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NEIU CESA Newsletter Counselor Education Student Association Vol. 6 No. 2
W I N T E R 2 0 1 5
In This Issue Upcoming Events 2 CESA / NEIU Events 3 Doing the Conga with Your Contratiempo 4 Laura Tejada Blue Octopus Editorial: The IFS Model 6 Joe Fournier Coping with Grief During the Holidays 8 Liz Garvey Seasonal Patterns in Mental Health 10 Leslie Contos Life Beyond NEIU: Your Career Starts Now 13 Nicole Zook
Get Involved! Suggestions, Comments, Questions, Idea for an article?
NEIUCESA@gmail.com / https://facebook.com/groups/NEIUCESA/
Or talk to one of your officers in class…
Leslie Contos – President
Bill Harrison – Vice President (Newsletter Editor)
Melissa Erickson – Secretary
Katie Petty – Treasurer
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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Upcoming Events
IAMFT Annual Conference 2015 Illinois Association for Marriage &
Family Therapy
March 5, 6, 7 2015 NIU Conference Center Naperville, IL
http://www.iamft.org/ohana/
2015 IL-APT Conference Illinois Association for Play Therapy
February 26 - 27, 2015
The Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago - O'Hare/Rosemont
http://www.ila4pt.org/training-and-conferences/
ISCA Annual Conference 2015 Illinois School Counselors Association
April 24th
North Shore Holiday Inn – Skokie, IL
http://www.ilschoolcounselor.org/conference/registration.html
Illinois Counseling Association NCE/LPC Test Prep – IMHCA
February 6-7 9AM - 4PM
Naperville, IL
NCMHCE/LCPC Test Prep – IMHCA
February 21-22 9AM - 4PM
Chicago, IL
2015 ICA Annual Southern Conference
March 20, 2015
IMHCA Annual Conference 2015 Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association
March 6, 7, 8 2015
Doubletree Inn – Skokie, IL
http://www.imhca.org/Annual-Conference
ACA Annual Conference 2015 American Counseling Association
March 12 - 15 2015
Orlando, FL
https://www.counseling.org/conference/orlando-aca-2015
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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CESA / NEIU News
Upcoming CESA Events Monthly Meetings (All are welcome!)
NEIU Campus – Student Union SU-217
Thursday, January 15th 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Thursday, February 5th 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Thursday, March 5th 6:30 – 7:30 PM Coming Soon: Licensure Workshop / Play Therapy Workshop - Spring 2015
NEIU Student & Faculty News Student Nicole Zook presented this summer at the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and this fall at the Illinois Counseling Association Conference.
Recent alumni Elizabeth Rodden presented this fall at the Illinois Counseling Association Conference.
Student Leslie Contos presented this fall at the Illinois Psychological Association Conference and at the Illinois Counseling Association Conference.
Professor Shedeh Tavakoli presented this summer at the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and this fall at the Illinois Counseling Association Conference.
Professor Mei Chen presented this fall at the Illinois Counseling Association Conference.
Professor Sharon Bethea presented this fall at the Illinois Counseling Association Conference.
Numerous student proposals have already been submitted for spring conferences. If you, or a student or professor you know have presented, published, or conducted research reccently; please let us know so we can share in our upcoming newsletters. neiucesa@gmail.com
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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Doing the Conga with Your Contratiempo by Laura Tejada, Ph.D., LCPC, LMFT, RPT-S
Normally, I’m pretty good about realizing that the process of life is exactly
that—a process, not a destination, especially career-wise. Once I realized that others folks
have career trajectories but I have a career meander, life got more enjoyable. I don’t think
that my life changed at all, only that I was finally enjoying the process.
Lately, I have found myself back in the trap of thinking that everything will be
‘done’ when I accomplish the next set of tasks. (Under stress regress, right?) I find myself
mentally mapping out my path like I did before I learned to enjoy the ride: I will
accomplish X by the end of the Spring semester, Y by the end of the summer, and by this
time next year, Z will be in the bag.
