Monday, October 25, 2010

... anxiety disorder / panic attack treatment and therapy in the philippines ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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another tv interview, this time on anxiety disorders and panic attacks.
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the common symptoms? palpitations, shortness of breath, cold sweat, weakness, the fear of dying, the fear of losing control.
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what brings about rapid improvement? a combination of medication, psychotherapy, stress management and relaxation techniques, natural supplements, and holistic therapies (e.g., acupuncture, homeopathy, clinical body therapies, etc.).
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for many of my patients, it only takes 2 weeks to a month of taking the right medication for them to return to their former calm and happy selves.
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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

... mask-making and art therapy in the philippines ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

.Mask-making is an activity often done in art therapy sessions. It gives the participant an opportunity to explore aspects of his or her persona.
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We wear masks all the time. It isn't necesarily wrong to wear masks because it is needed to maintain peace and harmony in polite society. What makes mask-wearing problematic is when we don't even realize that we are wearing one, and when we wear just one mask for various situations. In the first conditon, the mask-wearer has an absence of self-awareness, while in the second condition, the mask-wearer manifests an absence of social flexibility.
. We, as human beings, are a complicated species. Our personalities are multi-faceted, multi-layered, continually evolving, and dynamically interacting with the external world. Mask-making is an invitation to get to know the intricacies of our inner selves.
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... personality reading through graphology, draw-a-person test, and palmistry in the philippines ... (psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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i facilitated a mini-workshop for a number of medical interns from u.p. pgh.
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the topic was on reading people's personalities through graphology, drawing analysis, and palmistry. there was much laughter getting to know themselves through their own handwriting, drawing, and heart lines.
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i hope they get to have more laughs as they practice their new skills on family members and friends!
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Saturday, October 16, 2010

... spine alignment therapy, deep tissue massage, and trigger point therapy in the philippines ... (life coach, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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dorn method is a body therapy which uses gentle manual manipulations to keep the spine aligned and healthy. misalignments in the spine can cause muscular pain, nerve impingements, and other illnesses.
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fresh from germany, thomas zudrell visited the philippines again to share new concepts and methods in dorn method. with the advancement in theories and the integration of new techniques, he describes dorn method as a "myo-neuro-structural rebalancing therapy." simply put, dorn method works on the muscles, nerves, and body alignment.
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one principle which thomas drilled deep into our minds is that we, as dorn method practioners, are never the healers. we are only facilitators of healing, preparing the client's body to heal on its own.
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Thursday, October 14, 2010

.. major depression treatment/ therapy in the philippines ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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abs-cbn's kwentong disyerto did a segment on major depression.
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in the show, i explained that major depression is caused by a serotonin imbalance in the brain and is manifested by the following symptoms: a depressed mood, loss of motivation or enjoyment, sleep pattern changes, appetite changes, energy level changes, constant worrying and pessimism, low self-confidence, poor concentration, and thoughts of death or suicide.
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i also emphasized that the treatment of major depression includes a combination of anti-depressant medication, psychotherapy, stress management techniques, and holistic natural therapies.
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the good news is that major depression is easy to treat. in fact, most of my patients (99% of them) get well within 2-3 weeks of taking the appropriate anti-depressant. as soon as they get well, they should be able to resume their previous daily routines and fully enjoy life again!
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

... emotional wellness and healing for cancer patients and survivors in the philippines ... (life coach, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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i was invited to do a talk at the trinoma mall activity center. entitled "stay pink, live green," the event was organized by woman today magazine as it celebrated its 10th year of breast cancer awareness advocacy.
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this year's event took on a more holistic approach to health and wellness. i focused on emotional wellness and presented a pictorial survey of holistic therapies which could improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.
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Monday, October 11, 2010

... sex therapy in the philippines ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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gma's pinoy md did a feature on the sexual issues of middle and late adulthood. i explained that significant physio-sexual changes take place in men and women as they age.
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in males, there is the reduction in testosterone production, reduction in size of the testicles, reduction in sperm production, increased occurence of prostate problems, reduction in the firmness of erection, and delay in ejaculation. in females, the lower estrogen levels bring about menopause, which signifies the end of a woman's fertility. as females age, they experience a cessation of menstruation, delay in vaginal lubrication, decreased vaginal expansion, decreased sensitivity of the clitoris, and the reduced intensity of orgasm.
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i then taught a married couple what sex therapists call "sensate focus." this is a non-sexual activity meant to help couples familiarize themselves with their partner's bodies. it is done in a spirit of curiousity and playfulness rather than sensuality. in fact, it is important to avoid sexual arousal in this exercise. when done in the privacy of the bedroom, the couple can be minimally dressed or naked.
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at the end of the "sensate focus" activity, the couple expressed how such a simple act of carressing each other increased their feelings of intimacy for each other. now isn't that just wonderful!
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Sunday, October 10, 2010

