Monday, February 25, 2019
Whisper Out Loud: Who Do I Turn To?
Whisper Out Loud: Who Do I Turn To?: Who Do I Turn To? Professional Listeners..... OK, now what? In last week's post I wrote about Unmasking Mental Health. I've...
Who Do I Turn To?
Who Do I Turn To? Professional Listeners.....
OK, now what?
In last week's post I wrote about Unmasking Mental Health. I've had many questions and emails about what should they do now? Who do they talk to? Many were confused as to where to go for help. There are so many titles today, that it can become quite confusing. One young lady told me that she recently heard about having a Life Coach. She said that, that added to her confusion. I can completely understand the confusion. A Life Coach helps those who are transitions in their careers or other areas in their professional life. I took the time to search the Internet to find the difference between the most common professional listeners. There are comparisons between two or the most three professionals. In this post , you will find who are the main ones, what they do, the differences and similarities between each professional listeners.
The List of Professional Listeners that will be explained are:
Licensed Mental Health Counselor:
A counselor is a person who is professionally trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems. Professional counselors help their clients point out goals and solutions to issues that are causing emotional stress. They also help enhance communication and coping skills, raise self-esteem and promote positive behavior change that can help their client's mental health. Counselors would end their counseling with their client when their client's problems either become managed or solved. There are different types of Counselors that can help with particular issues a person may have. There are:
A therapists or you may have heard the term psychotherapist, is a licensed mental health professional that helps clients make improvements in their lives, develop better emotional, communication and cognitive skills, reduce some symptoms of mental illness and learn how to cope with some challenges. Therapists will help their clients cope through crises such as break-ups, abuse, suicidal thoughts, grief, trauma, etc. Overall, therapists are there to help improve your mental health.
Psychologists:
Most psychologists has a Masters Degree or Doctoral Degree in psychology which studies the behavior of the mind and behaviors. Licensed psychologists are qualified to do counseling and psychotherapy, which perform psychological testing and provide treatment for mental disorders. A psychologist can't write prescriptions because they are not medical doctors. Psychologists usually counsel those who have mental illnesses.
Psychiatrist:
Now Psychiatrists are medical doctors that specializes and are experts in mental health. They diagnose and treat people with mental illness. They have a deep understanding of physical and mental health and how both can affect the other. Psychiatrists help people with mental issues such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and addictions. But psychiatrists isn't just for those with mental issues, they don't box themselves into one area. They also dwell in the psychologists arena too. Some people can see a psychiatrist concerning major life changes, major depression and anxiety, especially those who have anxiety attacks, suicidal thoughts, obsessive thoughts, violent or emotional outbursts etc. A Psychiatrist can prescribe medication.
This is just a few things that each Professional Listeners do. All of them and those that I didn't list can help you in your mental state. The first step is saying that you need help. The next step is finding the help you need. Research and find a therapist within your area that you can talk to. Understand that you may need to sit with them for a couple of sessions before you become fully comfortable. That's the key. You want to sit down and talk to someone that you are comfortable with and know that whatever is discussed during your session with your therapist is between the both of you, unless you are a threat to society or yourself and if YOU tell people what is discussed between you and your therapist.
Find your therapist. Find the help that you need. That is where the healing process can begin. It won't happen overnight. Seeing your therapist can be for short or long term. It all depends on your progress. But go as long as it will take. Remember you have YEARS of baggage that have to be unearthed and pulled from the root. It will not feel good. It will be painful at times but its a process that you have to journey through to embrace the new you, the new way of thinking, the whole you that you are finally piecing back together.
Next week's post: Accountability Partners
OK, now what?
In last week's post I wrote about Unmasking Mental Health. I've had many questions and emails about what should they do now? Who do they talk to? Many were confused as to where to go for help. There are so many titles today, that it can become quite confusing. One young lady told me that she recently heard about having a Life Coach. She said that, that added to her confusion. I can completely understand the confusion. A Life Coach helps those who are transitions in their careers or other areas in their professional life. I took the time to search the Internet to find the difference between the most common professional listeners. There are comparisons between two or the most three professionals. In this post , you will find who are the main ones, what they do, the differences and similarities between each professional listeners.
The List of Professional Listeners that will be explained are:
- Licensed Mental Health Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrist
Licensed Mental Health Counselor:
A counselor is a person who is professionally trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems. Professional counselors help their clients point out goals and solutions to issues that are causing emotional stress. They also help enhance communication and coping skills, raise self-esteem and promote positive behavior change that can help their client's mental health. Counselors would end their counseling with their client when their client's problems either become managed or solved. There are different types of Counselors that can help with particular issues a person may have. There are:
- Individual Counseling: A personalize session with a counselor that can help the person deal with personal issues such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, relationship and marital issues, etc.
- Couples Counseling: This session is for couples who are married, engaged or just in a relationship. This type of counseling can help re-establish goals, intimacies and realistic expectations within the relationships.
- Family Counseling: This counseling session deals with sudden life changes or negative lifestyles of a family member that impacts the family on a deeper level. Most times counselors speak to the family as a whole. They address concerns around parenting, sibling conflict, divorce, death, etc.
- Group Counseling: This session is where you are in a group of 8 to 10 people that have the same issues that you are dealing with, like anger, depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, physical abuse, ect. These groups are lead by one or two lead counselors.
Therapists:
Most psychologists has a Masters Degree or Doctoral Degree in psychology which studies the behavior of the mind and behaviors. Licensed psychologists are qualified to do counseling and psychotherapy, which perform psychological testing and provide treatment for mental disorders. A psychologist can't write prescriptions because they are not medical doctors. Psychologists usually counsel those who have mental illnesses.
Psychiatrist:
Now Psychiatrists are medical doctors that specializes and are experts in mental health. They diagnose and treat people with mental illness. They have a deep understanding of physical and mental health and how both can affect the other. Psychiatrists help people with mental issues such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and addictions. But psychiatrists isn't just for those with mental issues, they don't box themselves into one area. They also dwell in the psychologists arena too. Some people can see a psychiatrist concerning major life changes, major depression and anxiety, especially those who have anxiety attacks, suicidal thoughts, obsessive thoughts, violent or emotional outbursts etc. A Psychiatrist can prescribe medication.
This is just a few things that each Professional Listeners do. All of them and those that I didn't list can help you in your mental state. The first step is saying that you need help. The next step is finding the help you need. Research and find a therapist within your area that you can talk to. Understand that you may need to sit with them for a couple of sessions before you become fully comfortable. That's the key. You want to sit down and talk to someone that you are comfortable with and know that whatever is discussed during your session with your therapist is between the both of you, unless you are a threat to society or yourself and if YOU tell people what is discussed between you and your therapist.
Find your therapist. Find the help that you need. That is where the healing process can begin. It won't happen overnight. Seeing your therapist can be for short or long term. It all depends on your progress. But go as long as it will take. Remember you have YEARS of baggage that have to be unearthed and pulled from the root. It will not feel good. It will be painful at times but its a process that you have to journey through to embrace the new you, the new way of thinking, the whole you that you are finally piecing back together.
Next week's post: Accountability Partners
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