Bipolar disorder is a complicated disease that can severely affect your life, including in court, so comprehending the condition is critical. Listen to the episode to better understand Bipolar disorder and hear Dr. Anand share his insights on this disease and how it can be treated.

Listen to Dr. Anand discuss the pervasive effects of Bipolar disorder:

Guest Introduction (1:28)

Today, John is joined by Dr. Sumit Anand, a psychiatrist with a plethora of knowledge on Bipolar disorder. He shares his education history, forensic case background, work, and life in Virginia.

What Is A Psychiatrist (4:03)

Dr. Anand explains the difference between psychiatrists and psychologists. Although psychiatrists are considered medical doctors who can prescribe medication, both professions often work together in the mental health field.

When performing a diagnostic evaluation during a court case, psychiatrists pay more attention to the defendant's medical history due to their training.

Defining Bipolar Disorder (8:13)

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by a depressive end and a hyper manic end. Dr. Anand explains the differences between Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 and how various symptoms can affect a person’s life.

Dr. Anand also shares the difficulty in diagnosing a person with Bipolar disorder and how manic episodes are the most classic criteria they look for before giving someone this diagnosis. 

Treatment Plan (17:16)

Mood stabilizers, such as Lithium, can help neutralize mild Bipolar symptoms within a few days to a few weeks. However, if you are delusional or on the psychotic end of a manic episode, you may need to be hospitalized and more heavily treated to work through your symptoms.

In terms of domestic court cases, individuals committed to treatment may more easily maintain custody of their children. Ultimately, this is a lifelong disorder, and living with it depends on the patient’s proactiveness toward their mental health.

Final Thoughts (23:14)

Often, there is a trend toward either under-diagnosing or over-diagnosing Bipolar disorder, especially as the disease becomes more visible to the public. To combat this, Dr. Anand stresses the importance of treating this condition respectfully and being very careful about the criteria used to diagnose a patient.

If you’d like to contact Dr. Sumit Anand, please call (703) 723-2999.

Links mentioned:

Dr. Anand’s Professional Page: https://www.ashburnpsych.com/clinicians/sumit-anand-m-d/

Ashburn Psychological Services Contact Email: apsofficemanager@gmail.com

Having the proper knowledge and appropriate legal representation can make a huge difference for parents and guardians to advocate for their children’s educational needs. Listen to the episode to arm yourself with knowledge and hear Debbie share her insights on special education law.

Listen to John and Debbie discuss education law:

Guest Introduction (1:03)

Today John is joined by Debbie, an attorney who practices in the area of education law. Debbie also served on the Loudoun County Virginia School Board for eight years as an elected official. She shares her history and experience with the topic of special education and the laws surrounding it.

Special Education (6:50)

No parent wants to feel helpless when they cannot fight for their child or don’t know how. For guardians of children with intellectual or physical disabilities, it can be challenging to stand up for their children’s special education needs, especially when trying to address situations with their child’s school board in the case of adverse events. John and Debbie discuss these situations and how legal practices can help clients with special education cases.

Title Nine (13:37)

Title Nine is something that we're hearing about a lot regarding schools in Virginia and all over the country. Debbie defines and talks about the history behind the Title Nine law, its relevance, and what it is designed to protect.

Assault and Harassment in Schools (14:56)

Title Nine cases are of the most serious nature, and many cases involve sexual assault or harassment. Debbie describes some of the processes involved in assault and harassment cases and the responsibilities of our school board and legal system to handle these cases appropriately.

Disciplinary Actions and Dispute (17:40)

Sometimes, parents find that schools' disciplinary actions against their children are inappropriate or unjust. John and Debbie discuss disputes with the school boards and examples of scenarios where an attorney would be helpful to a parent dealing with these types of disputes. Additionally, they cover bullying in schools and how legal practices can offer support in these situations.

Boundary Adjustments and Resolution Options (23:38)

Boundary adjustments are another example of a situation where parents may have to fight against school boards for change. Parents can ask to transfer their children to other schools - but only under certain stipulations. Debbie explains that attorneys have experience with litigation in the school realm and can provide many options for parents to help them meet their needs.

If you’d like to contact Debbie Rose, please call (703) 777-1795.

Links Mentioned:

Debbie’s Professional WebPage: https://wblaws.com/professionals/debbie-rose/  

Oftentimes, divorce proceedings can become even more complicated and dragged out if one partner has NPD or BPD. John and Michael discuss how the person with the disorder and their spouse can reduce stress, find treatment, and protect their children in the process. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Michael Oberschneider’s medical knowledge, practical advice and empathy for those who are suffering with NPD and BPD, and the people around them.    

Listen to John and Michael discuss personality disorders:  

“My Partner has a Personality Disorder” (7:15) 

Michael discusses the two most personality disorders he encounters: narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder. He defines what they are, and how these disorders—or claims of these disorders—crop up in divorce proceedings, domestic disputes and more.   

Diagnosis and Criteria (12:52) 

John and Michael discuss how the method of diagnosing has changed over the years, from a more rigid procedure to viewing disorders on a spectrum. John shares the 9 criteria that make up NPD, explaining that 5 must be met in order to be diagnosed. Unfortunately, partners and other family members of those with NPD can be negatively impacted.  

Inflated Sense of Self (18:30) 

In domestic situations, a grandiose sense of self can translate to a controlling partner. When divorce proceedings occur and that control is taken away from a narcissist, they will lash out. Michael discusses how the criteria for a personality disorder can show up in real life, and how that disorder can be triggered.    

Sense of Entitlement (24:40) 

John and Michael delve into how someone with NPD may push the divorce process into courts, as they believe they are entitled to more than they are receiving. Michael shares his advice for navigating a divorce and co-parenting with someone who has NPD.  

Lack of Treatment (30:40) 

In every marriage, people change. When it comes to NPD and BPD, that change may be harder to expect or even accept. Michael and John discuss the importance of finding treatment early on to avoid the negative consequences, as well as ways to avoid children being stuck in the middle.  

Empathy, Therapy and Time (35:00) 

Michael and John also touch on how a lack of empathy, either from the spouse with NPD or not, can truly complicate divorce and cause more problems down the line.  

During the time of divorce, self-care is extremely important for both partners. If self-care also looks like seeing a psychologist or a psychiatrist, Michael encourages the parent to do so. While there is not a formal treatment for NPD, those who suffer from it can improve with time and help. Additionally, setting up a structure can be helpful with co-parenting.  

Borderline Personality Disorder (43:00) 

John and Michael go over the criteria of borderline personality disorder. Michael breaks down how oftentimes, those with BPD first seem attractive and entertaining to others; their personality disorder can be confused with having a big personality. Unfortunately, however, those with BPD live an unstable life and often struggle to sustain relationships.  

Treatment for BPD (47:30) 

Michael explains how dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) has been proven time]]> Dr. Michael Oberschneider joins John Whitbeck to talk about navigating personality disorders in divorce proceedings. Together, John and Michael delve into narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and borderline personality disorder: what they are, how they present in real life, and what you can do to manage them.  

Oftentimes, divorce proceedings can become even more complicated and dragged out if one partner has NPD or BPD. John and Michael discuss how the person with the disorder and their spouse can reduce stress, find treatment, and protect their children in the process. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Michael Oberschneider’s medical knowledge, practical advice and empathy for those who are suffering with NPD and BPD, and the people around them.    

Listen to John and Michael discuss personality disorders:  

“My Partner has a Personality Disorder” (7:15) 

Michael discusses the two most personality disorders he encounters: narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder. He defines what they are, and how these disorders—or claims of these disorders—crop up in divorce proceedings, domestic disputes and more.   

Diagnosis and Criteria (12:52) 

John and Michael discuss how the method of diagnosing has changed over the years, from a more rigid procedure to viewing disorders on a spectrum. John shares the 9 criteria that make up NPD, explaining that 5 must be met in order to be diagnosed. Unfortunately, partners and other family members of those with NPD can be negatively impacted.  

Inflated Sense of Self (18:30) 

In domestic situations, a grandiose sense of self can translate to a controlling partner. When divorce proceedings occur and that control is taken away from a narcissist, they will lash out. Michael discusses how the criteria for a personality disorder can show up in real life, and how that disorder can be triggered.    

Sense of Entitlement (24:40) 

John and Michael delve into how someone with NPD may push the divorce process into courts, as they believe they are entitled to more than they are receiving. Michael shares his advice for navigating a divorce and co-parenting with someone who has NPD.  

Lack of Treatment (30:40) 

In every marriage, people change. When it comes to NPD and BPD, that change may be harder to expect or even accept. Michael and John discuss the importance of finding treatment early on to avoid the negative consequences, as well as ways to avoid children being stuck in the middle.  

