At a time where there has been such a heightened degree of life strain and challenges encountered, ironically there is still apprehension about acquiring help in the form of mental health assistance. So, let’s consider a few common mental health myths.
1. “My issues are not serious enough for therapy.” The truth: Some people have trepidation of seeking therapy for personal problems they see as seemingly inconsequential. Possibly they see it as being a threshold that needs to be met before seeking counseling. This is further from the truth. A client does not need to experience a major life crisis to take advantage of therapy. In fact, the prime time to seek therapy is when a potential client begins to experience changes in their thinking, mood and/or behavior associated with some cause, regardless of how minor or major the cause. That person who is experiencing it best defines their personal experience with distress or pain. There are no little or big issues for therapy, there are only ‘real issues’ that a person has had a difficult time managing on their own. Therapy is not just about crisis management, but is also beneficial in addressing daily stressors, guiding one’s process of desired change and in improving one’s quality of life. Just like when one takes appropriate measures and seeks out a medical doctor when necessary for physical ailments, the same applies to seeking out a therapist to help with dealing with mental health ails. Assisting our clients to effectively manage stress involves utilization of effective stress-management treatment approaches: mindfulness, health and wellness emphasizing a self-care approach, and empowerment. The method of mindfulness is universal in that it can be implemented in a number of settings and across disciplines and client demographics; therefore, it can be readily integrated into clinical settings. We encourage the employ of mindfulness techniques into daily practice as a way to alleviate mental and physical distress and constitute a safe and effective approach for reducing stress. Mind-body practices include meditation, yoga, acupuncture, breathing exercises, relaxation training, qigong, and tai chi. In managing and/or preventing heightened distress, when in a difficult or challenging situation, we at The Victorious Mind emphasize how it is best to be mindful and fully aware of your total being (physical and emotional) in the moment versus being unaware and overly reactive.
Over several years of practice, I have worked in a variety of treatment venues, including but not limited to community-based mental health clinics, hospitals, and universities. Moreover, I have worked extensively in brief and long-term therapy addressing the needs of individuals, couples, and families. In the early years of my career, I found myself attending to the needs of those referred to the community clinic as part of a psychiatric treatment discharge, or the patients in hospitals who were already undergoing medical care in addition to their psychological treatment. I was also able to provide care to college students utilizing campus access to counseling or mental health centers. Although these experiences were rewarding, I became highly disappointed in being unable to effectively reach those “clients from other points of reference.” I also had limited exposure to other significant populations who were in need of mental health services.
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