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An electronic circular of the Coalition's Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery
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No. 80, February 2012
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The Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery provides assistance
to the New York City mental health provider community through
expert trainings, focused technical assistance, evaluation,
information dissemination and special projects.
“SWEET THINGS” Courtenay M. Harding, Ph.D. Having just read Susan Blayer’s wonderful article following this one on love for Valentine’s Day in this issue, I was in a quandary as to what in the world I would write about. As I began to think about the dark chocolate she mentions, I thought about all sorts of “sweet things!” In the South, people call one another “You Sweet Thing!” as a token of affection and appreciation although it often Other sweet things surround us daily in stores and restaurants, such as chocolate, which in moderation is supposed to be good for you, thank goodness! As Dr. Murray Mittleman said (as director of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston), “If you are going to have a treat, dark chocolate is probably a good choice, as long as it’s in moderation.”(1) However, we are constantly bombarded with all sorts of other yummy things which are not so good for us (e.g. potato chips, French fries, cookies, pies and cakes!) By eating those things, many of us end up looking a lot like apples with round tummies and a tendency toward diabetes and the metabolic syndrome leading to poor health and early demise.*2) So, it is back to a discussion about chocolate. After wading through 86 pages about the news that dark chocolate might be really good for people, even Google called a halt to the number of postings at 858 on page eighty six! Scanning those articles, blogs and scientific journals, there appears to be a loose consensus. Dark chocolate beats milk and white chocolate hands down! Why? Milk and white chocolates are more processed and most of the plant flavonols are taken out.(3) Dark chocolate contains more “catechins,” (a subgroup of flavanols from the family of flavonoids), by far, than either of the other two types (e.g. 53.5 mg for dark vs. 15.9 mg for milk chocolate per 100 grams, while white chocolate seems to have lost them all!)(4) Flavonoids, are the natural plant compounds which add “aroma, color, and taste” to wine, tea and cocoa. (4) Now, manufacturers are learning how to keep 95% of flavonoids in dark chocolate.(5) They are antioxidants and help the heart by decreasing the number and stickiness of platelets clogging up the arteries, which can cause blood clots. Flavonoids also dilate the arteries and increase blood flow.(1,3-4) You may have seen those illustrative ads on TV showing some medications trying to do the same thing. Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce blood pressure with the effect of reducing cardiovascular risk by 20% over 5 years.(4) Other studies have found that dark chocolate can improve cognitive functioning (especially working memory, attention, reaction time and problem-solving capabilities) by increasing the blood flow to the brain.(3) Further, you can actually see better for at least for 2 hours after eating it with docs thinking that the blood flow to the eye has improved temporarily.(3) All of these effects may be due to both the flavonoids and the caffeine inside We know that eating dark chocolate has fewer side effects than medications if you eat it in moderation every day. Moderation is required because even dark chocolate has sugar and fat and thus calories in it. So if you wish to maximize the good effects, it means you have to pay attention to portion size. The 100 grams listed above is equivalent to a three and a half ounce candy bar. This would mean that you would mean you have to reduce your other food intake by about 400 calories.(1) But a daily intake of only 1.6 oz. of dark chocolate may be just the treat for your body and your soul.(5) References
The Psychology of a Many Splendored Thing By Susan Blayer There are people, I am certain, who cringe at the thought of Valentine’s Day. The holiday holds expectations of romantic bliss that can be at first overwhelming, and then later, disappointing. I personally do not fall into this camp of St. Love, the many splendored thing, can be studied by psychologists through observation and questionnaires designed to investigate people’s attitudes and behaviors.(1) In the Yale University Press book, The New Psychology of Love, editors Robert Sternberg (Dean,Tufts University) and Karin Weis (Research Associate, Harvard University), chose authors who focus on a range of current theories regarding the nature of love. These scholars and researchers discuss new tools that were developed for assessing these theories, such as the Perceptions of Love and Sex Scale and the Love Stories Scale.(2) Clyde and Susan Hendrick of Texas Tech University, who developed the Perceptions of Love and Sex Scale, wrote a chapter which expands on the 1997 analysis of University of Toronto Professor John Lee, who identified six basic styles of love. You may have heard of these styles: eros (erotic desire for an idealized other), ludus (playful or gamelike love), storge (slowly developing attachment), mania (obsessive and jealous love), agape (altruistic love), and pragma (practical love).(1,2) The book also delves into the biological theories of love. Arizona State University Professor of Psychology, Douglas Kenrick, puts forth the theory that “love is a set of decision biases that evolved to serve genetic interests, that is, to facilitate reproduction. These biases influence people’s attention, memory and decision-making.”(2) In another chapter, authors Phillip Shaver (Professor of Psychology, University of California) and Mario Mikulincer (Professor of Psychology at The New School of Psychology) propose that there are three primary behavioral systems to love: attachment, caregiving and sex.