Empathy, Therapy and Time (35:00) 

Michael and John also touch on how a lack of empathy, either from the spouse with NPD or not, can truly complicate divorce and cause more problems down the line.  

During the time of divorce, self-care is extremely important for both partners. If self-care also looks like seeing a psychologist or a psychiatrist, Michael encourages the parent to do so. While there is not a formal treatment for NPD, those who suffer from it can improve with time and help. Additionally, setting up a structure can be helpful with co-parenting.  

Borderline Personality Disorder (43:00) 

John and Michael go over the criteria of borderline personality disorder. Michael breaks down how oftentimes, those with BPD first seem attractive and entertaining to others; their personality disorder can be confused with having a big personality. Unfortunately, however, those with BPD live an unstable life and often struggle to sustain relationships.  

Treatment for BPD (47:30) 

Michael explains how dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) has been proven time and time again to treat and improve those with BPD. With time and effort, those with BPD can get better and live more stable lives.  

Young Adults and Personality Disorders (49:24) 

As these disorders develop overtime, young adults are rarely diagnosed. It is only until adulthood that those with NPD and BPD are usually diagnosed and treated. Symptoms and behaviors can occur before 18, but mental health fields want to allow individuals to develop and potentially outgrow these behaviors.  

Michael distinguishes that those with NPD and BPD aren’t horrible people—it is the condition that is difficult. Oftentimes, people with NPD and BPD have suffered childhood trauma, abuse, and other hardships that spur these disorders.  

Advice for Divorce with Disorders (53:35) 

Michael’s number one advice for those divorcing someone with a personality disorder is to get the children the support and love they need. His second piece of advice is to get a great lawyer. You will need someone on your side who can help navigate this complicated situation. A great attorney is able to pivot when new situations are thrown your way.  

If you’d like to contact Dr. Michael Oberschneider, please call (703) 723-2999. 

Links Mentioned: 

https://www.ashburnpsych.com/clinicians/michael-oberschneider/    

Bruce’s Background  

Bruce has always been passionate about social change, policy and mental health. While earning a degree in social work, Bruce focused on the criminal justice system, policy and advocacy. In particular, he focused on how incarceration impacts family and children, which led to his work in the community correction program in Henrico county. During his twenty years in the community correction program, he saw the impact of trauma and addiction, and its relationship to crime. About five years ago, Bruce switched jobs to Mental Health America of Virginia, where he is now.  

Mental Health America of Virginia  

Mental Health America of Virginia began in 1937 by a psychologist who was concerned about the practice of sterilization of individuals in mental hospitals. Over the years, it has evolved to tackle other relevant mental health issues, advocating that mental health is a part of overall health.  

Access to Mental Health Providers  

John and Bruce discuss the current state of mental health laws, and how many of them are reactive instead of proactive. Bruce points to one of the biggest problems with mental health practices in Virginia and that is access. Although some counties may have many available phycologists or psychiatrists, others have very little. If there is a mental health provider, many are not affordable to those who need it most. Even still, there may not be the right type of mental health services for each individual’s needs. 

Housing is Healthcare  

One of the important but sometimes overseen aspects of mental health is housing. A problem that Bruce has seen over and over again is that there are many people who are healthy enough to be discharged from hospitals but don’t have anywhere to go. While they could thrive in independent housing, they do need support systems to prevent them falling back into crisis. Additionally, there is a lack of affordable housing in general, never mind for those who struggle with mental illness.  

$15 Minimum Wage 

Bruce touches on why the $15 minimum wage relates to mental health. There are those individuals who have struggled with mental illness that once recovered, can become a certified pure recovery specialist. Bruce relays that they are an invaluable profession in the mental health workforce. However, if they can’t earn a livable wage, that profession can’t grow or have an impact on the mental health crisis.  

Mental Health Services in Schools  

In speaking about the mental health of adolescence, Bruce believes there should be mental health providers in schools. While many schools may have guidance counselors, those professionals end up fulfilling other roles such as bus duty or even substituting. Bruce, however, believes the conversation around this topic is increasing and will continue to do so. 

Mental Health and Rights  

Something that unfortunately happens to those in a mental health crisis is the stripping of certain rights. Typically, by the time an individual arrives at a state mandated hospital, they are no longer in crisis. However, on the way to that hospital, they may be handcuffed and surrounded by police for hours while a spot is found for them. This can force more trauma on the individual when usually, they just need time to sober up or calm themselves. Bruce encourages local...]]>Today, John Whitbeck chats with Bruce Cruser, the executive director of Mental Health America of Virginia.  

Bruce’s Background  

Bruce has always been passionate about social change, policy and mental health. While earning a degree in social work, Bruce focused on the criminal justice system, policy and advocacy. In particular, he focused on how incarceration impacts family and children, which led to his work in the community correction program in Henrico county. During his twenty years in the community correction program, he saw the impact of trauma and addiction, and its relationship to crime. About five years ago, Bruce switched jobs to Mental Health America of Virginia, where he is now.  

Mental Health America of Virginia  

Mental Health America of Virginia began in 1937 by a psychologist who was concerned about the practice of sterilization of individuals in mental hospitals. Over the years, it has evolved to tackle other relevant mental health issues, advocating that mental health is a part of overall health.  

Access to Mental Health Providers  

John and Bruce discuss the current state of mental health laws, and how many of them are reactive instead of proactive. Bruce points to one of the biggest problems with mental health practices in Virginia and that is access. Although some counties may have many available phycologists or psychiatrists, others have very little. If there is a mental health provider, many are not affordable to those who need it most. Even still, there may not be the right type of mental health services for each individual’s needs. 

Housing is Healthcare  

One of the important but sometimes overseen aspects of mental health is housing. A problem that Bruce has seen over and over again is that there are many people who are healthy enough to be discharged from hospitals but don’t have anywhere to go. While they could thrive in independent housing, they do need support systems to prevent them falling back into crisis. Additionally, there is a lack of affordable housing in general, never mind for those who struggle with mental illness.  

$15 Minimum Wage 

Bruce touches on why the $15 minimum wage relates to mental health. There are those individuals who have struggled with mental illness that once recovered, can become a certified pure recovery specialist. Bruce relays that they are an invaluable profession in the mental health workforce. However, if they can’t earn a livable wage, that profession can’t grow or have an impact on the mental health crisis.  

Mental Health Services in Schools  

In speaking about the mental health of adolescence, Bruce believes there should be mental health providers in schools. While many schools may have guidance counselors, those professionals end up fulfilling other roles such as bus duty or even substituting. Bruce, however, believes the conversation around this topic is increasing and will continue to do so. 

Mental Health and Rights  

Something that unfortunately happens to those in a mental health crisis is the stripping of certain rights. Typically, by the time an individual arrives at a state mandated hospital, they are no longer in crisis. However, on the way to that hospital, they may be handcuffed and surrounded by police for hours while a spot is found for them. This can force more trauma on the individual when usually, they just need time to sober up or calm themselves. Bruce encourages local care, such as local professionals who can help the individuals on the spot. In this scenario, the individual will receive help while staying in the same facility. 

Recent Funding  

Recently, the governor of Virginia has proposed over $485 million in funding for mental health services. As of right now, state hospitals are having a difficult time keeping mental health professionals and patients safe, due to lack of resources. This money comes as a great “down payment” as Bruce says and will be used to handle staffing shortages, which will free up beds and emergency rooms full of people in crisis.  

Resources

Mental Health America of Virginia Website

What is the SAFE Project?  

The SAFE Project is a non-profit that was founded three years ago by Admiral James and Mary Winnefeld after their 19-year-old son passed away from an accidental opioid overdose. Brandee distinguishes the SAFE Project from other non-profits, as Admiral James and Mary truly understand that anyone can fall victim to addiction regardless of race and class. They formed four initiatives in the organization: SAFE campuses, SAFE communities, SAFE workplaces and SAFE veterans.  

A Complex Issue  

Addiction, especially opioid addiction, is a complex issue with many different factors involved. That’s why SAFE project tackles all facets such as public awareness, full spectrum prevention, law enforcement and criminal justice, treatment and recovery and more. Brandee emphasizes the importance of taking into account all areas of addiction.  

The Story before the Story of Addiction  

As a mother and someone in long-term recovery herself, Brandee discusses what it’s like to work in this world of drug addiction. She explains what led her to addition—a story of sexual trauma, violence, abuse, and incarceration. She wants to emphasize the importance of the story before the story of addiction and how people become addicted when trying to numb other feelings.  

Recovery  

After ending up incarcerated, Brandee looked around the jail cell and realized this was not the life she wanted. She went into treatment as a way to be released from her sentence, but soon learned that addiction is a disease, not a moral failing. This epiphany led her to understand her situation better and get the support she finally needed.  

