Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Dr. Gary Zomalt: How to deal with passive aggressive people

This newest blog on Dr. Gary Zomalt aims to educate readers about the different indications of passive aggressive personality, how it is developed in other people, and how we can help them.

Dr. Gary Zomalt. Image Credit: flickr.com/photos/Aya


At one time or another you may have encountered people who exhibit a pessimistic attitude towards life and often express annoyance and displeasure through their actions. If so, it is important to understand that some of these people may be suffering from having a passive aggressive behavior. Thus, we need to understand them and help them.

Passive aggressive people often think that other people are treating them unjustly and feel that they are being oppressed. Thus, they often indulge in fights with other people, even those whom they have a special relationship with.

Dr. Gary Zomalt. Image Credit: flickr.com/photos/Linda Templeman


“Dr. Gary Zomalt is the owner of 3R Counseling & Consulting, a clinic that offers psychotherapy and addiction services, training, program development, and quality management.”

They are also hesitant to take responsibilities, afraid of taking accountability of their mistakes. In effect, they tend to take control of other people, so that they can have someone to do certain tasks for them.

To help passive aggressive people, it is first important to understand that passive aggressive traits are caused by different factors. For some, they are caused by a feeling of unacceptance.

Most psychologists suggest avoiding argument with such people and giving them the opportunity to make decisions and plans for themselves as ways to avoid agitating them. Although you can present them some options, it is better to let them choose on their own; they should be given all the possible opportunities to live a free life, as per their definition of freedom.

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Dr. Gary Zomalt and psychotherapy: Recovering from depression

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S. The National Institute of Mental Health says that approximately 6.7% of the adult population suffer from depression in a 12-month period. This Gary Zomalt blog sheds light on how psychotherapy helps in alleviating symptoms associated with this inimical mental state.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: flickr.com


Depression is an actual mental disorder that some people fail to immediately recognize; others even ignore it and choose not to seek professional help, thinking that the negative thoughts and feelings will just “go away.” Depression can result to a series of relationship conflicts, family problems, and work productivity issues. It should be noted though that depression is highly treatable if the patient gets competent care and treatment. It is also important that people seek help from a licensed mental health professional if they suspect a family member of having depression. People suffering from depression, when left untreated, can also negatively affect those around them.

Dr. Gary Zomalt created and managed major service programs to improve community health and well-being.

Furthermore, depressed individuals who don’t receive professional care hold on to feelings and emotions that remain repressed. This leads to a sense of isolation, aggravating depression. Depression therapy can help patients, allowing them to benefit from the following:

• Depressed individuals may acquire distorted thinking patterns. Therapy helps identify those patterns and aids in nurturing a more positive view on life.


Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: teachers.net


• There are contributing factors, such as common everyday situations, that lead to depression. Therapists understand how these circumstances can affect a patient, and come up with positive steps for improvement.


Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: potomacpsychiatry.com


• Psychotherapy for depression assists sufferers in reclaiming a sense of happiness and control over their lives. This allows them to slowly integrate productive and enjoyable activities back into their daily living.


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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Psychotheraphy as a vessel of various thoughts

Gary Zomalt From www.flickr.com

Mental health specialist Gary Zomalt looks at psychotherapy as an “insightful” conversation between two people — where one person predominantly talks and the other predominantly listens. The process aims to foster helpful insights from the problems and issues confronting the “challenged” party. However, insight alone is not enough. The crucial part of the process is for the patient to retain the insight and incorporate it into his or her life in meaningful ways.

Gary Zomalt From eliminatingstress.org

Creating meaning. When struck by problems, people normally search for the meaning of their suffering. Psychotherapy also behaves that way in that it uncovers meanings of a certain point, event, or condition. A good therapist will gently challenge patients to examine inconsistencies in their perceptions and beliefs about themselves and their interactions with others.

Recognizing patterns. Part of what Dr. Gary Zomalt does as a psychotherapist is to help patients become more aware of the patterns and behaviors that make up their entire thinking process. Psychotherapy is a means to discover the many possible sources that contribute to the development of certain behaviors. Through patterns, people are able to solve problems more quickly and diversify their perspectives more easily.

Gary Zomalt From Smart Recovery

Forming solutions out of the problems. Sometimes, the solution for a particular problem is represented in the problem itself. However, they are solutions that have stopped working, and in some cases have produced new problems. Psychotherapy is a great tool to help people not get stuck in a cycle of the same wrong solutions to their dilemmas.

For more information on Dr. Gary Zomalt and his therapy sessions, visit his Facebook page.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Dr. Gary Zomalt: The development of "psychotherapy apps" for smartphones

Researchers are developing smartphone apps that can take the role of psychotherapists. The question is: will these apps be effective? Read this Gary Zomalt blog to learn more.

The past decades saw how technology has constantly expanded. Now, this expansion is attempting to change people’s perception on the psychotherapy realm, through smartphone therapy apps that—if successful—could ease common mental problems like anxiety, depression, and even alcoholism.

Gary Zomalt Photo credit: http.cdnlayer.com

In previous years, researchers have been testing video-game-like programs that can supposedly alter people’s emotional and mental habits, just like what a psychotherapist can do. An example of a “psychotherapy app” that scholars and academics are developing is the one that utilizes the cognitive-bias modification approach, or CBM.

