Compassion, neuroscience and therapy- great review by Dr. Davenport

Check out my blog post on what can help us find change in our lives. Dr. James Doty is a neurosurgeon who recently wrote the book magic shop of the brain and discussed it on NPR's show on being.

Dr. Charles R. Davenport, a licensed psychologist in Venice Florida, gives his input and links to relevant sources so you can listen to the podcast of the show. We're finding neurological research that supports much of the process of change in therapy. Being able to be more aware of our automatic processes that shut down the richness of life also described as having an corporative viewpoint is a powerful mechanism of change.

Posted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office

1525 Tamiami Trail S.

Ste. 603 A

Venice, FL 34285
Venice Officeon 

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Sarasota Officeon 

Have you ever lied to someone you loved or yourself...?

Well, if you are being honest you probably answered yes! From our earliest days in life, as humans, we may try to deny reality to help us feel better or even survive. This is a powerful technique that our minds reflexively use to protect us however at times he can go awry and leave us stuck and painful repetitive patterns. Frequently these patterns are diagnosed as depression, anxiety, or social phobia, and can manifest as relationship problems,  difficulty sleeping, or overeating, drinking, sleeping.

There can be such powerful feelings that leave us moving away from greater understanding of why these things occur aka we do them. Frequently, my work with patients is in these areas and can help provide relief.

Here is an article, from current news, that provides a great illustration of how anyone can find themselves in a situation they would never wish for.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/02/09/psychiatrists-view-why-would-brian-williams-make-up-stories/

Posted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office

1525 Tamiami Trail S.

Ste. 603 A

Venice, FL 34285
Venice Officeon 

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Sarasota Officeon 

3 ways to emotionally survive visits with family during holidays

To some, the holidays are the "most wonderful time of the year." This is not always the case in my family, even though it is a wonderful time of year, things sometimes are "just a bit" stressful.

Here are a few tips that can be helpful:

Have some rules of engagement and expectations for the visit. Having a plan to disengage and seek support from someone before things get too out of hand can be helpful. Having nonverbal cues or a plan ahead of time can be helpful.

Heep an eye out for old scripting or family roles. Getting together with family can feel like picking up in the middle of a very old, very tired story in which everyone knows their parts but no one really likes playing them anymore. Decide to switch up the script. The easiest way to do this is to change your perspective: see and interact with the players as individuals instead of characters. In other words, rather than "Mom," "Dad," "black sheep" and "good kid," think of them as Sally, Bob, Jane and Dave. So often, the problems in families stem from our not being acknowledged and respected for the individuals that we have become. If we want to be seen as a person instead of some label we outgrew ages ago, then we need to lead by example and start extending that same courtesy to our family.

Be mindful of what we are thankful for. To the increased arousal and overall intensity surrounding the holidays it can be hard for the real positive things to stay as front and center as the parts that are brought to our attention as a result of old patterns or hurts. If we are aware of this head of time we can work to offset this tendency by consciously focusing on what we are appreciative for while letting the more negative experiences run parallel. Squashing them usually doesn't help either.

sometimes it can be helpful to reflect and process what went well and what did not after the holiday season. If you're left overwhelmed by how well things went or a little stressed out by things not working out so well and you think Dr. Davenport might be able to help please call his Sarasota or Venice office for therapy, counseling, or couples work.

Posted By:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office

1525 Tamiami Trail S.

Ste. 603 A

Venice, FL 34285

Venice Officeon 

Sarasota Office

950 South Tamiami Trail

Ste 202

Sarasota, FL 34236

Sarasota Officeon 

People who feel younger at heart live longer

Who wouldn't want a longer life and feeling younger? New research provides more support for the powerful impact our mind has on our physical health in physiological functioning.

Sometimes the connection between our mind and body is not crystal clear and so when we are under stress we avoid looking in these areas because when under stress we want clear black-and-white answers. This can be adaptive. for example if we needed to grab something defend office threaten our life we would be best served to grab the tool we can see clearly rather than one that's in the shadows and may not be what we think it is.

A willingness to explore the shades of gray in our lives can give us a chance to see where we may have more control or more ability to find change.

Go ahead lie about your age. It may be the very thing that helps you live a longer life. A new study shows that people who truly believe they are younger than their actual years have a lower death rate. New research published in JAMA internal medicine online looked at data from 6489 people with an average age of 65.8 years who reported they felt a little less than 10 years younger. What's interesting is that most people in the study didn't feel like their actual age. Most said that they felt about three years younger...

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/17/health/healthy-aging/index.html

Dr. Davenport works with people of all age to help them thrive and live life to their fullest potential. please contact his Sarasota or Venice Florida office if you think you may be able to help you.


