In Language, Two is Better than One

Visit our Website Past Newsletters In Language, Two is Better than One October 18, 2011   My parents didn’t teach me a second language as a child, although I hear that if they had I would have learned it much quicker than I did in high school Spanish class. I loathed Spanish class. I could memorize the meaning of any word but if you asked me to make a sentence out of that word, forget it. It could have been because it was always the first class of the day or because I sat at a table with the cutest boy in school. My Dad forced me to take the class. He said I wouldn’t get into college without two years of Spanish. I thought it was a scare tactic, much like; “If you don’t drink your milk you won’t be strong.” I know parents often use exaggerated statements to influence us to do what they want us to do. Nonetheless, I begrudgingly sat in Spanish class for two years. As soon as I started my application to college I learned my Dad was right. I did need two years of a foreign language to meet the admission qualifications. Structuring a sentence in Spanish is still a struggle for me, but knowing just the meaning of certain words has provided enough knowledge to understand other languages with similar origins. Nothing but positive can come from exploring another culture and committing to learn the language. I just wish I would have learned it at an age when I wasn’t so easily distracted by my crush in Spanish class. Read more on this topic here… Britney Kirsch Account Manager

Gen Y’ers – More Education & More Opportunities?

Whether you call us Generation Y, Millennials, Net Gen, or Echo Boomers we are a different generation by definition. We account for 20% of the United States’ population and have a lot to offer the workforce. We are independent, tolerant, and optimistic about the future. We grew up with parents who were actively involved in our upbringing, gave us a sense of empowerment, and made us feel that we could accomplish anything that we put our minds to. We are expressive, quick and active learners, skilled multitaskers, tolerant of others’ differences, and grew up seeing huge strides in technology.  Last but not least, we are the most educated generation yet (NAS, 2006)!

As a member of the Generation Y group, it is interesting to open up my HR magazines and e-mails and read articles about generational differences in education and employment. Generation Y is often criticized because they expect instant gratification and feel entitled to have a job upon graduating from college. Consider these facts about Generation Y (NAS, 2006):

• It’s not just the wealthy Gen Y’s that go to college anymore, it’s the norm!
• 64 percent of women and 60 percent of men are attending college after high school
• Asian women account for the highest educated group of the Generation Y’s
• Greater college attendance rates have created more competition for Generation Y’s – in fact, the bachelor’s degree has become the minimum requirement for most positions
• 16 percent of Generation Y’s attend graduate school and feel that they need to in order to attain their desired position.
• Nearly 54 percent of Generation Y’s move home upon graduating from college
• The average salary for Generation Y upon graduating from college is $39,500

As you might see from the above statistics, Generation Y has a lot of pressure to attain a higher education and maintain that competitive edge. Just recently, I was discussing education with my aunt who is of the Baby Boomer Generation; she recalled the bachelor’s degree being the key to a successful future. Upon graduating from college she was able to quickly secure a position with a competitive salary and benefits, and saw no point whatsoever in attending graduate school. She reflected on her industry as it stands now. Apparently, there are two ways to be a competitive candidate in her industry:

• You either have a lot of experience 15+ years
• You have a master’s degree

Based on these points, Generation Y would be of the group who would likely need a master’s degree to enter the industry.

No doubt, education has shifted the desired characteristics of the workforce.  Whether we need a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, this certification or that license, Generation Y is tackling it head-on and maintaining a positive attitude along the way.  We love to learn, are career-minded, and want to make a contribution in what we do!

Daniél C. Kimlinger, MHA, PHR
Human Resources

NAS (2006). Generation Y: The Millennials – Ready or Not, Here They Come. Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/2607132/GENERATION-Y-THE-MILLENNIALS

Celebrities and Mental Health

We are all too aware of the negative stigma attached to mental illness.  Often times families from all walks of life limit their access to treatment because of the fears associated with revealing behavioral health conditions.  So its no wonder that even celebrities’ ailments go untreated or are kept private from those close to them – let alone the rest of the world.  It takes great courage to speak out about mental illness and for the stars this is no different.

You might have noticed that from time to time some stars have found the courage to speak out and have used their celebrity in a positive way to bring attention to often times debilitating diseases.  Whether a celebrity has been treated themselves or have seen the effects of a mental illness in a friend of family member, the attention they can bring to a negatively stigmatized social concern is powerful.   Most recently we’ve seen Catherine Zeta-Jones come foward about her battle with bipolar disorder after it was leaked to the media.  The attention this fostered was breathtaking.  It’s easy for us to put stars on a pedestal and view them as perfect beings, when in fact, they are human just the same.  Even David Beckham, the english soccer phenom, has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.  The list goes on and on.

