On Therapy Pets

On one of my clinical psychology practice list serves, the question came up about whether any members used therapy pets in their private practices. One specific issue raised in the post was how to be sensitive to clients with animal allergies if you kept a pet in your office, which is, of course, a very legitimate concern.  I used to have a therapy pet in my office in San Antonio.  It was a Chinchilla named "Neo".  Chinchillas are pretty hypoallergenic so the issue of allergies wasn't especially relevant.  Plus, he lived in a cute cage shaped like a little house and we would only take him out when clients wanted to hold or pet him.  He was a great incentive for my teen aged clients to participate because getting to play with Neo became a great positive reinforcer.  However he was really messy so I ultimately found him a new home because cleaning up after him just became too time consuming.  I had a brightly colored little crate I carried him from home to office in.  He was well known at the supermarket and OfficeMax because I couldn't leave him in the car when I ran errands on my way home from work.  I'd put his crate in the seat of the shopping cart and we would run my errands together. 

In San Antonio, I had several clients who really liked bringing their dogs with them to therapy sessions.  Of course, this could potentially have been an issue for other clients coming in with dog allergies but this never came up.  Now that I live in Colorado, people seem to bring their dogs everywhere.  Even the bank has dog biscuits on the counter instead of lollipops for the people!  Every restaurant has a water bowl outside for the dogs who wait patiently for their owners while they eat.

For the first time in my career, I have a home based practice.  While my office is at the front of my home, it is still in my home.  I have a medium sized westie-poodle mix and two cats.  The cats hide under the bed when clients are here so they are obviously not willing to be therapy pets of any kind.  I was initially putting my dog in the mud room when clients came so they wouldn't be bothered.  Believe it or not, this really bothered my clients!  Every one of them wanted to meet my dog and didn't want my dog locked up on their account.  Now, my dog comes and greets them while they are waiting to see me.  She has become my pseudo-receptionist!  

I keep the dog out of my therapy office so she is not a distraction but if a client (particularly a teen) wanted her there, I would allow her in.  So far, I haven't raised the allergy issue with new clients although I do tell them that my office is in my home before they schedule their first appointment.  So far, everyone seems to assume that I have a dog.  Many of them come with their dogs and leave them in the car in the shade with the windows open while we meet.  Occasionally their dog goes out in the yard to play with my dog.  Of course, this will probably change when it gets colder and snows.

I think this is all really ironic because I am a cat person and I can't quite believe I even have a dog.  I never expected her to be a business asset.  

When a new client brings up the allergy issue, I will offer them online psychotherapy instead.  A highly respected psychologist named Ken Pope, PhD, with whom I am acquainted, keeps therapy cats in his office.  When a potential client has a cat allergy he offers to see them in their home.  The Vail Valley is too spread out for me to offer that routinely but I would consider it as an option as well.

BTW, this all started with a fish tank.  I set up a pretty tank in my first private practice office because it was soothing.  However, I am really bad at keeping fish alive.  One day a particularly difficult 11 year old came in and in a hostile tone of voice said "your fish is dead."  I had just fed the fish a few minutes earlier and before I could stop myself I fired back "No he's not!"  But he was.  Then the kid said "You are traumatizing me with your dead fish."  And then we both cracked up.  I didn't replace the fish and I gave away the tank.  And then I got Neo the chinchilla (see first paragraph).

drjsquyres@mac.com

www.drjillsquyrespsychologist.com

Twitter: @drjsquyres    Facebook: JillSquyresPhD

Not to be copied without written permission.