Reposted By:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285
Venice Officeon 

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236
Sarasota Officeon 

Work Jerks Beware – Even Good Ideas Can Be Hobbled by Attitude

Being pushy at work can help to advance your cause — or not, according to a new study in the Journal of Business and Psychology.

While investigators found that being disagreeable sometimes helps to sell your idea to others, difficult or irritating people should be aware of the social context in which they are presenting their thoughts. The aggressive strategy will not always be successful, warn Samuel Hunter, Ph.D., of Pennsylvania State University and Lily Cushenbery, Ph.D., of Stony Brook University.

People are often labelled as jerks if they are disagreeable by nature, overly confident, dominant, argumentative, egotistic, headstrong, or sometimes even hostile. It’s often touted in the popular press that being so direct and forceful was what made innovators such as Steve Jobs and Thomas Edison successful.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/12/09/work-jerks-beware-even-good-ideas-can-be-hobbled-by-attitude/78403.html

Reposted By:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285
Venice Officeon 

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236
Sarasota Officeon 

Do you feel like you are under more stress than is healthy?

According to a large survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) last year, most American adults live with more stress than they think is healthy – a 5.1 on a scale of one to 10, when they consider a 3.6 healthy. 

How can we find the balance in life between fulfilling work, meaningful relationships, and other pleasures? Here is an interesting article in News & World Report. Dr. Davenport at Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC. works to help you find ways to feel less stressed. Counseling and therapy services are offered to couples and individuals in Venice and Sarasota, FL.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/the-health-benefits-of-simple-living/ar-BBd8TL3

Posted by:

Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

New Website of Resources for Parents of Kids w/ Learning & Attention Issues

A new web site of resources--"Understood: For Learning & Attention 
Issues"--is available on the web.

Here is an excerpt from their statement under "About Understood":

For the first time ever, 15 nonprofit organizations have joined forces to 
support parents of the one in five children with learning and attention 
issues throughout their journey.

With the right support, parents can help children unlock their strengths and 
reach their full potential.

With state-of-the-art technology, personalized resources, free daily access 
to experts, a secure online community, practical tips and more, Understood 
aims to be that support.

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Exercise also helps kids do better and feel better!

We all know exercise is good for us and can help us feel better and work better. However, we don't always put enough weight in how powerfully exercise can impact our children. The Sarasota County YMCA for the South County opened a school focusing on physical activity and its impact on children's functioning. This study supports a model of regular physical activity being a requirement for whole body health and well-being....

W. Douglas Tynan, director of integrated health care for the American Psychological Association, wrote this for a the kids health blog.

We all know exercise generally benefits children, and another study to confirm that was recently published in Pediatrics. Though this finding may yield a yawn or two, the latest research goes well beyond quantifying what most of us think is true.

Charles Hillman from the University of Illinois and colleagues found kids who took part in regular physical activity enhanced their cognitive performance and brain function. His group looked at the impact of a little more than an hour of vigorous exercise followed by 45 minutes of a less-vigorous skills game for a total of two hours every day after school during 150 days of a school year.

On measures of concentration, attention, flexible thinking, controlling impulses, and actual brain activity measured by scalp electrodes, the exercise group of these 8- and 9-year-old children did much better overall.

http://www.philly.com/philly/health/20141026_Exercise_is_good_for_children_s_brains__too.html

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

We can have what we hope for if we suspend disbelieve and vividly picture what our success would look like...

When things are tough in our lives we tend to more easily see roadblocks than what will help us get where we want. This can be protective, in that we can avoid the let down of failure or the frustration of contrasting how things are now compared to what we hope for, but it also stops us from more easily finding possible ways our or even having hope that we can. This article supports the importance of picturing the full image of hope for our future in high resolution to find an extra boost to overcome self-dobut.

Students who have chronic self-doubt may need an extra boost to pursue the dreams they are certainly able to achieve,” said study author Dr. Patrick Carroll, assistant professor of psychology at Ohio State University’s Lima campus.

“This study finds that what they really need is a vivid picture of what will happen if they succeed.”...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/10/25/what-motivates-people-to-pursue-dream-jobs/76573.html

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Curiosity, passion, at times boredom... all good stuff for kids.

Here is a great article from the local newspaper the Herald Tribune. I do not know of the authors other work but this is a thought provoking article. Especially, during a time of such rapid change in the accessability to a seemingly limitless depth of information. This Internet of information offers video lectures on many subjects, volumes of written text and digital textbook available to download in seconds.  With so much opportunity passion is a better outcome than the alternate of overwhelm...

What is it that we really want for our kids? We want them to be confident, courageous, content, caring and productive, right?

Although there's no insurance plan in child-rearing, we can at least know that our kids are well on their way to becoming all of those things if we can help them discover and nurture one thing — passion...

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20141019/COLUMNIST/141019658/0/search

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Misbehaving kids... what to do?

