Clinical Psychotherapy

I often hear people saying that they do not want to have a clinical experience with therapy.  I am told that people of think of a sterile room with a cold therapist who only says “how does that make you feel?”  Another thought is that therapy is a procedure. The client sits there and is changed…much as the idea of how a car is dropped off at a mechanic.  Again, this is not true. Then what is therapy? First of all, the client is in charge.  It is important to focus on what the client feels will be helpful.  Yes,…
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Mental Health First Aid

I recently became certified as a Mental Health First Aid instructor. I am looking forward to helping the Lafayette Indiana Community increase awareness of mental health issues and train community members to help those in need. What is Mental Health First Aid?  According to www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org “Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking public education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Mental Health First Aid USA is managed, operated, and disseminated by three national authorities — the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Maryland Department of Health and…
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Shall I Begin Psychiatry or Counseling?

While often misidentified as the same, psychiatry and counseling are actually quite different. To begin, let me try and differentiate psychiatry from counseling. Counseling is traditionally focused on the practice of "talk therapy," or “psychotherapy.” That is, the process of working through problem/life issues by talking them through with a professional counselor. Such a professional will help clients to process their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and will help clients to build strategies for improving their moods, lives and relationships. Psychiatry (with some exceptions) is generally focused on helping individuals to overcome specific problem issues with medication. Medication in Psychiatry Treatment…
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Mental Health vs. Mental Illness

We hear so much about Mental Illness on a regular basis. That is one of those terms that is frequently thrown around. Actually, I don't care for the term at all. Who wants to be told they have a Mental Illness? I doubt many do. I come from the perspective of Mental Health. Instead of concentrating on illness or problems, I help my clients focus on the positives. Just think, if a therapist focuses on the symptoms of Mental Illness, most of the time and energy is spent discussing the problem, which is demotivating. When the focus is on Mental…
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