Dr. Gary McClain of JustGotDiagnosed.com Addresses Association for Adult Development and Aging
New York, NY (PRWEB) July 30, 2013 -- Dr. Gary McClain addressed the national summer meeting of the Association for Adult Development and Aging in New York City on July 18, 2013. A specialist in the emotional impact of chronic and catastrophic illnesses, Gary McClain, PhD, developed JustGotDiagnosed.com to address a serious need he saw going unfulfilled; namely, a way for newly-diagnosed patients to receive help in coping with their emotional reactions to their diagnosis. Dr. McClain also blogs on the patient social networking site, AllianceHealth.com.
The title of Dr. McClain’s presentation was “The Journey of Illness: An Adult Development Perspective.” It was essentially a workshop for counselors and other mental health professionals to help them to understand how newly-diagnosed patients are reacting emotionally and how to help them to harness both emotional and rational strengths as they communicate with healthcare professionals, gather information, evaluate treatment options, make informed treatment decisions, and manage their condition.
In discussing his presentation, Dr. McClain emphasized that “Every day, millions of people go to their doctors where they are given a diagnosis they either didn’t expect or dreaded. And after they hear it, they are left with their own conflicting, and crippling, emotions and asked to make life-changing healthcare decisions, often under time pressure. Left unrecognized, patients are at risk in terms of treatment outcomes, satisfaction with the chosen treatment, ongoing compliance with diet and lifestyle adjustments, quality of life... all of which affects virtually all professionals with whom patients come into contact, as well as their family members.”
Topics included:
1. The role of illness in the process of adult development
2. How a medical diagnosis can result in a developmental crisis or be perceived as an unwelcome but expected milestone
3. The emotional reactions to a medical diagnosis of a chronic or catastrophic condition
4. How emotions affect ability to make ongoing treatment and lifestyle management decisions
5. The impact of medical diagnosis on self-image from a developmental perspective
6. Relationship issues that emerge from a medical diagnosis, from both the client’s and the caregiver’s perspectives, and helping family members cope with illness
7. The role of the counselor in supporting clients who are facing a medical diagnosis
8. The importance of helping clients to develop a realistic vision for the future, from a developmental perspective
“How an individual reacts to a medical diagnosis,” Dr. McClain concluded, “is the result of numerous factors – past experience, emotional resilience, family support… and developmental stage. Age and stage of life are critical factors in understanding not only how clients are reacting, but also their perceptions of their options, the ways in which they may interact with the healthcare system, their support network, and their vision for the future”
About Dr. Gary McClain and JustGotDiagnosed.com
Dr. Gary McClain is a therapist, educator, patient advocate and author who specializes in working with individuals who have been diagnosed with chronic and catastrophic medical conditions, focusing on issues that include coping emotionally, gathering information, making lifestyle and treatment decisions, managing relationships, and communicating with healthcare professionals. As "Dr. Gary," he blogs on patient social networking boards on AllianceHealth.com. Founded and developed by Dr. McClain, JustGotDiagnosed.com offers information, guidance and inspiration for newly diagnosed patients, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals. His program for newly-diagnosed patients, Prepared for the Road Ahead ™, is focused on emotions, lifestyle management, communications, and vision for the future. Visit JustGotDiagnosed.com.
The Association for Adult Development and Aging is a division of the American Counseling Association.
Gary McClain, PhD, Just Got Diagnosed, http://www.JustGotDiagnosed.com, 212 227 0515, [email protected]
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