Counseling in America

 

 

Art comes in innumerable forms. As explained by Douglas Mitchell, LMFT, “There are various uses for art therapy with regards to healing, but the benefits may surprise you if you’ve never heard of art as a form of therapy.” It has been long defined by so many different people, in so many different ways. Countless purposes have been enumerated. And today, one emerging purpose continuously being explored is to heal.

“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act.” Catherine Cleveland M.S., LMHC-P said. Mental health is an aspect that is now being given attention and importance. It has been a very sensitive topic that has been avoided for so long. Further, mental health has been a deeply misunderstood condition, often, given a direct relation to mental hospitals and craziness.

Very similar to art, mental health gives rise to different meanings for different people. It may be as complicated as shaking and screaming at the sight of something that triggers a miserable memory. Or, it may be as familiar as not having the motivation to get out of bed in the morning. Mental Health is indeed a very complicated subject that cannot be easily interpreted.

And now, the question is, how can we heal it? How can we restore a healthy mental state? Is such thing possible? We must understand first that it is different for many people. As we’ve read in many BetterHelp articles, what may work for some may not work for others. That this is the way a person copes, while this utterly alien technique is how another person copes. And that it is fine.

Rising to quick judgments about this will not truly help the person. In fact, it may just discourage that person. We must understand that we have been endowed with different minds, that we all think in our own unique ways–in our personal capacities and speeds. And that there is nothing we can do about it but to embrace it–to develop it.

 

Art And Mental Health: Connected

Now, how can we connect art and mental health? In 2004, “creativity in counseling” was finally formalized within the American Counseling Association (ACA) as its 19th Division. This formalization gave birth to the Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC). But long before this event, creative approaches to treatment have been applied by so many psychiatrists and counselors. And this exploration has led to improved communication, authentic self-expression and helped establish human potential.

In addition to this, group therapy is emerging as an efficient way for people to heal. The addition of several fresh perspectives from people with similar experiences helps patients cope. This method acts as a support group–a network of people with similar experiences yet dissimilar opinions.

Further, the support network helped generate relief for people and gave assurance that you are not alone in fighting for mental health. Often, people are afraid to open up and think that they are “weird” or “different,” when in fact, there are people out there who undergo the same experiences. And this kind of therapy helps foster a mutual connection between patients and result in rewarding experiences.

 

 

Now What?

Now that we have established that, what course of action should we take? Explore. Let us take this opportunity to explore this method to help contribute to a better, healthy state of mind. “Negative thoughts are just a part of life, but they don’t have to consume you. Instead of trying to ignore those thoughts altogether, try countering them with positive statements.” Licensed clinical psychologist John Mayer, Ph.D. said.

Yes, it is an endless chain of possibilities. Yes, different people think differently and cope differently. But these dissimilarities are what makes us similar. This is a proof that we are all unique–in our own special way. And that each and every uniqueness possessed by each and every one of us are equally important.

What is the concept of a joint treatment approach? How can peer counseling through joint treatment help us with our daily struggles in life? Discover all in this article and know more about this counseling.

Instead, we fear that we have no one to talk to, so we shut ourselves out. We lock our rooms. We put on our headphones and sulk into the abyss of despair and overthinking.

Continue Reading “Fighting Tough Times Through Peer Counseling”

With all the recent advancements in technology, the lives of many people have become more convenient and more comfortable. An excellent example of this is online counseling, which has helped a lot of individuals ever since it became available to those with mental health issues or problems. One of the most common forms of this treatment is group counseling in an online setting.  

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When you’re experiencing mental health problems, it is difficult to deal with the symptoms on your own, not to mention inadvisable. Seeking help through therapy is a huge step towards recovery. The good thing about therapy is that there is no single “template” to follow; many available treatments cater to various types of patients with different conditions and experiences. 

Crossing the bridge to seek help for your condition can be a daunting endeavor. Once people experiencing mental health problems overcome the fear and stigma enough to reach out, they immediately face another hurdle: talking to their therapist.

So, how do you prepare yourself after seeking help? How do you open up to your therapist about your condition? How do you become honest to your therapist? Sal Raichbach, PsyD often say, “Sadly, only a small percentage of people actively seek professional help for their mental health problems.” That is true.

Assess Yourself: Are You Ready For Therapy?

Before asking how to be honest to your therapist, you must be straightforward to yourself first. When people seek therapy, they do it with the idea that a therapist should be able to fix them up in no time. That is the wrong mindset to bring when coming to your therapy sessions.

Going to therapy means being ready to go to therapy. If you remain closed off or unprepared for the treatment your physician might come up with, recovery will remain unachievable too. You have to be sure you’re ready to reach out. Wanting to recover does not automatically translate to being prepared to face your therapist. Be clear about the difference with yourself; otherwise, going to therapy will be counterproductive.

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Start Small: Trusting Your Therapist

Trust between you and your therapist is a vital aspect of your treatment. You have to accept that recovery means discussing things that might be painful or even traumatic. But you do not need to discuss anything you don’t want to, not without your express permission.

