Woman and Child First

To Diagnose Or To Not Diagnose. This is the Grunt.

I'm in the middle of a professional development course "Assessment and management of anxiety in children and young people". It's a School-Link training course, a joint initiative between the Departments of Education and Health (New south Wales).

It's being run by two exceptionally good practicioners, based in Sydney. (Rob McAlpine and Anthony Hillin- website link later when I can find it through the pages of course readings).

The advisory group for the curriculum development has been made up of people from the NSW Institute of Psychiatry, Dept Ed, TAFE, Community Mental Health and anyway, lots of professional people representing an array of care providing industires.

Sorry about all that - just felt I needed to provide some guts to where the next couple of posts will be coming from!

A highly informative and instructive course.

There are something to the tune of 16 anxiety disorders, as specified by the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statisical Manual 4th ed.) Social phobia, panic disorder, specific phobia, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessives compulsive disorder, to name a few. Each have fairly specific treatment implications.

It became apparent that some people in the (very diverse) group felt it is not the prerogative of some professionals to offer diagnoses...That this role was to be left to "those of us who are able to make such diagnoses".

The concern is justified (We don't want incompetent people running around giving out labels to children and parents. Labels which have serious, long term implications). The arrogance with which it was delivered I think,is not.

I always roll my eyes when in a room of psychologists and professional intelligent people, we have this sort of carry-on.

There were two implications here:

1) that only clinical psychologists and the like were suitably qualified to diagnose and

2) that those "other" people working in this field are not able to exercize sound professional judgement in the process of diagnosis (That is, formulation and delivery...including the decision to deliver it or not).

What do you think?

My personal opinion (and way of working) is this: I don't give out labels/diagnoses without extreme caution and consultation with at least one other professional whose expertise is established. For the most part, I don't give out a diagnosis. I offer explanations and treatment strategies and as much help as I can. A diagnosis from me is mostly seen as a way of communication to another psychologist or professional who is working with the same client.

Within the school system, a diagnosis, not from me, but a paediatrician or psychiatrist is essential before needed funds can get to the school so the child can have support (and hopefully understanding too).

Other times, parents are asking you directly for a label. Giving them one lets them know that their child's condition is recognized, acknowledged and has a name. It reduces feelings of isolation and empowers them to be able to manage the thing. It's a positive experience. The sense of relief is palpable.

I'd love some feedback on this. It's a juicy one! What are your experiences with labelling and diagnosis?

and In The End the Love You Take is Equal To the Love you Make

I just love this picture. It does great things for my brain and eyes. It delivers untold and deep levels of satisfaction to my general sense of well being.

You could say I'm a Beatles fan.

And by God, you'd be spot on, laddie. I do hope someone remembers to put this picture on the head of my coffin when I'm dead. Hee hee.

Link

Mother's Day In Little Italy (Belated Wishes)

A stooped and fragile old woman slowly made her way to the head of the table and announced, "I'd like to dedicate this next verse to all the mothers whose children turned into toads on mothers day this year".

She started to sing in a sweet and lilting voice:

"May all you children, ungrateful and fat,

May all of thee come to me,

wearing hard hats..." The whole restaurant fell silent.

"For this is the one day for you to be nice,

But since you're a reptile...

your head I must slice..."

Then she produced a large butchers knife from behind her back, lifted it above her head and with a great AAAARGH! she landed it right through the Italian tabletop.

A little darling of the olde worlde from Vintage Photo.

Ideas For Photographs: 1932

                                                                          

I imagine the person who thought up this marvelous photo idea in 1932 was an extremely interesting person, indeedy do. Someone prone to day dreams...

Another delight for the eyes from Vintage Photographs.

Rosie Flo And Johnny Joe

I love these colouring books by UK illustrator Roz Streeton. They are so much more interesting and indeed interactive ( enough with the i's !) than your average derbrain colouring books.

In designing the books, I have paid attention to all things which irritated me as a child.- Roz S.

Clever woman.

You add your own heads, arms and legs. What mad joy I could have! I want one for myself. So does my daughter. There's also a boy's series (Johnny Joe's) which Ben's keen on too. Let's buy em all goddammit!

Via the gorgeous Book By It's Cover

A Greater Good

Although I haven’t seen good research to substantiate this theory that mothers’ happiness directly influences the happiness of their children, a fairly extensive body of research has established a substantial link between mothers who feel depressed and “negative outcomes” in their children, like acting out and other behavior problems. As you might imagine, when we mothers feel depressed it is not good for our children’s happiness. -Christine Carter, Ph.D.,

Yet another reason to look after yourself. I repeat, to nourish and nuture oneself as a woman, a mother is NOT a luxury, it's an essential.

The above snippet comes from a blog that looks closely at the "Science of Raising Happy Children".

Can't remember how I stumbled on it, but I'm really enjoying reading from it. Over to the sidebar for you, Half Full Blogversations!

