CombatCounselor's Thought of the Day

I saw a beautiful butterfly, then became one, spreading my wings, taking flight. Fear is my friend, not my enemy. The sky is the limit. 

© 2016 - C.T. Sorrentino and 3rd Wave Media Group, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Tired of self-centered people?

Are you as sick and tired of self-centered people as I am? 
Learn why they act that way...read my explanation below and WATCH THE NEW 
CombatCounselor Q&A
Episode 7: Values
Sundays at 11AM (CST) ... or thereabouts..
ON THE 
COMBATCOUNSELOR CHANNEL

In this episode of CombatCounselor Q&A, Chris discusses "values" or the lack thereof in society, American and around the world, today. Individuals, institutions, and nation states are in disarray, and Chris believes it is because of a lack of or alienation from CORE VALUES. They either never had any values to begin with or have lost their way somehow.
Chris goes on to describe how to define values as well as how you can define your own values and goals. Without values and goals, people and institutions tend to act based on emotion, and that is not a smart way to act in a world where we depend on one another to survive.
Body-Mind-Behavior Therapy helps people and groups learn to focus on the present moment, StayPresent; develop resilience skills in order to be able to act more effectively when challenged by crisis, BeResilient; and how to define and commit to acting in accordance with those values...it does not get much simpler than that!

People who lack clear values have only one way to ACT when confronted with a crisis or novel situation...EMOTIONALLY...SELFISHLY because that is the way we, humans, are programmed. Think about it, life, since the beginning of time, has been about self-preservation, survival, so can we blame them?
Yes and no. We cannot blame them because, MOST OF THE TIME, it is a reaction, not a well thought out act or action. On The other hand, we can blame them for either not defining or not understanding their values and how their behavior impacts others. Believe it it not, it is a choice in many more ways than one.
Here is the link to this video: http://t.co/q87KaPvh
StayTheCourse
C.T. Sorrentino, LtCol, USAF (Ret)
aka CombatCounselor

Trouble Sleeping? ... Join the Club!

Do you have trouble sleeping? Well, a great many Americans do, so you are not alone! Want to do something about it? Read more...

A recent study in published in the journal Sleep indicated that the average American loses 11 working days each year due to insomnia...11 DAYS! 

BOTTOM LINE: Use common sense and reduce exposure to blue light after dark to sleep better. You can also:

1. Sleep in a cool, dark room.
2. Avoid caffeine and nicotine (stimulants) at night.
3. Develop a regular sleep routine, waking & going to bed at the same time EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
4. Use your bed for sleeping (sex is OK...whew!) ONLY.
5. Exercise regularly - more than 2-3 hours prior to bedtime
6. If you are having trouble sleeping, get out of bed until you are tired enough to sleep.

7. Download a "White Noise" app for your smartphone (turn ringer off or use "airplane mode")

The April 2012 issue of Money Magazine stated that "If Nothing's Working...Try cognitive behavioral therapy: CBT, a form of therapy that seeks to train your mental habits is one of the most effective methods of treating sleep ills. Most people see improvement after four to six sessions...it's usually about $200 a session...a good night's sleep is always a sound investment."  You can find a cognitive behavioral therapist on Psychology Today's Therapist Finder  by entering your zip code and using the advanced search to narrow your options down to "cognitive behavioral" therapists in your area, specializing in your unique situation...there are many, many filters to find the therapist you need. REMEMBER: MANY THERAPISTS CALL THEMSELVES "COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL" in order to receive payments from insurance companies, so understand what a cognitive behavioral therapist does and ask pertinent questions to see if they are who the say they are:

• Which theorists do you base your work on? 
• B.F. Skinner, Aaron/Judith Beck, Albert Ellis, Donald Meichenbaum, Marsha Linehan, Steven Hayes are all acceptable
• Which cognitive behavioral techniques do you use (have them explain their answers)?
• Cognitive restructuring, exposure, response prevention, prolonged exposure, interoceptive exposure, mastery and pleasure activity scheduling, mindfulness, dialectics, cognitive defusion, values-clarification are valid answers
• How long should therapy take?
• CBT is time-limited by nature and should take no more than 3-4 months MAXIMUM to complete
• Most treatments take from 4-14 sessions (50-90 minutes each), but some of the more complex cases, like DBT for Borderline Personality Disorder, take as much or more than one year

There has also been recent research that proves that "blue" light, the kind we get from sunshine, TV and computer screens, light bulbs, even alarm clock numbers, stimulates seratonin (which helps keep you awake and alert among other things) and suppresses melatonin (a hormone which tells you it's time to sleep). Orange light, which comes from the opposite end of the light spectrum, has the opposite effect, helping to produce melatonin and inducing sleepiness.

So, what does that mean for you insomniacs? Reduce eye exposure to blue light after dark by staying away from the sources listed above or use orange light at night to read and do other things. Candle light produces orange light, so act like Abe and go "au naturale" after dark (I mean read by candlelight, not get naked).

You can buy orange lightbulbs online and there are other things you can do:

1. Orange screen covers are available for computer monitors. Use them at night.

2. Download a free app that will automatically adjust your monitors visible spectrum based on time of day:


                                              CLICK HERE - LINK TO FREE APP


3. Buy orange safety goggles or glasses, also available online, and wear them at night before bed.Sleep tight!

Thank you.to: marksdailyapple.com for information on the ligjt spectrum and effects on sleep.

