Readings . . .

Readings on Larger Social Perspectives and Psychology

Larger Social Perspectives Relevant to the Marriage and Family Therapy Profession: Notes from July 2006 Seminar (doc)

Larger Social Perspectives Relevant to the Marriage and Family Therapy Profession: Notes from July 2006 Seminar (pdf)

Links for More Information on Larger Social Perspectives and Psychology (html)

More readings for MFT students

WISR faculty member, John Bilorusky, has come across several interesting and thought-provoking readikngs which may be of special interest to MFT students and others in that field. The articles were written by Dr. Harry Butler, a former faculty colleague of John's at the University of Cincinnati (1971-73). Subsequently, Dr. Butler was Dean of Social Work at San Diego State, but for most of the past thirty or so years he has been a therapist in private practice in San Diego.

Why Psychotherapy?

On Becoming a Psychotherapist

Children as Pawns

Divorce Recovery

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Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) . . .

Updates on BBS Website

The Board's website has been updated to include the following information:

1. What's New: http://www.bbs.ca.gov/quick_links/whatsnew.shtml

2. The details for MFT Licensing Requirements: http://www.bbs.ca.gov/app-reg/mft_requirement.shtml

Sign up for e-mail updates at BBS Website

Attention: WISR students, alumni and faculty wishing to stay up to date and informed about the Board of Behavioral Sciences: Board Meetings, newsletters, examination issues, enforcement activities, and statutes and regulations! Sign up on the BBS Website.

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CAMFT . . .

The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) announces a new Members List Serve for CAMFT members

A new List Serve has recently been set up specifically for MFT students. A student membership is only $45--WISR recommends that MFT students join to benefit from the variety of services CAMFT offers). Join your peers throughout the state for group discussions! Give and get feedback from those who have just started the educational process, from those who are near completion as well as from all those in between. More information about CAMFT's MFT Program List Serve for Students, and how to access it.
[Information in pdf format.]

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WISR Faculty Member, Ronald Mah, MFT . . .

WISR MFT faculty member, Ronald Mah, who has recently been elected to the Board of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), has some articles, informative handouts and other information of interest to MFT students, MFTs, educators and parents on his web site, www.RonaldMah.com.

Here's more about the handouts available for free on his web site:
In my work with parents, teachers, social workers, therapists, and other social services professionals, I have developed or replicated information on handouts that summarize important principles, concepts, or theories that lead to more successful interventions. You may download the files for your use.

DEVELOPMENT: Basic Rules of Developmental Theories; Infant Toddler Developmentally Appropriate Practices; Interest Area Focuses for Early Childhood Development; Ainsworth's Patterns of Attachment Theory; Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN & DISCIPLINE: Principles for becoming strong, or to build a strong successful child; Learning Disabilities & Child Behavior; A Hierarchy of Discipline; Incentive Based Behavioral Modification Program for Children; Sample Daily Behavior Report w/short explanations about how to use in a school/parent partnership; Diagnostic Order for Understanding & Approaching Behavior (including "Hyper" Behavior, Acting Out, Tantrums, etc.) dvd named "Understanding Children, Understanding Behavior, for More Effective Discipline" explaining this handout is available at www.FixedEarthFilms.com; Ten Most Important Skills; Stages of Blending in a Step-Family; Temperamental Evaluations

COMMUNICATION & CONFLICT: The Working It Out Plan; The Four Honorings of Communication; What Happened to Me?... Him/Her?... Them? What's Next? A Reflective Process After Trouble Strikes; Confrontation Leads to...

