Mental health is FINALLY being taken as seriously as physical health by Americans. Remember about 20 years ago if a person said they were in therapy the stigma was, “They must be REALLY crazy.” Now, if people do not have a counselor, people say, “What’s wrong with them?? They need a counselor!?” Most folks these days have a counselor they love working with and brag about to their friends… “Oh, well my counselor says (fill in the blank).”
Increasingly, doctors and psychiatrists are referring patients for mental health counseling and holistic treatments, as we learn more about the mind-body connection. Stress reduction can be achieved by a variety of techniques. There is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach to creating a plan for your mental health. It makes sense to talk with a Licensed Professional Counselor about forming a plan that works for you! Think of counseling like a personal trainer for your mind, body, and soul.
Stress Reduction
How do you feel or experience stress in your mind/body? We ALL have stress, lots of it. Things that are stressful for some of us, are not for others. We all respond differently to stress, but physiological effects of stressors are typically measured by changes in respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and muscle tension, just to name a few. In my experience as a therapist, I have found many people adjust to living with these effects and have a generally high distress tolerance. Oftentimes I hear clients say, “If there was an actual emergency, like a fire, I would calmly be able to handle that situation. It’s when there is no actual stress that I am feeling symptoms of stress…”
Coping with Stress and Anxiety
The more we ignore signs and symptoms of stress, the more it builds up. We increase our baseline for what is considered a normal stress level. Usually by the time clients seek counseling they have been suffering with symptoms for at least 6-12 months. Clients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder suffer with their obsessions and ritual compulsions for an average of 6-10 years before seeking therapy. Coping with symptoms of stress starts by acknowledging both our feelings, like anxiety, and the factors contributing to it. Denial can be a powerful coping mechanism – it’s not just a river in Egypt…
Anxiety disorders can go untreated and unacknowledged for years as people develop coping mechanisms to manage everyday stress. Smoking, drinking, and vaping have a place in American culture as being less taboo coping mechanisms. As the sigma around seeing a mental health therapist decreases, it has become harder just to find a therapist who is accepting new clients! This is one of the main reasons we started our group practice – to increase access to mental health care and make it ridiculously easy to find your ideal counselor. The secret to our group being such a happy place to work is, counselors enjoy working with their ideal clients! We match clients with counselors who specialize in various mental health issues. Research shows the most important aspect for clients to recover mental health and have positive outcomes is if they felt like the therapist was a good match for them. We take this approach from the beginning of treatment – let us find you the best counselor for you.
Finding a specialist in the area of mental health care that best meets your needs is a challenge. How are you supposed to know what type of counseling you need?! Sometimes clients get 6 sessions into work with a therapist only to be told they are not qualified or the best fit. I can’t imagine anything more disappointing than opening up to a stranger, only to have to repeat this process like a game of darts until you hit the counselor “bull’s eye.” Our counselors offer free 15-minute consultations to our prospective clients, to ensure a good fit.
We recommend interviewing 2-3 counselors – ask them about their style, how would they support you in counseling, and ask yourself how comfortable you feel talking with these folks. It is such an honor to be selected to work with a client and participate in their journey. However, great counselors recognize we cannot be a match for every client and may recommend clients work with a different therapist; someone with specialized training or expertise.
Stress and Depression Treatment
Everyday stress is manageable for many people. However, anyone can be susceptible to mental health issues. Some factors that increase risk for mental illness include family history, biology, and life experiences. Trauma is what happens when life circumstances overwhelm a person’s ability to cope. Some of the factors to consider with trauma are the severity of the traumatic event, and number of traumatic events across the lifespan. Very often folks present for counseling with the chief complaint of depression. Trauma informed therapists will conduct a “BioPsychoSocial” (Biological/Psychological/Sociological) history assessment to peel back the layers in getting to know the client.
Sometimes what we think of as normal, everyday stress is actually trauma. Stuff that over time, has overwhelmed our ability to cope. These can include unresolved memories or events of the past, or psychological “triggers” in the present that could be causing EXTREME stress responses.
So, how do we know the difference between a trigger and normal everyday stress? I am so glad you asked. 1) Swearing. 2) “You” (blame) statements. 3) All or nothing statements, such as “You always!…” or “You never…” 4) Rage over things that rationally are not a big deal. When I ask clients what made them angry, they almost always say, “I can’t remember what made me so mad, but it was something stupid.” Anger inversely affects our ability to think rationally and becomes dangerous because it makes people feel powerful. All of these are extreme reactions to stress.
Real power comes from inner peace, self-control, and letting go of self-doubt. This becomes the gift of therapy – it is the gift we give ourselves. Ultimately the goal is increasing awareness with clients, and learning to let go.
Also, there are relatively new forms of treatment for depression, such as Low Energy Neurofeedback System (LENS), or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation