Dr. Helen Hsu

http://www.newdream.org/resources/high-price-of-materialism

Bread & Recovery

Pondering the rather unimpressive bread offerings at Safeway this week- I came upon an organic loaf boasting "Say No to Bread on Drugs", 16 grains and 5 seeds. Promising.

The verdict on the bread - very tasty.  Hearty and healthy and good both savory (turkey sandwich) and sweet (with orange marmalade).

What's even more inspiring, is Dave's personal journey.  Take a few minutes to view the video - he talks about going WAY off track in life, the way (as so many of us do ) he misunderstood his father, got caught up in drugs and petty crime, hit bottom in prison, and ultimately had to take responsibility for his choices.  From there, psychiatric treatment, the love of family, and his own hard work has led to quite a thriving bread story...

Dave's Killer Bread

I was very moved by this story, because he is sharing a story we don't hear enough about.  I have friends and clients who have kicked major addictions, who have struggled valiantly with severe mental health conditions-and people really can get better.  Treatments exist and they do work.  Sometimes it takes multiple rounds to do the trick, but when a person is ready - things can change. 

I do believe in punishment and making people accountable - but I also know that giving up on a "lost cause" person is often missing the resilience and humanity that still can exist under the illness.

Bullying of Asian American Children

Is it really shocking to those of who grew up Asian American that a recent study found that Asian, Pacfic Islander, and Muslim American children were the most bullied?

Bullying and cyber-bullying are huge problems among youth in general. I don't find it acceptable that even for the "less bullied" groups in the study reported rates were still over 30%.  Yet for Asian youth reported rates of bullying were 54%.

Probable factors cited included language barriers that immigrant Asian and Pacific Islander Children may face and growing racial intolerance following September 11th, 2001. 

The reasons behind this require more research, but at this point I am pleased to see a public dialogue developing.  This is an important point for parents to be aware of, to ensure their children are not bullies nor victims, and to educate their children on how to ask for help and fight back instead of internalizing the hostility.

ABC news: Asian Americans most bullied in US Schools

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders' Bullying Prevention Summit

Separations and Children

Many families, friends, and lovers have to endure separations due to military deployment, economic necessity, educational opportunity, incarceration, political strife, divorce, illness... In the age of Skype and texting, it's hard to imagine how humans ever survived long separations from their loved ones back in the days of waiting for boat-mail or lengthy journeys via horse caravan! It's hard enough for adults, but for children separations can be particularly frightening. The fear of abandonment lies at the heart of all of us, with its roots in childhood-when we depended on our caretakers for existence. When we are small, and in control of nothing - being away from family can be scary indeed. We always wonder if the parent or loved one is thinking of us. We worry if they are okay, if they miss us, if they obsess as we do... At YFS, our staff have worked with families enduring all sorts of separations. I wanted to share one of our favorite books for children dealing with separation from loved ones. Maybe you can incorporate this into your child's bedtime reading rotation:

TED talks: Dr. Nuland on recovery from Depression

As a fan of Dr. Nuland's books, I have an added appreciation of his journey from life threatening depression to a good second life.

He was treated with ECT, which is used only for the most severe depressions which do not respond to other treatments, and this was more than 30 years ago.  Watch the video of his talk, and come up with a mantra for yourself (maybe not the F bomb that he chose!)

Dr, Nuland on recovery from Depression

City of Fremont - Parent Project

Just have to share and brag about this video describing the Parent Project - Spanish version, that is facilitated by Luz and Janet in Fremont.

Parent Project is run 2x per year at the Fremont Resource Center.  It's a 13 week class that empower parents to understand effective ways to modify behavior, even deal with "out of control" behaviors such as substance abuse or running away.  Parents get free dinners, bond with other parents who share the same concerns, and learn new skills that they can utilize in all future relationships, particularly with their children.

The next Parent Project sessions begin the week of Oct 10, 2011

Call (510) 574-2100 for information!

City of Fremont Parent Project-espanol

31 Heroes

On September 3, 2011 CrossFit gyms across the nation and world will gather together to honor our heroes killed in action August 6, 2011 with a workout in an effort to raise funds for the families affected by this tragedy.