Text copyright 2012 by Jill Squyres, PhD.  All Rights Reserved

Fast Forward: San Diego California Oct 5-6, 2012

I’m sipping a diet Dr. Pepper and enjoying the view from a window seat on a 737 flying over Utah. I’ve just spent the past few days in San Diego at The American Psychological Association’s Division 42 (Psychologists in Independent Practice) Fast Forward conference.  I attended this inaugural Fast Forward meeting for several reasons.  First and foremost, I am a relatively active member in this division and it’s a good opportunity to participate in the division I consider to be my professional “home”.  Also, psychologists need to get annual continuing education to maintain our licenses to practice.  This conference provided all the CEUs I require for the coming year for my psychology licenses in Colorado and Texas.  I also specifically decided to attend Fast Forward because I was asked to be a speed mentor at an innovative workshop put together by Dr. Heather Wittenberg, a dynamic and creative psychologist lucky enough to live on Maui.  I was honored by the invitation but also delighted to have the opportunity to share my expertise with early career psychologists.  I think the workshop exceeded everyone’s expectations and I hope Dr. Wittenberg feels considerable pride in her accomplishment.

Division 42 has an active and lively list serve that is a professional perk of membership.  Many prominent psychologists make frequent postings.  It’s ironic to feel like you know a colleague well when you’ve never actually met them in person.  This meeting was also appealing because it gave me the chance to get to know some of these delightful people face to face.  What a pleasure it was and, of course, the chance to network is always a nice benefit of attending a professional gathering. 

Over the past few days, I’ve listened to presentations that both inspired and sobered me.  I’ve discussed complex ethical issues and features of online and office based practice.  I was privy to fascinating dialogs regarding professional development and ways to think “outside the box” about the practice of psychology.  As a result, I’m contemplating new directions and strategies for my own practice.

I even won a great book in a raffle held during yesterday evening’s social hour: “Financial Success in Mental Health Practice” by Steve Walfish (who graciously autographed my copy) and Jeff Barnett.   That’s the second raffle prize I’ve won in the past few months.  It’s also the second raffle prize I’ve won in my whole life!  And both prizes were something that I could use and really wanted.  Lucky me! 

The food and fellowship were fantastic and the weather was perfect.  The meeting was held at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, which turned out to be an idyllic Southern California venue.   So far, our planes have been on time, our rental car was ready, there was little traffic and my iPhone’s navigation system guided us efficiently where ever we needed to go.    

On a personal note, my sister lives in the San Diego area, so not only did I get to attend Fast Forward, I got to spend several delightful days in her company.  It was also a chance for a whirlwind getaway with my husband who came along so we could enjoy some time together, visit with my sister, relax in sunny San Diego and meet some new friends.  We even got to do a little shopping, which is no longer as easy as it used to be, since we’ve left the “big city” of San Antonio and relocated to the small Colorado town of Eagle.  We are hoping our teenaged daughter will be delighted when we return home this evening with a lovely dress for her to wear to her first homecoming dance.

All in all, an extremely satisfactory few days, wouldn’t you say?

One of the most amusing things I learned at one of the presentations I attended at Fast Forward is that my cat, Pepper, is a "digital native."  Thanks Dr. Ofer Zur (http://www.zurinstitute.com) for the insight!

If you would like to learn more about me, take a look at my website: www.drjillsquyrespsychologist.com

Psychotherapy and Electronic Health Records (EHR) Q & A

EHR Q&A: Answers to Mental Health Practitioner’s Most Frequently Asked Questions

By Jill Squyres, PhD

Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz about electronic health records.  Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about EHRs as they relate to mental health practice.

What’s the difference between an EHR and an EMR? What does this have to do with PII and PHI?

The digital age in health care requires us to keep track of a veritable alphabet soup of acronyms!  While the terms EHR and EMR are often used interchangeably, by the most stringent definition, EHR (Electronic Health Record) refers to all of a person’s health information maintained in an electronic format.  EMR (Electronic Medical Record) generally refers to a patient’s chart maintained by a health care practitioner or organization.  An electronic document that includes data entered by a health care provider as well as information added by the patient would be an EHR by this definition.  Many people are starting to use the term EMR to refer to both as a convenience because when typing in Microsoft Word, the spell check function automatically changes EHR to HER!  PII stands for personally identifiable information and PHI is protected health information, both of which are included in the EMR.  HIPAA guidelines require us to take careful security measures to protect PII and PHI.

Do mental health care practitioners have to use an EMR?