(2) I do not believe many people spend their Valentine’s Days contemplating the wonderfully rich, complicated and fascinating psychological aspects of love. Many of us have fallen into the trap of focusing only on romantic love, which, as great as it can be, minimizes so many other types and aspects of loves, including what it means on an emotional level to love and be loved. In that vein, I created an exercise for you, if you so choose, to do in preparation for Love Day: make a list of all the people, places, things and activities you love right now. If you want to go passionately wild with this, you can even extend the list to include all of the who, what and wheres that you have ever loved. Then take a moment to think about why you loved them. Are there any similarities or patterns you notice? Think about how you have loved. Have you loved in the same way or has it changed over time or according to the particular object of your affection? The next part of this activity is to reflect on two very important types of love-- agape or altruistic love (think Mother Theresa) and self-love. It seems to me that they are opposite sides of the same coin, as one can rarely flourish without the other. This sentiment is beautifully expressed as a “great commandment” in the well-known quote attributed to Jesus in the Book of Mark, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (3) Yet research disagrees with my anecdotal observations about agape and self-love. A New York Times article from last year highlighted a relatively new area of psychological research called self-compassion which studies how kind people are to themselves. What these studies suggested was that people who find it easy to be helpful to and supportive of others often score quite low on self-compassion tests, with the tendency towards berating and neglecting themselves.(4) One of the researchers and pioneers of the field, Dr. Krisitn Neff ( an Associate Professor in Human Development at the University of Texas), contends that “the biggest reason people aren’t more self-compassionate is that they are afraid they’ll become self-indulgent.”(4) How have you been doing with these types of love? You can take Dr. Neff’s online test to see how self-compassionate you are: Perhaps you need to boost your agape or self-giving love. The Institute of Unlimited Love may provide some inspiration: http://www.unlimitedloveinstitute.org/aboutus/index.html . The Institute “has initiated collaborations with major national foundations and institutions to explore how unlimited love and creative altruism fit into the makeup of religious traditions, are understood in the humanities and the arts, and inform leadership and education at all levels.”(5) Here is what I am doing to spread a bit of unlimited love: wishing it comes to you in abundance this Valentine’s Day! References
The Fanwood Foundation Awards Grant for The Center’s Young Adult Website The Center is pleased to announce that we have received funding from the Fanwood Foundation to update our resource website
Recovery is Working Training: Postponed
Stress at Work: Stress Management For Providers
Given the challenging nature of your work, along with the increasing caseloads and Trainer: Susan Blayer, LMSW, MDiv To register for any Center training or to download our current training schedule, please go to: www.coalitionny.org/the_center/training/ Note: If you are typing the URL in your browser, the space between “the” and “center” is in reality an underscore symbol “_”.
Other Community Education, Events & News The Bureau of Cultural Competence Provides Free Training
For information or if you would like to recommend webinar topics for the upcoming year, email Hextor Pabon at: mailto:hextor.pabon@omh.ny.govor (518) 408-2059 Construction of Ground-Breaking Veterans Residence Begins
The Mental Health Association Provides Training in Mental Health First Aid The Mental Health Association of New York will be holding a two-day training entitled, Mental Health First Aid. Fee: $265 per person for both days The Professional Learning Center Presents: Motivational Interviewing – 4-Part Workshop
Presenter: Laura Travaglini, MA, Coordinator of the Substance Abuse Programs at Columbia University Eastside Free Training on Tobacco Dependence Treatment Interventions
Trainer: Chad Morris, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Colorado, Denver, Department of Psychiatry, and Director of the Behavioral Health and Wellness Program. Register: By Feb. 8th --Early registration for this important event is encouraged. Email: Marsha.McHugh@omh.ny.gov In subject line: “Breaking the Cycle” Please provide your name, organization, work address, phone and email Mental Health Articles, Publications and Reports New RTP Resource: Framework for Recovery-Oriented Practice
To download this resource: http://www.dsgonline.com/rtp/downloads/framework-recovery-oriented-practice.pdf New Video from the APA Discusses Recovery Outcomes “This is Psychology” is a video series produced by the American Psychological Association (APA) which To view the video: http://www.apa.org/news/press/video/this-is-psychology/serious-mental-illness.aspx Screening for Low Vitamin D May Be Helpful in Treating Depression
To read more about this research in Psych Central online, go to: http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/01/06/low-vitamin-d-associated-with-depression/33388.html |
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comes out more like “You Sweet Thang” in the customary drawl. ![Description: C:\Users\sblayer\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\BZ97MLK8\MC900424874[1].wmf](images/clip_image004_014.gif)
chocolate as well, but this interaction needs more research.(6) And in a study of people, aged 55 to 64, one hundred grams of dark chocolate a day lowered their blood pressure an average of five points of systolic (upper number) and two points of diastolic pressure (the lower number when the heart is resting).(7)
Valentine’s nay-sayers. For me, it is a time to abundantly enjoy what many would agree are three of the world’s best offerings—chocolate, long stem roses, and, of course, love.
