Ticks are parasitic arachnids that live in grassy or wooded areas. People can unknowingly pick up ticks as they walk past bushes, plants and grass. Ticks can also be carried on a pet and then transferred to a human. According to the National Institutes of Health: “Ticks can be fairly large—about the size of a pencil eraser—or so small that they are almost impossible to see. Ticks can cause a variety of health conditions ranging from harmless to serious.” (more…)
The only thing to fear is fear itself. So please get tested. Of the approximately 1.2 million people in the United States who are HIV positive, 250,000 don’t know it.
There are two good reasons to know your HIV status. First, there are treatments available that let people live normal lives. The earlier they’re started in the course of the disease, the better they are at protecting people against complications. Second, people who are HIV positive and successfully suppress the virus with treatment are less likely to transmit the disease. (more…)
Communication includes listening, reading, writing and speaking, as well as nonverbal actions, such as body position, gestures and facial expression. All human interactions involve the use of one or more of these activities, and certainly our health is a vital topic worthy of our best communication efforts.
During an appointment with your health care provider, follow these tips for effective communication: (more…)
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a relatively well-known practice throughout the United States. Volunteers “team up” with their pet(s), typically dogs, to support those in need. Individuals and their pets visit medical and mental health facilities: outpatient clinics, psychiatric inpatient units, medical inpatient units, nursing homes and schools.
These volunteers and their pets are certified by nonprofit agencies, such as The Delta Society and the Good Dog Foundation. These organizations generally accept adult volunteers (ages 18-plus) who would like to devote their time to this therapeutic cause. The volunteers need not be mental health professionals. In fact, many individuals and families who are motivated to engage in AAT work in a variety of industries full-time.
Animal Assisted Psychotherapy (AAP) consists of a mental health professional’s using his or her pet as a therapeutic tool to enhance the work with the client.
• The animal is safe to bond with. Clients often feel more comfortable expressing a range of feelings in the therapy room when they are able to pet my dog, Barney, during session.
• The animal is used to help children develop the capacity to empathize with others. For example, if a child scares my therapy dog by chasing him, or withdraws a treat after Barney thinks he will receive it, I will comment, “How might Barney be feeling right now?”
• The animal often enacts what the client has difficulty expressing. For example, if the client is anxious, my therapy dog will start pacing around the room. Noticing how Barney’s enactments mimic their own distress helps clients become more aware and tolerant of their own feelings.
• For children and teenagers, practicing tricks with the therapy dog helps improve their self-esteem and self-efficacy.
Barney (my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) has been working with me at the Child and Family Institute since 2012. After becoming certified by the Good Dog Foundation, Barney was enrolled as a volunteer pet therapist. At the Child and Family Institute, Barney co-leads animal assisted psychotherapy groups for children with trauma history, and participates in child and adult individual psychotherapy sessions with me.
Twice a month, the Lactation Department of Mount Sinai Beth Israel offers a breastfeeding support group: “The Breastfeeding Café.” Expectant parents often ask us why a support group is necessary for such a “natural” process. (more…)
Guest blog post by Doron S. Stember, MD, Urologist at Beth Israel Medical Center.
A major medical study published several years ago showed that 50% of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 experience erectile dysfunction (ED) on at least some occasions. The first line of treatment is oral therapy (pills), including Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. For most men with ED, these pills provide a satisfactory solution. Some men, however, do not respond to pills, and for others, including those with certain heart conditions, the pills are unsafe. What are their options? (more…)