... long distance relationship and parenting issues of ofws ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, philippines)

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it was an honor for me to be interviewed by ms. susan k., the seasoned broadcaster, columnist, and host of "pilipinas online bantay ocw." hers is a long-running, multi-awarded public service program which airs on nbn channel 4.
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we discussed many topics of interest for migrant workers: long distance relationships, long distance parenting, and the management of anxiety and depression while abroad. i was markedly impressed by the breadth of ma'am susan's knowledge about the issues facing ocw's as well as the depth of her concern for them.
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ma'am susan's program is run with sincerity of heart and therefore deserves to run forever.
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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

... groups for personal growth ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, philippines)

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some growth group activities are just too enjoyable, so i jump in on the action.
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after the growth group, new friends!
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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

... support groups for social anxiety, social phobia in the philippines ... (life coach, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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a growing number of people are consulting me for social anxiety or social phobia. usually, people with social anxiety or phobia keep their anxiety and phobia to themselves. they may not realize that there are many others who are suffering from the same dilemma.
. what are the common ways they try to overcome their problem?
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for one, they read all sorts of self-help books but unfortunately, it doesn't really help them much. some attend the personality development courses of john robert powers, stephen covey, or dale carnegie.  they also try self-therapy, mostly cognitive-behavioral therapy (cbt), the linden method, emotional freedom techniques (eft), positive affirmations, instant life revolution, journaling, etc. however, the problem with cbt et al is that they are very difficult to apply when one is overwhelmed by nervousness and fear. case in point: i'm sure that you won't even be able to think of cbt or your positive affirmations when you feel like dying from an intense panic attack.
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some try to find comfort in joining online forums. to some extent, this is good. it certainly helps to know that there are others with the same problem and get emotional support from them.
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on the other hand, some participants in the online forums offer a "bad" type of help. for instance, they unethically advice others against medical or psychiatric treatment; they give simplistic advice for complicated problems; they pit one doctor against another claiming that their doctor is better than others; they criticize each others medications, and so on and so forth. moreover, getting a pep talk from someone who is also suffering from social phobia is like "the blind leading the blind."
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at its worst, the forums delude its participants into thinking that they are developing social skills as they interact with each other online, when the truth is that social skills are best practiced face-to-face with real people (and not "virtual" characters from cyberspace).
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the treatment for social anxiety is a combination of anti-depressant medication, individual psychotherapy, relaxation and stress management techniques, exposure therapy, and group therapy. . sadly, group therapy is the least used of the above interventions despite its powerful impact on the participants.
.many people suffering from social anxiety or social phobia look for support groups or group therapy.  at the forums, they strongly express their desire to join such groups and even promise to attend.  most however will back out at the very last moment, coming up with all sorts of excuses for not going. subconsciously, they fear the face-to-face interaction that will transpire within the group session.  never mind if the participants of the group are co-sufferers of social anxiety disorder; they will not attend.  


for the few brave souls however who want to break free from their social anxiety and social phobia, group therapy offers them the opportunity to gain friendship, develop self-confidence, practice social skills, learn stress management and relaxation skills, and develop a happier disposition in life.
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Sunday, October 3, 2010