Stories of schools struggling with what to do with misbehaving kids. For teachers, it’s not clear how to get the kids to behave. Asking politely does not always work. Or detention. You can suspend them, but sending kids home from the thing they hate is a weird punishment. There's no general agreement about what to do... and evidence that some popular punishments actually may harm kids...

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/538/is-this-working

This is an interesting story... there is a racial component to the story but the message is a good one with or without race. Several points stood out to me... Hearing each student and letting them know you understand them seems to be an important part.The challenge of inspiring an internal drive for creativity and learning another. 

At the counseling and therapy offices of Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC. I work with students, parents, and schools to help students thrive and overcome academic,  mood, and behavioral difficulties. When things are not going well for students, it "stinks" but it is an opportunity to inspire our own curiosity and to try to understand what is going on any why. If you or a loved one is struggling at school, with mood or behavioral problems please contact Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC. 941-321-1971 for a confidential telephone consultation. Offices Venice and Sarasota.

Posted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Report underscores link between mental health and learning on college campuses

We can easily miss or accidently overlook the impact of emotion on academic performance. Emotions are not always easy to identify on the outside they don't always have a physical presentation. This all makes it easier to overlook their presence and impact on academic performance. World class athletes hire psychologist to help them perform at their peak why not do this for our students?

Dr. Charles R. Davenport is a Licensed Psychologist who provides counseling and services in Venice,  FL and Sarasota,  FL.  He works with students who are struggling academically or emotionally or who have a learning disability and or are gifted.

Check out this article below for more information about the impact of emotion on academic performance...

Common mental health myths as well as effective models and approaches for treating college-specific issues are included as part of the primer published by APA and other educational organizations. Providing culturally competent services and outreach to specific populations is vital to helping all students seek help when needed,” the report states. “Students who participate in counseling report improvements in their satisfaction with their quality of life.” About one-third of U.S. college students report having had difficulty functioning in the last 12 months due to depression — almost half said they felt overwhelming anxiety in the prior year, according to the 2013 National College Health Assessment. Along with stress, these mental health problems can interfere with learning, limiting students’ creativity and interest in new information, the primer states...

http://www.apa.org/pubs/newsletters/access/2014/10-14/mental-health-college.aspx

Reposted By:
Dr. Charles R. Davenport
Licensed Psychologist
Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.
Phone: 941-321-1971
www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Venice Office
1525 Tamiami Trail S.
Ste. 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Office
950 South Tamiami Trail
Ste 202
Sarasota, FL 34236

Understanding Anxiety Disorders and Effective Treatment

If you have ever seen a Licensed Psychologist for anxiety treatment or just want to know more about what Anxiety is and how a Licensed Psychologist may be able to help keep reading.

Anxiety is a normal human reaction that can keep us safe. Anxiety can also really interfere with our happiness, sense of being calm, best performance in life. Working with a Licensed Psychologist can help you understand your anxiety and find change. 

Dr. Charles R Davenport is a Licensed Psychologist in Sarasota FL and Venice FL. He has helped many adults and children who have had bothersome nagging thoughts, test anxiety, performance anxiety, Obsessive -Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and other kinds of Anxiety. Does worry or anxiety take away from your life or happiness? Dr. Davenport may be able to help call 941-321-1971 or visit Charles R Davenport PsyD LLC  for more information. 

Dr. Davenport has a flyer about Anxiety and Anxiety Treatment available here: Get Anxiety and Anxiety Treatment Flyer.

Posted By:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

1525 Tamiami Trail S., Ste 603 A

Venice, FL 34285

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

950 South Tamiami Trail, Ste 202

Sarasota, FL 34236

Phone: (941) 321-1971

Fax: (941) 866-0936

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Can I feel less stress and stop self-defeating patterns?

Have you ever wished that you could feel less stressed, feel closer in important relationships, or stop self-defeating patterns? This kind of change is possible. Dr. Charles R Davenport provides individual therapy and couples counseling to help adults, children, and couples. Dr. Davenport is a Licensed Psychologist who counsels people through life transitions, career stress, and relationship problems.

Many times our behaviors are driven by avoidance of uncomfortable feelings or thoughts. Frequently, this kind of avoidance happens reflexively without our conscious awareness. If we were aware of all of the potentially threatening things in our environment we would be overwhelmed so, our mind streamlines information processing to keep help us and keep us safe. The part of our mind that protects us from threatening events frequently responds more in the short term and can leave us feeling stuck or not able to fully reach the life we dream of. When we do not feel in control of our own destiny we can begin to have symptoms of depression or anxiety. They can present as difficulty sleeping, change in appetite, loss of interest in things we used to like, or even ongoing worrying. Through increased awareness of our automatic processing of thoughts and feelings and having greater understanding of their impact on our actions we can find change even when things feel hopeless.