Painting by Kim Richardson

What haunts...Our Secrets

Inspired by my own family secrets, what haunts... is an interactive art installation that explores secrets and their universality. Viewers respond and participate by reading and adding, in anonymity, their own - often-intimate - secrets to the installation. The varied secrets evoke sadness, horror, shock, humor, and reassurance. They "are riveting to read, telling stories of abortion, adoption, and affairs mixed with more universal confessions, like, 'my heart is broken and I am terrified.'"  - Cathy McLaurin

The artist reports people are strongly drawn to this art piece. Probably because all of us keep secrets.

I was taught to teach children not to keep certain secrets (like that they are being abused).

Secrets can be a torment and a burden.

Many of us keep secrets for decades. Many die with our secrets still buried deep in our psyches and in our hearts...aching for release.

But then...secrets are so tantillizing aussi.

So it's intriguing isn't it, that while we are compelled to keep secrets, this piece of art shows we are just as driven to expose them. The curtained "room" where the participants pen their secrets anonymously becomes a confessional.

Aren't we interesting, complex creatures?

Walking City Dress (Breathing)

Stunning!

by Ying Gao

Found on dear ada.

Take a close look at the fabric, It's like a breathing form of snow and ice together. Just beautiful.

And the video...Very Montreal...Very yummy.

Grace Discovered

I'm a very visual person and I actively seek out images of beauty, interest and delight. Such things captivate my imagination and can literally turn an ordinary day into something with a lovely twist.

Since losing my favourite blogger, Theresa Duncan, to her suicide last July, I've been scouring the net for blogs to help satisfy that need for visual romancing. (Theresa was a genius at this art, as well as an intellectual giant).

In my hunting process, I've come across a blog called dear ada, the author of which always features beautiful pieces of art that fill in my day very happily thank you.

Today, still being on holidays, I found myself with time to languish around the dear ada site and find that the author "birdie"has been struggling with diabetes for 20 years. She speaks about this disease with eloquence and indeed grace in her other site.

She has published her own book Aiming For Grace: 20 Things I Know About Diabetes. (Gorgeous cover).

I really loved reading birdie's posts about her life with diabetes. Having had gestational diabetes when pregnant with Ben, I know something of it, but certainly not what it's like for 20 years on end. The theme of these posts can be summed up in one word - inspiration.

This is the beauty of blogging I think, a person's world can become known, even accessible and in birdie's case, the beauty and struggle of that world is intertwined in a fabulous way.

What a marvelous and interesting woman.

My Continental Shelf Is Bigger Than Yours

"Australia has extended its continental shelf under an agreement with the United Nations.

'I am pleased to announce that Australia, the largest island in the world, has just been dramatically increased in size,' Resources Minister Martin Ferguson told reporters in Canberra...

The UN had found that Australia's territory should be extended by 2.5 million square kilometres, he said."

- Link

So if there is oil, gas or any other juicy bits and pieces found in the extra 2.5 million k's, does that mean other countries will have to kiss OZ government arse? 

Like OZ governments have done to the US and Britain for the last 200 years?

Yeah!

Girls Into Women

"Are we are losing the war for girls' self-esteem? We are fighting the media, popular culture, teenage stresses and peer pressure for the minds, values and habits of our girls. Girls' self-esteem plummets around age nine:

• Girls face depression twice as often as boys by age 15.
• 20–40% of girls aged ten have started dieting.
• Girls as young as 10 confront "teen" issues such as sex.
• Eating disorders among the most common mental health problems in girls.
• Low self-esteem leads to dangerous sexual behavior.

The good news is that despite these pressures, parents have more influence on their kids than they think." - article from NYU Child Study Centre.

I always love to read that last sentence. Let's be positive and firm with our girls. Let's show them how it is to live as a strong and self-determined person. They need that from their parents now more than ever. This article has some good reminders about creating confidence within our daughters.

The strongest messages come from us, their parents. This is good to remember!

Regardez Vous Le Chat

Le Chat de la Concierge by Janine Niepce 1957.

I do appreciate a black cat. Particularly one sitting in a French street in 1957.

C'est bonne!

Via

Holidays Are For The Idle

I have been lounging on the lounge and eating well. I've taken solitary walks on my deserted local beach. I've not talked to a great deal of people. The cats have been good company.

The sky when viewed for long pauses, speaks very quietly I noticed.

My kids are back from their father's home today. My mother and sister arrived as well. It's been a great day. Full of showers and blue skies, warm moments then chills through cracks in the garage. Home cooked soup and hearty appetites.

This is my holiday so far.

Outstandingly Fair In Her Field

"If you want something, you really have to fight for it. I don't think anything should be easy. If you're determined, you will become the writer or the musician or the dancer. If you want to do anything, you will do it."

- Margaret Olley

Ranunculus and Plums pictured.

Here Is Something For Your HeartMind

May your heart skip a bit and your mind slow down when the eyes rest on this piece: Pink Berries.

Found here

Taken by This Person.