Karen Kerschmann, LCSW

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Clinical Supervision

 

Kerschmann & Associates

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and  Clinical Supervision

Kerschmann & Associates

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and  Clinical Supervision

The Role of Media in Vicarious Trauma

When You or Your Children Are Upset by News Reports

This is a photo of a stressed out teen

Media coverage of a crime, natural disaster, war, act of terrorism, or other disturbing event provides us with vital and helpful information. News reports can keep us informed about what is happening and things we may need to do.

But too much exposure to media coverage of frightening events can add to our distress and make us and our children feel anxious. Continual reports on burglaries in our community may be as disturbing as accounts of far-off disasters, because the local news stories involve events that are closer to home and may affect us more personally. Below is information on ways to keep media coverage from adding to feelings of stress for you and your family.

Stress reactions to media coverage

Today, with live TV and radio broadcasts from around the world and instant news online, news of traumatic events comes streaming into our living rooms and onto our computer screens as never before. The growing use of cell phones that connect to the Internet has made media coverage even harder to avoid.

We witness frightening events in color and it can feel as if we are really there. Graphic and disturbing images and nonstop coverage of traumatic events can cause us to feel traumatized even if we were not directly impacted by the trauma or tragedy. Experts call this “vicarious trauma” or “secondary trauma.”

The signs of vicarious trauma include

• prolonged sadness and crying
• inability to concentrate
• nausea, headaches, and muscle aches
• fear and anxiety
• sleep problems
• distressing dreams
• a general sense of uneasiness
• isolation and withdrawal from others
• outbursts of anger
• depression

Overview

How media coverage can add to feelings of stress and fear.

• Stress reactions to media coverage
• Taking a break from media coverage
• Resurfacing feelings of grief and anxiety
• irritability
• disorientation
• exacerbation of chronic medical conditions

The signs of vicarious trauma in children include

• daydreaming
• separation anxiety
• regressive behavior, such as bed-wetting
• not wanting to go to school

Taking a break from media coverage

If you are experiencing stress reactions to media coverage or if the news is making you feel anxious, do the following:

• Take a break from listening to or watching media coverage of stressful events. Avoid reading news stories about the events or watching news or documentary programs on TV. Avoid going online to follow the coverage.
• Find ways to fill the gap. Watching the news can be a habit, so find other ways to spend the time you usually watch TV news. For instance, go for a walk, spend more time planning and enjoying meals, listen to favorite music, or read a book.
• Take a break from talking about stressful events in the media with friends and relatives.
• Talk with a professional if your symptoms persist. Your employee assistance program (EAP) can help.

Resurfacing feelings of grief and anxiety

Some people may be especially affected by media coverage, including those who have experienced a loss and those who have experienced a violent crime, natural disaster, war, catastrophe, or personal crisis. Traumatic events may trigger memories of past losses or events even if they happened many years ago, and may bring back images of previous traumas, nightmares, and feelings of grief, fear, and sadness. Below are suggestions if you or someone you love is experiencing
feelings of grief or anxiety that may be triggered by extensive media coverage of a traumatic event.

• Realize that graphic images and stories on TV can affect your mood and feelings. If you feel sad, overwhelmed, or more angry or irritable than usual, limit your exposure to news coverage of the traumatic events and spend extra time with friends or family. Do something that you find relaxing.
• Talk with someone you trust about the recent events and about past losses or experiences that may be affecting you now. 3 z When You or Your Children Are Upset by News Reports

• If your work is affected, talk about your fears and concerns with a professional. Your EAP can assist you in finding help.
• Try to keep to a regular pattern of eating and sleeping. This gives you the strength to cope with stress.
• Get as much exercise as possible. Many people find that exercise makes it easier to cope with painful emotions.
• Seek support from your faith community. During difficult periods many people find comfort and solace in their faith communities.

Media coverage and children

Children who repeatedly see images of violence and trauma on TV or in newspapers may have continued fears about their own safety and that of their family. Children who have lost a pet, experienced a separation or divorce, or lost a friend or relative may be deeply affected. You can protect and support your child by doing the following:

• Limit exposure to news coverage of disturbing events. Closely monitor what your child is seeing on TV or on the computer and what he or she is reading in magazines and in the newspaper.
• Be present if your child does watch TV coverage of disturbing events. That way you can answer your child’ s questions and talk about concerns. It is important to be present even if your child is a teenager. Again, limit the amount of coverage your child watches.
• Take extra steps if the coverage involves a crime or other frightening event in your community. Find out what your child knows or has heard from friends so you can correct any mistaken ideas that he or she may have picked up.
• Spend extra time with your child.
• Keep to family routines.
• Plan a family outing or activity your child enjoys.
• Try, as much as possible, to be together during difficult times. The program that provided this publication has additional resources on coping with stress and disturbing events.

