Conduct Disorder (CD) is a childhood or adolescence psychiatric disorder that presents as a repetitive and persistent pattern of behaviour which involves the violation of others’ basic rights or anti-social behaviours (American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5). The primary diagnostic features of CD include aggression, theft, vandalism, violation of rules, and lying. While most youth exhibit instances…
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Often when people think of getting older they envision a wonderful retirement which involves giving up the day-to-day grind and work stress, having more time and energy to do the things they want to do, and having financial freedom. However, for many people, getting older is not a dream. Instead, it is a significantly…
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex, lifelong, developmental brain disorder. ASD can present with a wide variety of mild to severe combinations of symptoms and characteristics. The disorder often involves impairments in social interaction, communication, and language, and the engagement in restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviours and activities. Individuals with ASD may…
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Adjusting to a new culture, whether it be from relocating to a new country or a new part of your home country, can bring upon stress that is difficult to manage. Everyone experiences varying levels of stress related to work, family, finances, and health. In some cases, these stresses can lead to symptoms of depression…
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Forensic psychologists are often called upon to conduct a risk (or threat) assessment to predict the likelihood that an individual might act violently in the future. Often these assessments are conducted on individuals that are involved in the legal, justice, or correctional systems. They are also conducted on individuals that may pose a risk or…
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Caution: This blog contains some graphic details which may not be suitable for children or individuals suffering from related post-traumatic stress. Names and details are modified to protect the confidentiality of clients. I have had the pleasure and honour of working with first responders including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and police services members, firefighters,…
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Have you ever felt like you were not living the life you were supposed to live? Do you constantly feel like you are chasing after something more meaningful in life? The challenge of living a life that you do not feel connected to is that it brings with it discontent and distress. Imagine being a…
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Imagine that you are in the process of unwinding at the end of a long day. Suddenly, your child who went to bed two hours ago lets out a blood curdling scream. You rush to your child’s room thinking the worst. When you open the door, you find your child thrashing around, eye’s wide open…
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The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) uses psychological tests, assessment tools, and actuarial tests to assess the risk of criminal recidivism and psychopathy in inmates. The outcomes of these assessments inform an inmate’s security classification, transfer eligibility, parole eligibility, and pre-release decisions. Mr. Ewert, a 53-year-old Métis offender serving two life sentences in federal prison,…
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Risk taking is often viewed in a negative light. The concept evokes images of individuals engaged in reckless behaviours (e.g., car racing, skydiving, drug use) that have a high probability of negative consequences to the risk-taker’s health or life. Much of the research into risk taking has aligned with this negative stereotype, emphasizing adverse outcomes…
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Vigilantism refers to a non-law enforcement individual, group, or organization attempting to effect justice according to a perceived sense of right and wrong. Vigilante activities are often seen as taking the law into one’s own hands. These activities are motivated by individuals who organize themselves to protect a common interest such as freedom, property, or…
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Clinical psychologists have professional training and clinical skills to work directly with people experiencing mental health difficulties. They help people learn to cope more effectively with life issues or to address challenges such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, eating disorders, learning problems, gender identity issues, substance abuse, parenting issues, or pain management, to name a…
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Living together before marriage has become more acceptable and prevalent in North American society. Partners are often motivated to live together by love, sex, finances, testing the longevity of the relationship, or some combination. While there can be an indescribable feeling of joy, excitement, and exhilaration, the experience of sharing a life with someone else…
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In part 3, the typical symptoms of childhood anxiety and the questions parents should ask to determine if their child may need professional assistance are highlighted.
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There is evidence of significant mental health needs in female sexual offenders, as well as histories of physical and sexual victimization and drug and alcohol abuse.
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In part 2, the topic of childhood anxiety is continued with a description of the common categories of childhood anxiety.
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Characteristically, female sexual offenders are often between the ages of 20 and 40, Caucasian, single, socially isolated, of low socio-economic status, and often experience emotional and substance abuse problems.
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Recently, media has raised awareness of female sexual offenders. The reporting and conviction of female sexual offenders tends to be rare compared to male sexual offenders.
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I originally titled this blog, “Am I a Narcissist?” but I changed the title when I considered the fact that narcissism falls into the spectrum of disordered personalities.
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What parent enjoys seeing their child being worried, nervous, or fearful about the world around them? Childhood anxiety is one the most common concerns raised by parents when they bring their child in for therapy.
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