Counseling and therapy sessions are used to help understand the underlying feelings that arise and frequently drive us to avoid unpleasant situations. Beginning therapy or counseling is a commitment and it is very important to find a good match with your therapist or counselor. For a telephone consultation please call Dr. Charles R Davenport PsyD LLC at 941-321-1971. Dr. Davenport has counseling offices in Venice FL and Sarasota FL.

Posted By:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

1525 Tamiami Trail S., Ste 603 A

Venice, FL 34285

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

950 South Tamiami Trail, Ste 202

Sarasota, FL 34236

Phone: (941) 321-1971

Fax: (941) 866-0936

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

Heart Fitness Improves Brain Health

A new Canadian study suggests exercising to improve cardiovascular fitness may protect individuals from cognitive impairment associated with aging...

 

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/08/26/heart-fitness-improves-brain-health/74103.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

 

1525 Tamiami Trail S Ste 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

Specialized Psychotherapy Shown to Help Those with Rheumatoid Arthritis

New research from Wayne State and Duke universities suggests a non-pharmaceutical approach can help individuals cope with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a serious autoimmune disease that affects one to two percent of adults, a painful condition that can cause disability and joint disfigurement. The disease causes serious stress and can disrupt work, family life, and marital functioning. While many pharmacological advances help some RA patients, residual pain and disability is common. And some patients avoid newer medications due to their high cost or side effects. Because of this, researchers are looking at psychosocial interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/08/25/specialized-psychotherapy-shown-to-help-those-with-rheumatoid-arthritis/74069.html

 

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

 

1525 Tamiami Trail S Ste 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

Eating Disorders May Hike Risk of Autoimmune Disease

Finnish researchers have found that individuals with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are at risk of developing specific medical problems. They discovered autoimmune illnesses including type I diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Crohn’s disease), were more common among individuals with eating disorders. In the study, published in PLOS ONE, ...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/08/27/eating-disorders-may-hike-risk-of-autoimmune-disease/74152.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

 

1525 Tamiami Trail S Ste 603 A
Venice, FL 34285

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

Mindfulness Can Aid Those In Early Dementia and Caregivers

An innovative new approach combines mindfulness training for those with early-stage dementia and their caregivers during the same class session. The new report suggests the two-for-one approach is mutually beneficial as both groups reported less depression and improved sleep and quality of life. “The disease is challenging for the affected person, family members, and caregivers,”...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/08/27/mindfulness-can-aid-those-in-early-dementia-and-caregivers/74156.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

Offices: Sarasota, FL and Venice, FL

 

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

Talk Less, Listen More to Be the Friend of a Person With Depression

Many people, without thinking, reflexively offer solutions or advice to friends or families when their feeling down or discussing problems in their lives. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal discusses the importance of listening. Frequently, when providing marital counseling, Dr. Davenport helps couples communicate by learning how to listen better. In the article below, from the Wall Street Journal, the importance of talking less and listening more particularly with loved ones who are depressed is outlined.

 

Emotional support offered to someone after a loss or during a depression can be an essential element in the healing process. But it isn't easy to know what to say when a loved one is hurting. Even the most well-intentioned words or gestures can seem to do more harm than good. What is the best way to help someone who is feeling low, struggling emotionally, grieving or perhaps even clinically depressed?...

http://online.wsj.com/articles/talk-less-listen-more-to-be-the-friend-of-a-person-with-depression-1409008450

Reposted by:

 

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. 

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Offices Sarasota and Venice

 

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com

 

Pediatricians' Rx for schools: Later start times

Sleep is so frequently overlooked. Insufficient sleep can be a significant contributor to depression, anxiety, difficulty with sustained attention or concentration (ADHD), or behavioral problems. Many times these difficulties also interfere with people's ability to get sustained sleep which can exacerbate the problem. For more resources on depression or anxiety please visit my website: www.drcharlesdavenport.com.

 

Pediatricians have a new prescription for schools: later start times for teens.

Delaying the start of the school day until at least 8:30 a.m. would help curb their lack of sleep, which has been linked with poor health, bad grades, car crashes and other problems, the American Academy of Pediatrics says in a new policy.

The influential group says teens are especially at risk; for them, "chronic sleep loss has increasingly become the norm."

Studies have found that most U.S. students in middle school and high school don't get the recommended amount of sleep — 8½ to 9½ hours on school nights; and that most high school seniors get an average of less than seven hours.

More than 40 percent of the nation's public high schools start classes before 8 a.m., according to government data cited in the policy. And even when the buzzer rings at 8 a.m., school bus pickup times typically mean kids have to get up before dawn if they want that ride...

 

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20140825/wire/140829813

 

Reposted by:

 

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. 

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D. LLC.

Offices Sarasota and Venice

 

Phone: 941-321-1971

www.drcharlesdavenport.com