You need to trust your therapist will not push you beyond what’s comfortable for you. If they do, remember that they have your best interests at heart, as well as years of education and expertise. “By building a list of people that you trust, with whom you can talk to in times of need, you allow yourself a strong sense of not being alone.” A reminder from David Klow, a licensed therapist.

You do not need to unload every thought and feeling to your therapist immediately. Tell them about your day. Or better yet, you can also ask them about their day. Begin with a small anecdote or memory. From there, your therapist might have follow-up questions to keep you going. Once you hit a particularly sore spot, tell your therapist that you feel uncomfortable with it. 

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Professional medical practitioners possess empathy, which helps them understand your situation. They might never know what it’s precisely like to be in your shoes, but they still have a pretty good idea. If you’re not ready to explore a specific issue, ask them to switch topics or offer one of your own. Your therapist might or might not push it, but remember that they know what they’re doing.

“therapy is a lot of work and this is important to keep in mind before starting. It’s imperative to understand this so that you can set realistic expectations for yourself.” Nathaniel Cilley, LMHC said. Vulnerability is part of the reason why a lot of people hesitate about being honest to therapists. They fear all sorts of things, from being judged to being hurt by other people. Seeking therapy is indeed a leap of faith sometimes, but rest assured that therapists are well-equipped and well-trained to help you recover and live your life to the fullest.

Every married couple has different struggles and challenges that they need to overcome on a daily basis, one of which is the issue when it comes to financial matters. Money does not make the world go round, but it is necessary for the sustenance of a family. It is used not only for the food of the members of a household but even for the education of the kids or meeting the goals of the husband and wife.

 

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Many employees experience work stress, from the tons of responsibilities at hand to conflicts with their colleagues. Because of the said problems, a majority of these people often find themselves experiencing various mental health problems. Some even find themselves faced with different physical issues such as migraine, back pain, headaches, and skin complaints. “Stress can seem omnipresent. Between working, socializing and taking care of the home, it sometimes seems we don’t have a minute to ourselves, let alone enough time to really take care of our bodies and minds,” says Sonja Seglin, LCPC.

 

Take these recent statistics regarding workplace problems in the UK as examples:

• The Mental Health Foundation revealed that 6 out of 10 of the working population in the area has trouble sleeping at night because of the stress they feel from work.
• A recent survey by the mental health charity Mind stated that 32% of male employees blame work as the primary cause of their current mental health issues.
• According to the Labor Force Survey, stress accounted for 37 to 40% of work-related health cases and approximately 45% of the working days of the workers were lost due to bad health.
• The Health and Safety at Work survey by the Health and Safety Executive found that around 1.3 million employees suffer from a work-related illness.

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With this in mind, a lot of professionals recommend that those affected by workplace stress seek the help of therapists. They can help them cope with the adverse effects brought about by hectic environments such as the workplace. So, how does therapy address stress exactly?

Therapy Lets You Become More Self-Aware

Many workers know that they are feeling stressed out but are not sure where it is coming from. With the help of therapy, you can reflect on your daily life at work and pinpoint the primary sources of your mental health problems. Becoming self-aware is essential in tackling this concern since it helps you avoid or address your stressors. As explained by Robin D. Stone, LMHC, “The benefits of therapy are vast, including having an objective perspective on happenings in your life, a sounding board for you to talk through options before taking action, a place where you can deepen self-awareness, access resources to support your growth and personal development, and much more.”

Therapy Helps You Face Insecurity

You have to be aware that you will face criticism at work from time to time. That’s just how the professional world works. If you’re unwelcoming or sensitive about criticisms and feedback, you will experience insecurity. This mindset will only lead to more self-doubt and decreased self-worth.

In these cases, therapy can help you explore your insecurity. The process will allow you to explore the why’s and how’s of your self-doubt. As time passes by, you will sort out your thoughts and emotions and regain your sense of self.

Therapy Calms You

Some therapy sessions focus on relaxation training. According to professionals, the more you relax, the less tense your muscles are and the higher the functionality of your brain. These characteristics will help you see things from a more objective and broader perspective. “therapy is a lot of work and this is important to keep in mind before starting. It’s imperative to understand this so that you can set realistic expectations for yourself.” Nathaniel Cilley, LMHC said.

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Therapy Provides You With Motivation

Your enthusiasm about going to work declines as time passes by. Worse, it might reach the point where you’ll dread it. A visit with a therapist might help you regain your love for your job through a technique called gestalt therapy or transaction analysis. These strategies are employed to help you find the fine line between your real self and your adapted self.

You need to address the stress you feel at work since it leads to many negative results, such as lower productivity, decreased employee engagement, and poor health status. Seek the help of a therapist, and you’ll be on your way to a better experience at work.

“Couples’ expectations about what marriage should be like are completely off from the reality of what marriage is actually like”  That is according to Dr. Chantal Gagnon PhD LMHC. Keeping a marriage healthy and loving is a difficult task to maintain. Sometimes, no matter how a couple cares for each other, there will come a time wherein staying happy in a marriage becomes challenging. In fact, there are days when choosing to stay with a partner feels like a complete struggle. If you experience any of these, then it is a sign that you are having troubles in the marital union. Do not fret because there are many ways on how you could spice things up with your wife.

 

 

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