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Showing posts from September, 2016

How to Identify a Covert Narcissist

By: Christine Hammond, LMHC The Overt Narcissists are easy to spot as they literally suck the life out of a room and absorb all of the positive and negative attention. They love to be on center stage, need constant admiration, crave affection even from inappropriate sources, and seek adoration affirmation. The Covert Narcissists (CN) or the Silent Narcissists are much more difficult to spot. On the surface, they present as normal. It is only with a viewpoint of others, that the narcissism appears. Worst yet, it is only with a few others that it is apparent. Everyone else believes they are charming, fun to be around, disciplined, determined, and affectionate. But for a few people whom the CN dislikes, they are intimidating, unbearable, inflexible, intolerable, and cold. Using the DSM-V as a guide for narcissism, here is how a CN presents: ·          Grandiose sense of self-importance: The best word to describe this attitude is snobbish. The CN may have inherited money but

How to Find an Experienced Life Coach

by: Dwight Bain, Life Coach Want a better life? Get a better coach because if you pick the wrong one you will not experience the results you want. In fact if you have a bad coach you may have to fire them. Don’t worry – A non-performing coach knows you will fire them since coaching is about results for the client, nothing more, nothing less. So how can you find a better coach? Here are the action steps to help you, and those you care about , find a coach who can challenge you to climb higher, dream bigger and accomplish more than you could have ever done alone. Start with the basics in your own life… 1. Are you “coachable,” that is, do you seek out coaching and respond to critique? 2. Is your life emotionally stable? 3. Are you ready for a coach? 4. Do you have the time to take on new projects? 5. Are you eager to move past the roadblocks toward experiencing your potential? If you answered ‘Yes” to at least 4 of these 5 questions then move forward to the next section in

5 Murdered at Macy's Do you know how to Stabilize Shooting Trauma? - Free Psychological Response Training

Do you know how to stabilize a victim or organization in Emotional Trauma after homicidal violence?   Free half-day training to Equip Counselors with new skills needed to manage STS and PTSD.  (Breakfast and CEU's provided) Free Psychological Trauma Response Training to Equip Counselors and Clergy after a Community Shooting to stabilize victims and organizations.  (Healthy Breakfast and Florida State Approved CEU's provided) Where?  Central Florida Behavioral Hospital 6601 Central Florida Pkway. Orlando, Fl. 32821 (Near Sea World)   When?    Friday, September 30th    FREE & open to the public! To register, please e-mail Rich Rodriguez at    Rich.Rodriguez@uhsinc.com or call  407-264-7556   Seating is  very limited  for this intensive half-day training event, so if it is full, please leave your name and contact information to be placed on the waiting list. The Macy's Mall shooting Friday night is just one more episode of mas

Solve Morning Stress with the “Daily 5”

By: Dwight Bain, LMHC Does your morning ritual start calmly with peaceful conversations, or it is a mad rush full of conflict and chaos? For most of us it’s a time of panic, rushing and even yelling at each other,  (which never makes it better by the way) . So, how can you move from a morning rush to a healthy morning routine? The answer is found in a series of daily disciplines my friend John Maxwell taught me which I call the  “Daily 5”.    These are a series of healthy rituals that are practiced every day, no matter what. The secret isn’t in listing a healthy pattern to start your day rather the real strength comes from practicing them every day. Dr. Maxwell explains it this way,  “Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing. It doesn’t matter how talented you are. It doesn’t matter how many opportunities you receive. If you want to grow, consistency is key.”  John goes on to share that his five disciplines are, reading, writing, thinking, asking questio

Coping With a Grief Anniversary: 7 Tips

By: Anthony Centore Ph.D.  ( Guest Blogger) The anniversary of a loss is one of the most difficult times we experience after a loss. Each year, we are reminded of our loss. It is not uncommon to experience a reoccurrence of our grief. This experience commonly referred to as the “grief anniversary” can be unsettling and confusing, especially when we are sure we have grieved and moved forward into our new lives.      Knowing that the anniversary is coming can evoke feelings of dread and fear. While it is not an easy time, there are things you can do to cope with the anniversary and the feelings that may arise. Here are seven counselor approved tips. Coping With the Grief Anniversary 1. Build Comfort and Support into the Day – Having support on that day can be comforting. Reach out to close friends and relatives for support. Let them know ahead of time that the day might be hard for you. Plan to spend some time with them. 2. Choose to Remember the Day – It is easier to cope

Take Time to Be Still

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By: Christine Hammond, LMHC For Floridians, hurricane threats send people scurrying around town collecting water, batteries, and can goods. The stores are flocked with people as the shelves begin to go bare. Preparations are made to homes and offices to protect landscapes, windows, and possessions. Anyone who lived through the four hurricane year of 2004, remembers the unpredictability of the path, the weeks without power, the displaced people, the intense traffic, and massive devastation that took years to recover. Nearly every part of Florida was affected by one of the storms. But right before the storm would approach, there was an eerie stillness. Even the birds were silent as the streets of major cities became deserted, businesses and schools were shut down, homes were boarded up, and the people braced for impact. There was a peaceful deceiving look outside as even the trees were tranquil. The silence, in combination with a realization that nothing more could be done a

Can Too Much Breaking News Cause Psychological Harm?

By: Christine Hammond, LMHC The short answer is yes. Breaking news tends to be highly dramatic, less specific, emotionally driven, and very current. Just this past week, our area’s breaking news included: bomb threats at several area schools, fatal car accidents, several homicides, discovery of burnt body, missing child, severe child abuse charges pressed against parents, and the latest in political upheaval. Any one of these events can trigger psychological issues. ·          Anxiety. The first noticeable response is usually anxiety. This can be mild or more severe leading to a panic attack. When parents were notified of the bomb threats for their child’s school, many were concerned about sending their child to school that day. The affected schools reported a significant increase in absences which is unusual for the first week of school. While it is understandable that a parent would be worried, the news generated anxiety affecting the entire community. ·          Depressi

How to Tell a Narcissist by Their Writing

By: Christine Hammond, LMHC It is easy to spot a narcissist by their speaking. The constant references to self, comparing them with others always coming out on top, the verbal assaults to disarm and belittle others, and insisting they deserve admiration for some achievement are all indicators. But when it comes to writing, it might be harder to identify. To make a far assessment, the DSM-5 criteria for Narcissist Personality Disorder (NPD) will be used. In bold are brief characteristics identified in the DSM and following are how it appears in articles, books, blogs, emails, and even texts. ·          Expects to be recognized as superior. NPDs constantly demand attention. As such, their writing often has an air of superiority or “I’m better than you” tone. Sometimes, they are even bold enough to come right out and say they are the best. They tend to write to incite or provoke others but it is not for action. Rather, the victim feels placed in a position of defending themsel