http://www.counselinginchicago.com Exploring counseling & psychotherapy, what works, and the research that supports it. Bill Martin, LCSW 312-409-0632 Bmartin222@aol.com Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:00:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Union of Concerned Scientists website sends a very clear message. Abstinence-only sex education not only fails, but teaches false science to young people. Hard to believe, but the more I look into this my cynicism only increases for the male driven politics of sexuality. In looking at the science, one ... http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/18/virginity-pledges-scientific-research-concludes-they-may-place-young-people-more-at-risk-for-std-infection/ To view the pictures, click here. http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/16/purity-ball-in-pictures-check-out-the-time-magazine-pictures-of-this-ceremony/ Debra Hauser, MPH, Vice President of Advocates for Youth has written an excellent report on the impact of 5 years of abstinence-only sex education. The short version of this is that all research about the impact of these programs concludes they do not alter young people's sexual behavior. Encouraging young people to ... http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/15/read-this-comprehensive-research-evaluation-of-5-years-of-abstinence-only-sex-education/ A long awaited 10 year longitudinal national study authorized by the United States congress concluded that abstinence only programs do not prevent teens from having sex. You might ask why spend 176 million federal dollars and millions more in local and state funding each year? It's pretty simple. Power politics. ... http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/14/the-scientific-argument-against-sexual-abstinence-programs/ There is some debate about this, but I will go on record as saying that I believe the Purity Ball, a part of the federally funded abstinence only movement, is a creepy form of psycho-sexual boundary violation by fathers. Here is the pledge fathers make to their daughters at the ... http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/14/getting-our-daughters-to-pledge-to-remain-virginscreepy-form-of-psycho-sexual-abuse-or-good-idea/ A study looking at the role of inter-personal or talk therapy used along with anti-depressants, shows that clients will make more rapid progress than with just medication or talk therapy alone. The reason talk therapy is so effective is related to the fact that the brain continues to evolve and change ... http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/12/research-supporting-talk-therapy-with-the-use-of-medication-for-depression/ Click here for the story. http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/12/womens-sports-foundation-check-out-this-story-about-a-high-school-soccer-player-and-her-parents-efforts-to-hold-abusive-coaches-accountable/ The reason is many adults who grew up in vulnerable alcoholic or abusive families did not get their needs for attunement, affection, positive regard, we could say...love met by these families. As a result, these adults can spend their lifetime trying to replace that lost love by unhealthy attachments with other ... http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/12/here-is-one-reason-cognitive-restructuring-so-important/ Do you wonder if you have a magnet that attracts people who only want to take from you and drain you dry? If so, you should read Albert Bernstein's book, Emotional Vampires... so you can learn to spot a narcissist quickly. Here are some of the characteristics to look for in ... http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/11/emotional-vampires-dealing-with-people-who-drain-you-dry-by-albert-jbernstein-phdif-you-have-a-narcissist-magnet-you-should-read-this-book/ Check it out here. http://www.counselinginchicago.com/2008/08/06/one-of-the-most-inspirational-father-son-videos-i-have-ever-seen/