So next time we demonize those suffering with mental illness let’s remember that being mentally well is as equal a struggle as being physically well no matter if we are celebrities of not.

Here is a link to a recent article on the topic:

http://specials.msn.com/A-List/Entertainment/Stars-with-mental-illnesses.aspx?cp-documentid=28644744&imageindex=1&gt1=36010

Ian Holtz
Manager, Business Development

Worry Free Finances

“If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.“
- Benjamin Franklin

This is the time of year when many people resolve to turn over a “new leaf” and make important changes in their lives.  For a lot of us, that includes changing the way we manage our money.  With the over-spending that tends to occur around the holidays, it’s easy to decide to make a budget – but the hard part is sticking to it.  Below are some online tools to help you do just that.

www.mint.com

www.kiplinger.com/tools/budget

www.mvelopes.com

www.budgettracker.com

If you feel like you would benefit from more personalized help getting started, you may consider checking with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org ) for accredited financial consultants in your area.

Happy New Year!

~The HealthPsych Team

Psychology of Performance – 20 – Early Attachment and Adult Performance Implications

Our early attachments to our primary caregivers may have significant implications for our ability to perform throughout our lives. The good news is that there are mindfulness techniques that can help integrate the information and energy associated with the various attachment categories so that as adults our performance does not have to be limited by the early learning associated with these attachments.

Siegel &  Hartzell, M.Ed., (2003, p.102-112) in their book, Parenting from the Inside Out, describe four patterns of attachment derived from the work of researchers such as Mary Ainsworth, Mary Main, and Erik Hesse, among others. As infants we most likely have one of the following patterns (which can vary by caregiver): Secure, Insecure-Avoidant, Insecure-Anxious/Ambivalent, or Insecure-Disorganized.

Secure attachments are described as having a parental interactive pattern characterized by the parent being emotionally available, perceptive, and responsive. The child sees the parent as being a source of comfort during times of distress, a safe haven, being available, and a secure base. This creates a sense of well being from which the child can go into the world to “explore and make new connections with others” (p.104).

Insecure-Avoidant patterns are associated with parents who are emotionally unavailable, imperceptive, unresponsive, and rejecting. These children avoid closeness and emotional connections to the parent (p.104).

Insecure-Ambivalent patterns are described as having parents who are inconsistently available, perceptive, and responsive and intrusive. The child cannot depend on the parent for attunement and connection. The child develops a sense of anxiety and uncertainty about whether they can depend on their parents (p.105).

Insecure-Disorganization patterns are created by parents who are frightening, frightened, chaotic, disorienting, and alarming to the child. This pattern is often associated with abuse. This creates a situation in which abuse is incompatible with a sense of security. The child develops coping responses that lead to difficulties in regulating emotions, trouble in social communication, difficulties with academic reasoning tasks, a tendency toward interpersonal violence, and a predisposition to dissociation – a process in which normally integrated cognition becomes fragmented (p. 106).

The good news is that for those with insecure attachments there are mindfulness techniques described in Siegel’s book, Mindsight, that can help the individual integrate the insecure attachment memories, patterns, and information in a manner that frees them up from “automatically or habitually” engaging in the pattern in their adult relationships.

The implications of early attachment for the psychology of performance are significant. Secure attachments allow for a base of security which in adulthood can manifest in collaborative interactions in the business environment, for example. The social psychology of group performance is enhanced when members can communicate directly and problem solve from a position of trust. Contrast this with an avoidant attachment pattern in which a team member has a fundamental approach to relationships that is one of distrust and self-reliance. This team member is there in name only and will be perceived as not cooperating, being a maverick, and “not playing well in the sand box.” The anxious attachment style may show up as an accommodating or pleasing style. This person sacrifices their own opinions so as to fit in, may frequently be checking in with the “boss” for approval and reassurance. The group loses this person’s gifts as the person may give in rather than be proactive on a decision point. The disorganized attachment style may contribute to significant disruption in a work group or team’s performance because the person will become overwhelmed during a conflict with either a chaotic or rigid response, either of which can disrupt the flow of energy and information needed for higher performance.