Of course, it doesn’t work that way. Unforeseen events crop up. There’s a very
helpful word in Spanish that has no good equivalent in English: contratiempos. It means
literally ‘things that work against time.’ The nearest we come in English is ‘setbacks.’ But
contratiempos are not necessarily setbacks. They are circumstances that tend to be
annoying and require some attention and energy. You make your plans as best you can, and
yet contratiempos still happen. Hard drives crash. Folks get ill. Classes fill up. Textbooks
don’t come in on time. Contratiempos slow you down, but they also build your resilience
by giving you opportunities to practice flexibility and patience. Along the way, you gain
some good experience.
When I look at it this way, most of my career has been contratiempos. That’s not a
bad thing. Those contratiempos resulted in me learning about play therapy, trauma
interventions, and couples and family counseling. It took a long time, but those meanders
got me here. And that’s a very good thing for me.
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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This semester has had more than its share of personal and professional
contratiempos for me and for many of my students and advisees. We find ourselves reading
and rereading the quote from Pema Chadron that I have on my office door: “There isn’t
going to be some precious future time when all the loose ends will be tied up.” Not when X
is done, not when Y is conquered, and not even when Z is in the bag. So, what to do? Join
me and do the conga with your contratiempo. It may feel like it’s working against us, but in
the long run, our contratiempos are on our side. We might as well conga a bit while we sort
through them all.
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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I am the Blue Octopus, and I will write this article. I am a sub-personality (or
"part") of Joe, and my role in his intrapsychic system could be summed up with two S-
words: seeking and simplifying. The suction cups on my eight arms are endlessly "tasting"
the environment for the most flavorful bits of information. My hard beak bites into these
tasty bits and extracts the yummy, essential meanings. By performing this strategic role for
Joe, our system has access to a meticulously organized data set and can impose its
framework onto the untidy realities of human life.
My role began in response to a series of emotionally charged miscommunications
occurring early in grade school. Due to an infection, Joe lost a moderate amount of hearing
in both ears at age 3, and upon entering the school setting, social activities proved to be
fraught with broken exchanges. At age 5 or 6, I took on the parentified role of the Blue
Octopus to protect other parts from getting overwhelmed by these social stresses. The
visual information I gathered helped fill in the gaps where auditory details were lacking. To
a degree, this is a job I continue to perform today, and in many ways, my behavior still
resembles a 6-year-old boy impersonating an adult.
I tend to dominate the mental chatter in Joe's head by stealing the spotlight away
from more sensitive, emotional parts. My overdetermined push for control breeds
resentment and distrust among other parts and winds up biting me in the ass when those
parts get together and stage a revolt. This unsustainable cycle can manifest itself through a
range of somatic symptoms (neck pain, dry eyes, zits), intrusions into our sleep schedule
(nightmares, staying up late), escalations in junk food purchases, or moments of
dissociation or blanking out. In the interest of change, I'm attempting to relinquish areas of
my authority and democratize Joe's consciousness - all parts get equal voting power and
equal self-awareness.
Blue Octopus Editorial: The IFS Therapy Model by Joe Fournier
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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Attaining this inner democracy is a key objective of the Internal Family Systems
(IFS) therapy model. The foundation of IFS is built on the notion of non-pathological
multiplicity of mind. The systems approach allows Joe to differentiate my voice as the Blue
Octopus from the voices of other parts, such as the Green Alligator who has a quick temper
and the Green Grasshopper who giggles at everything. When a person keeps all the
overlapping narratives of their parts compressed into one mental container, the restrictive
result can be akin to a mob mentality. By separating and distinguishing these semi-
autonomous parts, the civic engagement of the entire system can radically change. I'm
happy IFS has afforded me the opportunity to better know my role as the Blue Octopus and
begin transforming my outdated scripts.
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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Coping with Grief During the Holidays, or… “I’m Dreaming of a Past Christmas.”
by Liz Garvey
Getting through the holidays while grieving can be a big challenge. It’s
common to get flooded with memories at holidays, and many worry about being a
“downer” or crying at holiday gatherings, where there are expectations of good cheer.
