Dealing with Stonewalling in a Marriage

Licensed therapist and Orange County reserve deputy Jorge Galindo possesses more than 20 years of experience working with clients in residential and outpatient settings. Jorge Galindo has run a private practice alongside his spouse, Miriam Galindo, Psy.D., since 2000, where he conducts individual and marriage counseling sessions.

Poor communication is one of the leading causes of divorce. Couples with unhealthy communication tactics such as stonewalling can establish negative patterns that eventually erode trust and intimacy. Stonewalling refers to the refusal to engage in conversation about certain topics by walking away or shutting down.

While stonewalling can occur in reaction to a long history of relationship conflict, many people use stonewalling as a defense mechanism to avoid emotional pain. Counseling can bring insight into the reasons why a partner shuts down. It may be an outdated coping skill learned in childhood, or a reaction to fear. Once the reasons for the stonewalling have been identified, partners can then learn more respectful communication strategies to rebuild their relationships.

The Behavioral Approach System for Bipolar Spectrum Disorder

 

Therapeutic Treatment Services for Perpetrators of Domestic Violence

 

Jorge Galindo pic

Jorge Galindo
Image: galindopsychology.com

Irvine, California-based counselor Dr. Jorge Galindo runs a private clinical practice with his wife, Miriam Galindo, Psy.D. Dr. Jorge Galindo, a licensed family therapist and Certified Domestic Violence Provider, handles court-referred cases involving intimate partner violence.

As an alternative to incarceration, many courts and law enforcement departments refer male and female perpetrators of domestic violence to treatment and diversion programs. The goal of these programs is to lower the likelihood of reoffending by addressing the underlying psychological causes of violent and aggressive behavior.

Many of these diversion programs take place in a group therapy setting. During the program, past offenders examine their views on domestic conflicts and gender roles and learn to take responsibility for their reactions and actions. Some intervention programs also include couples counseling sessions and anger management therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy-based programs enable the perpetrators to become more aware of situations that trigger their anger and equip them with calming exercises and other tools to reduce violent reactive behaviors. Diversion programs based on psychotherapeutic approaches have been shown to reduce violent behavior and improve self-control.

Why Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Is Necessary

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing pic

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
Image: WebMD.com

Dr. Jorge Galindo is a family counselor that deals with children, adolescents, couples, and families. He shares a private practice with his wife, Miriam Galindo, PsyD, in Irvine, California. Aside from counseling families, Dr. Jorge Galindo is also certified to perform critical incident stress debriefing.

People, who experience life-changing, traumatic events, require professional attention in the aftermath of such an occurrence. The act of dealing with a traumatic reaction is called critical incident stress de-briefing or CISD.

A critical incident is defined as a sudden death, serious injury, or physical and psychological threats to an individual. The event may cause distress or a dramatic change in the physical and psychological well-being on an individual.

The reactions of the victims of a critical incident may manifest as restlessness, frustration, sleep disturbance, moodiness, etc. Victims may also experience flashbacks of the event. In order to manage or curb these reactions, a professional is hired to execute CISD.

CISD is required in order to lessen the short-term or long-term crisis reactions, as well as the psychological trauma stemming from the incident. It is advisable to implement CISD within 24-72 hours of exposure to ensure a higher rate of success in managing critical reactions.

Diversion Program Eligibility and the Counseling Component

Jorge Galindo pic

Jorge Galindo
Image: galindopsychology.com

Licensed to practice in California, Dr. Jorge Galindo is experienced in therapy related to forensics. Having worked with the law enforcement community, Jorge Galindo is knowledgeable of diversion treatments used to rehabilitate offenders of domestic violence.

Depending on the state, diversion programs may be available to people who are first-time offenders of minor offenses, such as petty theft, driving under the influence, and personal possession of specific drugs without intent to sell. The same leniency, at times, may be extended to domestic violence offenders. Admission of guilt may or may not be necessary to participate in diversion treatment.

The program gives offenders the option to enter counseling early in their proceedings. They pay fees to the court or treatment facility. In some cases, fees apply to both and can exceed fines. Programs span six months to more than a year, during which time treatment and behavior modification techniques are employed by professionals to rectify the underlying cause of the issue. The latter employs positive and negative reinforcement to replace troubling behaviors with those deemed more desirable and acceptable. Counseling on an individual basis or in a group setting is typical.

Functions and Purpose of Juvenile Court Therapy

Juvenile Court Therapy pic

Juvenile Court Therapy
Image: ocgov.com/gov

Dr. Jorge Galindo serves as a forensic consultant for juvenile courts, where he frequently works to develop programs for rehabilitation and treatment for teenage violence offenders and sex offenders; juvenile courts focus on the rehabilitation of minors through the use of clinical assessment treatment. Sharing an Irvine, California, private practice with his wife, Miriam Galindo, Psy.D, Dr. Jorge Galindo also works with drug and alcohol-related referrals from Orange County’s Juvenile and Adult Probation Departments.

Although the court is designed to hold the youth accountable for their crimes and actions, the goal of rehabilitation is to help the offender return to the community without any risk of harming other citizens. The primary focus is to prevent further delinquent behavior and to minimize the risk for possible adult crime involvement.

Therapeutic intervention includes clinical assessment and counselling. When considering the variables that led to the offense, therapists must differentiate the risk factors between adults and minors. The latter is more vulnerable to peer influence, less oriented to think about the future and less likely to assess risk before acting on impulse.

When it comes to treatment and counselling, there are several avenues that are deemed effective by the National Mental Health Association. These include multi-systemic therapy, functional family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as several others.

How Therapy Helps Rehabilitate Juvenile Sex Offenders

Dr. Jorge Galindo, MFT, has previously counseled juvenile sex offenders at the Olive Crest Treatment Center in Santa Ana, California. An MFT like Dr. Jorge Galindo can provide therapy to sexually abusive youths.

Sex offenses are a growing concern in the United States, with up to one fifth of all rapes and half of all cases of child molestation attributed to juvenile sex offenders. However, juvenile sex offenders are different from adult offenders in the sense that many will not continue to perpetrate sexual offenses. Typically, juvenile sex offenders are male adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 who display impaired judgment and impulse control. Up to 80 percent have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder and 40-80 percent have a history of sexual abuse.

Clinical programming and counseling often involves individual, group, or family therapy. An assessment of behavior is required prior to tailoring a treatment to fit the individual’s needs. A range of treatments may be utilized, including training them to manage impulses effectively, helping establish a positive self-image, and making provisions for prevention of relapse. Youths who struggle with substance abuse require rehabilitation in concurrence with counseling and clinical programming.

How Families Can Benefit from Family Therapy Services

Licensed family therapist Dr. Jorge Galindo serves California families who have been referred by the Juvenile/Criminal and Family Courts. He and his wife Miriam Galindo serve children, teens, and families at their private family practice in Irvine, CA. Dr. Jorge Galindo is also a reserve deputy sheriff for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Communication problems, drug addiction, mental illness, or the death of a family member are issues that many families confront at one time or another. Family therapy can assist families facing these issues and more.

Family therapists provide counseling services in a safe and controlled setting. They facilitate productive communication between family members, helping them develop strong communication skills and build trust.

By addressing issues within a clear framework, family therapists provide the guidance needed for many families to create and maintain healthy relationships. Since common personal issues such as addiction and mental illness are often connected to family-related issues, the benefits of effective therapy in these cases can extend to every aspect of an individual’s life.

Fundamentally, family therapy helps families become stronger by addressing the complex and diverse challenges of modern family life with honesty, kindness, and love.