Center to hire two part-time Transition Age Youth with lived experience of mental illness who preferably have accessed cross-system services. These youth peers will begin the process of vetting the more than 800 resources listed on the website, as well as provide critical information about ways to improve its user-friendliness. Please look for the job description and application for these positions to be announced in the near future.. 
Please be advised that Center Training, RECOVERY IS WORKING, scheduled for February 15th, 2012 has been postponed until further notice. If you have already registered for this training, you will be put on a priority waiting list for the next session. The Center will be sending notification regarding a new date for this training. Please check our website for regularly updated schedules as well. Thank you for your understanding.
If you are feeling stressed at work, you are not alone. According to the recently published American Psychological Association “Stress in America” survey, more than 1 in 5 Americans report feeling chronic “extreme stress.” The report states, “Chronic stress can occur in response to everyday stressors that are ignored or poorly managed as well as to exposure to traumatic events.”
expectations of many mental health service providers, it is understandable if you are feeling overwhelmed. The purpose of this half-day training is to help you mitigate the work-related stress that can affect job satisfaction and performance. The trainer will identify common manifestations of work stress, as well as focus on the impact of secondary traumatic stress. Through interactive activities and group discussions, you will have an opportunity to share creative and successful ways you have found to manage stress at work. After exploring various resources and coping strategies, you will be ready to create a personal stress management action plan so that you can increase work productivity and satisfaction.
The Bureau of Cultural Competence (BCC) is scheduling training for this upcoming year. The Cultural Competence training has been modified and is accompanied with a workbook that can be 
The Bridge, a nonprofit agency that provides housing and mental health services throughout Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens, has begun the development of a new 17 unit building in the South Bronx for veterans who are struggling with chronic homelessness and mental illness. The permanent housing residence, Bridge Gardens, will have on-site services through funding from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene under the NY/NY III program. Bridge Gardens is the first of two planned residences for veterans being developed by the Bridge. Construction is expected to be completed by the early spring 2013. 
Mental Health First Aid is defined as “help provided to a person developing a mental health challenge or experiencing a crisis until appropriate professional or other help is obtained or the crisis is resolves.” Participants will Learn risk factors and warning signs of mental illness and how to assist someone that is in crisis until appropriate help is obtained. Upon completion, participants will have a better understanding of the impact mental illnesses have on a person, their family and communities. Anyone who has direct contact with the individuals your program serves can benefit.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an approach to counseling that helps clients enhance their motivation to reduce substance use or to become abstinent in order to reach their personal goals. These techniques are also used to help clients to become motivated for mental health treatment and therefore are particularly helpful when working with consumers with dual-disorders. CASAC, CPP and CPS credits will be awarded based on participation in all four sessions. Workshop titles are: Introduction & Dual Diagnosis Model of MI; Developing MI Micro-Skills ; Identifying and Facilitation Change Talk ; and Responding to Resistance.
The NYS Office of Mental Health in collaboration with the NYS DOH Tobacco Control Program (TCP) Cessation Centers will be offering a free training on tobacco dependence treatment interventions entitled, "Breaking the Cycle of Tobacco Addiction." 
The training will teach mental health providers Evidence-based Treatment interventions to help individuals become tobacco-free. Participants will learn how to dispel myths that tobacco helps individuals to cope. (Tobacco use actually is associated with an increase in hospitalizations as well as the need for higher medication dosages.) All participants will receive a tool kit that includes Power Point slides, step-by-step guides and resources, and model policies to help programs implement smoke-free environments. All PROS providers are encouraged to participate.
Recovery to Practice has made a new resource, “The Framework for Recovery-Oriented Practice,” available. This tool explicitly identifies the principles, skills, and practices that should underpin the work of mental and behavioral health professionals. The 
framework provides broad guidance to practitioners and service leaders, spanning different treatment settings. It was designed to complement existing professional standards and competency frameworks and was published by the Mental Health, Drugs and Regions Division of the Victorian Government Department of Health in Melbourne, Victoria. 
A new study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, shows that there may be a link between low levels of Vitamin D and clinical depression. This is an important finding, considering major depressive disorders affect nearly one in 10 adults in the 
U.S. Dr. W. Sherwood Brown, Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study stated, “Our findings suggest that screening for vitamin D levels in depressed patients – and perhaps screening for depression in people with low vitamin D levels – might be useful, but we don’t have enough information yet to recommend going out and taking supplements.”The Coalition Home | Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery | Site Map
Tel: (212) 742-1600 Fax: (212) 742-2132