When You or Your Children Are Upset by News Reports

Media coverage of a crime, natural disaster, war, act of terrorism, or other disturbing event provides us with vital and helpful information. News reports can keep us informed about what is happening and things we may need to do.
But too much exposure to media coverage of frightening events can add to our distress and make us and our children feel anxious. Continual reports on burglaries in our community may be as disturbing as accounts of far-off disasters, because the local news stories involve events that are closer to home and may affect us more personally. Below is information on ways to keep media coverage from adding to feelings of stress for you and your family.

Stress reactions to media coverage

Today, with live TV and radio broadcasts from around the world and instant news online, news of traumatic events comes streaming into our living rooms and onto our computer screens as never before. The growing use of cell phones that connect to the Internet has made media coverage even harder to avoid.

We witness frightening events in color and it can feel as if we are really there. Graphic and disturbing images and nonstop coverage of traumatic events can cause us to feel traumatized even if we were not directly impacted by the trauma or tragedy. Experts call this “vicarious trauma” or “secondary trauma.”

The signs of vicarious trauma include

• prolonged sadness and crying
• inability to concentrate
• nausea, headaches, and muscle aches
• fear and anxiety
• sleep problems
• distressing dreams
• a general sense of uneasiness
• isolation and withdrawal from others
• outbursts of anger
• depression

Overview
How media coverage can add to feelings of stress and fear.

• Stress reactions to media coverage
• Taking a break from media coverage
• Resurfacing feelings of grief and anxiety
• Media coverage and children 2 z When You or Your Children Are Upset by News Reports

• irritability
• disorientation
• exacerbation of chronic medical conditions

The signs of vicarious trauma in children include
• daydreaming
• separation anxiety
• regressive behavior, such as bed-wetting
• not wanting to go to school

Taking a break from media coverage
If you are experiencing stress reactions to media coverage or if the news is making you feel anxious, do the following:

• Take a break from listening to or watching media coverage of stressful events. Avoid reading news stories about the events or watching news or documentary programs on TV. Avoid going online to follow the coverage.
• Find ways to fill the gap. Watching the news can be a habit, so find other ways to spend the time you usually watch TV news. For instance, go for a walk, spend more time planning and enjoying meals, listen to favorite music, or read a book.
• Take a break from talking about stressful events in the media with friends and relatives.
• Talk with a professional if your symptoms persist. Your employee assistance program (EAP) can help.

Resurfacing feelings of grief and anxiety
Some people may be especially affected by media coverage, including those who have experienced a loss and those who have experienced a violent crime, natural disaster, war, catastrophe, or personal crisis. Traumatic events may trigger memories of past losses or events even if they happened many years ago, and may bring back images of previous traumas, nightmares, and feelings of grief, fear, and sadness. Below are suggestions if you or someone you love is experiencing
feelings of grief or anxiety that may be triggered by extensive media coverage of a traumatic event.

• Realize that graphic images and stories on TV can affect your mood and feelings. If you feel sad, overwhelmed, or more angry or irritable than usual, limit your exposure to news coverage of the traumatic events and spend extra time with friends or family. Do something that you find relaxing.
• Talk with someone you trust about the recent events and about past losses or experiences that may be affecting you now. 3 z When You or Your Children Are Upset by News Reports
• If your work is affected, talk about your fears and concerns with a professional. Your EAP can assist you in finding help.
• Try to keep to a regular pattern of eating and sleeping. This gives you the strength to cope with stress.
• Get as much exercise as possible. Many people find that exercise makes it easier to cope with painful emotions.
• Seek support from your faith community. During difficult periods many people find comfort and solace in their faith communities.

Media coverage and children
Children who repeatedly see images of violence and trauma on TV or in newspapers may have continued fears about their own safety and that of their family. Children who have lost a pet, experienced a separation or divorce, or lost a friend or relative may be deeply affected. You can protect and support your child by doing the following:

• Limit exposure to news coverage of disturbing events. Closely monitor what your child is seeing on TV or on the computer and what he or she is reading in magazines and in the newspaper.
• Be present if your child does watch TV coverage of disturbing events. That way you can answer your child’ s questions and talk about concerns. It is important to be present even if your child is a teenager. Again, limit the amount of coverage your child watches.
• Take extra steps if the coverage involves a crime or other frightening event in your community. Find out what your child knows or has heard from friends so you can correct any mistaken ideas that he or she may have picked up.
• Spend extra time with your child.
• Keep to family routines.
• Plan a family outing or activity your child enjoys.
• Try, as much as possible, to be together during difficult times.
The program that provided this publication has additional resources on coping with stress and disturbing events.

Written with the help of Alexandra Mezey, LICSW. Ms. Mezey has a master’ s degree in social work
and has completed postgraduate training in family therapy and advisement for Employee Assistance
Professional certification. She has worked as a family therapist and as an employee assistance program
counselor,

© 2001, 2011 Ceridian Corporation. All rights reserved.

Parenting a Teen? Let’s Talk About Bridges….

