Conference Takeaways: There’s always something new to learn!
I have had a lot on my plate in the last few months and have felt overwhelmed many times but somehow, I was able to squeeze in a three-day professional development conference last week that completely rejuvenated me! I was very hesitant to make the financial and time commitment required to get away and really dive deep into counseling theory, but it was so worth it!
So, I wanted to share some of my takeaways with you. If you haven’t challenged yourself to learn something new recently here’s your reminder to get out there and expand your horizons! There is so much to learn that can improve our life, mental and physical health, or just help you stay at the top of your game professionally. So here are my takeaways, in no particular order, that I’m hoping might help you as well!
· Never stop learning! It is so exciting to learn new things and it keeps you from getting into a rut, particularly when it is job related. But really, just hearing other people share what they are passionate about and the latest research on topics of mental health and wellness was so inspiring and encouraging!
· The mind/body connection… there is so much connection between our bodies and our mental health. There was multiple break out rooms teaching skills such as “Brainspotting” “Tapping” and EMDR, all therapeutic modalities that incorporate the eyes or body in the therapy. The higher levels of efficacy with these treatments are so exciting. There are truly ways to help therapy be more effective and last longer. This is one of the things I love so much about being a neurofeedback provider. As we train our brains to work better, everything gets easier!
· SLEEP!... It’s so important and so elusive for so many people. Understanding the sleep cycles (circadian and sleep pressure) and how we can impact them to help improve sleep is something I can write a whole blog about. There is so much research out there. My favorite thing I learned about sleep, is to spend as little time as you can awake in your bed. Yes, do ALL of your winding down elsewhere and hit the bed only as you start to really get sleepy. The hardest thing, and one you probably already know, is that waking up at the same time everyday is the game changer. If you aren’t sleeping well, that one change could make a huge difference. The two areas that were focused on included “Winding down Well” and to “Rise Wisely” having sleep encouraging bedtime and wake up routines can reduce insomnia significantly and improve overall feelings of being well rested. Wondering if you have sleep issues? Well, according to experts, throw away the trackers and go by this one rule of thumb. If you regularly wake up feeling refreshed before your alarm clock you are a sleep master!
· Grief… it’s a human reality, we all experience losses throughout life, and the older we get they often feel like they begin to pile up. Understanding grief and giving yourself the freedom to really grieve the losses in your life and to honor those feelings is a huge part of healing. One of the important things stressed in this session was that it is essential to recognize the differences between, and often overlapping, disorders that often occur with grief, such as PTSD if there was trauma around the loss, major depressive disorder that can be exacerbated by a loss, and anxiety that often follows a loss. If you are struggling with mental health, a good history can help your therapist understand if grief therapy should be a part of your treatment plan. Prolonged grief can be hidden by some of these other issues but deserves competent treatment.
· Social Media… It’s something we all must live with and learn to balance. Social media has some wonderful uses, it can connect us with people, help inform us, and is entertaining! But there is a dark side to social media. It can be addictive and can cause secondary issues like reduced attention spans, anxiety, and lowered self-esteem. The evidence for this one is overwhelming… especially for girls. One strategy they recommend is putting your phone in “grayscale” or black and white mode. It helps reduce the appeal to the brain and makes scrolling slightly less fun.
· I love being able to do therapy virtually, it creates so much extra time for people to be able to connect with a therapist and not have to drive to appointments etc. BUT I realized that I also love the connection with people when you are in person. Spending time with so many wonderful therapists during the conference reminded me that it’s always good to have an “in person” option from time to time for that authentic human to human connection. So, make sure if you work virtually that you make intentional time to connect with people in the world. There is just something so special about a smile in person that can’t be replicated on screen. My personal goal is to have access to an office once a week where I can meet clients in person periodically to foster that in person connection coupled with the convenience of being able to meet regularly via telehealth.
I love learning and I hope you do too. :)