Currently, counselors and psychotherapists are not required to use EMRs.  However there are many benefits to an EMR that may outweigh any drawbacks.  Physicians currently have guidelines requiring them to adopt EMRs.    

I’ve heard the government will pay you a lot of money if you start using an EMR.  Is this true? 

Medicare and Medicaid have initiated an EHR (this is the term these programs use) adoption program that offers substantial cash incentives for meaningful use of electronic health records.  Detailed meaningful use criteria have been developed by Medicare and Medicaid.  At the present time, none of these criteria pertain to mental health practitioners so we are not eligible for these incentive payments.  However, mental health professional organizations, such as the American Psychological Association, are lobbying government agencies to have mental health care criteria included in the next stage of meaningful use incentives.

What are the benefits of using an EMR?

EMRs can make managing client documentation much easier and more convenient.  Most EMRs also include an entire suite of practice management tools including a scheduling calendar, billing module, and online insurance claim filing in addition to the standard chart.  Progress note templates and intake, assessment, and treatment planning forms are often included as well.  Of course, all documentation kept online saves paper, filing space and shredding costs.  Records requests can often be accommodated by faxing the documents directly from your practice computer, saving on mailing costs, paper and postage.  EMR developers are now adding integrated video conferencing modules to their software to make initiating online sessions a point and click option.  Online EMR’s offer the added convenience of being able to access your client’s chart and contact data from any device anywhere with internet access. 

If I use an EMR does it have to be online?

There are several different types of EMR software.  One type is stand-alone software that you load on to one personal computer.  This software does not require an internet connection and all of your data is stored on the single computer it’s loaded on.  Of course, frequent back-ups to a hard drive, data CD and / or a thumb drive will be necessary if you are using this type of system to protect against loss of all of your patient data.  From a HIPAA compliance standpoint, this type of system is the most secure, although a stand-alone computer can still be stolen or accessed by unauthorized personnel resulting in a data breach.  The risk of losing all of your data in a disaster or computer crash is an important consideration from a risk management stand-point as well.  While there are security issues to consider with web-based systems or online back-up, it is not acceptable professionally to lose all of your clients’ mental health care information because your computer died or you experienced a natural disaster or fire.

How do online EMRs work?

Online EMRs are generally accessed over the internet through a secure browser window.  Most will work with any browser software although some programs will only work on PCs, not Macs.  Traditionally, EMR software has not worked on tablets, PDAs or smartphones, however, many vendors are adding apps, which can be purchased for an additional charge, for convenient access on mobile devices. Large medical practices and hospitals often purchase software that is loaded onto a dedicated server which may be physically located on their premises but this is not an affordable option for private practitioners or small group practices.  This set-up allows for an online record that is only accessible to devices on the facility’s private network.

Can I be sure my online EMR is HIPAA compliant?

The developer of your software should provide documentation of their security measures and compliance with HIPAA standards.  Any browser window accessing an online EMR should have an address beginning with https: instead of the usual http.  Your EMR software vendor should also require you to sign a business contract attesting to their security measures for HIPAA compliance.

What about all of my paper notes?

Of course, you can keep all of your paper notes filed the same way you have traditionally kept them and start keeping records electronically from the date you implement your EMR.  Many clinicians purchase a scanner and scan in old records so the paper copies can be disposed of.  Most EMR software allows for easy uploading of paper documents.  Some clinicians even continue to write their notes on paper and then scan them into the client’s EMR when they close out the appointment.

I’m already spending a lot on running my practice.  Is it expensive to adopt and EMR?

There’s a lot of competition in the mental health electronic record market, which helps keep costs down.  For the most part, you will pay more for extra features like patient portals, billing features like automatic credit card payments and insurance filing, templates and state of the art interfaces.  The cost for most software is charged as a monthly fee although some companies charge an additional fee to get your account and data set up.  This set up fee can also include transferring data from old software to your new EMR, which may look expensive but can cost much less than paying someone hourly for data entry to get you up to speed.  The typical monthly cost ranges from $60 - $150 per month depending on what features and technical and administrative support you want from your software provider.  There are also free options, which are not specifically designed for mental health providers but can be easily adapted to our needs.

drjsquyres@mac.com

www.drjillsquyrespsychologist.com

Twitter: @drjsquyres    Facebook: JillSquyresPhD

Not to be copied without written permission.