Brandee also touches on how alcoholism is a difficult disease to battle because of its accessibility and normality in society between happy hours, liquor stores, parties, etc. What helped her in recovery is changing her perspective to: “I can drink but choose not to.” She also speaks to identifying the things she loves in life and chasing them down the way she did the high. For her, it was education.  

Criminal Justice System  

Brandee discusses how the criminal justice system can aid people in addiction by having understanding and compassionate officers. Brandee wants to encourage a collaboration with law enforcement to better improve the system. She truly believes there is a middle ground and is educating herself and others on how law enforcement and recovery programs can work together. She talks about drug courts and collaboration as the focus of her dissertation, believing that that is the path to save a lot of lives. She also chats on the power of the drug court’s deflection and diversion program and how that can help provide people with much needed structure.  

Looking Forward  

As Brandee finishes up her doctorate, she wants to focus on policy formation and reform, using her education as well as her experiences to inform others and humanize the topic. She emphasizes the importance of inclusive policy. She points to Covid as an example of how quickly policy can actually change when needed and with the addiction crisis, it’s very needed. 

With anyone struggling with trauma, addiction or any other hardships, Brandee encourages you to look for connection. She believes that the opposite of addiction is connection, community and...]]>Today, John Witbeck chats with Brandee Izquierdo, the Executive Director of the SAFE Project.  

What is the SAFE Project?  

The SAFE Project is a non-profit that was founded three years ago by Admiral James and Mary Winnefeld after their 19-year-old son passed away from an accidental opioid overdose. Brandee distinguishes the SAFE Project from other non-profits, as Admiral James and Mary truly understand that anyone can fall victim to addiction regardless of race and class. They formed four initiatives in the organization: SAFE campuses, SAFE communities, SAFE workplaces and SAFE veterans.  

A Complex Issue  

Addiction, especially opioid addiction, is a complex issue with many different factors involved. That’s why SAFE project tackles all facets such as public awareness, full spectrum prevention, law enforcement and criminal justice, treatment and recovery and more. Brandee emphasizes the importance of taking into account all areas of addiction.  

The Story before the Story of Addiction  

As a mother and someone in long-term recovery herself, Brandee discusses what it’s like to work in this world of drug addiction. She explains what led her to addition—a story of sexual trauma, violence, abuse, and incarceration. She wants to emphasize the importance of the story before the story of addiction and how people become addicted when trying to numb other feelings.  

Recovery  

After ending up incarcerated, Brandee looked around the jail cell and realized this was not the life she wanted. She went into treatment as a way to be released from her sentence, but soon learned that addiction is a disease, not a moral failing. This epiphany led her to understand her situation better and get the support she finally needed.  

Brandee also touches on how alcoholism is a difficult disease to battle because of its accessibility and normality in society between happy hours, liquor stores, parties, etc. What helped her in recovery is changing her perspective to: “I can drink but choose not to.” She also speaks to identifying the things she loves in life and chasing them down the way she did the high. For her, it was education.  

Criminal Justice System  

Brandee discusses how the criminal justice system can aid people in addiction by having understanding and compassionate officers. Brandee wants to encourage a collaboration with law enforcement to better improve the system. She truly believes there is a middle ground and is educating herself and others on how law enforcement and recovery programs can work together. She talks about drug courts and collaboration as the focus of her dissertation, believing that that is the path to save a lot of lives. She also chats on the power of the drug court’s deflection and diversion program and how that can help provide people with much needed structure.  

Looking Forward  

As Brandee finishes up her doctorate, she wants to focus on policy formation and reform, using her education as well as her experiences to inform others and humanize the topic. She emphasizes the importance of inclusive policy. She points to Covid as an example of how quickly policy can actually change when needed and with the addiction crisis, it’s very needed. 

With anyone struggling with trauma, addiction or any other hardships, Brandee encourages you to look for connection. She believes that the opposite of addiction is connection, community and finding support.

Resources

SAFE Project Website 

Boulder Crest Background  

Ken spent 21 years in the navy, and while there had his fair share of experiences with PTSD. Not only did he deal with it himself after an injury, but he saw families and other soldiers going through it all around him. After starting a small profit foundation for severely wounded bomb troops, Ken saw that there wasn’t a lot of treatment going on for mental health in the early stages of recovery from physical injuries.  

Ken and his wife decided to dedicate some of their lands to create a retreat in which they would build a home away from home from families going through these tough times of dealing with great physical and mental difficulties.  

Focus on Post-Traumatic Growth  

As Ken researched for Boulder Crest, he realized that mental health treatment wasn’t working. People would go for a few weeks but eventually, drop out. After observing this, he went around the United States to talk to some of the best psychologists in the country. This is when he observed that people are often bound by the mental health treatment system by insurance – and that they are looking for easy solutions and instant care.  

Eventually, he met with a top psychologist that told him that only 4% of prisoners of war survivors deal with PTSD compared to 30% of the general military. Why was this? It was because the people that were in those prisons were mentally trained and prepared to go through the worse. They knew that if they overcame what they were going through in those moments, that they’d get out and make their lives successful afterward.  

Ken wanted to base his program after this idea of success after trauma, or post-traumatic growth. It takes the phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” to a whole new level; it’s thriving and living life after seeing the worst of the world.    

The Downsides of Mental Health Labels 

More times than not, labels are more of a burden on the individual that is experiencing it. It inhibits them and places them into a category in which there is a system that aims to cure them – but mental struggles don’t have cures. They are lifelong battles. There is no changing the past, one can only live in the present and change their future. Ken wanted to give people space where they could learn this, rather than be churning in and out of the system that wasn’t working.   

Boulder Crest doesn’t just want to reduce symptoms like most mental health treatments aim to do. Ken wanted people to be able to experience a quality-of-life improvement. To him, the opposite of suicide isn’t making you feel less bad, but it’s rather living a great life. Helping humans self-regulate their emotions and life is the goal of treatments.  

Boulder Crest has four areas of wellness, which are based on mind, body, financial wellness, and spirituality (which breaks down on character, actions, and relationships.) It also focuses on supporting families who are watching loved one’s struggles. Mental illness is often contagious, it’s easily spread and can affect beyond just one individual.  

Resources 

Boulder Crest Website 

Social medias:  

Instagram 

On this episode of the Mind Itself, Ken Falke, founder of the Boulder Crest Foundation, joins to talk about the importance of his program that is geared towards veterans, first responders, and those in professions that deal with PTSD. Boulder Crest is a nonprofit organization that specializes aiding in helping men and women who experience trauma live their life to the fullest.  

Boulder Crest Background  

Ken spent 21 years in the navy, and while there had his fair share of experiences with PTSD. Not only did he deal with it himself after an injury, but he saw families and other soldiers going through it all around him. After starting a small profit foundation for severely wounded bomb troops, Ken saw that there wasn’t a lot of treatment going on for mental health in the early stages of recovery from physical injuries.  

Ken and his wife decided to dedicate some of their lands to create a retreat in which they would build a home away from home from families going through these tough times of dealing with great physical and mental difficulties.  

Focus on Post-Traumatic Growth  

As Ken researched for Boulder Crest, he realized that mental health treatment wasn’t working. People would go for a few weeks but eventually, drop out. After observing this, he went around the United States to talk to some of the best psychologists in the country. This is when he observed that people are often bound by the mental health treatment system by insurance – and that they are looking for easy solutions and instant care.  

Eventually, he met with a top psychologist that told him that only 4% of prisoners of war survivors deal with PTSD compared to 30% of the general military. Why was this? It was because the people that were in those prisons were mentally trained and prepared to go through the worse. They knew that if they overcame what they were going through in those moments, that they’d get out and make their lives successful afterward.  

Ken wanted to base his program after this idea of success after trauma, or post-traumatic growth. It takes the phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” to a whole new level; it’s thriving and living life after seeing the worst of the world.    

The Downsides of Mental Health Labels 

More times than not, labels are more of a burden on the individual that is experiencing it. It inhibits them and places them into a category in which there is a system that aims to cure them – but mental struggles don’t have cures. They are lifelong battles. There is no changing the past, one can only live in the present and change their future. Ken wanted to give people space where they could learn this, rather than be churning in and out of the system that wasn’t working.   

Boulder Crest doesn’t just want to reduce symptoms like most mental health treatments aim to do. Ken wanted people to be able to experience a quality-of-life improvement. To him, the opposite of suicide isn’t making you feel less bad, but it’s rather living a great life. Helping humans self-regulate their emotions and life is the goal of treatments.  

Boulder Crest has four areas of wellness, which are based on mind, body, financial wellness, and spirituality (which breaks down on character, actions, and relationships.) It also focuses on supporting families who are watching loved one’s struggles. Mental illness is often contagious, it’s easily spread and can affect beyond just one individual.  