Parenting a Teen? Let's Talk About BridgesAs children approach those dreaded teenage years, their parents are forced to confront new challenges. Some parents liken themselves to the hand that guides a toy car across a bridge or even a bystander watching the car go by, but in reality, the ideal place for the parent is the railing of the bridge. Parents can provide guidance for children without smothering them. Can you imagine driving a car across a bridge with no railings? One simple movement could send you soaring through the air, ready to crash into the unknown. A simple guiding force can change all of this.

Adolescents need some semblance of independence. Identity is important, especially in these vulnerable years. Adolescents who do not understand their own identities struggle more than those who do.  If your child needs some support, sometimes talking to a therapist can help them figure out his or her place in life while still maintaining a good relationship with their parents.

  • Pick your battles. If your teenager has a messy bedroom but is otherwise a great student, nit-picking can do more harm than good.
  • Get involved when it matters, offering yourself as a source of support.
  • Getting caught stealing, failing courses and refusing to communicate are matters that require more intervention.
  • Be flexible. Sometimes you have to adjust rules and consequences. Curfew, bedtime and allowances are reasonably changed throughout the years.

In addition, parents must understand which punishments may actually hold water. For instance, sending a teen to her room when she has access to a computer, phone and television is no longer a punishment. Limiting driving privileges and taking away the cell phone are more effective.

Just as punishments can make an impact, positive reinforcement can too. Use praise to show how proud you are of your child for excellent grades and impressive moral fiber. When the only words a child hears are negative, it strains the relationship.

Parenting is no cake walk, but that does not mean you cannot have a healthy relationship with your teen. Remember your role as the railing of the bridge. This helps you focus on providing guidance for your teen.

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Positive Parenting in San Diego

Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Our thoughts and feelings are powerful, how you perceive your world has a strong impact on our body chemistry. Established studies have shown cognitive behavioral therapy works at least as well as anti-depressants in helping people with mild to moderate depression!

The goal of cognitive therapy is learning to recognize then correct negative automatic thoughts and core beliefs.

Over time, the client will be able to discover and correct deeply held bSan Diego Therapist discusses how CBT can emphasize behaviors over feelings when you are struggling with low self-esteemut unhelpful cognitions that contribute to the issues that are holding them back. The underlying premise of CBT is that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are deeply influenced by one another. Shifts in just one aspect of this triad can effectively reduce the negative patterns and build a powerful, more effective way of functioning.

There are lots of fun and fast ways to see how our behavior, thoughts and feelings intermingle- one of my favorites is the ‘Power Pose’. Amy Cuddy, a professor at Harvard Business School, discovered that posing like Wonder Woman or Superman for two minutes will rapidly increase your confidence….give it a whirl!

All ASWs and MFT Interns should ask themselves these three questions:

All ASWs and MFT Interns should ask themselves these three questionsFor ASWs and MFT associates, choosing a clinical supervisor is an important choice. This is the person you will be depending on to help hone your skills, enhance your potential, and help you best prepare for the board exams and your next career step. Before you even begin your search, you want to take time and reflect:

What are my career goals?

By now, you likely have a general idea what your ideal career trajectory looks like. You’ll want to find an LCSW Supervisor who is where you want to be is a great way to access a mentor to show you the skills to be successful in achieving your goals.  When interviewing a prospective LCSW supervisor, you will want to ask if they are open to sharing their experiences with you during your sessions.

What would you like supervision to look like?

Will you prefer to have individual or a multidisciplinary group to consult on cases with? Would you like in-person or video conferencing? Which aspects of practice would be of benefit to focus on, such as clinical interventions and theory, risk assessment, countertransference? How would you prioritize each goal?

How do you define your personal ‘best practice’?

Of course, you don’t want a ‘yes’ person, but knowing you have someone that aligns with your larger values and beliefs can make you the clinician you want to be.

It can be a challenge for ASWs and MFT associates to navigate the waters of finding your MFT or LCSW supervisor, choose carefully so that you can reap the rewards and invest in yourself!

Combat the Holiday Blues by Helping Others

Combat the Holiday Blues by Helping OthersVolunteering is a great way to show you care about the world around you. It boosts morale in your community and provides opportunities to enrich the lives of others. While all of this sounds very selfless, there are valuable, selfish reasons to volunteer too. Sounds a little strange, right? Well, it is true! Volunteering benefits more than just the people or organization that you are helping. It also benefits you.

Recent studies conducted at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill show a direct correlation between giving of yourself and finding happiness and improved personal relationships in life. Those who volunteer have increased lifespan, less instances of depression and a greater ability to remain healthy throughout crisis situations. Basically, volunteers remain incredibly resilient regardless of what curve balls life throws their way.

Perhaps you have considered volunteering, but you are not sure how to get started. The process is rather simple. The key to finding a great volunteer opportunity is to look for something you are passionate about and contact organizations who work with that cause. Regardless of how many hours you choose to volunteer, you will reap the benefits of your actions.

Don’t know where to start? Try the links below:

www.volunteermatch.org

www.allforgood.org