|
Hello Pamela ,
Happy Fall! I hope you are enjoying the change of the seasons as much as you'll enjoy all the great things this newsletter has to offer. We've added a monthly "food for thought" column, written by our eating disorder recovery team! And we have a free relationship check-up seminar TOMORROW (see link below).
Join me this Sunday for a 5k walk to support Dyslexia awareness (see details below). Also, check out some of our other upcoming events and make sure to stop into downtown Plymouth to snap a photo with our MFS Scarecrow.
Hope to see you around town!
All my best,
Dr. Pam McCaskill
office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com
734-416-9098
| |
|
McCaskill Family Services Newsletter
Term: Fall | Issue 45| September 30th, 2023
| |
|
Keys To Communication
You hear it all the time.. "Communication is Key!" but what happens when you can't find the keys in the bottom of your bag or you lock them in the car? If you've ever struggled with communication skills, you probably know that deficits in this area can lead to increased arguments, repressed feelings, growing resentment and shallow(ish) relationships.
Communication is not something we are born knowing how to do, it is a learned practice, and it can be really scary when we are unsure about how someone may react to what we want to communicate. What if the other person rejects what we have to say? What if they disagree or I make them angry? Many of us are too scared to communicate because we don't want to "rock the boat" or we feel like we are not "skilled" at putting our thoughts and feelings into words. Thankfully, MFS therapist, Jake Lowe has some advice on how to think differently about confrontation so it doesn't feel as intimidating. In this month's blog, he shares with us his tips on how to turn tough conversations into productive connections.
| |
At McCaskill Family Services, we specialize in working with adults, children, teenagers and families with various presenting issues. If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, please contact us. Our clinicians are trained in empirically-based techniques, and would be happy to promptly schedule an appointment in person or via tele-health. We can be reached by phone at 734-416-9098 or by email at office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com.
| |
It's our favorite time of the year! Come visit our MFS Scarecrow in downtown Plymouth who, this year, encourages you to face your fears! Whether that be body image issues, social anxiety, a fear of spiders, or OCD related anxieties, our MFS team is here to help, and we believe in YOU ! If you visit our scarecrow friend, please snap a picture with him and tag us @mccaskillyfamilyservices on Instagram or Facebook ! | |
Join us THIS SUNDAY for the Read to Run Dyslexia 5K Event.
This event supports Dyslexia advocacy, education, resources, and awareness.
Not a runner? No problem!
Everyone is welcome!
| |
|
Free Relationship Seminar Tomorrow | |
Where does your relationship stand?
A brief relationship health checkup!
Date: Saturday, September 30th
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Where: Virtual/Zoom
Cost: Free Audience: 18+
Who: Jessica Peatee, Ph.D., LLP of MFS
Description: Have you ever wondered if your romantic relationship is actually healthy? Do you think you've experienced relationship abuse? Are you curious if your relationship could benefit from extra support? New to the dating world?
Whether you are currently in a romantic relationship or not, this webinar is designed to help you gain knowledge on how to assess relationship health, learn more about unhealthy relationship behaviors/patterns, and to provide guidance as to when to seek support from a professional.
Meeting ID: 850 4095 0184 Passcode: 501437
| |
Food For Thought:
A new monthly newsletter addition from our eating disorder recovery team.
Jump off the Diet Culture Bandwagon
Are you tired of tracking calories, macros, or steps? Do you find yourself frustrated by the amount of time each day you are thinking about food and your body? Are you often comparing your body to those around you or to the images you see on social media? Do you want to create healthful eating habits but feel confused by complicated and conflicting nutrition information?
Diet culture can often be to blame for much of the displeasure we feel surrounding food and our bodies. Diet culture can be defined as a set of expectations and beliefs that emphasize thinness, health, and particular styles of eating as a way to attain a higher social status. This way of thinking often moralizes body shapes and food choices, classifying us by "good" or "bad" depending on how we look or what we eat.
The good news is, we don't have to stay on the diet culture bandwagon. We can choose to recognize the value of bodies across the size spectrum and find enjoyment in eating a variety of tasty food options. There is no one right way to look or eat.
If you'd like to learn more about healing your relationship with food and your body, you can contact our office to book an appointment with our dietitian, Daylan Wentland, MS, RD. Daylan has immediate availability in person at our Plymouth office or virtually.
| |
|
Jake Lowe is a master’s level clinician who specializes in the treatment and assessment of children, adolescents, and young adults.
Jake obtained his Master’s degree in Clinical Behavioral Psychology from Eastern Michigan University in 2023, and his Bachelor’s in Sports, Exercise, and Performance Psychology in 2021 from West Virginia University. Given this unique background , Jake enjoys working with those that could benefit from sports/performance psychology.
Jake specializes in treating those that experience anxiety, OCD, depression, concerns related to gender & sexual identity, trauma, ADHD, autism, and specific phobias. He utilizes a blend of multiple evidence-based treatment strategies in his approach to assisting those he works with that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Prior to joining McCaskill Family Services, he previously worked at Eastern Michigan University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Center, where he provided therapy and assessment to students. Jake also worked as a behavioral technician at Key Learning Autism Center, where he provided treatment to children on the Autism Spectrum.
In his spare time, Jake enjoys creating music, finding new recipes to cook with his partner, exercising, traveling and..... juggling? ---->
Check out his new support group below!
| |
|
Newsletter Editor's Notes | |
|
What your therapist wants you to know.
Article Two
We want you to know that:
We really DO care about you.
It can cause conflicting thoughts in patients when therapist vocalize that we care about them and their well-being, but at the same time are getting paid to be a support system. I've heard patients say things like, "You're getting paid, of course you have to care," or "Why would you care if I stopped seeing you, this is basically just a business transaction."
It can feel almost counterintuitive to acknowledge that we care about you after charging for a session, but rest assured, we really really do, and caring about you is not dependent upon getting paid. Think about the other relationships in your life.. people spend time with you not because you pay them, but because they are invested in your life and care about you. Consequently, you could pay someone $1,000 bucks and they could still be a rotten friend to you. Money and caring don't have to line-up when it comes to relationships, and as your therapist, we consider our time spent with you to be just that: a therapeutic relationship.
We feel your feelings with you during session; celebrating your accomplishments, experiencing heartbreak and riding the emotional rollercoaster of life with you. We worry about you after you leave, we treatment plan for you during our office hours, we reflect on our words after session, and we even miss you when we go on vacation. Ending therapy with a long-term patient is always challenging, and while we are SO happy to see you're not needing us anymore, we are sad to know we won't be continuing our journey together.
I've been a therapist for almost 10 years, and I can honestly say that in order to do my job to my best possibly ability, I must truly care about my patients. Fortunately, that happens naturally, and the best rewards of this career have nothing to do with money.
| |
Greetings reader! I'm a masters level clinician at McCaskill Family Services who specializes in the treatment of OCD, anxiety, self-harm and eating disorders for all ages. I co-run the McCaskill Family Services DBT groups for teens and adults, and specialize in psychological assessment. I am also our monthly newsletter editor and social media manager!
I'd like to personally thank you for staying in touch with our practice, and hope you find this newsletter inspirational and informative. If you or someone you know would like to schedule an appointment with me, please contact our office at 734-416-9098 or email us at office@mccaskillfamilyservices.com. I look forward to working with you!
| |
409 Plymouth Road, Suite 250, Plymouth, MI 48170 • 734.416.9098
| |
| | | |