Resources 

Boulder Crest Website 

Social medias:  

Instagram 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Volunteer programs  

Donate  

One-Stop-Shop 

The Wellness Connection is called the one-stop-shop for more reasons than one. Not only does it focus on mental health support but offers a holistic approach to therapies and treatments. The best way to treat someone is by focusing on all aspects of who they are – the mind, the body, and the soul.  

From acupuncture treatments to yoga therapy, art therapy to pet therapy, and meditation to healthy eating, The Wellness Connection allows for clients to partner with the community to get the treatments that they need and that work for them. Both adults and children partake in the variety of resources that are offered.  

Evaluating Treatments 

Casey says they determine treatments by starting clients in a partnership with the clinicians. Getting to know the specific client and spending time with them can lead to discoveries for both of the parties involved. People can come into the Wellness Connection with one main issue and find out by talking and creating relationships with the clinician that there are other deep-rooted issues.  

That’s the journey of counseling – getting to the root of why people act the way they do based on a reason. Many people have deeper wounds from severe trauma or even something like being a child in a divorce. Counseling is focusing on partnerships and helping the client learn how they can better their own lives.  

Importance of Mindfulness 

In this day of age, there are a lot of extra stressors going on. Humans are constantly on the move, going and going until they reach a point of exhaustion. There is a need to make sure that individuals find ways to space-time in a calm, relaxed space to practice mindfulness. Getting in touch with the inner self and relaxation is important for mental health and self-care. Finding ways to be healthy inside of the body is just as important as taking care of the outside of your body.  

New problems are showing up because the new normal is different than before. Working from home and being inside all winter long without having anywhere else to go has taken a toll on the mental health of humans. Other stress can come from politics and society, the outside world causing internal stress. Being mindful of oneself can help create positive discourse and conversations about what an individual needs to feel happy.  

Co-Parenting and Long-Term Effects of Divorce  

When children watch their parents go through a divorce, it’s challenging for their well-being. Despite the relationship between the parents, the situation is never ideal. Children need nourishment and care. Different parenting views can cause conflicts and get in the way of making sure that all of their needs are met.  

Casey recommends keeping adult conversations with the parents, and not bring the child into the middle of things. Parents can cause lasting wounds on the child. Communication through the parents is key; the decision to have a divorce was already made, so there should be a bigger focus on the child and making sure that everything is going to be okay. Remember that children view parents as role models, how the parents treat each other is setting an example in which they will observe and practice later on in life.  

Coming to Terms with the Past 

People tend to...]]>Casey Sarafinas joins John on this episode of the Mind Itself. With fifteen years of experience as a licensed therapist, plus her own experience dealing with trauma and mental health, Casey is the clinical director of Wellness Connection. The Wellness Connection is a one-stop-shop that aims to connect clients to resources and different aspects of treatment. Casey shares her insight with treatments, co-parenting, divorce, and her struggles.  

One-Stop-Shop 

The Wellness Connection is called the one-stop-shop for more reasons than one. Not only does it focus on mental health support but offers a holistic approach to therapies and treatments. The best way to treat someone is by focusing on all aspects of who they are – the mind, the body, and the soul.  

From acupuncture treatments to yoga therapy, art therapy to pet therapy, and meditation to healthy eating, The Wellness Connection allows for clients to partner with the community to get the treatments that they need and that work for them. Both adults and children partake in the variety of resources that are offered.  

Evaluating Treatments 

Casey says they determine treatments by starting clients in a partnership with the clinicians. Getting to know the specific client and spending time with them can lead to discoveries for both of the parties involved. People can come into the Wellness Connection with one main issue and find out by talking and creating relationships with the clinician that there are other deep-rooted issues.  

That’s the journey of counseling – getting to the root of why people act the way they do based on a reason. Many people have deeper wounds from severe trauma or even something like being a child in a divorce. Counseling is focusing on partnerships and helping the client learn how they can better their own lives.  

Importance of Mindfulness 

In this day of age, there are a lot of extra stressors going on. Humans are constantly on the move, going and going until they reach a point of exhaustion. There is a need to make sure that individuals find ways to space-time in a calm, relaxed space to practice mindfulness. Getting in touch with the inner self and relaxation is important for mental health and self-care. Finding ways to be healthy inside of the body is just as important as taking care of the outside of your body.  

New problems are showing up because the new normal is different than before. Working from home and being inside all winter long without having anywhere else to go has taken a toll on the mental health of humans. Other stress can come from politics and society, the outside world causing internal stress. Being mindful of oneself can help create positive discourse and conversations about what an individual needs to feel happy.  

Co-Parenting and Long-Term Effects of Divorce  

When children watch their parents go through a divorce, it’s challenging for their well-being. Despite the relationship between the parents, the situation is never ideal. Children need nourishment and care. Different parenting views can cause conflicts and get in the way of making sure that all of their needs are met.  

Casey recommends keeping adult conversations with the parents, and not bring the child into the middle of things. Parents can cause lasting wounds on the child. Communication through the parents is key; the decision to have a divorce was already made, so there should be a bigger focus on the child and making sure that everything is going to be okay. Remember that children view parents as role models, how the parents treat each other is setting an example in which they will observe and practice later on in life.  

Coming to Terms with the Past 

People tend to believe that they can push things away, brushing them aside to forget about them because physically they feel fine. This will only go on for so long. What people carry around inside of them will affect who they are – no matter how many times they deny it. By not getting help, people are doing themselves a disservice of not feeling happy or living a healthy lifestyle. Semantic issues from these rooted problems will show up sooner or later.  

It’s not easy facing these problems either. It’s hard work to try and overcome situations. But all humans face emotional and mental stress. People are either in the middle of a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or about to walk into a crisis. Despite dealing with the problems that are happening, when an individual is stable and fine, it’s still vital for them to care for themselves.  

Resources 

Wellness Connection Website 

 Casey’s Contact:  

• Email: info@wellnessllc.com 
• Phone: 703-988-4491 
• Casey’s Page

Struggling With Mental Health in The Early Years 

Doug talks about his journey with mental health, thinking back to the time when he was in middle school and high school. His father died when Doug was 11, and that was a very traumatic experience for him to work through at a young age. It wasn’t until a few years later that he decided he was going to go to therapy. 

After going to therapy, he realized that it was helping him unpack these emotions that he was holding inside. Doug felt like he was reaching a breakthrough in therapy and realized more about himself. From there on, he has been going to therapy on and off throughout his life.  

Leadership & Career Choices 

As Doug was going through school, he realized that the strongest leaders were more in touch with themselves and their emotions. The more that they understood themselves, the more that they could see the impact that they had on other people. He wanted to be a leader. Doug craved to connect with people.  

Originally, Doug went to school thinking that he wanted to be an engineer. Eventually, he switched to business and moved back home. He didn’t stay there long before traveling across the country and visiting family. Ending up in Virginia, he started doing audits and consulting for a few years. This was his job for a while until he had a cancer diagnosis in his early 30s. That put things into perspective for him, and since then, he wanted a better quality of life and started working for the federal government – making his way to an executive level. 

Mental Health Stressors & Career Positions 

As Doug became more involved in his federal position, he saw there were a lot of rules and regulations in place. Working for the government puts another sort of pressure on an individual. In a large company with a lot of rules, it seems to be harder to get things done. The ability to drive change is very hard. There is an emphasis on creating relationships and sharing knowledge of issues to create positive outcomes.  

During Doug’s time working for the government has been supportive towards caring for mental health. Resources are available for federal workers, and they are often encouraged to put themselves first.  

In his job, Doug finds himself faced with situations that place a lot of stress on him. He reflects on the time when he went to therapy when he was younger and played baseball. When he was younger, he was so worried about striking out that he couldn’t focus on anything else. Once he realized that his problem was worrying about striking out instead of focusing on hitting the ball. Since then, he realized the importance of positive powerful thinking.  

Going to Therapy and Working Through Mental Blocks  

Therapy helped Doug get through mental blocks that he didn’t even know. Sometimes there are big things that come to you in moments of realizations. If you’re not sitting down having honest conversations with yourself, it’s going to be hard to figure out the best reaction. There is no possible way to independently view yourself. Therefore, it’s hard to see yourself and the situation you’re in clearly.  

Doug advocates going to therapy. You will get out of it what you put into it. It allows you to consciously chose the choice of actions that you want to partake in. Spending time with therapists changes the outcomes of situations. It can help...]]>In this episode of The Mind Itself, John is joined by Doug Glen, a federal government civil servant who had his own experiences dealing with mental health, the struggle with stigma, and balancing it with his job. Covering topics from his struggle to how the government attempts to support their employee’s mental health-wise, Doug brings insights from a different perspective from the heart of DC.  

