Follow the link above to learn more about the offer for free counselling sessions with Gentle Currents Therapy.
Mike Dadson explains some effects of the natural disaster on public mental health:
“When all the roads closed and Chilliwack effectively became Gilligan’s Island, a lot of people began to feel an acute sense of entrapment, trauma, isolation, and powerlessness. For many, it created an intense desire to escape, but in this time of COVID-19, there is nowhere to escape to. Furthermore, rationing and shortages can be very distressing: purchase limits don’t bother me, personally, but for those who have experienced hunger, the supply chain issue can activate a sense of panic.”
Further, to experience this in the middle of almost 2 years of a global pandemic is more stress and for some, traumatic.
The importance of mental health acceptance. This blog post looks at the issues surrounding why mental health awareness is not enough on its own, as well as, reviewing the importance of mental health.
Dr. Michael Dadson discusses the issues surrounding men’s mental health in this video below.
Doctor Michael Dadson (Mike Dadson), graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology. Dr. Dadson’s Academic Profile can be found here.
Group-based experiential program that’s been operating for 18 years
Researched and developed through the University of British Columbia
First responders and veterans struggle to access mental health treatment
Barriers to treatment include: “many first responders are unable to access these treatments because the job that they do requires them to operate at such a high level of competency and high pressure that if they begin to crack, show weakness, or ask for help, they’re perceived as failing or being weak and unable to continue in their work”
Prominent Langley Clinical Counsellor, Dr. Michael Dadson, Says Relationships in Peril Over “Vaccination Debate” and Offers Techniques for Healing
Dr. Michael (Mike) Dadson, Ph.D. is a distinguished registered clinical counsellor in Langley, British Columbia.
Since early 2020, Dr. Mike Dadson has been outspoken regarding the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Dr. Mike Dadson:
“It is heart-breaking to see friendships, marriages, and all manner of family ties break down due to vaccination status and arguments about politics and science. In many cases, children and young people are in the middle of family disagreements, cut-off from family members due to vaccination status.”
Dr Dadson states, “Anxiety is a natural response to stress or repeated exposure stress or to a stressful incident.” Anxiety can also be accompanied by symptoms of depression or avoidance. Types of anxiety disorders include: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, and agoraphobia.
Rules for Addressing Issues and areas of concern:
Agree to follow healthy communication rules.
Allow each other to time-out if things get escalated or heated (remove yourself to allow for de-escalation, find other things to do, go for a walk-just get outside, engage in a physical chore), and come back later to the issue when you are ready.
Use and maintain a respectful tone.
No use of foul language.
No name calling.
Stay on track-do not enter into another area of conflict.
Dr. Michael Dadson (Mike Dadason) identifies Mental health supports available for former residential school students:
Toll free helpline1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information.
The Hope for Wellness Help Line is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week counselling and crisis intervention support. Call 1-855-242-3310 or follow this link for an online chat.
English and French counsellors are available, or upon request, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut, to help find other wellness supports in local communities.
Warrior Kids (on line Pod, cast), Truth and Reconciliation Day
The University of British Columbia has a depth of experts in various fields relating to Truth and Reconciliation. UBC states they are “committed to advancing Indigenous human rights through truth and reconciliation. The 2020 Indigenous Strategic Plan represents a university-wide response to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice.“
Prominent Langley Clinical Counsellor, Dr. Michael (Mike) Dadson, Says Diagnosis, Treatment of OCD Helps Canadians Live More Rewarding Lives
Dr. Michael (Mike) Dadson is a Canadian Certified Clinical Counsellor practising at the Gentle Currents Therapy and Neurofeedback clinic in Langley, British Columbia.
Dr. Dadson treats and diagnoses for the purposes of treatment a wide range of mental health issues, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and anxiety disorders. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is considered an anxiety disorder and is fairly common, negatively affecting the daily lives of thousands of Canadians. Compulsive behaviour may not meet all the criteria of OCD but can still be problematic for people causing destructive behaviour such as addictions, risky sextual behaviours, gambling problems and financial hardship. People need to know that these challenges can be effectively treated by a competent well-trained therapist.
According to Mike Dadson:
“OCD is one of the most difficult mental health issues that people can have. It is not only an inner state of mind, but it is associated with uncontrollable, repetitive actions that seriously detract from people’s quality of life.”
“Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions).”