Some cope by planning to “gut it out”, putting on a brave face and acting as if
everything is the same as it was before the loss, but this is not realistic: many who try
to cope this way are asking too much of themselves, and end up being embarrassed
and disappointed in themselves when they can’t sustain the façade. Others cope by
trying to hide from the holidays, refusing to attend events in order to avoid the above
pitfalls; this strategy often just exacerbates the aching loneliness felt by the mourner.
Helping those in mourning to find a balance between the two strategies is
recommended, and the first step is to encourage them to view the first holidays without
a loved one as a transitional time. Encourage them to acknowledge that this holiday
will not be the same as past holidays – but also to recognize that whatever they decide
works for them this year will not necessarily be their new tradition.
It is also important to encourage them to be present in an authentic way; this
includes being gentle with themselves, identifying what their needs are, and identifying
people they feel safe being with as they mourn.
Help them to manage their expectations by anticipating sadness at
inconvenient times. The goal is to get through it – even if it isn’t “pretty”. Even more
helpful would be for them to discuss expectations with those they plan to be with,
saying something like this: “I really want to be with you, but I know I’m still going to
be sad at times. Is that okay with you?”
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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Other strategies that may be helpful to them follow:
• Acknowledge the loss by hosting a dinner or giving a toast in the loved one’s
honor
• Do what they are comfortable with – not what they think their loved one would
have wanted
• Don’t wait for others; it’s okay to plan their own holiday events
• During a meal, ask those present to share a memory of the loved one
• Give to others by spending time with them or volunteering to help. This can be
very healing.
• Make a list of all they are thankful for
• Give gifts or mementos from the loved one.
• Light a candle for their loved one, or attend a spiritual service that is comforting.
Some churches have special services for those in mourning prior to the holidays.
• Make or hand out some of their loved one’s favorite treats
Using or sharing some of the above strategies will likely help someone in
mourning to navigate the holidays in a way that feels as comfortable as possible to
them, but the most important part of helping clients or loved ones through their grief
during the holidays is to allow them to express their grief, and to know that they have
been heard and accepted.
(Based on information compiled by Rita Rippentrop (director) and staff
therapists at Alexian Brothers Parish Services)
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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Seasonal Patterns in Mental Health by Leslie Contos
It’s that time of year! According to NAMI, the symptoms of seasonal patterns in
mental health usually begin in October and November and subside in March or April so
you may want to keep this in mind as you meet with clients during the winter season.
Diagnostically, Seasonal Affective Disorder is no longer considered a unique mood
disorder, but is instead used as the specifier “with seasonal pattern” when diagnosing major
depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. In other words we would no
longer refer to a client as having Seasonal Affective Disorder, but
rather as having a diagnosis of depression or bipolar disorder with
seasonal pattern. The DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing depression with
a seasonal pattern includes having these experiences for at least the
last two years:
• Depression that begins during a specific season every year
• Depression that ends during a specific season every year
• No depression during the season in which you experience a normal mood
• Many more seasons of depression than seasons without depression over the
lifetime of your illness
Classic symptoms of recurrent winter depression include oversleeping, daytime
fatigue, carbohydrate craving and weight gain. Effects can range from mild to severe, with
characteristics ranging from a lack of interest in normal activities and socialization,
lethargy, and hopelessness, to thoughts of suicide. Seasonal patterns of depression can
affect all ages and is thought to be more common in women. While no genetic cause has
been found yet, many of those affected have a close relative with depression or substance
abuse (Duckworth, 2012). There seems to be a geographic link with the pattern more
readily found in those who live in northern latitudes. The major neurotransmitters which
seem implicated are serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine (Gupta, 2013). Researchers
are also looking at the role of melatonin.
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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Light Therapy
“For people who are not severely depressed and are unable—or unwilling—to use
antidepressant medications, light therapy may be the best initial treatment” (Duckworth, 2012).