Text copyright 2012 by Jill Squyres, PhD.  All Rights Reserved

Bibliotherapy and Beyond: A Tribute to Genius

The latest business advice for psychologists encourages us to cultivate a niche of expertise.  A niche will allow your practice to stand out amidst the clutter of treatment options and help potential clients decide whether you are likely to be the psychotherapist best suited for their needs.  My practice niche is helping gifted people cope and thrive in the face of their uniquely rarified universe of talents, challenges and stressors. To further this aim, I love to read biographies of exceptional people who have achieved the outstanding kind of greatness and impact on society that can come from being driven, creative, and intellectually gifted.

Steve Jobs, who passed away October 10, is one such genius. If you would like to better understand what makes people like Steve Jobs tick, you should read Walter Isaacson’s new book “Steve Jobs”.  It can be difficult for most people to fathom the way brilliant, opinionated, persistent, irreverent, visionary people actually think.  You can enjoy a front row seat to the mystery and wonder of an amazing mind when you read this biography.  A compelling biography about the “other” Steve, at Apple, Steve Wozniak, is called “iWoz: How I Invented the Personal Computer and Had Fun Along the Way” by Patrick Lawlor.  While Jobs was moody, charismatic, grandiose and ambitious, Woz, is a sweet, shy, solitary dreamer with an admittedly high level of social awkwardness.  While I don’t diagnose people I’ve never met, he comes across as a classic presentation of high functioning Asperger’s Syndrome.  His autobiography is both touching and inspiring.  Both Apple creator biographies stand well on their own but they convey an interesting synergy when read in tandem.  They chronicle an exciting time in the history of technology and provide an answer to the age-old question, “If things are the way they are because they got that way, how DID they get that way?”…At least with regard to Apple computers, anyway!

The author who wrote “Steve Jobs” also wrote a biography of Albert Einstein (entitled Einstein: His Life and Universe) published in 2007.  Isaacson is particularly skilled at making the minute details of life lyrical and informative.  He integrates great chunks of history into his books and strives to help the reader understand the “theory of mind” of his famous subjects.  He debunks many of the popular myths about Einstein, such as the absurd idea that Einstein failed math in elementary school, which he did not.  As a psychologist, it is especially interesting to understand how visionary men like Einstein, Wozniak and Jobs integrate their exceptional giftedness with the other relatively mundane but meaningful priorities in their lives such as family, relationships, home-life, travel, values and inspirations. 

“A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines”, by Janna Levin, is about Kurt Godel and Alan Turing.  Godel was a mathematician / philosopher who gloried in the café culture of 1930’s Vienna.  Turing was a mathematician / logician / computer scientist who is best known for mechanical decision theory and the Turing Test, which is still the standard by which the quality of artificial intelligence is gauged.  The book is an intriguing foray into the lives of two brilliant but troubled men whose lives had striking similarities and common influences, although they never actually met.  The author’s deft use of alternating chapters about each of her subjects makes for some very engrossing reading.

“End Game: Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall from America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge Of Madness”, by Frank Brady, chronicles the troubled life of chess champion Bobby Fisher, another genius with qualities characteristic of Asperger’s syndrome.  Fischer’s IQ was measured at 181 and his odd, demanding and difficult nature was legendary.  He died in 2008, consumed by feelings of bitterness and alienation.

In my opinion, the most heart-rending biography of genius is “A Beautiful Mind” by Sylvia Nasar about the eccentric Nobel-prize winning Princeton economist John Nash.  While the eponymous movie is fascinating, the book is even better.  It explores the details of Nash’s descent into paranoia and psychosis with a gentleness and wisdom that provides thoughtful insight into the inner experience of schizophrenia.  This remarkable book is a particularly engaging read for mental health professionals wishing to develop a deeper understanding of this terrible illness. 