TEENAGE ISSUES: A MESS- A Mnemonic for Etiology Theories of Substance Use or Self-Destructive Behavior, Or, How NOT to make A MESS of Addiction Intervention; Four Keys to Successful Interactions With Teens R-I-P-S; Education Pay$….A Lot! A Lifetime Earnings by Education Chart; Adolescent Egocentrism; Community College, Know the Odds

CHANGE & GROWTH ISSUES: Stages of Change; From Assessment & Theories to Results- Problem Solving for Growth & Change; Healthy Transitions for Children & Traits of Resilient Children; Stress Response Styles; Growth Vs. Change- Occurrence Vs. -----; A Process for Success & Growth

MINI-POSTERS & INFORMATION: On Irresponsibility; On Appreciation; On Unreasonable People; Crisis! Calligraphy of Danger & Opportunity = Crisis, w/ mnemonic; Education is a Weapon- Quotes on Education; It's Hard...; Alone; Remember; Things Kids Don't Learn In School; Success- Fred Rogers; One Hundred Years From Now; My Declaration of Self-Esteem, Virginia Satire; The Four Keys to Ensuring a Successful Student

ADULT ISSUES & WORK DYNAMICS: Stages of Relationship Devolution- For Assessment & As a Guide for Rebuilding Relationships; Guide to Involving Stakeholders in Decision; Making My Declaration of Self-Esteem, Virginia Satir; Ghosts in the Twilight Zone- A Questionnaire for Discovering what you bring to Relationships; CDR* Contract, *(Co-Dependent Relationship); Relationship Building at Work

DVDs of several of Ronald Mah's workshops are available at the "Store" at Fixed EarthFilms.com. The following five DVDs are available:

1) Childhood Stress; 2) Temper Tantrums: Understanding and Helping Children in Emotional Need "The One Minute Temper Tantrum Solution"; 3) Understanding Children . . . Understanding Behavior for More Effective Discipline[his newest DVD]; 4) Victims, Abusers/Bullies, and Survivors--The Dynamics of Self-Esteem in Aggression and/or Violence; and 5) "Me and You Kid"--Building Self-Esteem in the Adult-Child System "The 90 second-a-day Self-Esteem Prescription Plan."

The following is a description of Ronald's most recently released DVD on "Understanding Children . . . Understanding Behavior for More Effective Discipline": "This information and video was developed in response to parents, teachers, and social services professionals who needed a systematic process to understand the motivations behind children's behavior (and adult behavior as well!). Often adults make assumptions about what may be the reasons behind a child's behavior. Children may exhibit the same behavior for a multitude of reason. Or, several issues contribute to a particular behavior erupting. Although it is usually important to set boundaries regarding the behavior, adults also need to understand what causes the behavior. Unless the underlying issues are addressed, the behavior often reasserts itself or is not responsive to boundaries. This video uses two sets of questions to better understand and address the underlying emotional, psychological, and other issues that arise in children that affect behavior and potential discipline responses by adults. First, six simple questions are presented to gain insight and an overview of the emotional state of the child having behavior problems. Next, an orderly diagnostic process is presented, starting with looking at things from a developmental perspective to higher levels of concern. In many situations, when several of the issues may apply to the child, viewers can more systematically, practically, and successfully provide the discipline and support the child requires."

For more information, E-Mail: Ronald@RonaldMah.com

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Other Resources . . .

1) The Allyn & Bacon Family Therapy Web Site, created by Johnna Busa Paratore and Mike Nichols. Here you can find some general information concerning Family Therapy. You may find the historical overview and the therapist profiles to be good reading. There are several functional web links (some of which are no longer accurate) and a family therapy timeline.

2) MFT Core Competencies from the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, December 2004 (pdf)

3) The following book looks promising--Adolescence Essential Skills in Family Therapy: From the First
Interview to Termination - book review

4) Book for Mental Health Professionals on Establishing and Maintaining their Practices: Essentials of Private Practice by Holly A. Hunt, for more information visit www.EssentialsofPrivatePractice.com or click here to view flyer describing the book.

5) Website on positive psychology. This web site focuses on self-help and self-improvement efforts, but takes a critical and analytic approach in putting forth suggestions that claim to distinguish between solid, thoughtful efforts and what Dr. Steven Kraus refers to as "self-help snake oil." See also: article on "Self-Help Snake Oil and Urban Improvement Legends."

6) psychotherapy.net is a source for psychotherapy videos, articles, humor, CE credits and much more.