Monday, October 31, 2011

Certified Practitioner Courtney Armstrong Interviewed On National News!

Courtney Armstrong, LPC, Interviewed on Coping with the
9/11 Anniversary

As this year marks the tenth anniversary of 9/11, many individuals are reminded of their friends and family who were lost that day. Dr. Steve Salvatore of WPIX-TV New York's "Dr. Steve Show" interviewed Rapid Resolution Therapy Certified Practitioner Courtney Armstrong, LPC, last month about coping with traumatic grief.

During the interview, Dr. Steve highlighted Courtney's recent book "Transforming Traumatic Grief." Courtney shared her insight on how to stay in the present, how to cope, and how survivors can still feel connected with their loved ones.

Click here to listen to this wonderful interview!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Post-Traumatic Growth


By Mark A. Chidley, LMHC, CAP
Certified Practitioner, Rapid Resolution Therapy


Recently on National Public Radio, three trauma experts discussed what we have learned in the 10 years since 9/11. Two of them, professors, remarked on developing a fascination with Post-Traumatic Growth. The term refers to the fact that some people who go through a trauma of seismic proportions move out of their grief rather quickly, take stock of their priorities, and redirect their effort and commitment in an all-encompassing way. They do so in a way that clarifies identity and direction, stabilizes emotion, and makes them stronger for the future.

It rather amazed me that this was considered a new concept. The Chinese character for crisis is a combination of the words for "danger" and "opportunity," the possibility of two roads leading out of trauma. China has been around a long time. So who could argue that civilizations have experienced, from the earliest times, traumatic blows that challenge their very existence, and advance, or not, depending on how well they are able manage the opportunity side of the equation? Post-Traumatic Growth is no new thing either for a person or society.

So what is Post-Traumatic Growth?
To put a human face on it, I saw an interview leading up to the 10-year mark with former mayor of NYC, Rudy Giuliani, who walked New Yorkers and much of the country through the hell of those days. The reporter asked him how 9/11 changed him. He paused a long minute. You could tell he didn't have a prepared response.

And then he said, 9/11 had changed him in just about every way a person could be changed.

Spiritually, as he learned to pray at his time of greatest need and got the answers he sought, enlarging his faith forever. He had awareness of his mortality. He realized we all, sooner or later, will face a situation that dwarfs the resources, skill, or strength we can bring to it. Or, as jazz great Wynton Marsalis once put it, "Life has a paddle for every behind." And it stretched Rudy Giuliani into a greater grasp of his life's work and the call the hour had placed upon him. It was as if history itself had put a hand on the middle of his back and pushed him onto the stage to lead the people of New York through their darkest hour. He discerned that his message on behalf of all New Yorkers had to be this: that though buildings may come down, New Yorkers would not be cowered by terrorist acts. That their answer had to be they would not live in fear, scared into a despair that would make them relinquish the freedoms we live by. Being the voice of that message and getting it out in those days following the attacks took him into territory he never knew he could travel. The look on his face told me this was no mere flag-waving by a veteran politician. He meant every word. He really had been stretched. He had experienced Post-Traumatic Growth.

What to notice is this
: Post-Traumatic Growth turns on getting a sudden glimpse of the direction life wants you to go. It is not about being brazenly over-confident or well-prepared. No one is. You may wonder, "Wow, am I strong enough for this?" People interviewed after a disaster usually admit to such thoughts. But they also say they just did what they had to do; they couldn't have done it any other way.

As one moves into Post-Traumatic Growth, mind is shifting into HD mode and getting a picture, a vivid model of how to function optimally, for that moment and future moments. There is no division in the mind, but a rapid winnowing out of what no longer matters, and sudden clarity about what matters most and what one needs to do next. The mind seems to zero in and see the bigger picture all at once; it brings to awareness what is most beneficial and possible. So there is an economy of thought and of action for that particular context. It is a transcendent moment that may be over in a flash, like the passengers who rushed the cockpit of United 93 to save the lives of people they would never meet. Or it may reshuffle things for a lifetime, like the widow of a fireman killed in the line of duty, who started a national foundation to benefit the kids of all fallen firemen everywhere.