The poignant struggle that comes with compelling genius seems to separate a person from the rest of his world.  Ultimately, what we call genius appears to be the natural ability to comprehend universal truths and see things in a way that no one else generally does.  This can make for a very turbulent and lonely existence. The isolation, frustration and compulsive drive that characterize the subjects of these biographies shows how giftedness can be a double-edged sword.  Sadly, their greatest challenge may be growing old without becoming paranoid, alienated, delusional or embittered.  It’s always illuminating to really know the actual person behind a legend.  These biographies bring these legendary scientists and inventers alive in a way that will forever change how you perceive the costs and benefits of genius.  Hopefully, reading about their lives will make you further appreciate the price they paid to make the unique contributions that have so enriched our lives.  The insights gleaned can also compassionately inform our work with individuals on the gifted spectrum.

Until next time, happy reading!

Remembering Steve Jobs

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” -- Steve Jobs (02/24/55 -10/05/2011)

Steve Jobs died today.  He was one of my heros and there honestly aren't too many people who make this short list.  I was one of the very first users of the Apple Macintosh.  I spent a year at Stanford doing research and was able to buy my first Mac through something called the Stanford Consortium when it was first released in 1984.  I've had every version ever since.  I was also one of the first iPod and iPhone users.  I've always been an "early-adopter" when it comes to Apple's products because each one has been better than the last.  Steve Jobs has touched my life in so many ways and continues to do so multiple times per day through the delightful devices he brought to my life.  Just consider how many smiles each day he is personally responsible for!  He was an inspiration to us all and changed the way we do the simplest things, always for the better. He made it cool to be a geek, something I will always be grateful for!  He's left an amazing legacy and very big shoes to fill at Apple. It is so sad to see him taken from us so young.  The world has lost a truly great man and a genius of epic proportions today.

I admired his vision, his tenacity and his willingness to do whatever it took to make his products the best and most beautiful they could be.  He overcame daunting obstacles, even getting fired from the very company he helped found only to graciously agree to return when Apple took a nose dive in his absence.  He was able to see new ways to do things and embraced his own creativity and incredible sense of possibility.  He marched to his own drummer and never apologized for being unique.  I hope original thinkers everywhere will always be inspired by Steve and his dreams.  And I hope all of us take a moment to express our appreciation and respect the next time we reach for one of the many delightful and innovative products he brought to our lives.

Rest in Peace Steve Jobs (1955-2011).  You will be deeply missed as someone who touched the world in the best possible way!

Check out my website: drjillsquyrespsychologist.com

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My Facebook Account Has Been Disabled 2: Do Facebookers Dream of Farmville Sheep?

Tuesday morning July 5 dawned clear and bright on South Padre Island.  After a fun-filled 4^th of July evening of food, fireworks, and friends, I reveled in the luxury of sleeping in.  When I finally stirred, I sauntered over to my laptop where I was delighted to receive the following cryptic message:

“Hi Jill,

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. Your account was disabled in error. Your account has been reactivated and you will now be able to log in.

Thanks for contacting Facebook,

Hogan

User Operations

Facebook”

That was it…that’s all I was told.  Thanks Hogan!   Hogan?  I’ve never met anyone with the name Hogan.  And, it was just signed, “Hogan” with no last name in evidence.  I wonder if Hogan is even a real person or just a virtual one, which would be kind of fitting for facebook if you think about it, wouldn’t it?  What a denouement!  I anxiously logged in to my account, which turned out to be just as I’d left it three days earlier when it was precipitously and mysteriously disabled.  What a relief!  I noticed the number of facebook credits listed had climbed to 5 from my customary 0.  No explanation of the 5 credits was forthcoming either.  I assume the credits were an amend for their error, perhaps so I could purchase something called an “unwither” on Farmville to rescue my virtual crops which had been neglected during my banishment.   As of this writing, it’s been two weeks and I’ve heard nothing else, so apparently, we may never know exactly what the aforementioned error was that caused me so much grief.

