Workplace Violence

Workplace violence has increasingly become a topic of concern for businesses nationwide. It is estimated that some 2 million American workers are victims of violence in the workplace each year. Most employers now recognize the importance of helping to prevent workplace violence and bullying. The August edition of the Advantage EAP Newsletter offers some tips on establishing a healthy work environment and on offering protection from workplace violence and bullying.

Obsessive Compulsive Support Group

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (often referred to as OCD) is a condition in which an intrusive thought causes anxiety. In response, the individual is compelled to think some other thought or take some action that neutralizes the anxiety caused by the intrusive thought. The OCD sufferer often feels trapped in a vicious cycle that ends up making them even more anxious. The classic example of OCD is an obsession with germs and dirt, or the compulsion to wash. Other forms include Checking, Counting, Repeating, Neatness and Hoarding.
On the second Thursday of each month from 600pm to 730pm, Dr. Sam Rogers meets with the Support Group at Psychological Health Roanoke, at 2727 Electric Road, Roanoke (La Premier Office building) -- talking about what OCD is, how it affects your life, and what you can do about it. This group is open at no charge to any one who thinks they may have OCD. Friends and family members are also welcome.

For more information about the Support Group call: 540-772-5140.

To learn more about OCD you can visit the following the web sites: Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (http://www.ocfoundation.org/) or the Anxiety Disorders Foundation of America (http://www.adaa.org/).

Good Luck to Reid Shores

On August 18th, Reid will be leaving for his first year at Christopher Newport University. Reid has been with Psychological Health-Roanoke since March on a part-time basis to help with our computers. He graduated with Honors from Hidden Valley High School in June, and has received a CompTia A plus certificate in computers. Reid has been selected to be in the prestigious President’s Leadership Program at CNU and has received two scholarships from the University due to his high school performance. The President’s Leadership Program teaches leadership skills, has an emphasis on community service and encourages studying abroad. Join us in wishing Reid the best in his new academic career at CNU!

Internet "Addiction"

On July 29th, J. Steve Strosnider, LPC and Managing Partner of PHR, was interviewed by Joy Sutton on WDBJ-7 on the topic of Twitter and FaceBook Addiction. The issue of Internet Addiction is an increasing phenomenon, seen frequently at PHR. Very few clients will present themselves as addicted to the Internet, but it is often manifested in marital and work related problems. The Internet can become the center of people’s lives to the detriment of relationships, jobs and overall well being. Internet Addiction can take many forms; from E-bay, Games, Twitter, FaceBook and Pornography. There is also the vagabond who surfs the Internet for hours.
The Internet has given mankind a power unprecedented in our history. As such, it is quite seductive and can become addictive. If one cannot limit time on the computer and/or it is adversely affecting jobs or relationships, professional help is indicated.

Welcome to Julian Taylor

Julian Taylor has recently joined PHR on a part-time basis. With a Bachelor’s degree in biology and a Master’s degree in Human Development Counseling, he has a continuing interest in the effects of brain neurochemistry on temperament, and how culture affects behavior. Julian also values broad experience and changing circumstances as opportunities for growth, and attempts to apply this in counseling as well as in everyday life. A Navy veteran, he also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. His work experience includes teaching in Australia, working as a counselor in a 900-bed prison, and coordinating a treatment team in a private psychiatric hospital. Prior to relocating to Roanoke, Julian lived in Charlottesville where he was an educator and in private practice. He has been licensed as a Professional Counselor in Virginia since 1979.

Geoffrey Bader

Geoffrey Bader is taking a break from his medical record duties this summer to head off to Hawaii as part of a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship from the American Society of Plant Biologists. This award will allow him to dedicate full-time effort to a research project for a ten-week period this summer, and provides the opportunity to present his results at the Society's annual meeting in Hawaii. The study, titled "Uptake and Efflux of Auxin and the Polar Auxin Transport in Land Plant Gametophytes," is under the direction of Dr. DorothyBelle Poli, assistant professor of biology. Geoff is the first Roanoke student to be honored with this prestigious fellowship.

For more information:
http://roanoke.edu/News_and_Events/News_Archive/Bader_Receives_Distinguished_Fellowship.htm

Water for Tshapasha

Last summers phone and computer tech is this years engineer without borders. Ethan Heil and fellow UVa students, Rachel Brown-Glazner and Veronica Gutierrez, are installing a water filtration system in a small rural village, Tshapasha, in the Venda region of South Africa. The project is student run and funded by a Jefferson Public Citizen Grant awarded to Ethan, Rachel and Veronica.
It is easy for us all to take the simple things, like clean water, for granted. But in an ever shrinking and contentious world, water and good will are increasingly precious commodities.