One gets a vivid model of the self they are meant to be. The mind accelerates toward it, getting on all levels how most of the rules, roles, and messages that pertained to one's former life are no longer relevant. One sluffs off a skin that no longer fits and moves ahead with a unified identity and mission. The energy that is thrown off in this metamorphosis is palpable to those around, the difference in strength - unmistakable. As it expands, this energy can connect with others and take them in. On the anvil of humanity falls the hammering blow of trauma that life deals out. Some metal shatters and breaks off as slag. But some metal is tempered, made stronger as its atoms rearrange, and are fashioned into a whole new instrument, capable of more.
Mark A. Chidley, LMHC, CAP, a fully licensed mental health counselor and certified addictions professional, offers counseling services at his office Kelly San Carlos Executive Center in Fort Myers, Florida.He has been in private practice since 1997. He holds certifications in Rapid Trauma Resolution (2010), Imago Relationship therapy (2001), and now specializes in the treatment of couples as well as individual trauma recovery and anxiety issues. He brings rich experience from a combined 26 years of hospital work and mental health counseling.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Thank You To The IRRT Community!

Thank you to RRT Certified Practitioners Tara Dickherber, Tamara Ashley, Melinda Paige and Alicia Dorton for assisting Jon at this Atlanta training. Participants at the September Atlanta training had the following to say about their experiences with Dr. Connelly:

"Not what I expected, and I wouldn't have changed the outcome. Perfect!" ~ Vicki VanDeiler, LPC

"Complete paradigm shift on many levels. This training shifted my entire perspective of the therapeutic process. To continue with my old ways of doing therapy would be completely unethical."
~ Deborah Blanchard, LPC

"Undoubtedly the best training I have attended! It will change the way I think about and conduct therapy."
~ Barabar Keown, Ph.D., LPCwth

Friday, October 21, 2011

How Does One Benefit From Rapid Resolution Therapy?



By Tara Dickherber, M.Ed, LPC
Certified Practitioner, Rapid Resolution Therapy

I was recently posed with this question: How does one benefit from Rapid Resolution Therapy?

And obviously that triggered my mind into finding a way to verbalize how to answer that very specific question. To some it may seem like a relatively simple question. Honestly I usually get asked, "What is Rapid Resolution Therapy?" I've got that answer down! But, "How does RRT benefit the clients we see?"

Well first let me tell you how it's benefited me, because yes I have been a client of RRT. My ability to remain calm when facing a storm of some stressful event is amazing now. I used to be a ball of anxiety, worry, and insomnia when faced with such times. It wasn't just anxiety either though. I used to get mad at people or events so easily and hold grudges; if there had been a contest for the longest held grudge I'd likely have a pretty big trophy. It's not that stressful events don't happen to me now, they still do. When it happens I can now look at it, see what I can and can not, act accordingly, and be at peace with what I did and how it turned out. Oh my gosh, can I tell you HOW grateful I am to feel OK with what I did (or didn't do) and not be riddled with guilt, shame, or over analysis?!

My husband (pictured on the right) tells me he enjoys being around me now more than he did before I saw an RRT therapist. My friends ask me how they can get what I have because they see (in their words not mine) how confident and comfortable I have become in my life.

On another side of this I see huge changes in my clients. The effects of RRT can be subtle sometimes. Sometimes what I hear as they are telling me about life, in follow-up appointments or phone calls, is a sense of ease and peacefulness. Many times they tell about situations that they faced that they breezed through like it was nothing. I often notice how even when faced with people who used to be bothersome for them they just shrug it off and move on. A few times clients have even laughed in the face of someone who was yelling and obviously mad at them. And guess what? By the end of those conversations the upset person was apologizing to my client(s).

