Therapeutic farms use work in a natural environment to improve mental health.

Did you know that the State of Maryland was actually an innovator in this approach over a century ago?

In the 1970s I spent a summer working with older men at the Springfield State Hospital in Sykesville, MD. Long before Springfield was a mental institution, it was an estate and working farm, originally developed as the dowry for the daughter of a wealthy Baltimorean, William Patterson. His daughter was intended to marry Napoleon Bonaparte's brother, Jerome Bonaparte, although the marriage was later blocked by Napoleon.

In 1896, the State of Maryland transformed Springfield into a mental institution. Springfield was intended as an advance, using a more humane medical model for care instead of the prior practice of housing the "insane" in almshouses and poor farms ...continue reading

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Work and intensive contact with nature can help people recover from psychotic disorders, sometimes completely.

Maryland was an innovator in this approach over a century ago. The state abandoned this model, perhaps due to the public's fluctuating concern for the mentally ill and unwillingness to fund treatment programs. Eventually Maryland's mental institutions were better known for abuse and overcrowding.

Therapeutic farms are making a comeback. In the US, the Hopewell Community is having positive outcomes with its therapeutic farm community by using work and contact with nature as a means to improving social skills, emotional self-regulation, and consistent medication use. ...continue reading

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) are common issues for both children and adults. Symptoms may include:

  • narrow focus on the present moment
  • lack of attention to details
  • lack of body awareness and control
  • prone to distraction
  • failure to consider the consequences of behavior
  • difficulty with organization
  • difficulty with sustained projects and following through with chores
  • impulsivity
  • frequent fidgeting or squirming
  • very active, difficulty sitting still
  • talking excessively
  • blurting out answers, not waiting their turn

Individuals with ADHD/ADD often perform poorly in school and in the workplace, even though they may be highly intelligent and creative. These attention issues are often inherited, with the condition appearing in multiple generations of the family.

The most common treatment for ADHD/ADD is medication, but when the medications are stopped, the condition returns. Neurofeedback can be a highly effective alternative because it allows the areas of the brain that control arousal and focus to learn how to self-regulate. Neurofeedback can improve school, sport, and work performance, as well as social skills and self esteem. Unlike medication, the effects of neurofeedback training are often lasting, although occasional "touch-ups" are sometimes necessary in order to maintain the progress.

In this video, a boy who had ADHD describes his experiences before and after training with EEG neurofeedback.

I provide several forms of neurofeedback, including the one described in this video.

Contact me, if you're wondering whether you or your child might benefit from neurofeedback brain training.

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TIME article on increased rates of teen depression and anxiety

An article in Time Magazine by Susanna Schrobsdorff, Anxiety, Depression, and the American Adolescent, explores the causes of the recent significant increase in teen mental health issues.
http://time.com/magazine/us/4547305/november-7th-2016-vol-188-no-19-u-s/

Schrobsdorff identifies a number of potential causes for the increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems ...continue reading

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Who do you think of when you hear the term "PTSD"? Many of us associate Post Tramatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) with veterans, and for good reason. Military service, especially in a combat zone, can lead to PTSD symptoms.

In this video, two veterans share about the PTSD symptoms that had taken over their lives and how neurofeedback helped them recover. ...continue reading

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I recently received an email from a potential client seeking couples therapy:

Subject: hI
Message: Hi, I got your website while searching for a couple/family therapist/counselor directories through google. I and my wife need your service, please can you confirm how much you charge per session/appointment? Please respond as soon as you can so i can get back to you with details. Thanks

The sender gave me an unusual first name, no last name, an icloud.com email address, and 000000000 for a phone number. Oddly, the message was sent from a Canadian IP address: 159.203.41.216

I answered, listing my fees and asking the person where they were located.

The reply I received over two weeks later raised even more red flags. ...continue reading

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