Latino / Hispanic Cultures There is no doubt that Latinos are currently the fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States. According to the United States Census (2010), the estimated number of Latinos living in the United States is 50,477,594 or 16.3% of the total population. Most are of Mexican descent (approximately 31.8 million), followed […]
Author Archives: Carlos F Martinez
Is it difficult for your child to stay still?
Do you think your child acts without thinking? Does your son or daughter start doing something but does not finish it? Does your child have difficulty paying attention most of the time? If you answered yes to these questions, it is important that you know more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Many children […]
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Working with Limited English Proficient (LEP) Families
The following describes what I considered to be Best Practices when working with Non-English speaking clients or patients. Best Practices •Bilingual/Bicultural professionals •Frontline bilingual support staff •Double sided bilingual forms (Releases, patient’s rights, confidentiality, consent for services) •Bilingual materials in lobby •Building signage •Special aid to illiterate clients/patients •Negotiate alternative cultural treatments Practices Not Recommended […]
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Hatred is a Dangerous Feeling
I recently overheard a conversation in the street in which someone asked, “How can a person have so much hatred in the heart?” I reflected on this question for a few minutes and decided that I wanted to investigate this emotion a little more. This intense feeling of disgust can be directed towards various […]
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Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic personality is a psychological disorder that is characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-centeredness and self-concern. In general, the individual shows a pattern of grandiosity, an immense need for admiration, and has difficulty connecting emotionally with others. They expect recognition and power, and demand to be admired at all times. This disorder usually […]
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Inhalants and Teens
I was struck by a study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) that says more than 2 million adolescents over the age of 12 used inhalants in 2009. Approximately 8.1% of these youth were in eighth grade, 5.7% were in the tenth grade, and were 3.6% in the twelfth grade. Inhalants are […]
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Heroin
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), heroin is an illegal drug. Not only it is the most abused opioid, but heroin is extremely addictive. Heroin also poses special problems due to transmission of HIV and other diseases that can occur from sharing needles or other injection equipment. Heroin is processed from […]
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Finding Purpose in Life
There are over 450 schools of thought and psychological interventions available to help improve your emotional or psychological state. There are also a large number of therapeutic strategies that seek to alleviate mental illness or change the thinking of an individual who is struggling in life. Existentialism is among this large number of schools. […]
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Worried about your physical appearance?
Do you think your appearance is very unpleasant? Do you constantly feel you would like to change a part of your body? If you answered yes to these questions, you may want to learn more about body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD is a chronic mental illness in which the person believes that he/she has […]
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Pedophilia is a Mental Disorder
Sometimes in the news we hear about individuals, often men, looking for young boys or girls to molest. For every parent this creates anxiety and fear, and finding ways to protect children is essential. Hearing such stories often leads not only to fear, but questions. How could a person commit such acts against children? How […]