It's not that someone becomes emotionally neutral after RRT. I've started explaining to clients that it's what I call blips. Anxiety, anger, even some sadness may come up, but they will be minor compared to what they had been. Best of all, they will leave quickly and barely register on the emotional radar. Mostly people are left with gratitude, joy, and peacefulness. It just spills out and makes a noticeable impression upon others! So that's my long answer to my short question!

Be well, Be happy - Tara

Tara S. DIRRT Certified Practictioner Sealickherber, M.Ed, LPC

573-754-0348

1360 S 5th St., Suite 394, St. Charles, MO 63301

www.mylifecoachtara.com

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Thank You For Your Support!

Thank you for your continued support for Jon and his Institute for Rapid Resolution Therapy. Your support has allowed for the tremendous growth of the IRRT over the last several years. There are 225 Certified Rapid Resolution Therapy practitioners and that number continues to grow as Jon trains and certifies increasing numbers of mental health and medical practitioners throughout the country. In addition, nearly 2,000 friends follow our Rapid Resolution Therapy Facebook Fanpage! The successes of both the Institute and its practitioners have created a stronger RRT brand that we can now use to market ourselves as certified practitioners.

We are excited to share these new IRRT Certification Programs with you: the Master Certified Practitioner program and the Centers for Rapid Resolution Therapy program. Our IRRT community includes private practice building, web development, internet marketing, branding, public relations and training specialists available to assist you in marketing your RRT practice in your community. We belong to a collaborative of highly skilled psychotherapists working together to build our practices in order to eliminate our dependence on managed care while allowing us to serve those without access to financial resources.

The IRRT has assembled a team of experts who will assist us in building independent mental health practices that meet our financial needs as clinicians and provide excellent mental health care for those we serve. Finally, as we build a strong consortium of mental health practitioners working cooperatively to build our referral-base we also continue to grow and develop our therapeutic skills as RRT practitioners. When we combine our intentions to build successful practices our energy and expands and we all benefit as a unified collaborative of healers.

Your feedback is welcome and has been integral to the creation of IRRT Certification Programs. These new IRRT Certification Program Guidelines are now available online at www.rapidresolutiontherapy.com and www.cleartrauma.com. Also, information about the Centers for Rapid Resolution Therapy can be found at www.rrtcenters.com.

Warmly,
Melinda
Melinda Paige, Ed.S, LMHC, NCC
Executive Director / Master Certified Practitioner
Institute for Rapid Resolution Therapy


Monday, October 17, 2011

Eliminating Anxiety and Panic with Rapid Resolution Therapy

One of the most common problems faced by many people is anxiety. Many people with anxiety also experience what are called "panic" attacks. This is where the anxiety becomes so severe that the person literally thinks that they are dying or that something is seriously wrong with them. They often wind up in an emergency room or seeking medical treatment. The usual treatment for anxiety is for the physician to prescribe medications to treat the symptoms. The most common medications used for treating anxiety are the benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, or others). SSRI anti-depressants are also prescribed. These medications often provide some symptom relief, but in the case of benzodiazepines they can become habit forming and may require increasingly higher dosages to achieve the desired effects. For many years I have treated people with anxiety related disorders. The most common therapy for treating these problems has been Cognitive-Behavioral therapy. This approach has been somewhat effective and is the most common approach used by psychotherapists.


Over the past few years I have begun to use a new approach to treatment called Rapid Resolution Therapy, This approach, developed by Dr. Jon Connelly, is quite different than other forms of therapy, which may explain why it is so effective. With this approach the person learns how to eliminate the physical sensations caused from the anxiety response, thus disabling them. Common physical sensations associated with anxiety are: rapid heartbeat and breathing, light headedness, tingling, fainting, tension, nausea, numbness, to name a few. The person learns to recognize these sensations and eliminate them before they become too intense. After only 1 to 3 sessions, most clients have reported that their anxiety has drastically diminished and/or completely disappeared. Panic attacks actually disappear and are no longer problematic. All of this is done without medication. In fact, most of my clients report that they no longer need to rely on their anti-anxiety medications. (Note: please do not stop taking medications without your physician's advice).


