CHAPTER 3: The Risks of Treating Sexual Trauma: Stress and Secondary Trauma in Psychotherapists "This chapter addresses the potential risks to a therapist when treating sexually traumatized clients...In fact, the trio of gender, personal trauma history, and exposure to sexually traumatized clients was predictive of reported intursion and avoidance symptoms." -From the opening quote of chapter 3 (Secondary Trauma Stress, 2nd edition) Experiences of clinicians provided much evidence of the phenomenon of STS, several authors put forward conceptualizations of dynamics of indirect trauma experienced by therapist. (ex. compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma) The emphasis here is on the strength of the experience on the helper, and the likelyhood that "Trauma is contagious" When the client has experienced violence, especially if the traumatic experience and post-traumatic responses are the focal point of the clients' therapy, therapist may find themself forced to lo...
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MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY. an essay by R.Marcus Gaudry June 2009 In a recent edition of the Province newspaper, an article written by Staff Reporter Lora Gindlay indicates a great deal of residential unrest concerning a pair of low barrier shelters set up on Granville and Howe street. These shelters were originally set up in response to the record cold winter we had this past year. The complaint being first that the shelters were set up without residential consultation, and are being kept up much longer than anyone expected. Also, the residents feel threatened, as they have noticed a distinct rise in crime, noise and pollution in their neighbourhood. In the article, Lora quotes city councillor Kerry Jang , who responds to these complaints: “We’ll see the nature and scope of the problems and if there’s anything emerging we’ll be on top of it right away. You’ ve got to remember that area has had a large homeless population for a long time, long before the shelters ever...
I CALLED HIM DAD There was a man. I called him dad. He stole my innocence, took my flesh, destroyed my youth, twisted the truth, and told me I should be glad. There was a man. I called him dad. For all he did: Robbed, isolated, twisted, ruined, raped me, Should I be glad? Or, Should I be mad? Sad? I'm not. He does not own me, and his dirt is not mine. There was a man. I called him dad. His power games are his, not mine. The charges had been laid, And he has done his time. Now forgiven, It is up to him. I pray, that someday he might understand his crime. Written and published by R.Marcus Gaudry , 2004.
From: R.Marcus Gaudry . To: My much loved brothers ,sisters ,friends and neighbours: Peace and love be with you, always! As some of you already know, I come from a place of drug addiction and alcoholism. Therefore I feel compelled to take a moments to speak to the crippling effects such a disease of body, mind and spirit can have. Especially in consideration to what a profound factor addiction is on our growing homeless community. addict: -n- a slave to a habit or vice, esp drugs. addiction, therefore, is to be as a slave to said habit or vice. Actually, Webster pretty much nails the seemingly hopeless state of body and mind, and the desperate state of spirit that is addiction to drugs and alcohol. I remember very clearly, even after several years of being without any booze or other illicit drugs in my system, the helplessness I felt and believed in. Towards the end, I wanted nothing more than to stop, but I found, under my own power, I could not.Now to some of you that might sound sil...
I recently read a most compelling article in the July/August issue of Canadian Lutheran Magazine. The article, written by Colleen Hammermaster ,* addresses a very real social concern regarding the growing levels of depression in our communities. I am not talking about being "all bummed out" when something sad happens that is difficult to accept. When some form of tragedy strikes, it is normal to be sad about it, or even profoundly upset or distressed by sad news. Anything else would be strange. No, I am referring more to a state of clinical depression. Research reveals that cases of clinical depression, which is triggered by biochemical changes in the nervous system, tends to be significantly higher in individuals from families that have relatives that also suffer from this particular ailment. That is not to say that it is limited to family heritage, nor that we are talking about a case of "bad genetics", but that a family history of clinical depression may predis...
"Worry is a state in which we dwell on something so much it causes apprehension. It differs from the far stronger emotion we call fear, which causes physical changes such as rapid pulse and fast breathing in our bodies. Worry is the thinking part of anxiety" -Clinical Psychologist Thomas Pruzinsky , University of Virginia 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. -Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 6:31-34) Worry, fear, anxiety. These three seem to go very much hand in hand. There are subtle differences in definition, but overall they seem to have similar effects on the bod...
Already in this class, I have made a note that is a rather stark reflection of myself, really. It is a positive note, and really quite encouraging. We talked in class about stress, anger, and hostility. More specifically, how these things effect our health. Obviously, the effects usually tend to be quite damaging. Though not directly the cause of illness, stress often leaves the body vulnerable to attack by wearing down the immune system. What we also went into was how to deal with stress. Of course, a major point is the classic "fight or flight" stress response. Which is very much a physical response of the body towards perceived threats. However there is healthy ways in which to respond to that which challenges our homeostasis (internal sense of balance, largely involving the correlation and intercommunication of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems): CHANGE THINKING: Much of how stress effects us is related to how we process it and in how our thought process works. ...
Hello. Let this post be known as my very first blog relating my thoughts and observations concerning my time spent at CDI, taking the addictions counselor course. Considering how I like to make things pretty, you can expect this blog to get more elaborate than it right now, so if it seems a little plain now, just give it some time ;-). I have every intention to update this blog daily, especially since blogging is something I actually rather enjoy. Let me start off by introducing myself and letting you all know a little bit more about me, and why I have chosen to take this course in the first place. My name is R.Marcus Gaudry. Yes, you will note I use my middle name, and just for fun, I challenge you to take a guess as to what the first initial stands for. I live in Port Coquitlam, and get around mostly by walking, or transit. This is for "political" reasons as well as "therapeutic" reasons. I am an addict in recovery-on the day I write this it is just a little over...