... life coach certification program in the philippines ... (counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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The Philippine Society of Life Coaches
#105 Scout Rallos Street, Timog Area, Quezon City
Phone: 415-6529 / 415-7964 Email: philippine.society.of.life.coaches@gmail.com
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Program Title: The PSLC Life Coach Training Program
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Facilitator: Randy Misael S. Dellosa, M.D., Psy.D.
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Class Hours: 3 Weekends: October 23-24; November 13-14; 27-28, 2010; 9am - 5pm
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Venue: University Hotel, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
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Program Description:
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The PSLC Life Coach Training Program equips participants with the foundational principles, skills, and attitudes needed in helping others make positive changes in their lives.
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The teaching methods used in this training program include lectures, discussions, skills-building activities, video analysis, home assignments, actual practice, supervision, and self-awareness activities.
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The PSLC Life Coach Training Program is unique and superior to other programs because:
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• it is designed by a Filipino for Filipinos, making it consistent with the Filipino mindset, Filipino temperament, and Filipino ways of interaction;
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• it is strongly grounded in both psychological theory and research;
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• it focuses on developing the character/ personality of the Life Coach;
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• it emphasizes strong adherence to ethical guidelines;
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• it is highly interactive and highly experiential with plenty of skills-building activities; and
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• participants receive feedback and supervision from Dr. Randy Dellosa himself, who is a long-time professional, competent, and experienced Life Coach.
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This program is designed for anyone who wants to be a Life Coach, whether it be in a professional or non-professional context. This includes people who want to embark on a new career as a Life Coach, HR practitioners and managers who want to use life coaching skills in an organizational setting, and non-professionals who just want to enhance their relationships and interactions with friends and loved ones.
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The PSLC Life Coach Training Program Outline:
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Module I: Foundations of Life Coaching
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• The Definition of Life Coaching
• History of Life Coaching
• The Personhood of the Life Coach
• The Psychology of the Client

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Module II: Life Coaching and Filipino Psychology
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• Life Coaching and its Filipino Equivalent
• The Client’s Worldview and Sikolohiyang Pilipino
• Sikolohiyang Pilipino and the Life Coaching Process

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Module III: The Process and Competencies of Life Coaching
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• The Consultation Room
• Overview of the Life Coaching Process
• Creating First Impressions and Building Rapport
• Helping the Client Open Up
• Exploring and Understanding the Client’s Problematic Situation
• Focusing on an Issue or Topic
• Identifying What the Client Wants to Achieve from the Sessions
• Creating Strategies and Action Plans
• Closing the Session

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Module IV: The Multiple Roles and Skills of a Life Coach
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• The Life Coach as Consultant
• The Life Coach as Counselor
• The Life Coach as Mentor
• The Life Coach as Trainer
• The Life Coach as Facilitator
• The Life Coach as Mediator

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Module V: The Tasks and Scope of Life Coaching
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• Common Life Problems
• Life Skills for Personality Development
• Themes for Personal Growth

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Module VI: Ethical Considerations in Life Coaching
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• Ethics in Coaching
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Life Coaching
• Working through Ethical Issues and Dilemma
• Referring Clients to Other Professionals
• Informed Consent Form
• The Life Coach’s Referral Network
• Professional Credentialing of Life Coaches

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Module VII: Establishing a Private Practice
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• Maintaining a Stable Income Base
• The Professional Fee
• Answering Phone, SMS, and Email inquiries
• Being a Specialist
• Implementing a Missed Appointment Policy
• Implementing a Phone Consultation Policy
• The Need for Self Promotion
• Networking

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Cost:
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• Fee includes hand-outs, lunch and snacks, a PSLC Life Coach Training Program Certificate of Completion. A Life Coach Practitioner Certificate is awarded to the participant after passing all other requirements.
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For Pre-Registration and Inquiries:
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• Please call 415-6529 or 415-7964.
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Facilitator Profile:
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• Randy Misael S. Dellosa is not only a Life Coach, but a psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, and a holistic physician as well.
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• In facilitating the PSLC Life Coach Certificate Training Program, he integrates his academic knowledge, clinical insights, and life learnings to help the participants become the best people-helpers they can become.
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• He is a co-founder and current president of the Philippine Society of Life Coaches.
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• To learn more about Randy and his work, please visit www.randydellosa.com.

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Friday, October 1, 2010

... weed use and the low-down on high times ... (philippines, life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist)

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the tv crew of rescue, a gma tv documentary, did an interview on the negative effects of marijuana use.
. many people who smoke weed think that it's harmless just because its herbal and organic. from my long-time experience as an addiction specialist, i would say that marijuana use even is more difficult to stop than shabu use.
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research shows strong evidence that marijuana use may trigger the onset or relapse of schizophrenia. in fact, many patients in my rehab are young individuals who suffer from psychotic symptoms (paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, etc.) and may have to take antipsychotic medications for a lifetime.
. to all weed users, better be safe than sorry. quit while you're still symptom-free.
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