Typical use is to start the day with 30 to 60 minutes sitting a few feet from a light therapy box
during the fall and winter. Light boxes create a change in brain chemicals linked to mood and
research has shown that they are as effective as anti-depressants for non-severe depression with
seasonal pattern, and have few side effects. However, use caution with bipolar clients as it may
increase manic episodes. Light therapy appears to benefit about 70% of those with seasonal
pattern depression, and the effects can be evident from a few days to a few weeks after starting
(Gupta, 2013). According to Cawley, et.al. (2013) research has shown that “Bright light can
alleviate low mood in patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), nonseasonal major
depressive disorder, antepartum depression, eating disorders and those with subsyndromal winter
mood disturbances.” Though usually not covered by insurance, light therapy boxes can be
purchased over the counter counter or online for around $100.
Other Treatments
Medication and psychotherapy have also been shown to help seasonal pattern depression.
Prozac and Wellbutrin are FDA approved for this use and have research demonstrating
effectiveness, as do depression-specific psychotherapies such as interpersonal or cognitive
therapy. Evans (2013) demonstrated that although both light therapy and CBT reduced
seasonal pattern depression, it was cognitive therapy alone that predicted lower depression
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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levels the following winter. So even with light therapy, there is a real place for
psychotherapy in the treatment of seasonal pattern depression.
References
Cawley, E.I., et.al. (2013). Dopamine and light: dissecting effects on mood and
motivational states in women with subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder.
Psychiatry Neuroscience 38(6).
Duckworth, K., Freedman, J.L. (2012). Seasonal Affective Disorder. National
Association of Mental Health (NAMI) website
[http://www.nami.org/factsheets/SAD_factsheet.pdf]
Evans, M., et.al. (2013). Cognitive Change across Cognitive-Behavioral and Light
Therapy Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder: What Accounts for
Clinical Status the Next Winter? Cognitive Therapy and Research 37:1201–
1213.
Gupta, A., et.al. (2013). Role of Serotonin in Seasonal Affective Disorder.
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 17: 49-55.
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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Life Beyond NEIU: Your Career Starts Now by Nicole Zook
One of the first things that impressed me when I began taking classes at NEIU was
the work our professors were doing outside the classroom: they are active in professional
organizations, advocate through social justice work, promote counseling as a profession,
and frequently attend and even speak at conferences all over the globe.
In the last year, I have realized that even as a student it is not too early to begin that
work, and to dive headfirst into the world of professional counseling. In fact, doing so has
turned out to be great preparation for my future career. Student memberships in the ACA,
AMHCA, and ICA are greatly discounted and have benefits from insurance for internships
to free webinars on a variety of topics.
Getting involved in professional organizations is a great start, and it’s not the only
way to become involved. You might consider serving as an assistant for some of the
wonderful research our faculty conducts, or simply asking a professor about their process
for getting their original articles published. There is plenty of work variety within the
counseling field, and becoming engaged outside the classroom can help you develop
wonderful relationships with the faculty, your greatest resource.
Perhaps the most fun way to become more involved is attending professional
conferences, which are also discounted for students. Traveling to the AMHCA National
Conference in Seattle over the summer semester was a highlight of my time at NEIU, and
was a fantastic learning experience I could not have gotten behind a desk. I was able to
hear some amazing lectures on any topic I could think of, and honored to be able to help
present a session with Dr. Tavakoli.
A little closer to home was the recent ICA conference, which again provided the
opportunity to both speak and to attend sessions on a wide variety of topics. Attending with
Dr. Tavakoli and current CESA president Leslie Contos meant that I was also able to make
connections with the many people they knew at the conference, and the opportunities for
CESA NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
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networking were astounding. In fact, attending ICA gave me the chance to talk with
professionals, students from other schools, and even opened the door to a Ph.D.
program!
School is tough, and finding time to expand your horizons might seem impossible
with everything on your plate. But your career can begin now! Getting more engaged
might lead to internship or job prospects, and it will certainly lead to lasting relationships
that can lend you support beyond just the classroom. Every student in the program is a
default member of CESA, so you’re already started without even knowing it! I highly
recommend becoming active in the world of counseling with professional memberships,
asking your professors about upcoming conferences, or even just attending a CESA
workshop. You never know how far it could take you.
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Happy Holidays to All!
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