Struggling With Mental Health in The Early Years 

Doug talks about his journey with mental health, thinking back to the time when he was in middle school and high school. His father died when Doug was 11, and that was a very traumatic experience for him to work through at a young age. It wasn’t until a few years later that he decided he was going to go to therapy. 

After going to therapy, he realized that it was helping him unpack these emotions that he was holding inside. Doug felt like he was reaching a breakthrough in therapy and realized more about himself. From there on, he has been going to therapy on and off throughout his life.  

Leadership & Career Choices 

As Doug was going through school, he realized that the strongest leaders were more in touch with themselves and their emotions. The more that they understood themselves, the more that they could see the impact that they had on other people. He wanted to be a leader. Doug craved to connect with people.  

Originally, Doug went to school thinking that he wanted to be an engineer. Eventually, he switched to business and moved back home. He didn’t stay there long before traveling across the country and visiting family. Ending up in Virginia, he started doing audits and consulting for a few years. This was his job for a while until he had a cancer diagnosis in his early 30s. That put things into perspective for him, and since then, he wanted a better quality of life and started working for the federal government – making his way to an executive level. 

Mental Health Stressors & Career Positions 

As Doug became more involved in his federal position, he saw there were a lot of rules and regulations in place. Working for the government puts another sort of pressure on an individual. In a large company with a lot of rules, it seems to be harder to get things done. The ability to drive change is very hard. There is an emphasis on creating relationships and sharing knowledge of issues to create positive outcomes.  

During Doug’s time working for the government has been supportive towards caring for mental health. Resources are available for federal workers, and they are often encouraged to put themselves first.  

In his job, Doug finds himself faced with situations that place a lot of stress on him. He reflects on the time when he went to therapy when he was younger and played baseball. When he was younger, he was so worried about striking out that he couldn’t focus on anything else. Once he realized that his problem was worrying about striking out instead of focusing on hitting the ball. Since then, he realized the importance of positive powerful thinking.  

Going to Therapy and Working Through Mental Blocks  

Therapy helped Doug get through mental blocks that he didn’t even know. Sometimes there are big things that come to you in moments of realizations. If you’re not sitting down having honest conversations with yourself, it’s going to be hard to figure out the best reaction. There is no possible way to independently view yourself. Therefore, it’s hard to see yourself and the situation you’re in clearly.  

Doug advocates going to therapy. You will get out of it what you put into it. It allows you to consciously chose the choice of actions that you want to partake in. Spending time with therapists changes the outcomes of situations. It can help build healthy self-esteem, confidence, and better problem-solving skills.  

Marcus Alert Legislation 

In Virginia, the Marcus Alert Legislation is focused on helping law enforcement deal with mental health crises for a better outcome. Mental illness is often something that people don’t treat like a real illness, and it can result in some high-stress situations.  

The framework of the law is based on Marcus Peters, who had a mental health crisis but unfortunately was tragically killed. This was a wake-up call for law enforcement and with the help of mental health advocates, there is action being taken to respond better to certain situations. This law brings attention to not only those that require mental help but other marginalized communities like those with intellectual disabilities, homelessness, etc.  

By training law enforcement to be better equipped in mental health crises and providing more tools and resources to those that need it, the goal is for better treatment and less incarceration for those struggling mentally. The behavioral health professionals assisting don’t overrule law enforcement, they just aim to assistant and de-escalate.  

Focusing on the Area 

The Marcus Alert Legislation allows for some latitude in the different local communities. Areas will determine what crisis responses will look like in certain areas. There is a wide variety of models for different communities.  

There is funding to place physicians in sheriff’s offices and bringing behavior health first aid responders into situations rather than just the police. There is talk of a regional crisis call center, which would help determine who would take the lead in certain situations where mental illness might be involved.  

However, there is a lack of funding, especially in more rural areas. Virginia falls into the lower third of mental health funding in the country. There is often a lack of space, or lack of beds, for those experiencing a mental health crisis, and people often have to leave rural areas to get the treatment that they need.  

Rural vs. Urban 

Different communities handle and respond the mental health in different ways. Most urban community service boards are part of the local government, so there are more advantages through connections and funding that way.  

More rural areas have less funding and have to share resources over a large area, which can make it difficult for people to get the care they need. Not to mention there are different systems, different databases, and in general, rural areas aren’t used to public services that are readily available.  

Law enforcement in urban areas is more receptive to the Marcus Alert legislation along with other actions to put mental health as more of a priority. Those that are law enforcement in more rural areas often find themselves spending extra time and money, which might make them reluctant to change how they’ve been handling situations. For example, some officers might have to spend the day driving someone across the county to get the help they need from a more rural region.  

The Next Goals  

Despite the impact of working and how mental health is being treated in legislation and handled in...]]>On this episode of the Mind Itself, Jim LaGraffee, executive director of Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services joins us to discusses the impact that Virginia legislator has on how mental health is dealt with in crises. Jim has 30 years working with adults with intellectual and behavioral disabilities. He was drawn to community health and community organizations, which is what his current role is focused on. Covering topics that range from the basics of the Marcus Alert, to how there is a major lack of funding when it comes to mental health resources, Jim talks about the growths the state is achieving, along with what could still be bettered.  

Marcus Alert Legislation 

In Virginia, the Marcus Alert Legislation is focused on helping law enforcement deal with mental health crises for a better outcome. Mental illness is often something that people don’t treat like a real illness, and it can result in some high-stress situations.  

The framework of the law is based on Marcus Peters, who had a mental health crisis but unfortunately was tragically killed. This was a wake-up call for law enforcement and with the help of mental health advocates, there is action being taken to respond better to certain situations. This law brings attention to not only those that require mental help but other marginalized communities like those with intellectual disabilities, homelessness, etc.  

By training law enforcement to be better equipped in mental health crises and providing more tools and resources to those that need it, the goal is for better treatment and less incarceration for those struggling mentally. The behavioral health professionals assisting don’t overrule law enforcement, they just aim to assistant and de-escalate.  

Focusing on the Area 

The Marcus Alert Legislation allows for some latitude in the different local communities. Areas will determine what crisis responses will look like in certain areas. There is a wide variety of models for different communities.  

There is funding to place physicians in sheriff’s offices and bringing behavior health first aid responders into situations rather than just the police. There is talk of a regional crisis call center, which would help determine who would take the lead in certain situations where mental illness might be involved.  

However, there is a lack of funding, especially in more rural areas. Virginia falls into the lower third of mental health funding in the country. There is often a lack of space, or lack of beds, for those experiencing a mental health crisis, and people often have to leave rural areas to get the treatment that they need.  

Rural vs. Urban 

Different communities handle and respond the mental health in different ways. Most urban community service boards are part of the local government, so there are more advantages through connections and funding that way.  

More rural areas have less funding and have to share resources over a large area, which can make it difficult for people to get the care they need. Not to mention there are different systems, different databases, and in general, rural areas aren’t used to public services that are readily available.  

Law enforcement in urban areas is more receptive to the Marcus Alert legislation along with other actions to put mental health as more of a priority. Those that are law enforcement in more rural areas often find themselves spending extra time and money, which might make them reluctant to change how they’ve been handling situations. For example, some officers might have to spend the day driving someone across the county to get the help they need from a more rural region.  

The Next Goals  

Despite the impact of working and how mental health is being treated in legislation and handled in law enforcement, there are ways to make it better.  

Right now, Virginia deals with mental health at the crisis point. Instead of focusing on preventing a crisis or getting help beforehand, the law doesn’t intervene until it’s life or death. There needs to be more emphasis on funding and providing resources before individuals hit the breaking point. 

Another issue that is prevalent today is the stigma. Mental illness isn’t a personal failure. It’s not because someone isn’t trying hard enough. It can affect anyone; mental illness doesn’t discriminate and knows no boundaries.  

Resources 

Jim LaGraffe’s LinkedIn 

Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services 

Hesitation in Sharing 

When Thomas first started feeling this deep sadness, it started to make him feel unmotivated. It made him feel disconnected, and it was hard to form deeper relationships. In the age of social media, there was always a worry about how people would perceive him when he opened up about the feelings that he was having.  

When he thought about talking to his parents, there was difficulty in working up the courage to admit how he was feeling to his parents, but also himself. It was hard to put into words how he felt because he wasn’t sure what was going on in his head.  

Driving Force Behind Getting Help  

Thomas eventually started talking to his parents about his problems and how he was feeling, which then lead to him going to therapy. At first, he didn’t want to go. Thomas found it hard to talk to people, so therapy wasn’t the easiest thing to do when he was younger.  

