These statements may turn your child off from the idea of counseling all together. Telling them something is wrong, they need help or calling them names will likely lead to have negative feelings about counseling and closing off more.

Possible approaches “
Once you sit down with your family, you can have an open conversation about how everyone feels about doing a family activity that will help each person grow stronger as an individual and grow stronger as a family. Instead of telling your family members what is going to happen, ask open ended questions that allow them to voice their thoughts. Even if they don’t agree about counseling, there is at least the basis to say something like “well, I would like to try it and I’m hoping you’ll all help me because I think this is good for our family”. That approach will win you tons more support.

The post How to bring up counseling? appeared first on Onipa PCS formerly Onipa Psychological & Consulting Services.

ABPSi is now the most esteemed congregation of Black voices in psychology. Its 49^th annual convention was held in Houston, Texas on July 19, 2017. Here’s some highlights you should know about this transformative organization.

1.vAfrican American Psychologists Rebelled To Form ABPsi

The founding members of ABPSi  had grown disillusioned with the APA’s complicity with white racism. They founded the ABPSi to educate, organize, and deploy Black talent, something the APA feared to do.

2. ABPsi Wrote The Book on African-Centered Psychology

By 1974, ABPsi began publishing the Journal of Black Psychology and developing ideas that would reshape psychology. They developed the idea of Black/African Centered psychology, a a collection of “unifying African principles, values, and traditions” that “allow for the illumination and liberation of the Spirit”.

3. The National Association of Black Psychologists is Truly Africa-Centered

During the early 1990s, ABPSi  began a plan to “retrace the middle passage through Atlanta, South Carolina, and back through the door of no return in Ghana.” In 2000, the journey brought that year’s annual convention to Accra, the capital of Ghana. The journey was led by Dr. Mawiyah Kambon, who led over 500 ABPsi psychologists and their families on the unprecedented cultural pilgrimage.

The theme of the event was Sankofa: The Healers’ Journey. The pilgrimage is repeated each year, and is documented on the web blog www.sankofa.com.

4. ABPsi Has Already  Narrowing The Gap Between Black and White Psychologists

Early ABPsi leaders put incredible scrutiny and spotlight on APA practices. By 1969, many white psychologists were acknowledging that, “historically much of the activities of psychologists in the Black communities could be labeled racist or the misuse of knowledge and power.”

As the ABPsi’s independent activism exposed chinks in the APA’s armor, schools and institutions gradually succumbed to ABPsi recommendations for diversity and equity in admissions.

This Has Only Been the Beginning

By 2013, about 5.4 percent of the psychology workforce identified as Black. This over double the figure reported in 2005 (2.4%). The organization still has work to do, but momentum is now on the side of equity.

References

http://pzacad.pitzer.edu/~hfairchi/pdf/Blacks/WilliamsHistABPsi.pdf

http://www.abpsi.org/convention/

http://www.abpsi.org/pdf/AfricanCenteredPsychologydefinition.pdf

5.4 percent of the psychology workforce

The post Four Things You Didn’t Know About ABPsi That Will Blow Your Mind appeared first on Onipa PCS formerly Onipa Psychological & Consulting Services.

UNPRECEDENTED SELF-DETERMINIATION – In a revolutionary act of defiance and self-determination ABPsi was founded by a group of frustrated academics and professionals who abhorred the institutionalized racism undergirding some of the therories propogated by the Americaltheir anger and tranformed it into scholarly brilliance. – because the American Psychological Association can’t and doesn’t address the holistic cultural spiritual psychological needs that black people in America have. Founders Wade Nobles.

2. In the year 2000, dr. Mawiyah Kambon as president, took 500 black psychologists and their families to Ghana West Africa for the annual conference in an unprecedented culturally and spiritually grounding experience where these practitioners went back to the origin of….slave dungeons in order to bring you as a black person from the diaspora through…. trained in ways to understand the black experience in a way no other professional Organization ever has. Today Dr. Kam

3. Other facts you may find on your own Dr. Asa Hilliard, Jawanza kunjufu, Dr. Francis cress welsing and living legends like ________________, Influences on millions of Black people,

4. We charge genocide

The post Black Professionals Redefining comm appeared first on Onipa PCS formerly Onipa Psychological & Consulting Services.

What is the cause?

Taking a broader perspective into this issue, we find that injustices to blacks are not a recent occurrence. These people have been systematically subjected to adversity right from historic times. Remember the days of slavery when blacks worked in the cotton fields and sugarcane plantations. They were literally the property of their colonial masters who could use them as they please. Long after slavery was abolished, the black community still faced exclusion from proper education, housing, health-care and socioeconomic empowerment.

With such kind of marginalization it is rather obvious that the socioeconomic status of the community will plummet. Poverty comes with many social ills such as crime and drug abuse and increased rates of incarceration. All these exacerbate mental problems such as depression, schizophrenia, OCD and bipolar disorder. Racism, both historic and current also lead to stigmatization and a distorted self-image among blacks. Legal discrimination causes mistrust and hostility towards authorities.

Consequences and mitigation measures

If unchecked mental illness can have adverse consequences both for the individual and the community. Mental illness caused by drug abuse destroys the lives of thousands of people rendering them incapable of participating in any beneficial economic activity. They hence become a burden to family and society. Problems such as violence, rape, homicide and murder tend to increase with mental illness. Depression leads to suicide and other forms of self-harm.

However, all hope is not lost. With the correct social systems and avenues, many can get help on how to cope with the condition and the daily stresses of life. First and foremost we need to create more awareness about mental health among the black community. Poor blacks lack access to proper medical care and services. So many keep suffering because they lack the knowledge. Onipa psychological and consulting services is very instrumental in reaching out to victims of psychological disorders. You can access their website and gain more information on obtaining proper counseling and medication.

In case you have an issue, do not keep it to yourself and suffer in silence. Speak out and seek assistance. Community health centers will be very much willing to offer support and medication. While on this do not forget to involve your family. These are our closest people and informing them about the issue will strengthen your bonds and they will give support and cooperation. Once you make others aware of your condition, your are likely to come across others with similar issues. This will give you an opportunity to form support groups where you will assist each other in mitigating your psychological health issues.

As they say, no man is an island and just as iron sharpens iron humans improve each other. We are social beings and isolation will only enhance our underlying psychological problems. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain strong and health connections with family and friends. Always keep in touch and get involved in positive activities. These might include community service, sports, joining book clubs and etc. You can also read books and join self-improvement classes to build your confidence and self-esteem. Everything in life starts with confidence and believing in yourself. A positive mindset goes a long way in creating a positive life.

The post Am I going crazy appeared first on Onipa PCS formerly Onipa Psychological & Consulting Services.