3R Counseling and Consulting is an institution based in Fresno, California that helps patients cope with mental problems such as addiction. It was founded by Dr. Gary Zomalt, an expert psychotherapist.

Gary Zomalt Photo credit: theamazingworldofpsychiatry.files.wordpress.com

The CBM approach seeks to break some of the brain’s bad habits, which are the roots of most mental conditions. For example, in the case of people with social anxiety disorder, their minds are subconsciously programmed to only focus on threatening faces among many others—like mechanically spotting a rotten apple in a basket full of fresh ones. This pattern causes them to easily become intimidated, resulting to high levels of anxiety.

Gary Zomalt Photo credit: newsatjama.files.wordpress.com

In the app that features CBM, users with social anxiety disorder are shown two faces, one with a neutral expression and another one that looks hostile. The app then will put much activity—like random numbers that pop out—around the neutral face, forcing smartphone owners to focus on the head with a blank expression, rather than the aggressive one. If done repetitively, the exercise can train the eyes to automatically look away from hostile faces, lessening the anxiety individuals feel around other people.

The so-called “psychotherapy apps” are still in their infancy stage. But no one can deny how big their potential is, which is basically grounded on one idea—to provide psychological help that’s accessible to anyone at any time and in any place.

Learn more about Dr. Gary Zomalt by checking out his Twitter page.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Joining NASW's mission

Dr. Gary Zomalt seeks to be instrumental in transforming the lives of communities, families, and individuals. His track record reveals that he did just that, having served as head of several social welfare institutions aside from practicing psychotherapy. A clear mark of Dr. Zomalt’s dedication to social work is his membership with NASW, where he joins other social workers in the country in serving their respective communities.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Judykopmanfried.com

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers worldwide. It currently has over 145,000 members across 56 chapters—a chapter for every state in mainland United States. It has additional chapters in five select cities and one international office. Dr. Gary Zomalt is a member of NASW California.

One of the association’s main goals is enhancing its members’ professional growth and development by providing up to date information and research, advocacy, and other resources. It also offers publications, discounts to certain products and services, and continuing education to its members. It creates and maintains professional standards of social work and promotes policies meant for the benefit of the community.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Teachers.net

The NASW’s goal of enriching social work comes a long way in helping communities. It offers more opportunities for social workers, and sets the profession in a new light. In a world in need of more individuals with concern for others, NSAW’s programs serve as an invitation for more people to take up the mantle of service to the community.

From Gary Zomalt

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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Helping people with disabilities: Dr. Gary Zomalt and the science of rehabilitation counseling

Dary Zomalt Photo Credit: DARA - Drug & Alcohol Rehab Asia


Rehabilitation counseling is a psychotherapeutic process designed to help people with physical, sensory, cognitive, or developmental disabilities achieve their personal goals. Rehabilitation counselors and psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt are often found in private practice, in rehabilitation facilities, universities, government offices, corporate headquarters, and other organizations where people are being treated for congenital or acquired disabilities with the aim of helping them go to or get back to work.


In the United States, rehabilitation professionals were initially recruited from a variety of social service disciplines, including public health nursing, social work, and school counseling. Although the emergence of educational programs began in the 1940s, it was not until the accessibility of federal funding for rehabilitation counseling projects in 1954 that the profession began to grow, establish a unique identity, and create its own niche in the medical world.


Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Matthew Wild

Before, rehabilitation counselors and special-case psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt exclusively served working-age adults with physical impairments. Today, the need for rehabilitation counseling services has extended to persons of all age groups suffering from a range of disabilities. Rehabilitation counselors may also provide general and specialized counseling to people with disabilities in public social service programs and private practice settings.


According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 129,500 professionals working in the field of rehabilitation counseling in 2008. The number was expected to grow by 19 percent annually, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Many of these rehabilitation counselors are self-employed and work in group practices or private practice, primarily due to laws allowing them to be paid for their services by insurance companies and to the increasing recognition that counselors are well-trained, reliable, and effective practitioners.


From Gary Zomalt
For more updates about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his psychotherapy sessions, visit his Facebook page.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Guidelines before seeking therapy

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: chalwiz


According to mental health physicians like Dr. Gary Zomalt, therapy works best when patients attend all of their scheduled appointments. The effectiveness of therapy depends on their active participation as it requires time, effort, and regularity. As patients begin therapy, some goals have to be established with their therapist. They are also encouraged to periodically review their progress with their mental health physician.

The following are basic guidelines on how patients could get started with therapy:

Identify sources of stress
Keeping a journal that records both stressful and positive events can be very helpful in identifying key areas to work on.

Restructure priorities
Emphasizing positive and effective behavior has to be the utmost concern of patients. Downbeat attitudes do not help in developing an esteemed personality.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Ahmed Al Akel (AL H A I T H A M)

Make time for recreational and pleasurable activities
Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt agree that recreational activities are some of the most effective outlets people may seek to release their emotional distress. Engaging in these activities before therapy starts will help them recover sooner.

Communicate
Explaining and asserting people’s needs to someone they trust is a crucial means toward developing self-respect and reliance to others.

Try to focus on positive outcomes
Finding methods to manage and reduce stress is by far the most important feat people may attain. Disregarding stressful events or thoughts will help them cope with adversities a lot more easily.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Linda Templeman

For more updates about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his psychotherapy sessions, visit his Facebook page.