The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

If the Eustis Bombing happened last Monday, would you know how to lead your community out of Crisis? The plot to attack the Eustis Police Department, several local churches and a youth camp was uncovered last week and saved countless lives. But if the bombing attack had occurred are you certified to lead in a crisis? Would you know how to respond? http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-eustis-police-rocket-propelled-grenade-launcher-20150518-story.html   Did you know only those trained and certified in crisis response are allowed to work on the scene of a disaster ? If a School Shooting, Suicide, Bombing, Hurricane, Tornado, Fire, Flood, Car Fatality, Co-worker Suicide, Terrorist Attack or Airline Crash happened in Lake County would you know what to do to help someone?   If you were at the scene of a community shooting or disaster would you know what to do?   Would you know what to say to protect that person from developing PTSD? Would you know what do t...

By: Cara Griffin-Locker PTSD is an anxiety disorder that develops after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. PTSD is most commonly associated with those who have served in the war. However, PTSD can also be found in those who have suffered from sexual abuse. PTSD and sexual abuse are both sinister types of trauma that can affect anyone at any age from childhood to adult and often plays off the shame it instills in the victims. Victims of childhood sexual abuse are often too young to know how to vocalize or express concern, emotions or the need to seek help. Left untreated, PTSD can lead to depression, anxiety and a lifetime of agony. In the U. S. Alone, one out of three females and one out of five males have been victims of sexual abuse before the age of 18 years.    The trauma that results from sexual abuse is a syndrome that affects not just the victim and their family, but all of our society. Sexual abus...

By Matt W. Sandford, LMHC When we were young people probably asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. And I think for most of us, when we think back on how we answered we chuckle about it. Childrens’ answers to this question can be fanciful, and have nothing to do with the concept of a good “fit”. But what constitutes a good fit? And how can we expect to find satisfaction in life if our job is more a fight than a good fit? What can we do? I believe that in some ways we are conditioned in our culture to conceive of finding a “good job” in specific ways, such as: it is something I am good at, it is something I like doing, it is something that pays well, and it is something that is respected by others. Our parents and families were likely highly invested in us finding a “good job” and so the expectations were there hovering over us. And with the cultural and family expectations doing their job, many of us pursued what we hoped would be a “fitting” career. We worked hard thr...

By: Cara Griffin-Locker, IMH As children, thoughts of what we would do when we get older were endless. Our dreams, hopes and aspirations were as big as the world we live in. The desire and need to be successful were not yet as strong as our desire and need for adventure and fun. However, as we grew up, money became inherently more important than our childhood aspirations. It is the powerful tool for building empires and lavish lifestyles. Money can make some people happy and others miserable. For some, in today’s society, the pursuit of money can be directly linked to the pursuit of happiness. The idea that money is the key to happiness is problematic because it often leads people down a career path that may not be meant for them. They choose money over passion and childhood dreams. They choose the materialistic ways of the world, rather than a life of simplicity and passion. Whatever happened to the saying “choose something you like to do and you will never work a day in your lif...

By Christine Hammond, LMHC Beneath all of that bravado and charm lies a hidden secret the narcissist doesn’t want you to find. They will do anything to protect their secret from you. They might lie about it.   Or they might divert your attention with an innovative story. Or they might project their secret onto you. Come close to figuring it out and the result is warfare for control. Narcissists will use all types of abuse to dominate you. They use verbal (i.e. threats, intimidation), physical (i.e. restraining, choking), emotional (i.e. fear or guilt tactics), mental (i.e. gaslighting, silent treatment), financial (i.e. withholding, exploitation), sexual (i.e. forced, coerced) or spiritual (i.e. isolation from family, legalism) forms of abuse. Their fear is this… information equals power. If you know their secret, you will then embarrass or humiliate them. This is the worst thing they can imagine... others thinking less of them. So what is this precious sec...

By: Cara Griffin-Locker She sat with her breath held as the bills lay on the kitchen table.   She did not know how they were all going to get paid or how they would have anything left for food or daily essentials. She started to second guess her decision to leave the job that she had had for eight and a half years. She questioned the wisdom in losing the paid vacation and the health care benefits. Everything started to become overwhelming and the worrying was taking over. It was starting to consume her; what seemed possible now seemed so impossible and the thoughts of having to keep working was very unsettling.   The worrying started to take its toll physically, she found herself not being able to sleep and her appetite had decreased. She realized that she was losing control. Most of us can probably relate to this scenario - worrying about bills, wanting to be a stay-at-home parent, etc.. If we take a minute we will realize that life is full of things to worry about: w...

“How to have that difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding with your family, coworkers, parents, partner or children.” Presented by: Dwight Bain, LMHC, NCC, CLC Objectives: Identify the most common family secrets and dysfunction to confront. Gain a strategic approach to confront secrets or addictions with confidence. Role Play a family confrontation without a conflict to achieve therapeutic goals. Discover when to challenge, when to confront, and when to refer for inpatient care. Identify the key elements necessary to re-write a family story. Date:   Friday, March 20, 2015   Time:   9am – 12pm Registration and breakfast begin at 8am   Location:   6601 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando FL 32821 Central Florida Behavioral Hospital tours will be available after presentation.     Email Rich Rodriguez by 3/16/15 to register.   Rich.Rodriguez@uhsinc.com Class size is limited. ...