Polly’s New Book – Starting A Career in Mental Health?
A TRUCKLOAD OF PRACTICAL STUFF FROM A SEASONED SUPERVISOR
FROM THE SHOE BOX
A Dedication of the book to all those who help others, with special thanks for those who work in, supervise in, and teach in the field of Mental Health & recognition for those who courageously seek their help.
INTRODUCTION
Defines the goal of the Notebook. To help professionals in the first years of their career connect Ideas to Experience, moving from the Classroom to the Real World. The material conveys a Bottom Line view of what is important to know amidst changing paradigms in Mental Health practice. The Notebook keeps in mind four contexts – that of Biology interacting with the Environment; what we call our Human Nature/s; our Primate Behavioral Inheritance (patterned ways of responding to the world); and how this knowledge is used in the pragmatic realities of today’s Frontline Practice. The Notebook is NOT a traditional professional textbook, but a personal selection of material deemed helpful to beginning practitioners and their supervisors. NOTE: Many professional Mental Health disciplines refer to a BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL model for practice. This Notebook includes the BIO for Masters Level practitioners. The INTRODUCTION ends with —– Suggestions for Using This Notebook.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
Presents brief factors and personal information which led the author to choose work in Mental Health, and points out ways in which actual practice may be different than what newcomers and I first expected. This NOTE introduces the personal conversation between the reader and me and provides encouragement when what needs to be learned seems overwhelming.
Section One
THE FOUNDATION LIBRARY
6 “BOOKS” for BUILDING A KNOWLEDGE BASE for MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE
The U.S. Surgeon General’s Report
Statistical Prevalence of Mental Health Diagnoses
Mental Health Language
Traits Deemed Mentally Healthy
Problems Falling Under the Mental Health Umbrella
Origins from the Environment
Origins from Evolution and Our Genetically Based Behavioral Inheritance
Origins from the Interaction Over Time of Nature/Biology and Nurture/Learning Plus the Role of Luck
Therapies, Theories, and Techniques
Obstacles to Successful Outcomes
The Mental Health Conundrum
Elements of the Treatment Process
The Therapeutic Relationship
Interviewing
The Use of Language – Boundaries – Content and Process
Transference and Counter Transference
Attachment
The Use of Medications
Altruism and Xenophobia
Persona
Evolution Based Vestigial Symptoms
Hormonal Influence
Other Voices
Understanding Human Behavior from Vantage Points Other Than Sociology and Psychology
First Years of Practice
The Importance of Critical Thinking
Using Collegial Relations for Support
Shaping One’s Professional Identity
Self Care – Staying Safe – Developing Self Awareness
Paddling Your Own Canoe
Man’s Search for Meaning
Man’s Search for Understanding
Existential Anchors
Responding to Religious & Spiritual Issues in Therapy
Section Two
100 BEST IDEAS FOR PRACTICE
The Short Course
A Selection of Pragmatic and Frequently Useful
Ideas to Include in One’s Thinking and Doing
With Clients
Section Three
LIVES ON THE EDGE
Considering Suicide
Facts and Figures for Clinical Decision Making
A Family Shares Their Story
Section Four
TIPS AND TOOL
Stuff You Can Use
“Tools” Useful in Mental Health Practice
Forms, Check Sheets
Factoids and Guidelines
Section Five
MORE THINGS CONSIDERED
Essays and Info
Selected Essays on topics which are often the focus of questions and discussions by supervisees or content the author deems Important for thoughtful consideration.
1. Making Progress – An Example of How We Learn About Behavior and the Brain
2. Can’t or Won’t – The Conundrum of Individual Responsibility
3. A Few Thoughts on Maturity
4. Bottom Line on Child and Adolescent Bullies — Professional Knowledge in a Psychologized Culture
5. Anxiety – Big Canaries and Little Canaries
6. Walking in Those Moccasins – Quality of Life Considered
7. OCD: A Study in Knowing
8. Executive Functioning – Who’s in Charge Here?
9. Like Father, Like Son, Like Daughter – Sharing What You Know
10. Are Mental Health Professionals Nuts? Not Me, Maybe You?
11. Late Bloomers – Life in a Wide Angle Lens
12. The Median Isn’t the Message by the late Stephen Jay Gould
13. Mental Health & Technology – The Intersection of Technology and Social Psychology
14. Behavioral Reminders – Thinking about Shamu
15. Memory Lane – A Strange Road Indeed
16. Temperament – What Every Mother Always Knew
17. Pathfinders – Finding Satisfaction in Adult Lives
18. An “Error” to Consider
19. Science and the Human Spirit
20. The Learning Curve in Mental Health Practice – Your Future Revealed
Section Six
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Pop-ups Of The Mind
Comments, Observations, & Opinions
Section Seven
OF SHRIMP, LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
The World of 2 X 2
Section Eight
PASSING IT FORWARD
Advice from Seasoned Practitioners
Becoming a Therapist – A Fable
23 Practitioners Share Their Wisdom about Living a Career in Mental Health
Section Nine
FINAL EXAM
Practice Makes Perfect
A reinforcer for Major Ideas in the Notebook
Useful in Pre and Post Self-Evaluations
Delivered with a Humorous Touch
Section Ten
LIFE ALWAYS COMES IN STORIES
Tales of Learning and Thankful Remembrances
Vignettes from the author’s personal experiences choosing a career in Mental Health, learning the ropes, forming a professional identity, and living to tell about it !
PLUS LAGNIAPPE BITS & PIECES
“Lan-yap” is Cajun French for “a little something extra.”
Throughout the book, this Mouse signals . . . Lagniappe.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Selected references.
NOTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Summary of the author’s professional background, personal interests, family etc.
