Jennifer Liles
MSW, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker/Therapist
Independence, USA
Answers questions in Adolescent Issues · Anxiety · Co-Occurring Disorders
About Jennifer Liles
I believe that each and every one of us has the capacity to live life that is fulfilling, that contains moments of joy, and that allows us to experience ourselves as valuable human beings with something to offer. I would like to help you achieve that capacity.
I am accepting of and comfortable with most of the vast and wonderful variety of people who live in the world. Whether people think of you as âdeliciously differentâ or you’re âdelightfully normalâ, let’s see what we can do together to help your life be what you want it to be.
What I do
I am a licensed clinical social worker, writer, knitter, gardener, and geek. I write under the name Maureen O'Danu, and can get pretty fierce about protecting the rights of people to be treated with respect and dignity. I also write puns and haiku, and generally treat people the way I want to be treated.
I am motivated by my personal goal of helping people build happiness in their lives, whether as a therapist or through my writing.
My story
I believe that each and every one of us has the capacity to live life that is fulfilling, that contains moments of joy, and that allows us to experience ourselves as valuable human beings with something to offer. I would like to help you achieve that capacity.
I am accepting of and comfortable with most of the vast and wonderful variety of people who live in the world. Whether people think of you as âdeliciously differentâ or you’re âdelightfully normalâ, let’s see what we can do together to help your life be what you want it to be.
Why life is worth living
in between every difficult moment, scattered around it, are moments of joy
Treatment Offered
Specialties
Therapy approaches
Patient population
Modalities
Answered Questions(7)
Is Her Schizophrenic Drug Using Brother in Law Dangerous to Her Kids?
My sister is allowing her brother in law to stay with herself, her husband and her two young children. This man was arrested for resisting arrest and assaulting police officers while hallucinating. He was a heavy drug user (marijuana) and was not his medications for schizophrenia. If he continues to use marijuana (he does) will hes medications work? If they do not work are her children possibly in danger?
Read answer →Is it Dysthymia or Just a Pessimistic Outlook?
How can you tell the difference between dysthmia and just being a person who is a little bit pessimistic about the world? I am asking about my wife. She is not what you would call a happy person but she is sometimes capable of real happiness and joy.
Read answer →Irritable? Tired? You Could Be Experiencing Burnout
Is feeling tired and irritable all the time a symptoms of burnout. I am a sandwiched caregiver of two teenaged children and my elderly dad. This summer I am so tired all the time and it’s bad timing since my dad had another stroke this spring and the caregiving is a lot more physical and tiring than it used to be. I think I am getting burnout.
Read answer →Should I Start Drinking in order to Feel "Normal"? Social Anxiety and Alcohol
I realize that in general alcohol is not good for mental health, but does it relate specifically in any way to depersonalization? If I drink socially will it make my symptoms worse? If I get drunk occasionally will that be a big problem or make things very much worse? I currently do not drink at all but I would like to be able to go out with my friends to clubs. I am trying to have a ‘normal life’ even with my problems and this seems like it might be a normal part for a person my age (22).
Read answer →Can You Be Fired For Being Hungover? Probably. (So what is next?)
If I have a dual diagnosis of alcoholism and depression. And both are documented by my doctor. And I go to AA 7 days a week and take Paxil. Can I be fired by my employer for being hungover at work? I am really trying to overcome my diseases but I threw up in the parking lot of my workplace. It just happened. Many of my coworkers witnessed this. And I was called into my bosses office that morning and fired. I told my boss I had a disease and I was getting treatment but he was disrespectful about the idea that alcoholism is a disease. Do I have any rights under the law for protection from harassment or firing because I have a disease? I feel like no one would fire a person that had cancer and had chemo and thrown up! I wish people could understand that ALCOHOLISM IS A DISEASE!
Read answer →My Brother Stopped Using, but He's Still A Jerk! What Do I Do Now?
How would you explain a total personality change after addiction? Let me explain. My brother was the sweetest guy you’d ever want to meet. Then he got into drinking in his teens and drugs in his twenties. He hit rock bottom by the time he was 25 and went into rehab. Now he is 27 and he is still clean. However, it’s not a happy ending. Something happened to him when he was using drugs. He became an A-hole, for lack of a better way to describe it. Where he used to be sweet and considerate he became callous and selfish. We all thought it was the drugs but now that he has stopped the drugs his personality has not reverted. He is still a jerk and this is so hard to take. It is really a noticeable personality shift. It is like he is a different person. As I understand it this is not really a normal thing to have happen from drinking and drugs. Do you think he probably has a psychiatric condition that is still undiagnosed?
Read answer →Do I have Panic Disorder? How to tell, and what to expect from treatment
How many panic attacks do you have to have before you are considered to have panic disorder? Is there anything more to it than just this?
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