Thomas had the mindset that therapy meant that you were broken – that you needed to be fixed. Throughout the years, however, he formed a good relationship with a therapist and realized that it’s a tool and resource to live a better life. He wants to participate in therapy for as long as he can because he realizes how helpful it is for his growth.  

Therapy & Support Systems 

Therapy has always made a difference at any point in a person’s life, it’s just sometimes hard to motivate them to go. This is especially true when someone is a younger teen, therapy is a very hard thing to convince people to participate in.  

Luckily for Thomas, his family is very supportive and a foundation for him. Although at first, he was resistant to therapy, his family always gave him the tools that he needed to get the help. He now advocates for therapy and other treatment methods, like medication when needed.  

Along with therapy, being open about his mental health, and talking to his friends and family about his journey, Thomas realized that he wasn’t alone. People are going through some of the same things as him, and when he connected with those people who were feeling the same way he did, it comforted him and helped him. 

Covid Affecting Mental Health 

With the pandemic happening in the past year, Thomas found himself mentally struggling. It was hard not seeing people like he normally would at school, and he saw that this was draining him. It took a toll on his mental health.  

The world is a very different place now than it was, and almost everyone’s mental health has been affected by what’s going on in the world. However, Thomas has been trying to find things that make him happy. talks to friends on video games, and often bikes around outside to get out of the house.  

Mental Health Reformation Action That’s Happening Now 

Most of the reformation that is happening throughout the system currently is to attempt to make things better for people going through crisis-type mental health cases. When someone is mentally ill, or disabled, there are a lot of areas that need to be improved within the system that results in better success for everyone involved.  

Despite the circumstances of different cases, mental health can play an important role in criminality as a whole. There is a heavy emphasis on what the incapacity is during the sentencing process, but there is potential for it to be relevant and important during all the stages – including during the trial itself.  

Reason of insanity is often the thing that is most associated with the mental health law, but there’s a wider spectrum that should be taken into consideration during the courtroom experience.  

Bills are implemented to refocus on help, rather than punishment. In some states, diminished capacity isn’t a defense. This means that someone cannot use their mental illness or mental disability as a reason for their actions, which can be harmful in how the trial plays out in courtrooms.   

There is a push for the opportunity to present evidence of mental illness or mental incapacity as evidence. This not only helps the individual potentially get the help they need, but it gives the defense attorney the chance to reach plea agreements. Sentencing requires an open understanding of all mental illnesses.  

Avoiding Prosecution to Focus on Treatment 

In the state of Virginal, the Marcus Alert bill is going to be put in place. Created after a 24-year-old man was killed during a mental health crisis, this bill attempts to divert prosecution during a mental health crisis.  

Not only is it a waste of time, but it can be costly when incarcerating mentally ill or disabled peoples instead of providing the treatment. The notion behind this bill is focused on how if the system treated these struggling people better, it could prevent them from doing it again. It can help divert people from the revolving door and cycle of detention, jail, and the courtroom.   

There has been a high level of education and focus on crisis intervention training in the justice system, especially with law enforcement. Changes need to be made to increase public safety. It’s not always easy to recognize the difference between mental health vs. criminal issues, so people must become educated on how to identify and deal with these situations.  

Resources 

Elizabeth Lancaster’s Page 

Elizabeth’s LinkedIn 

elancaster@wvlaws.com 

Craig James started his career as a therapist early on, interested greatly in observing the way that people acted at a young age. After graduating from George Mason University, he grabbed all the opportunities he could. Now versed in outpatient private practice, he’s the co-founder of Insight into Action Therapy & Insight Recovery.  

Insight Into Action  

When Craig started getting into therapy, he knew what he wanted to do. When he had the opportunity to create his center, he based it on the premise that therapy is more than just talking. Diving deeper into helping people connect with themselves and others, Insight into Action aims to turn to talk into the deeper insights that individuals need to recognize to get better.  

The lack of insight is the biggest block for people in understanding what they need to get better. With this therapy being out-patient, exploring the different ways that different treatments can be effective in each unique situation.  

Outpatient vs. Inpatient 

With different treatment options for each person, it’s important to understand the different options of therapy treatments.  

Outpatient treatment keeps the individual in the community and home that they are in. This is the least restrictive measure of care, typically with weekly appointments. The main purpose is to provide care while safely maintaining the individual that needs the help.  

There are other forms of outpatient treatment, like intensive outpatient therapy and partial hospitalization. These are typically more restrictive and harsher than regular outpatient. 

Inpatient treatment is much more intense, usually meaning that the individual is in the hospital and cannot leave. The individual might need to be medicated at this point. This is to provide the stability that they are lacking.  

All treatments are based solely on the individual’s case, family support, the environment, and if they need medications or not.  

Whether it be inpatient or outpatient, group therapy can be overall beneficial for each participant. By sharing experiences, it allows for a group dynamic made of up people with similar experiences to get rid of the stigma because no one is alone in their struggle.  

What A Diagnosis Can Do  

Substance abuse is a mental illness that often gets overlooked. There isn’t a one size fits all when it comes to alcoholics, therefore, therapists assess and set up individualized programs to help people decided what they need to thrive and move forward.  

When it comes to a specific diagnosis, there might be some pushback to accept that. People can be upset and feel hopeless when they have to deal with a mental illness their entire lives. Other people are grateful that they have a name for what they are feeling and can finally start moving on from that.  

The goal for diagnosing and therapy is to get people into a better place and help them embrace the uncomfortableness that they might feel. Normalizing these feelings and not hiding from them, but rather using them as tools to get stronger, is one key highlight that therapists try to apply to their practices.  

Resources 

Craig James - LinkedIn 

Craig James - LinkedIn 

Insights Into Action Therapy Website  

Insights Into Action Twitter 

Insights Into Action Facebook

What are Guardianship and Conservatorship  

Guardianship and conservatorship have been the main avenue in getting assistant and helping individuals dealing with mental law. It’s an imperfect solution, but it’s evolving and developing with the assistance of lawmakers, lawyers, and attorneys.  

Guardianship allows the rights of an incapacitated person, whether it be mental illness or disability, to be given over to a guardian who is capable of making decisions for that person’s best interest. A conservatorship allows a person to be in charge of an individual’s finances when that individual can’t make decisions about financial affairs. These guardians and people that make decisions about medical issues, where they live, treatment, etc. to ultimately help the mentally ill or disabled person   

Jouya, David, and Rich talk about the different processes in the court to get guardianship or conservatorship. It’s a difficult time, as sometimes the sick individual doesn’t want help. Sometimes, they can’t acknowledge that they need help. It can be intimidating, because it also takes away the rights that the individual has, and they might not want to deal with a guardian or conservator to manage their life. The court decides whether the individual needs that assistance or not.  

If determined that the sick individual needs that help, then it becomes very difficult to get rights back. A physician needs to confirm that the individual is in enough capacity to make decisions, but hard because the trial decision was based on clear and convincing evidence, and sometimes it’s hard to dispute that.  

Providing Help 

Mental health requires a special approach, and it’s hard to determine how sick an individual is. But this is put in place to better lives overall, to implement stabilization, benefits, and protection. On the other hand, a guardian can’t forcibly make individuals take medicine or hospitalize them. The point is to use the least restrictive measurements as possible. Trying to work and agree on a treatment for the individual is the main goal of the guardian. The goal is to have the best relationship possible. 

In different states, there are other ways of intervention during a crisis. Civil commitment processes may be put in place if in the best interest of an individual is in a hospital.  

Power of Attorney 

Powers of attorneys are useful until they aren’t. A medical power of attorney allows people to make specific decisions for a sick individual, but that individual wants that assistance. They also have the power to revoke the power of attorney, so they can refuse the help at any time.   

Even if an individual has the power of attorney, it’s hard for clients to do things. Especially dealing with the financial powers of attorneys. It’s useful, but it’s always better to have guardianship and conservatorship in place instead because the individual can revoke it at any time.  

Many people think that guardianships and conservatorships are tools for the elderly and often forget that it can help younger...]]>On this episode of the Mind Itself, John Whitbeck is joined by three of the top attorneys that deal with guardianship and conservatorship in Virginia, D.C., and Maryland. Jouya Rastegar is a Virginia lawyer practicing in mental health law. David Mendes is an experienced attorney who practices guardianship and elder law in D.C. Richard Tappan is a Maryland attorney who deals with guardianship and conservatorship. During this podcast, they discuss the differences between the laws when it comes to guardianship and conservatorship throughout the three states, while breaking it down and discussing various situations in which it would apply.  

What are Guardianship and Conservatorship  

Guardianship and conservatorship have been the main avenue in getting assistant and helping individuals dealing with mental law. It’s an imperfect solution, but it’s evolving and developing with the assistance of lawmakers, lawyers, and attorneys.  

