be glad to help out if I can and you wish to use me in the process. I have known several youths who have lived out of their trucks and worked their way toward independence, but that was when there were a lot of jobs available and gas was a lot cheaper. These are hard times. Think carefully. I can be reached at 630-527-1631 in Naperville. I am a Blue Cross PPO Provider. My practice is mainly geared toward treating children/adolescents and their families.

What We Do For Families With Children-Naperville Family Counseling


You want the best care for your children as well as support for you and your spouse. Quick medication fixes usually cover cover problems rather than facilitate more permanent growth and change. If you have a moment, check out my You Tube Video.

Attention Deficit Disorder Ain’t Always So Simple


You Tube Brief Discussion may be helpful. Sometimes medication management works, sometimes not. Most times it may just cover over old symptoms, missing the root causes of the primary problems associated with depression, anxiety disorders, losses real or impending. It is difficult to concentrate and learn when a person’s mind is filled or avoiding current worries.

Saving Your Marriage-Naperville Family Counseling


When a couple wants to stay together, they may need to first prepare for couple therapy rather than being stuck in gridlock (which is where traditional couple therapists lose their clients).

WHAT WE DO-You Tube Video


Our Mission: We innovate solutions to fit your specific problem. It is done individually, one at a time. If this is a couples’ issue, our interventions may begin in a couple setting. Many times in the case of gridlock, we need to take a step back and do preparatory work. Working with children and adolescents may include a parent “sitting in”, particularly younger children. We may need to work together to help the family “container” as part of helping the youngster. Once again, each situation is identified from a personalized point of view, which is shared as we obtain a very detailed history. In the care of children, we begin by seeing each parent (if possible) for about ½ hour for developmental information and family issues. In the case of adolescents, we individualize, based on age and maturation. In the case of adults, we obtain a broad based history of many more questions than another doctor has ever asked you. By the way, I am Board Certified in Psychiatry and by examination, am also licensed as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. I used to prescribe a lot of medications, but no longer. I used to try and answer a lot of questions regarding medication side effects and never got to the root of the problem. If someone else is prescribing I am happy to work with that other doctor. If you wish a referral or second opinion, I will help you get one. I wish to treat primarily by providing intensive, yet brief medical psychotherapy, which is further, facilitated using medical hypnosis. I am a clinical member of the AAMH.com American Academy of Medical Hypnoanalysts as well as AACAP.org The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Affililate Member. Following the detailed history, depending upon the age of the patient, we do a word association exercise, which allows us to tap into unconscious/subconscious material that we have long forgotten as part of childhood amnesia. For example, I may ask: “sometimes I feel stuck at age”…? Or, “at the end of the road”…? You respond immediately, without self-judging, or self-holding back. You let it all out, as you wish help for yourself. This word association exercise may take two sessions to complete. Finally, I suggest that you will have a dream about the problem. “The dream will be so vivid that it will awaken you from your sleep” and you are requested to write it down immediately, do not try to figure it out, just bring it in for your next session, so that we can make sense out of it and give you feedback about the dream, the word association, and how this all fits into your history. You receive feedback quickly, usually less than 10 hours of office time. It is an important eye opener, because it will make sense to you from a much deeper personal perspective than the conscious worry, concern or complaint that brought you into therapy. From here on we help you develop new tools to alleviate you’re suffering as you become more able to live your life in the now, rather than your worry, concern and discomfort associated with the past and future. You learn new skills, like the capacity for self-observation or mind sight. Call me (630-527-1631) if you have questions or concerns. Cost is $150 per session. I am a Blue Cross PPO provider. My billing office can also let you know about costs, if I am out of your network. I also treat pro bono, young professionals in the mental health field and children, which make up 10% of my office practice. This is my way of staying connected to my own roots and the community. Thanks for reading.

Reduce Holiday Stress Psychologically By Reminding Yourself- For parents of older children being more or less on their own


1. Each child as an adult sees things their own way and you are not going to change their perceptions, even if you know what is best. 2 parents view their children differently than children do themselves. 3. Parents tend to believe that their children are part of themselves, like it or not. 4. Children are gifts from the Universe or God and therefore, just pass through us as parents. 5. Each child seeks their own happiness or endeavors to become their own person in their own way. 6. Intense feelings of sadness, loss, or joy are symptoms of family “growth pains” are normal and part of holiday seasons. 7. It is best for parents to say less than a talk more during holidays. 8. Listening to one’s children’s struggles, challenges, wins and losses can be a window of opportunity to give praise to the child enduring uncertainty and growth. 9. Before passing judgment, the wise parent is aware that his or her child wishes to be seen and appreciated for they’re own individual struggles. 10. Be kind to each of your children and then remember to be even gentler a more compassionate towards yourself for your own suffering. Out of pain comes growth and wisdom.

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WHAT WE DO FOR CHILDREN


Most psychiatrists draw heavily upon medication management to obtain rapid relief of symptoms that a child may present. For example ADD (attention deficit disorder) or depression(s) or anxiety states. I have found that in most cases (just my opinion) that if we have a cooperative family and include them in the mix, that we can incorporate a new understanding of what the child needs from the family system. Sometimes for example, helping the family deal with what a parent experiences as a crisis differently, reduces tension for all concerned, while at the same time teaching the child self relaxation techniques that take the place of the highly charged emotional environment at home. Let’s consider little John (a fictitional person and name) who felt anxious most of the time. He had difficulty in school he stated, “because my momory was bad”. Looking at the family history, we found that mom was not emotionally very available because of her own health issues when little John was an infant. He wanted to sleep in the same bed with mom and dad because it felt safe, secure and warm and he would be there between the both of them. That is what he wished for and wanted back then that he could share with me. The parents put him back in his own bed most of the time, but that is what he longed for. I pointed out to the parents, that little John is a bright, very sensitive child and if he were not as sensitive, then his early experiences would not have mattered. On the positive side, as he has learned to relax himself and the parents have also, he notes that his ability to learn, listen in class and creativity have improved. No meds and more permanent change for not only John but his sibs. We have treated the entire family system in this case. Each child is different, they are developmentally different, and each family made up of individuals with their own history is different. Therapy is dynamic, unique, created for and by the interactions by the individuals and their unique connections with the therapists as well as an appreciation for what goes on between them as a family network. Many times it is important to explore the subconscious/unconscious baggage that get triggered in our work together. This is the domain of hypnoanalysis and mind sight development and also includes many different therapeutic “relearning” skills like cognitive behavioral therapy in terms of that small child that might have felt confused, not very valued, full of self dislike, you name it. Those early opinions of that little child can be modified and fast by attending to very early perceptions. I know this sounds confusing to the reader perhaps, but you are invited to call or email for further information.