© 2012 CombatCounselor - All Rights Reserved

Do you want pity, unoriginal content, obscure quotes, or updates on my life?

If you want pity, unoriginal content, obscure quotes, or updates about my life, you came to the wrong place...stop whining, complaining, and feeling sorry for poor little you! Take responsibility for your life and do something about what's bothering you . THAT'S AN ORDER!

I offer 100% FREE INFORMATION based on 30 years of education and clinical experience. Listen to what I have to say or don't. It doesn't really matter to me, I'm going to keep it up whether you listen or not. Why? Because I'm passionate about what I do and want to help people who have the spine to ask for help and put in the hard work it takes to change.

If you can find one place on ANY of my sites where I ask you to buy something, as Cal Washington used to say, "I'll eat my hat"!

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER? THEN SUBSCRIBE!

Have a great life...StayPresent, BeResilient, StayTheCourse!

CombatCounselor

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"End of the War" by Brittany Holmes

Brittany Holmes, an upcoming new artist, sent me this link. Thanks for this inspiring and beautiful song Brittany...you will be a star!

Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers

Mindfulness and Chi in Healing and the Mind, a video series by Bill Moyers.
In the series, Mr. Moyers explores Eastern beliefs such as the concept of Chi, the energy which flows throughout the body which, when interupted, can cause illlness.  Tai Chi, accupuncture, massage, and mindful meditation are a few of the ancient forms used to balance Chi and explored in the series.

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Comment on Show on Psychic Frauds - Anderson (10-13-2011)

Mr. Cooper,

It is ridiculously clear that the average American does not have a clue what a "qualified" counselor/psychotherapist is. One of your guests mentioned "certification" being a determinant, but licensing is the real issue here.  The woman (who pays $30K per year) stated that she does not go to a "real" therapist because she does not want to be judged.  Licensed, certified psychotherapists DO NOT JUDGE people and, if they do, they do not deserve to be licensed. Licensed, certified psychotherapists SHOULD take an entirely non-judgmental stance and objectively help clients solve their problems based on years of education and experience.

It's not only the psychic mediums, healers, and the like who are scamming the public, "life coaches" are the latest frauds bilking naive individuals into believing they are qualified to help you solve your problems. A life coach gets a "certificate" (which isn't actually required because they, life coaches, are not recognized by any state) in a couple hours to a couple days, many times by filling out a form online and paying some money.

You may want to consider doing the American public a service by doing a show what to look for when looking for a "qualified" counselor/therapist. Psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed professional counselors, and licensed clinical social workers MUST complete a graduate degree (master's or higher), complete a practicum and internship (usually one year each), complete a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervision (under a qualified, licensed therapist), and pass a national exam, as well as a background check, before receiving a license (which is required BY LAW in all states to practice psychotherapy).  For example, I have been licensed (CO and MO) AND certified (National Board of Certified Counselors) for over 20 years, completing a MINIMUM of 20 hours of continuing education each year (required by the states and NBCC), and I only charge $125 per hour.  If your guest was my client and I saw her once a week for a year (my clients rarely need more than 12-14 sessions), she would have paid $6,500 (not $30,000) and may have been able to be reimbursed by her insurance company (I do not accept insurance) by filing a claim.  Insurance companies DO NOT reimburse psychics or life coaches because THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED to help you.  Most life coaches are out of work MBAs or other unemployed people trying to make a quick buck with little, if any, training requirements.  It is a very lucrative business.  This is not only a disservice to unsuspecting consumers, it takes business away from qualified clinicians and MAY EVEN CAUSE HARM.  My ethical code (a non-existent entity in the world of psychics and life coaches), requires me to, above all else, DO NO HARM to my clients and I take that requirement very seriously.

If you would like to read and learn more, visit my blog at http://combatcounselor.blogspot.com/2011/03/client-beware-protecting-yourself-from.html. You can also visit my website, www.kccbt.com or follow me on Twitter @CombatCounselor for more information that is RELIABLE.

Stop the ignorance and pain these frauds are causing to unknowing, undereducated consumers, not to mention the financial hardship they cause by making people pay large sums for their UNLICENSED services.

Thank you for getting the dialogue going by exposing psychic frauds.  Now, take it a step further by educating people about what to look for when they need psychological help. Within the realm of licensed psychotherapists, there are some questionable "modes" of treatment available, so a license is not the only thing required to make sure you get what you are paying for, but that is an entirely different story.

Thanks...CombatCounselor

StayTheCourse

StayTheCourseTM: "The ability to focus on & ACT in accordance with your values at all times, but particularly during times of great stress."

Chris Sorrentino, LtCol, USAF (Ret)

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BeResilient

BeResilientTM: "Ensure that your body & mind are well nourished & rested, preparing you for optimal resourcefulness when difficulties arise."

Chris Sorrentino, LtCol, USAF (Ret)

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StayPresent

StayPresentTM: "The ability to focus nonjudgmentally on the present moment, giving you the presence of mind to ACT in a value-driven manner."

Chris Sorrentino, LtCol, USAF (Ret)

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