All funds received will go to these families through the Navy SEAL Foundation, other like-organizations, & individual family funds.

Please take a morning to work out, be active, be with friends and family, and donate to the families of those who sacrificed for our country.

Take a look at the 31 Heroes site - and make a plan of action for the day!

31 Heroes

Work

"Work is love made visible."

                -----Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese American writer

A few reflections about my work as we ease into a Monday morning...

To be honest, I probably grumble about my work as much as the average Joe/Jane.  On a daily basis the mundane tasks such as reports to write, data to compile, student notes and treatment plans to evaluate, infinite meetings to attend, insurance companies to wrestle with, county policies to decipher,calls to return...these become draining. 

But every Fall, I welcome a new group of interns. My next team arrives on August 24th.  Bright, warm-hearted young people (and several quite sharp older people working on a second or third career) who are volunteering thousands of hours, paying thousands of dollars in tuition, all for the privilege of becoming a psychotherapist.  We provide them 3 hours of licensed staff supervision every single week to assist them with the myriad issues that come up with their client caseloads.

If I become too jaded to train the interns under my care, I hope I will know it's time to take a sabbatical!  Yet this has not happened.  Despite the painful stories and being company to those in the wake of trauma, grief, and illness, the work teaches me more than it takes away.

I was 16 years old when I took my first General Psychology course at De Anza College. 

Here is what I recall: the topic was so enthralling that it felt like an "easy A"-not because I'm so brilliant, but because it didn't even feel like work to study and learn.  Also, I still remember my professor (Wendell Goesling) talking about a child case.  He was an older man, and had clearly taught this intro class countless times already.  But I remember the care and interest that radiated from him when a topic really moved him.  Even at 16, I remember thinking, "hmm. I want to do something I care that much about, that will last me in the long run."

When my students ask me about life as a psychotherapist, I can answer sincerely.  I love what I do, and I am aware that that is rare among career choices.  (I do look back and think I should have studied harders and shown more discipline!) But I would not otherwise change my choices.  Do I wish therapists' were better compensated for their phenomenal graduate school debts and intense liability risks? Of course, that would be fair and ideal.

Yet more importantly, am I glad to do something meaningful and rewarding, that helps me grow in depth and wisdom every single day? Absolutely.  With every year of this work, I appreciate life more deeply.  I'm challenged by all there is to yet learn, and I love sharing what I have learned with others.  I feel like a honeybee when I attend conferences and conventions - I gather as much information and I can hold and bring it back to my hive.  I am humbled by the resilience that flowers in some of life's most unexpected crevices.  I see my role as helping people develop the skills to heal or grow that they never knew they had, and to arm them with accurate information as tools.  All within a confidential and empathic climate of course.

Being a professor and supervisor is only slightly different than being a psychotherapist.  Ultimately my interns and clients leave, moving forward in their lives.  The end of each year results in a bit of an "empty nest" at the clinic as people graduate.  The end of each therapy relationship carries a bit of sadness at parting with brave and fine people who have sought solutions and bared fears.  Many will surpass me in their accomplishments, health, and happiness - which is sure sign that my work is indeed going well.

 

 

 

Emotional Longevity

People often tell me that they are confused by the contradictory health advice that inundates today's media.  I often warn clients to listen to such advice with a discerning, if not downright skeptical ear.  Often advertisements and mainstream media will exagerate claims or base advice on anecdotes and shoddy surveys rather than quality empirical research. 

One source which summarizes for laypersons the reams of scientific journal articles out there is a book by Norman B. Anderson and P. Elizabeth Anderson.  If those names sound familiar, it may be because Elizabeth is the author of several other books, and Norman has been the CEO of the American Psychological Association since 2003.  I can't think of a more qualified duo to guide your average reader to determine what truly are the most important lifestyle changes one can make to attain emotional health and longevity.

"There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered and be healed, to have despaired and recovered hope."

-----George Eliot (AKA Mary Anne Evans, English novelist)