The most common categories of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are:
Obsession with Contamination | Compulsive Cleaning
Most of us have seen the memes on social media with OCD jokes based on one misaligned tile, a small, annoying speck, a painting hung just slightly crookedly. These are all examples of Perfection or Organization-related OCD.
While most people have a natural love of symmetry, an OCD sufferer will spend inordinate amounts of time and energy in the alignment of objects, and go as far as to count grains of rice.
Most of us have seen the memes on social media with OCD jokes based on one misaligned tile, a small, annoying speck, a painting hung just slightly crookedly. These are all examples of Perfection or Organization-related OCD.
While most people have a natural love of symmetry, an OCD sufferer will spend inordinate amounts of time and energy in the alignment of objects, and go as far as to count grains of rice.
Many people with OCD are constantly disturbed by unwanted and sometimes immoral, “abhorrent” thoughts which they are unable to stop, causing them anxiety.
Symbolic, ritualistic, or religious actions may offer temporary relief from the anxiety, resulting in behaviours such as compulsive praying, mantras, or superstitious rituals.
3. Obsession with Doubt / Harm | Compulsive Checking:
People with this type of OCD have an overwhelming fear of making a mistake or causing some disaster and so are driven to compulsive checking.
An example of this type of OCD is people who compulsively check that the stove is off, or constantly worry that their door is not locked. They may unlock and re-lock the door a number of times before leaving their homes.
“Like a needle getting stuck on an old record, OCD causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought or urge. For example, you may check the stove 20 times to make sure it’s really turned off because you’re terrified of burning down your house, or wash your hands until they’re scrubbed raw for fear of germs. While you don’t derive any sense of pleasure from performing these repetitive behaviors, they may offer some passing relief for the anxiety generated by the obsessive thoughts.”.
Mike Dadson recommends self-inventory for anyone wondering if they should seek treatment for OCD:
“Many of us have mild, moderate and severe obsessions but these may not meet the full criteria of OCD. In order to know if you have a clinical case of OCD you need to seek out a certified, competent, well trained health care provider. If obsessive thoughts or behaviours have been complicating, hindering or harming your relationship with yourself and others, you will benefit from an honest, exhaustive self-inventory.
Ask yourself: ‘Are my rituals and compulsions elaborate and involved? What is the content of my anxieties? How “sticky” are my recurring thoughts? Is this affecting my ability to attain my full potential in life?”
Clinical Counselling with Dr. Mike Dadson:
In some ways, and for some people in Canada, life actually is becoming simpler. Many people are driving less, interacting with strangers less – in short, leaving their homes less.
For Canadians with OCD triggers such as locking doors or turning off the stove, their disorder may have become less of a problem due to Covid19 lockdowns, since restrictions have meant they are leaving their homes less often.
Others with different OCD triggers, such as fear of contamination and disease, daily life may have become more terrifying with the very real threat of a new virus impacting public health and taking lives. On the other hand, a trip to any local grocery store for most Canadians at this time involves many hygiene measures which, prior to 2020, would seem tailored to an OCD sufferer’s preferences.
Dr. Michael Dadson is committed to helping his OCD patients adapt to our “new normal,” as their challenges are specific to the condition and in many ways are unlike the (also very real) challenges faced by those who do not suffer with the condition.
Dr. Mike Dadson’s clinic Gentle Currents Counselling and Neurofeedback is currently open for in-person clinical counselling and Neurotherapy treatments. Secure online counselling sessions are also available by appointment in case you prefer to stay at home.
Dr. Michael Dadson (Mike Dadson) has been a BCACC member of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), since 2000.
Dr. Mike Dadson believes in being compassionately present with others and using fine tuned clinical skills helps create the space and place necessary for growth. Dr. Dadson states “I have a deep belief in humanity’s capacity to find real life resolutions to injuries and challenges”. Research has shown that this ability occurs when we have access to understanding, support, respect and skilled therapeutic interventions.
With the pandemic becoming a long haul issue in our day to day lives, the added stressors either at home with your relationship or children, friends, colleagues or any combination of these, brings a heightened need for empathy in the workplace.
Empathy Affects Positivity
There is a delicate balance in the workplace of various skills for leaders to inspire employees, support their happiness, and maximize engagement and employee performance. However, empathy now ranks at the top of leadership qualities. While we have known for many decades empathy is important in our lives and for those around us, new research demonstrates added benefits in the workplace. Research indicates empathy is also important for employee retention and innovation.
Michael Dadson 