Guardianship allows the rights of an incapacitated person, whether it be mental illness or disability, to be given over to a guardian who is capable of making decisions for that person’s best interest. A conservatorship allows a person to be in charge of an individual’s finances when that individual can’t make decisions about financial affairs. These guardians and people that make decisions about medical issues, where they live, treatment, etc. to ultimately help the mentally ill or disabled person   

Jouya, David, and Rich talk about the different processes in the court to get guardianship or conservatorship. It’s a difficult time, as sometimes the sick individual doesn’t want help. Sometimes, they can’t acknowledge that they need help. It can be intimidating, because it also takes away the rights that the individual has, and they might not want to deal with a guardian or conservator to manage their life. The court decides whether the individual needs that assistance or not.  

If determined that the sick individual needs that help, then it becomes very difficult to get rights back. A physician needs to confirm that the individual is in enough capacity to make decisions, but hard because the trial decision was based on clear and convincing evidence, and sometimes it’s hard to dispute that.  

Providing Help 

Mental health requires a special approach, and it’s hard to determine how sick an individual is. But this is put in place to better lives overall, to implement stabilization, benefits, and protection. On the other hand, a guardian can’t forcibly make individuals take medicine or hospitalize them. The point is to use the least restrictive measurements as possible. Trying to work and agree on a treatment for the individual is the main goal of the guardian. The goal is to have the best relationship possible. 

In different states, there are other ways of intervention during a crisis. Civil commitment processes may be put in place if in the best interest of an individual is in a hospital.  

Power of Attorney 

Powers of attorneys are useful until they aren’t. A medical power of attorney allows people to make specific decisions for a sick individual, but that individual wants that assistance. They also have the power to revoke the power of attorney, so they can refuse the help at any time.   

Even if an individual has the power of attorney, it’s hard for clients to do things. Especially dealing with the financial powers of attorneys. It’s useful, but it’s always better to have guardianship and conservatorship in place instead because the individual can revoke it at any time.  

Many people think that guardianships and conservatorships are tools for the elderly and often forget that it can help younger people with mental illness or disabilities. It’s meant to be a lifesaving tool, and when correctly used, can save the lives of multiple people. 

Resources 

David D. Mendes 

David’s LinkedIn 

Jouya Rastegar 

Jouya’s LinkedIn 

Richard J Tappan 

Rich’s LinkedIn 

Changing the Culture  

Mike didn’t just want to focus on mental health, but also mental disabilities. Realizing that sometimes people might not understand commands or actions in a way that they are expected to, he realized that a lot of the training had to be focused on empathy and sympathy. That started him training his deputies to take a minute to pause and try to understand what the person was going through while using their best judgment, quickly learning that it made a huge difference in overall handling situations. 

Loudoun County avoids arresting and putting individuals under criminal processing when it comes to people with mental health or disabilities, rather they encourage helping those people get the resources they need. When training, the goal is to make everyone in the law force agency thinks about the law in a way they didn’t before. Instead of just reaching down and grabbing the handcuffs, the focus was to change the mindset of how they should react and approach situations. Mike wanted to change the culture and deescalate the situation by training people to be more empathic or sympathetic.  

Training in Mental Health Situations  

When getting everyone to be CIT trained, it was hard at first. Not everyone believed that it was going to be successful, but Mike talks about how it was an internal job at first. With a good support system that put it together, the training grew in popularity. Classes, talking with other people and leaders in the field, and constant lessons allowed everyone in the department to stay in a constant mode of learning.  

The changes happening nowadays from the turbulent summer were already implemented in the Loudoun County office – and they proved to be successful. Mike talks about how he stays up to date with the best practices and communicates with agencies and mental health professionals in maintaining the best practices they teach.  

Taking Action in the Community 

Mike and his unit also work with the ARC of Loudoun County, where they get the feedback and real experiences directly from the people that are affected by mental health to get to the crux of the matter. Not only do they try to understand the situation when it’s happening but try to get assistance from people with substance abuse and other issues in jail. They want to give the most assistance they can to the people that need it. It doesn’t just stop there - as they get closer to their release from jail, they guarantee that tools are in place to help them get better and live a better life outside. It’s not just about the punishment to Mike and the team, he wants to provide reformation and better access so that they can live a productive life.   

There is a balance when it comes to all of this, and it’s the rule of the law and understanding mental health. Being engaged...]]>In this episode of The Mind Itself Podcast, Sheriff Mike Chapman from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office joins host John Whitbeck in a conversation about mental health and law enforcement. Not sure if he wanted to run for sheriff in the first place, he was a policeman and worked in a private sector in which he saw a lot of substance abuse. With someone he knew close to him dealing with their struggles, he decided to run for sheriff based on improving mental health resources. Nothing in Loudoun County law enforcement provided help or assistance in mental health when he was running for sheriff– no programs, no assistants. He got elected and made mental health a new priority. At first, his initial goal was to have 25% of deputies trained for dealing with mental health.  Once the program started, the people attending the sessions realized how helpful these sessions were. Eventually, this led everyone on the job is 100% CIT trained – deputies, dispatched, anyone working inside the agency.  

Changing the Culture  

Mike didn’t just want to focus on mental health, but also mental disabilities. Realizing that sometimes people might not understand commands or actions in a way that they are expected to, he realized that a lot of the training had to be focused on empathy and sympathy. That started him training his deputies to take a minute to pause and try to understand what the person was going through while using their best judgment, quickly learning that it made a huge difference in overall handling situations. 

Loudoun County avoids arresting and putting individuals under criminal processing when it comes to people with mental health or disabilities, rather they encourage helping those people get the resources they need. When training, the goal is to make everyone in the law force agency thinks about the law in a way they didn’t before. Instead of just reaching down and grabbing the handcuffs, the focus was to change the mindset of how they should react and approach situations. Mike wanted to change the culture and deescalate the situation by training people to be more empathic or sympathetic.  

Training in Mental Health Situations  

When getting everyone to be CIT trained, it was hard at first. Not everyone believed that it was going to be successful, but Mike talks about how it was an internal job at first. With a good support system that put it together, the training grew in popularity. Classes, talking with other people and leaders in the field, and constant lessons allowed everyone in the department to stay in a constant mode of learning.  

The changes happening nowadays from the turbulent summer were already implemented in the Loudoun County office – and they proved to be successful. Mike talks about how he stays up to date with the best practices and communicates with agencies and mental health professionals in maintaining the best practices they teach.  

Taking Action in the Community 

Mike and his unit also work with the ARC of Loudoun County, where they get the feedback and real experiences directly from the people that are affected by mental health to get to the crux of the matter. Not only do they try to understand the situation when it’s happening but try to get assistance from people with substance abuse and other issues in jail. They want to give the most assistance they can to the people that need it. It doesn’t just stop there - as they get closer to their release from jail, they guarantee that tools are in place to help them get better and live a better life outside. It’s not just about the punishment to Mike and the team, he wants to provide reformation and better access so that they can live a productive life.   

There is a balance when it comes to all of this, and it’s the rule of the law and understanding mental health. Being engaged in every aspect is the most important part of the job. In the future, Mike plans to continue to look for ways to constantly improve. He wants to stay a board member and actively have a voice on the matter. Overall, Mike has bettered the community as a whole in mental health and paves the way in the region as one of the top programs that handle mental health and mental health situations when it comes to the law. 

Resources 

Loudoun County Page 

Loudoun Country Sheriff’s Office  

Mike Chapman - LinkedIn

Personal Experience  

At a young age, Jason dealt with his own struggle. Legally blind, Jason’s life was immediately different from everyone else’s. With struggling in the corporate world, he decided to go in and change that experience for other people. His aim early on was to allow disabled people to be independent in the workplace, while also allowing them to make a living wage and support their own family.  

Most of his advocacy was done in the early ’90s, where his main passion was to make a difference in organizations that made employers comply with a certain set of regulations. The goal was to create and establish a centralized accommodation function, allowing for evaluations and explorations for solutions for those employee’s that needed it.  

Mental Health Disabilities 

When it comes to disabilities and needing accommodations to be fully functional and successful at work, Jason doesn’t just mean physical disabilities. Mental health is one of the biggest problems that Americans deal with today, and Jason wanted to make sure that employees that struggled with non-visible disabilities had the same resources as everyone else.  

The main purpose of accommodations is to provide a tool for employees that allows them to be more productive. To be successful, it’s a partnership. The employer must know what exactly the employee needs to be as productive as possible – and that doesn’t mean that the employer has to know exactly what the disability is.  

It’s scary taking the first step to getting help, but Jason encourages employees with mental disabilities to use the tools and resources put in place to help them. This not only helps the individual but allows the company to give back to the people that work for them and make it a better overall environment.  