The errant disabling of my facebook account had given me some serious food for thought.  I’ve been a facebook user for almost 5 years.  Facebook has grown to great personal and cultural significance in that relatively short span of time.  I considered the myriad ways facebook had become an integral part of my day-to-day life to help me understand why I had taken the unexpected disabling of my account so hard.   There were so many!  I use it as an address book.  I use it to stay in touch with my family, which is spread all over the country.  It’s the primary way I share news, jokes and important information.  Facebook has become an easy way to make plans when I want to get together with my friends.  It’s my scrap book and photo album.  I’ve forged many new relationships through facebook and I missed my globally dispersed buddies when I couldn’t jump online as I was used to.  I even have some facebook penpals!  It was distressing to be unable to write to them and eagerly anticipate their replies while I was gone.  Facebook has become a way I pass the time when there are too few minutes to begin a new task but too many minutes to fill by just taking a few breaths before moving on.  The facebook games I enjoy have become an easily accessible source of simple relaxation and pleasure.  Posting on facebook has become the way I generally seek advice.  I remember asking whether I should replace or fix my broken washing machine as my status.  I had a wealth of helpful responses at my fingertips within an hour advising me to can the 10 year old machine and buy a new one, which I did.   Through facebook, I’ve reconnected with old friends from camp. high school and college who I never thought I would be close to again.  I am so delighted to see how much I enjoy their company and being a part of their lives again, even if the relationship is now (for the most part) “virtual”.  As an inveterate night owl, facebook has become a lovely way to chat with those I care about in other time zones while those who are geographically closer are blissfully snoozing away in the land of Nod.  When I couldn’t log onto my account, I worried that my friends might jump to negative conclusions, assuming that they had somehow earned my wrath, that I had un-friended or blocked them without the courtesy of an explanation.  I sent out several emails explaining what had transpired so no one would think I might do such an awful thing.   Their reassurances were a comfort to me.   In summary I realize that facebook adds a richness to my life that would cause me significant grief if it were permanently snatched away.  I hope the facebook team appreciates the honor and responsibility this bestows upon them.  

I am delighted that my account was restored so quickly.  From what I’d read of the experiences of others in similar situations I was very fortunate.  Perhaps facebook has streamlined their procedures for evaluating and restoring accounts.  If they have, I applaud this change.  If they haven’t, I hope they seriously consider that they themselves describe facebook as a social “utility.”  No other utility gets cut off without warning or remedy, even with just cause.   Personally and professionally, I see the importance of facebook in people’s lives growing more each day.   My clients share content from their pages in the course of their psychotherapy.  Relationships are not over until one’s relationship status has changed to “single” with much trepidation spent on making this proclamation.  Good news gets shared, emotional support is offered, laughter spreads because of jokes, videos or amusing anecdotes.  Information and advice fly through the ether to the benefit of all who receive them.  People from the far corners of the earth play games together and get to know one another.  Lives are cataloged through status updates, stories and photos.  Simple pleasure is constantly at our fingertips.   In this age of constant busy-ness, isolation and dissent, facebook is like the pub in the show “Cheers.”  It’s the place you can always visit where “everybody knows your name.”  What a treasure. 

I’m so glad to be back.   

Check out my website: drjillsquyrespsychologist.com

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"Your facebook account has been disabled."

I read what could arguably be the most dreaded words in the world of social networking as they flickered across my Macbook screen:

“Your facebook account has been disabled.”

After determining that this could not be explained away as a bad joke, a hack or a simple mistake, I paused and considered what despicable facebook crime I might have inadvertently committed to render me worthy of this draconian punishment from the facebook team.  I haven’t a clue.  I am a mild mannered, non-confrontational, friendly, and active facebook user.  I have a personal page, a page for my clinical psychology private practice and a page I set up and administer for the Bexar County Psychological Association as one of my responsibilities as a member of the executive committee.  My loftiest social media goal is to bring a little cheer to someone’s life because our paths crossed today.  Facebook is an ideal venue for this so I strive to be my usual pleasant, supportive, (hopefully) amusing self on my facebook pages.  I post lots of photos, quips, information and links.  I am an embarrassingly avid player of Farmville.  I think facebook should love me, not leave me!