The culture of an organization often is set by the leader of the organization. Part of the definition of culture is the shared set of assumptions as to how we do business. From this, it is possible to see how the impact of the leader’s attachment could influence the culture of the organization. For example, if the leader has an anxious attachment, the organization may have a strong press to accommodate customers, resulting in a high emphasis on customer service which could range from being useful to problematic if taken to a dysfunctional level.

Have a day filled with mindful integration,

Robert A. Mines, Ph.D.
CEO & Psychologist

Keeping an Attitude of Gratitude During the Holidays

Keeping an Attitude of Gratitude During the Holidays

It’s holiday time. This means family, friends, food, and fun. It also means unpredictability and a break in our routines which can lead to stress. It is easy to get so caught up in the details of the holidays. Will my sister like the gift I got her? Will the company get along? Is the ham overdone? It is also a time when ongoing stressors in our lives can feel magnified. We might worry if we can afford to give our children the gifts we want, family conflict can feel unavoidable, or it may feel like everyone else is celebrating while we feel more and more isolated or alone. Whatever the reasons might be, the holidays are not always the perfect celebration we sometimes expect. So how can we cope?

Last year my mother-in-law introduced a concept to our family that shone a new light on the season: The Gratitude Jar. Every family member was given a piece of paper to write down one thing they were grateful for in the previous year. We all had to share out loud what we were grateful for before putting it in the jar. Throughout the holiday, the jar was a reminder of all of the things we had to appreciate.

Practicing gratitude can be a simple and easy way to shift your thinking and reduce stress during the holiday season. Research has consistently shown that practicing gratitude can have many stress reducing effects (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/16/AR2007111601699.html).

Although the Gratitude Jar can be a great activity to share with family and friends, there are many ways you can practice gratitude to make the holidays more enjoyable:

• Make a short list of 3 things you are happy about in your life. Keep the list in your pocket and read it over whenever you are feeling overwhelmed.
• Write a letter to someone who is important in your life expressing your appreciation
• Volunteer. Spending time with others in need can remind you to appreciate the aspects of our lives we take for granted.

I want to wish you all a happy and healthy holiday and best wishes for the new year!

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward

~The HealthPsych Team

10 Challenges for your New Year

How to make 2011 a successful year for you and your employees

Dr. David Javitch wrote a wonderful article published at Entrepreneur.com that I would like to share.  As resolutions/goals are a popular topic at years end, his highlights can give a a great foundation for setting goals relative to your employees.

For example, he mentions that cross training employees can help motivate them and allow them to assist collegues in completing new tasks.  Their value and and responsibility will naturally increase while motivating them.

You can find the entire article and the other tips here.

Posted by Ian Holtz, Manager at MINES and Associates.

Psychology of Performance – 18

Gina Kolata wrote an outstanding article in the New York Times on the psychological and behavioral aspects of the psychology of performance that I want to pass on to you. She has a number of points that are useful in business as well as personally.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/health/nutrition/19best.html?_r=2&th=&emc

Have a day filled with equanimity

Robert A. Mines, Ph.D.

CEO and Psychologist

The Sandwich Generation

The Sandwich Generation

As our parents age and children fill our lives, many of us find that we’re being pulled to the breaking point by life’s responsibilities.  How can we manage all the aspects of life that demand our attention?  Below you will find an article on the Sandwich Generation from www.CNNMoney.com as well as helpful resources for dealing with the demands of care-taking.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/20/magazines/moneymag/tug_of_war.moneymag/index.htm

The HealthPsych Team

Budgeting for the 2nd Half of the Year

The Back to School shopping season has come and as we scramble to get school supplies and clothing for the kids, we suddenly realize that summer is almost over. Many of us get a little blue over that feeling that the “fun in the sun” has ended. As fall comes, we also typically take another look at our personal finances AFTER the summer of fun and try and get back on course. Sure, some anxiety pops up as we look at the vacation expenses and realize we went over budget. But, with a well-thought-out, written budget, we can get back on track quickly.

Did you realize that many company EAPs (Employee Assistant Programs) have financial services as a benefit? MINES and Associates offers its’ clients financial assistance as a session. So if you have a robust EAP, you could talk to a financial advisor to review your current budgeting strategy. As noted, fall is a great time to take another look at where you have been and where you want to go. Reviewing all aspects of your family finances with particular emphasis on budgeting will help you map out your plan and then keep with it.

In this challenging economy that we are living in today; it is nice to know that there are “free” ways to get some financial advice. Check with your employee benefits department to see if your EAP provides financial advice. If not, mention to your manager that you would like them to consider using MINES & Associates EAP.

Happy fall!

Allan Benson