I recently saw a client who had been suffering from debilitating anxiety and panic attacks. She had been to several therapists and doctors over the years and found little relief from her symptoms. She came to me desperate and feeling hopeless that her problems could be treated successfully. By the time she got to me she had become homebound and was unable to work. She had become isolated and the problems had caused friends and family to avoid her. She was skeptical that anything would work and saw herself being a recluse and invalid for the rest of her life.
{ "So, I am not crazy?" }

Upon meeting this woman I intently listened to her about her problems and began to explain to her how the mind works. She immediately perked up and became interested. "I never thought of it that way," she said. I also explained that anxiety is "fear of the fear response". For example, if one steps out into the street in front of an oncoming car their mind will immediately cause their body to become "supercharged" and cause her to jump out of the way. Her heart will pound, she will shake, and her breathing will increase. When she is safe her mind will cause her body to return to normal. Anxiety is when the mind causes the body to do the same thing, but what the person is noticing are the physical sensations caused from the fear response. Thinking that something is wrong will increase these sensations because the mind perceives a threatening situation. The normal fear response becomes the threat.

I taught the client how to decrease and eliminate these physical sensations, giving her a sense of control over her body and easing her mind. "So I am not crazy," she said. I laughed and told her that she wasn't.

It has been a few months since that session and the client reports that she has not had any further panic attacks and that her anxiety has diminished. She feels in control again and has begun to reconnect with friends and family.

Another Rapid Resolution Therapy success!


Dr. Smith is a California licensed psychotherapist with a doctorate in psychology and addictions as well as a Master's degree in social work. He is a Certified Practitioner in Rapid Trauma Resolution Therapy and the first psychotherapist to be certified in this new approach in southern California. He maintains an active private practice in the Los Angeles area, and he is also a professor of alcohol and drug counseling at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA. For more information on Dr. Smith or to follow his blog, please visit johnsmithphd.com.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Thank You To Certified Practitioner Kathleen Gierhart! Another RRT Success!

I’d like to give a shout out of praise and thanks to Certified Rapid Resolution Therapist Kathleen Gierhart, LMHC, for submitting a very interesting case study chapter that will be included in our soon to be published RRT Book of Hope and Healing.

Here is an excerpt:

“She had been living alone in the camper while her partner moved away to start a new job with the idea she would join him in a few months. That has been going well, but, while she was napping one day, and she was awakened with a neighbor on top of her trying to rape her. She ordered him to leave her home, get out and never come back. She has taken steps since then to insure her continued safety. But again, feelings surfaced about what she might have done differently. We cleared the emotions and thoughts that were connected to that event in about 15 minutes.”

*Post courtesy of Sharon I. Richie-Melvan, Ph.D., Colonel, US Army Retired, Author of Angel Walk: Nurses at War in Iraq and Afghanistan

Monday, October 10, 2011

Dr. Connelly Invited as Keynote Speaker at the The National Trauma and Addictive Disorders Conference

Dr. Connelly has been invited to speak at The National Trauma and Addictive Disorders Conference on Thursday, Nov. 3 in Delray Beach, FL. From 4 to 5:30 pm, Jon will present “Healing Posttraumatic Stress: Rapid Trauma Resolution.” The Rapid Trauma Resolution method enables the troubling influence from impressions left by traumatic experience to be cleared quickly, painlessly and completely. This presentation will include filmed clinical demonstrations of Rapid Trauma Resolution.

Dr. Connelly directs the Trauma Resolution Program at Palm Partners Residential Treatment, the 2011 co-sponsor of the conference presented by US Journal Training, Inc. The Conference on Trauma and Addictive Disorders is a premier training event, specializing in trauma, mental health and the addictions fields. U.S. Journal Training, Inc. and The Institute for Integral Development present a combination of nationally recognized faculty who can address a wide variety of today’s most relevant topics. The result is a highly acclaimed national training event featuring customized training opportunities for developing new treatment strategies and the sharing of research advances for clinicians and counselors.