I did some queries and discovered more than a few interesting tidbits about my predicament. 

1. Facebook can disable your account without warning or immediate explanation.  And, without even the simple courtesy of an email alerting you to their actions.
2. Facebook does not have a customer service phone line or live chat feature to allow you to address the problem immediately with a live person.  For a company who’s raison d’etre is connection they are surprisingly difficult to connect with when you need them.
3. The only apparent recourse is to fill out a brief form letting them know that you think the deactivation was a mistake and then to await a reply, which generally takes at least 3 days and by some reports has dragged on for weeks.
4. Facebook appears to have the right to with hold information about why they disabled your account if they believe you have violated their rules, rights and responsibilities agreement.  The irony is I’ve actually read this document.  However, there seems to be a pretty wide margin of error in how these rules, rights and responsibilities might be interpreted by the masters of the facebook realm.
5. There seems to be no ultimate court of law or procedure for appeal so if you are barred they can decide the decision is final with no recourse for remedy.
6. Other writers discoursing on the this topic advise that if you are very VERY nice, apologetic and promise never ever EVER to commit the same crime, oops I mean inadvertent violation, again it might help you get your page back.  If you get upset, argue too loudly, cause problems or make waves of any kind, it seems to reduce the likelihood they will restore you to full facebook citizenship, so I blog today with some trepidation. Could I be branded a rabble-rouser or trouble-maker unfit for the genteel confines of the facebook community? 
7. If you don’t get your account reactivated you are not entitled to any of your page content, pictures or games because they aren’t required to give them back to you.
8. If they don’t agree to reverse their decision they can bar you from facebook FOREVER.  If you set up a new page with a different email address, facebooks’s face recognition and data mining software can find you and disable that account too.  It is also against facebook’s rules to have two accounts or misrepresent yourself as someone you aren’t (I'm not guilty on either count).  This means that as soon as they discover your new account you were guilty before you even got out of the gate.  
9. If that happens, you will be excommunicated from the ranks of the social media elite and forced back to the primordial slime to play your games with actual tangible objects like playing cards or jacks or tiddly winks. You will have to re-cultivate the fine art of communicating with people using that quaint device called a telephone, old fashioned paper and ink, email (that’s SO 20^th century) or even (gasp, gasp) face to face.  And, of course, there’s still twitter, right?

I know many readers will consider this to be a trivial matter easily resolved.  If this might be you, click on the following link for a stark reality check

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=68310606562&topic=14477

to read the poignant implorations of other frustrated deactivated facebook users.  I would like to take this opportunity to mention that backing up your facebook page is an excellent idea.  However the necessity of having to back up my facebook page had never occurred to me at all.  Aren’t we constantly being warned that anything posted on facebook is permanent and destined for perpetual storage on multiple servers to embarrass our future selves when its most inconvenient?  This represents yet another jarring example of better living through technology and the hard lessons it can teach.  Make sure all of your personal information including your friends list and their contact data, message texts and photos are stored someplace besides facebook.  Facebook may appear ubiquitous but it seems to be a privilege rather than a right so unlike Motel 6 the light will not always be left on for you.  Do a google search and you will get multiple hits for tips on how to back up your page and do it NOW.

Will my facebook privileges be restored?  Will I be released from facebook purgatory?  Only time will tell.  This unexpected hiatus will be extended by the fact that it is a three-day weekend and no serious business gets accomplished in America on holiday weekends.  Plus, I am at the beach on vacation with my lovely sister, her son, my husband and my kids.

Wait a minute!  I am at the beach with my family… who needs facebook at a time like this anyway?  The surf beckons.  The air is redolent with the fresh scent of sand and sea and sunshine.  I hear the gulls cry in the distance.  There is laughter on the beach.    I shut down my computer and I go.

Check out my website: drjillsquyrespsychologist.com

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