LT. DAN FESTIVAL

I have to admit I did not know what to expect from our visit to Charleston. I understood there would be a large number of handicapped veterans from all wars, and all wars were represented. I have not been involved with veterans groups because I don't care about old times and war stories. This was different. 

This was a time of hope and healing. I saw every conceivable wound - physical and emotional. No one acted disabled. Each vet lived as normal a life as possible within limitations.

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Gary Senise on bass

The people in charge treated them simply as special people. The weekend was a joy. Thanks to Jim Garth, the CEO, his wife Brenda, who planned and organized the event, to the staff and volunteers, and to Gary Senise for flying in from CA to play with the Lt. Dan Band.

These are real people doing a real job to help veterans. If you are looking for a good place to give a donation, these people spend 97 cents of each dollar directly on the veterans.

Computer Predicts Psychosis?

My sister sent me this article. Nothing could offer more conclusive proof that patterns are everywhere. If we can use algorithms to predict future psychosis, then the issues becomes how to treat it before it becomes manifest. For me, treating the life pattern is the answer. Study Shows Software Can Predict Psychosis Better Than Psychiatrists

MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN LIFE PATTERNS

William Glasser, the founder of Reality Therapy, said, "...we who practice Reality Therapy advocate dispensing with the common psychiatric labels, such as neurosis or psychosis, which tend to categorize and stereotype people; ... the label thereby serving to compound the problem."

I agree. While the diagnosis has value as an unhealthy pattern, it does little to help a person in therapy. In fact, as Dr. Glasser says it often gives the person a further excuse to avoid responsibility for their actions.

In Life Patterns, we find that the same pattern has healthy and unhealthy components. We work with the healthy side of the pattern, and, even though a disorder, which is an unordered, non-specific approach to problems exists, it is still a pattern. If it was not a pattern, no one could make it into a diagnosis.

The question is does the diagnosis help in psychotherapy, I don't think so. Knowing the pattern helps. If the client understands both the healthy and unhealthy aspects in the pattern, they can choose which side of the actions and thinking they want to use in life.