The conference is being held at the Marriott Hotel in Delray Beach, FL, from Nov. 3 through 5. Licensed mental health practitioners can earn up to 20 continued education contact hours. To see the entire conference schedule, for further information or to register please visit www.usjt.com or call (800) 851-9100 and speak to Lorrie Keip.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

RRT Presenters at the 24th Annual U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress







Certified Practitioners and Rapid Resolution Research team members Dr. Sharon Richie-Melvan, Dr. Diane Vines and Melinda Paige will present 'Evaluation of Rapid Resolution Therapy for Post-Trauma Survivors' for the 24th Annual U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress (Psych Congress) November 7 - 10, 2011 in Las Vegas. Thank you for your wonderful contributions and congratulations!


Poster presentations convey innovative, clinically relevant information that enhances the professional skills of mental healthcare professionals. The Poster Sessions will provide presenting authors a forum to showcase their work and provide those interested with the opportunity to review the information and talk with presenters.



Mental health practitioners can earn up to 30 continued education hours at the conference. For details on the poster sessions, presenters, travel information and more at the 24th Annual U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress (Psych Congress), please click here!


We look forward to seeing you there!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

How Does One Benefit From Rapid Resolution Therapy?



By Tara Dickherber, M.Ed, LPC
Certified Practitioner, Rapid Resolution Therapy

I was recently posed with this question: How does one benefit from Rapid Resolution Therapy?


And obviously that triggered my mind into finding a way to verbalize how to answer that very specific question. To some it may seem like a relatively simple question. Honestly I usually get asked, "What is Rapid Resolution Therapy?" I've got that answer down! But, "How does RRT benefit the clients we see?"

Well first let me tell you how it's benefited me, because yes I have been a client of RRT. My ability to remain calm when facing a storm of some stressful event is amazing now. I used to be a ball of anxiety, worry, and insomnia when faced with such times. It wasn't just anxiety either though. I used to get mad at people or events so easily and hold grudges; if there had been a contest for the longest held grudge I'd likely have a pretty big trophy. It's not that stressful events don't happen to me now, they still do. When it happens I can now look at it, see what I can and can not, act accordingly, and be at peace with what I did and how it turned out. Oh my gosh, can I tell you HOW grateful I am to feel OK with what I did (or didn't do) and not be riddled with guilt, shame, or over analysis?!

My husband (pictured on the right) tells me he enjoys being around me now more than he did before I saw an RRT therapist. My friends ask me how they can get what I have because they see (in their words not mine) how confident and comfortable I have become in my life.

On another side of this I see huge changes in my clients. The effects of RRT can be subtle sometimes. Sometimes what I hear as they are telling me about life, in follow-up appointments or phone calls, is a sense of ease and peacefulness. Many times they tell about situations that they faced that they breezed through like it was nothing. I often notice how even when faced with people who used to be bothersome for them they just shrug it off and move on. A few times clients have even laughed in the face of someone who was yelling and obviously mad at them. And guess what? By the end of those conversations the upset person was apologizing to my client(s).


It's not that someone becomes emotionally neutral after RRT. I've started explaining to clients that it's what I call blips. Anxiety, anger, even some sadness may come up, but they will be minor compared to what they had been. Best of all, they will leave quickly and barely register on the emotional radar. Mostly people are left with gratitude, joy, and peacefulness. It just spills out and makes a noticeable impression upon others! So that's my long answer to my short question!


Be well, Be happy - Tara


Tara S. DIRRT Certified Practictioner Sealickherber, M.Ed, LPC

573-754-0348

1360 S 5th St., Suite 394, St. Charles, MO 63301

www.mylifecoachtara.com