Winter Olympics

The quadrennial Winter Olympics are here again for a brief wisp of time as athletes curl, swirl, ski, skate and slide their way to joy and glory. These Games continue to move to the forefront of sport consciousness swept along by a growing Gen X & Y mentality. The most recent tag of "NASCAR on Ice" speaks to their expanding reach. The higher, stronger faster dimension of the snow and ice games is palpable and an inherent part of their appeal.

For insight on the risk taking mentality in sport & efforts to help athletes compete safely, go to:
http://www.psychhealthroanoke.com/Resources/risktakingfinal(3).pdf

Disposing of Unused Medications

When the medicine cabinet is full to overflowing, what is the solution? For all their remarkable benefits, medications carry certain risks and responsibilities. Old medicines may go out of date and lose their effectiveness. Leftover pills may provide a means to self-medicate for a new problem without a doctor’s advice, a fairly common but still potentially dangerous practice. And certain medications, for example “pain pills,” may pose a temptation to the recreational drug user.
The February Advantage EAP Newsletter summarizes advice from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on proper disposal of medications
FDA guidelines for the safe disposal of a broad range of medications are available at http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm

Health Care Legislation & Mental Health

Without proper health care, the inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are gradually eroded. The American Psychological Association is actively at work in the health care reform legislation that is now in Congress. APA’s efforts in advocating for quality health care have focused on the mind-body connection in health and mental health disorders.

For information on the status of the proposed health care legislation and mental health initiatives go to http://www.apa.org/health-reform/

New Year's Resolutions Revisited

As January grinds forward, the cold may chill your will to keep those new years resolutions going forward. To help keep yourself on track with a good start to 2010 take a look at the January Advantage EAP Newsletter on setting realistic goals and making healthy new ways a part of your lifestyle. The newsletter is available at http://www.psychhealthroanoke.com/Resources/January2010NewYearNewYou.pdf

PHR Clinicians Receive Bedside Manner Awards

Congratulations are due to all the winners of the 3rd Annual Bedside Manner Awards, sponsored by Ourhealth magazine. We would like to recognize those at Psychological Health Roanoke who have been honored, including Alison Allsbrook, Lola Byrd, Emily DeFrance and Cathy Taylor. Special kudos to Steve Strosnider for his 1st place award.
A full list of honorees can be viewed at http://www.ourhealthvirginia.com/

Holiday Stress

The holiday season is one of the most joyous times of the year, but also one of the most demanding, fatiguing, and chaotic. Full of hopes and expectations, it may weigh heavily on time, finances and expectation. The holidays are a “look back” time, offering a celebration of the good things, but also raising memories of loss and sadness.
For some thoughts on making the most of this time, see our December Avantage EAP Newsletter at http://www.psychhealthroanoke.com/Resources/December2009Newsletter-HolidayStress.pdf.

Charlie Finn on the Winter Solistice

At our 4th Annual Holiday Season Celebration, Charlie Finn offered his perspective on the approaching winter solistice, and its meaning in our work.

We Are the Winter Solstice

Before we eat, drink and be merry,
let us remember a good reason to do so,
let us remember who we are.
This is the year’s dark time,
the deep and dark December time.
Long nights will keep getting longer
until the great reversal point is reached on December 21st
when, sun standing still, the deepest advance of night
swings back towards the light.
What does this have to do with us?
It has everything to do with us
for we are the winter solstice!
We are the winter solstice in the lives of every man, woman or child
who comes through that downstairs door.
They come at a dark place in their lives,
a stuck place,
a weighed down with worry place,
a heavy with sadness place,
a place that most of all feels like a long dark tunnel,
but they come clinging to a hope there is a light at the end of it
and that some how, some way, some one can help them reach it.
We are the some how and the some way, but we are more than some one.
It’s not just what happens in the counselor’s office.
It’s every single encounter of kindness they receive,
from the first contact over the phone to every contact at the front window,
along with all the absolutely essential business behind the scenes
that make possible that mysterious reversal back towards the light
that can happen in the counselor’s office.
It takes a village, they say.
Well, tonight is for celebrating the whole village of us.
We have reason to eat, drink and be merry,
for we are the winter solstice!

Head Injury in Sport

In a year of controversy about right and wrong behavior in sport, the good news is the serious attention being given to head injury. Football season will always bring its share, but the days of laughing off a hit to the head as a “bell ringer” are fading fortunately into obscurity. The really good new is the message that gets sent down the line to the college game, and to high school and to youth sport. Like it or not what the pros do sets the trend across the board –and, fortunately this is a trend that everyone can live with a little better.
For more information take a look at the article by Mike Sanserino from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (with comment by John Heil) which tries to put into perspective the controversy surrounding the decision of Steeler quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, to sit out this past Sunday’s game. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09335/1017514-66.stm

Sport & Society

As sport moves ever more into the forefront of public consciousness, athlete behavior and misbehavior is receiving greater and greater scrutiny – as it should. The extraordinary fame and fortune heaped upon some athletes raises them to role model status - like it or not. With this comes potent downstream effects on societal norms for behavior, on and off the playing field. What to do with the worst transgressions raises a dilemma for all stakeholders, pressing them to be fair in disciplining the offender, while remaining sensitive to the message sent to those would be role modelers. Sadly, the latest national incident brings darkness to womens' soccer, which has been one of the bright lights of the rise of womens’ sports in the last generation. See for yourself at:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4629837&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Charlie Finn on Abraham Lincoln

In these days of partisan acrimony and shrill attack, we have need of remembering the manner in which Abraham Lincoln's courage and kindness transformed adversities such as we are witnessing, and worse. Among Lincoln's greatest achievements of spirit... was his refusal to vilify, to demonize, to retaliate in kind when vitriol was heaped upon him.

Read the Roanoke Times for more of Charlie Finn's thoughts on the enduring relevance of Abraham Lincoln http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/cpmmentery/wb/221938

John Heil in Fitness Magazine

In the October issue of Fitness Magazine, staff writer, Chee Gates offers advice about getting and staying fit - with some input from John Heil. In the article, “Bounce Back Better,” she notes that on the journey to your healthiest, fittest self, setbacks are inevitable. Gates goes on to identifies a series of strategies crucial to reaching your ultimate fitness goals. Check out Fitness Magazine website http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/ for a wide array of fitness information.

Poetry by Charlie Finn

Charlie Finn is a licensed professional counselor specializing in addictions and working with adolescents. He describes the counseling process simply and incisively as: helping people get unstuck, learning to tap outer and inner resources when “up against it,” regaining confidence that “I have what it takes,” turning discouragement into encouragement, from “ain’t it awful” to “I can grow through this.”
Alison Allsbrook, who has worked with Charlie for about 15 years describes a strong silence presence that evokes trust and confidence. She takes care to listen closely when he has something to say, and is a fan of Charlie’s poetry.
A sample of Charlie's poetry is at http://www.psychhealthroanoke.com/resources.html