You can check out their website at: http://people.virginia.edu/~bms8a/watervenda/tshapasha.html

Summer Biathlon

The Biathlon is best known as a winter sport event that combines skiing and shooting- but you will not need your boots and gloves for the event. This is its warm weather counterpart, and is part of the Coventry Commonwealth Games, which will be held Saturday, July 25th in Roanoke, Virginia.

Competitors begin with a 1 mile run that brings them to the shooting range. They lay down, pick up the rifle, shoot five shots at metal knock down targets, jump up, walk to the end of the range, and continue the running. One mile later they are back at the range, and shoot five shots from the standing position. The race ends with a 1 mile dash to the finish. Interval starts are used, with 1, 2 or 3 runners starting together every minute. Rifles and ammunition will be provided.

There is a team competition with a Police Team Trophy sponsored by Psychological Health Roanoke.

For more information about the event go to: http://www.commonwealthgames.org/.

Sports Medicine Seminar

In conjunction with the Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia, a Sports Medicine Seminar will be offered on Friday, July 17 from 300pm-600pm. It is jointly sponsored by Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), Virginia Tech Primary Care Sports Medicine, Virginia Athletic Trainers Association (VATA) & Psychological Health Roanoke. There will be instruction in osteopathic manipulation by Drs. Mark Boyer, Jarred Harrall & John Tait of VCOM, and a presentation on the sport psychology of injury by Dr. John Heil of Psychological Health Roanoke.
Continuing education credits will be offered by VATA.
For more information go to: http://www.commonwealthgames.org/pdf/medical.pdf

Coventry Commonwealth Games

Our clinicians and staff have long been closely involved with the Coventry Commonwealth Games and with Virginia Amateur Sports, the organization producing the event. Now in its 20th year, the Commonwealth Games is an Olympic-style sports festival for athletes of all ages and abilities in Virginia. The Games are sanctioned by the National Congress of State Games, the NCAA, and the Virginia High School League. There will be nearly 10,000 athletes participating in 50 sports.
The featured speaker for this years Opening Ceremonies (Friday, July 17) is soccer player, Tiffany Roberts, a member of both the gold medal winning team at the 1996 Olympics and of the 1999 World Cup Championship team. The opening ceremonies will conclude with a concert by 2006 American Idol finalist, Elliott Yamin. He is a worthy role model having coped with near deafness in one ear and Type I diabetes, to go on to achieve success in his musical career.
For more information go to: www.commonwealthgames.org

Mollie Guzo, LPC

Mollie Guzo, LPC divides her time between PHR and the Lewis Gale Medical Center, Center for Behavioral Health. Her areas of clinical expertise are broad ranging from anxiety, depression & psychotic disorders to couples & marital counseling, eating disorders & body image issues.
For all the good that therapy does and for the sense of satisfaction it can bring to the mental health provider, it is a sedentary way of work. If a way of life is to have the right balance, there must be something else. For Mollie Guzo the remedy is to get up and go.
She completed the XTERRA Atlantic Cup Triathlon June 14 in Richmond Virginia. The competition involved a 500 meter swim, 12 mile mountain trail bike ride and a 4 mile run. Earlier in March, she ran in 13.1 mile half marathon at the Shamrock Competition in Virginia Beach, VA.

Remembering Michael Jackson

Following the untimiely death of Michael Jackson, Sam Rogers spoke with Joy Sutton of WDBJ-7. He offers insighs on the out-pouring of grief across the world at the passing of this iconic musicical artist.
People connect with artists because they express ideas and emotions that we all experience and struggle with. That is the essence of art. That is the reason art is important. This may be especially true for musicians and singers. The music that Michael Jackson produced helped millions of fans to experience and, at some level understand their own emotions. Most of us, if we hear the music of our adolescence, will remember with nostalgia or pain the emotions of that period of our lives. When an artist dies, especially if it is sudden and unexpected, it will touch us, and we will experience a sense of grief and loss. Without the tension of day to day associations, we place our idols on a pedestal. They seem greater than they are. Although we only knew that artist through his or her medium (music in this case), we are moved. The more that artist touched us, the more that artist expressed our own emotions, the stronger that loss will be. Although Michael Jackson had a somewhat uneven life, his music touched the hearts of many, and they grieve his passing..
The interview appears on the WDBJ-7 web site. (www.wdbj7.com) in the "Local Health" section under the title, "Why do the death of celebrities move us to tears?"