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How
can a mental health professional help? Coping
with a physical illness is rough, but if you are are
suffering from emotional or mental distress, it is
particularly difficult to know where to go or who to see
in order to get help. Once
you do consider going to a mental health professional,
you may have some basic doubts about whether your
"problem" warrants therapy or if therapy can
really help at all. Many
of us turn to our friends or family members during these
trying times, only to find that they become overly
concerned about us and try to fix our
"problem" bu telling us how we need to change
or what we need to do differently in order to feel
better. This can be particularly frustrating. Mental
health professions are individuals who have specific
training, will listen, and can be objective, supportive
and understanding. They have both he knowledge and skill
to provide what you need.
What
different type of therapies are available? If
you are considering mental health treatment, you are
facing a wide choice of therapies as well as
practitioners. Many therapists favor a particular
theoretical approach, though often they use an
"integrated" approach. In
psychoanalysis (the original technique you often
see on television, movies or cartoons) a couch is used
and a person lays on it and says what comes into their
thoughts. People are encouraged to explore and confront
troubling childhood experiences. In
psychodynamic therapy, a more modern version of
psychoanalytic therapy, the emphasis is on discovering
unconscious conflicts and defense mechanisms that
inhibit "adult behavior." Interpersonal
therapy emphasizes enhancing relationships as well
as communication skills. Cognitive
therapy is devoted to helping people recognize and
change distorted ways of thinking. Finally,
Behavioral Therapy seeks to replace harmful
behaviors with more adaptive ones.
Who
is Who in the mental health profession? There
are also many different types of mental health
professionals including psychiatrists, psychoanalysts,
psychologists, social workers and marriage and family
therapists and psychiatric nurses. Psychiatrists
are physicians who have completed three years of
residence training in psychiatry following four years of
medical school and one year internship. All
psychiatrists are trained in psychiatric diagnosis and
pharmacotherapy (medication for mental health), but only
some residence programs provide extensive training in
psychotherapy. Psychoanalysts have a degree either in
psychiatry, psychology, or social work, plus at least
two years of extensive supervised training at a
psychoanalytic institute. Psychologists
have a Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D. and are licensed
professionals with doctoral level training (five or six
years of graduate school) typically including a year of
clinical internship and a year of postdoctoral training
and experience. Social Workers and MFCC's typically
train in a one or two year Master's degree program that
involves fieldwork in a wide range of setting.
Psychiatric Nurses are R.N.'s who work in a mental
health setting.
What
if I don't like the therapist that I see? Each
therapist, regardless of the type or length of training,
is a unique individual; therefore therapeutic styles
vary from mental health professional to mental health
professional. So, if you don't feel comfortable with one
therapist, don't give up altogether. It is your right to
request an interview with a therapist in order to find
the right fit for you. This may take place in person or
on the telephone and you may or may not be charged
depending upon the therapist. A good therapist realizes
that a "good fit" between you and them is very
important and will not take it personally if you choose
another therapist. They will want what is best for you.
What
types of problems does a mental health professional
treat? Mental
health professionals are trained to work with all types
of people with many types of problems. Some of the
issues or problems addressed in therapy include anxiety
and panic disorders, depression and suicidal thoughts,
eating disorders, phobias, substance abuse, problems
with anger and assertiveness, codependency, grief, as
well as family, couple or relationship problems.
How
much can I expect to pay? The
cost of mental health treatment varies widely depending
upon the mental health professional. Typically, the more
extensive the training that they have, the more they
charge. Most accept insurance, which either covers the
cost of treatment or covers a portion of the cost. If
you do not have insurance or if your insurance plan is
inadequate, there may be other options, depending upon
your financial situation. Some therapists offer a
sliding scale; there are county programs that offer
mental health treatment as well as alcohol and drug
rehabilitation for very low fees. Hotlines or rape
crisis centers are also a good resource because they can
offer counseling after a sexual assault, even if it
happened years ago. Finding
the right mental health professional may seem
overwhelming at first, but if you or someone you know
needs help, it is worth the effort to make some calls
and get connected to a professional. If you find a
professional to help, it could change your life for the
better. |