Jason advises to create a dialogue with the workplace, communicate clearly, participate in filling out medical documentation, and understand that it’s a productivity tool rather than a solution when understanding accommodations in the workplace.  

When it comes to disabilities, each state has its own set of legislations that protect people and allows for assistance. The whole purpose of ADA is to avoid stereotypes and judging, therefore there is a lot of emphasis on protecting the employee with the disability. 

Resources 

Jason Bryn JD - LinkedIn

Breaking the Stigma

One of the hardest things about dealing with mental health is when an individual doesn’t believe they need help. Jennifer and Dr. Mike talk about how difficult the realization of needing help can be for some individuals, and this only furthers the mental health stigma. 

Mental health is hard to pinpoint when thinking about why it’s happening and when it’s happening. People go years and years without the proper diagnosis, which can leave them feeling helpless. Some people can’t come to terms with what they are going through, going through grief – like stages towards acceptance. 

Therapy is uncomfortable, and all individuals handle it differently. However, the sooner someone gets treatment, the sooner that person can start getting better. Learn how kids and adults handle their mental illnesses differently. 

Protecting Mental Health

When people need help with their mental health, it’s at the tipping point of the crises. People wait until things are as bad as they can get. Dr. Mike and Jennifer discuss how it needs to change, that kids need to have check ins and learn about mental health earlier on. There are preventative methods and ways to ensure that you’re taking care of yourself. 

Legal systems also make it harder for people to get mental health help. Structures and policies that are put in place often make it harder for the people that need help to get it. 

Combining Mental Health and Art

Mental health treatment may not seem fun, and people are sometimes resistant to the clinical style. Jennifer allows treatment to be in the form of a play, of giving people a stage and allowing them to tell their story. This creates a sense of community and connection.

Dr. Mike explores medication, therapy, and evaluation techniques, acknowledging that a good psychiatrist connects with the person needing help. It’s an unfolding process to understand what each person needs to get that help they want. Good therapy can happen everywhere, not just in an office. Working on what you need to work on is helping lessen the mental struggle. 

Staying Mentally Healthy

The mental health struggle isn’t over after going to therapy once. It’s a process, and sometimes it takes going to therapy your whole life to combat it. Understanding triggers and having stability support mental health. Long-term strategies are making sure you’re going to therapy to live your life, not living your life to go to therapy. Meaningful changes, exploring the self, and continuing beneficial therapies along with medication management can help relieve mental struggles.

There are many different ways you can care for you mental health. Dr. Mike and Jennifer have resources that you can implement into your life.

Resources

Ashburn Psychological and Psychiatric Services 

• phone number: 703-723-2999
• Facebook Page
• On the first episode of The Mind Itself, John Whitbeck introduces two guests. Jennifer Marshall is the executive director of This Is My Brave. Jennifer was diagnosed with type one bipolar disorder and clinical depression. Starting off with an anon blog, she wrote to connect and share stories about mental health. Eventually it led her to creating her organization. Dr. Michael Oberschneider, the founder and director of Ashburn psychological and psychiatric services, provides mental health care for people of all ages and people who are dealing with a wide range of issues. Together, they discuss the mental health stigma, how important the junction between creativity and mental health is, and how to stay mentally healthy. 

  Breaking the Stigma

  One of the hardest things about dealing with mental health is when an individual doesn’t believe they need help. Jennifer and Dr. Mike talk about how difficult the realization of needing help can be for some individuals, and this only furthers the mental health stigma. 

  Mental health is hard to pinpoint when thinking about why it’s happening and when it’s happening. People go years and years without the proper diagnosis, which can leave them feeling helpless. Some people can’t come to terms with what they are going through, going through grief – like stages towards acceptance. 

  Therapy is uncomfortable, and all individuals handle it differently. However, the sooner someone gets treatment, the sooner that person can start getting better. Learn how kids and adults handle their mental illnesses differently. 

  Protecting Mental Health

  When people need help with their mental health, it’s at the tipping point of the crises. People wait until things are as bad as they can get. Dr. Mike and Jennifer discuss how it needs to change, that kids need to have check ins and learn about mental health earlier on. There are preventative methods and ways to ensure that you’re taking care of yourself. 

  Legal systems also make it harder for people to get mental health help. Structures and policies that are put in place often make it harder for the people that need help to get it. 

  Combining Mental Health and Art

  Mental health treatment may not seem fun, and people are sometimes resistant to the clinical style. Jennifer allows treatment to be in the form of a play, of giving people a stage and allowing them to tell their story. This creates a sense of community and connection.

  Dr. Mike explores medication, therapy, and evaluation techniques, acknowledging that a good psychiatrist connects with the person needing help. It’s an unfolding process to understand what each person needs to get that help they want. Good therapy can happen everywhere, not just in an office. Working on what you need to work on is helping lessen the mental struggle. 

  Staying Mentally Healthy

  The mental health struggle isn’t over after going to therapy once. It’s a process, and sometimes it takes going to therapy your whole life to combat it. Understanding triggers and having stability support mental health. Long-term strategies are making sure you’re going to therapy to live your life, not living your life to go to therapy. Meaningful changes, exploring the self, and continuing beneficial therapies along with medication management can help relieve mental struggles.

  There are many different ways you can care for you mental health. Dr. Mike and Jennifer have resources that you can implement into your life.

  Resources

  Ashburn Psychological and Psychiatric Services 

  • phone number: 703-723-2999
  • Facebook Page
  • LinkedIn 
  • Dr. Mikes LinkedIn
  
  

   This is My Brave 

  • Facebook Page
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • Jennifer’s LinkedIn
  
  ]]>34d62639-8a07-4905-9348-9d41ebbcfdb0Mon, 23 Nov 2020 15:59:00 -050032:34falsefull11111John WhitbeckEpisode 0: Introducing the Mind Itself PodcastJohn Whitbeck, formally an adjunct professor and director of the George Mason University Law and Mental Illness Clinic, along with being a former special justice for proceedings to commit mentally ill individuals to psychiatric treatment, creates a podcast from his unique perspectives and experiences. The Mind Itself is a podcast about mental health, mental health law, and how they affect all aspects of our daily lives.  

   

  Diving into the Mind 

   

  Touching upon how society views mental health issues, this podcast seeks to explore the works from Clifford Beers, Dorotha Dix, and the ancient Greek Hippocrates to experts of the modern age to gain more knowledge about the mind. By bringing in local and national expertise, this podcast takes a deeper look into how mental health is dealt with medically, legally, and practically.  

   

  Gain inside knowledge about one of the most of important issues in society today – mental health. This issue, although often overlooked, impact the daily lives of almost half of adults in the United States.  

   

  Every 2-3 weeks, a new episode will introduce a new topic with interviews from experts, physicians, law enforcement officers, policy makers, and other highly qualified individuals on a variety of mental health topics. Whitbeck and his guests will help the audience gain practical knowledge about the impact of mental illness on their everyday lives.  

   

  The mind itself podcast is unique because it’s examining the intersection between mental health and the law, and how it impacts the individual.  

   

  Resources 

   

  The Mind Itself Podcast On Spotify 

  John’s Law Firm 

  John Whitbeck’s Linkedin  

  ]]>John Whitbeck, formally an adjunct professor and director of the George Mason University Law and Mental Illness Clinic, along with being a former special justice for proceedings to commit mentally ill individuals to psychiatric treatment, creates a podcast from his unique perspectives and experiences. The Mind Itself is a podcast about mental health, mental health law, and how they affect all aspects of our daily lives.  

   

  Diving into the Mind 

   

  Touching upon how society views mental health issues, this podcast seeks to explore the works from Clifford Beers, Dorotha Dix, and the ancient Greek Hippocrates to experts of the modern age to gain more knowledge about the mind. By bringing in local and national expertise, this podcast takes a deeper look into how mental health is dealt with medically, legally, and practically.  

   

  Gain inside knowledge about one of the most of important issues in society today – mental health. This issue, although often overlooked, impact the daily lives of almost half of adults in the United States.  

   

  Every 2-3 weeks, a new episode will introduce a new topic with interviews from experts, physicians, law enforcement officers, policy makers, and other highly qualified individuals on a variety of mental health topics. Whitbeck and his guests will help the audience gain practical knowledge about the impact of mental illness on their everyday lives.  

   

  The mind itself podcast is unique because it’s examining the intersection between mental health and the law, and how it impacts the individual.  

   

  Resources 

   

  The Mind Itself Podcast On Spotify 

  John’s Law Firm 

  John Whitbeck’s Linkedin  

  ]]>40a6c49f-74b8-439c-b7c4-6913797b66f3Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:47:49 -050001:51falsetrailerJohn Whitbeck