Erin Carpenter, Author at Thrive Counseling

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Where Can You Get Therapy for Depression?

When you break a leg, you see an orthopedist. When you have a cavity, you see the dentist. These are all standard actions for standard issues, but unfortunately the same can’t always be said when it comes to mental health. Mental health issues are also known as “silent killers” because a large percentage of those who suffer from common mental health issues such as depression never get the help they need. If you’re ready to finally move your life forward and help get yourself on the path out of depression, you will need professional help for the best outcome. For most this is in the form of therapy. If you’re finally ready to seek a therapist to help you with depression, you need to know where to start, but let’s help you on that end. So, Where Can You Get Therapy for Depression? Hospital If you live in a small town, you may not have the therapy resources that larger cities do, but if you have a hospital, you should be able to find help. It’s difficult to make that first move but if you’re having trouble finding therapy for your depression, take that step and call your local hospital for therapy and depression resources. Psychologist/Psychiatrist Office Not all psychologists and psychiatry offices are created equally. You want to find a therapist who specializes in depression. Not all therapy is good therapy either so take your time, look up reviews and ratings, and talk to any prospective doctors or therapists before setting up any sessions. Therapists/Counselors A therapist doesn’t have to have a Ph.D. to be able to help you, so keep your options open. There are many independent therapy and counseling offices across the country that can provide help without having an MD or Ph.D. attached to their last name. In/Out Patient Mental Health Facility We get it, it can be difficult to swallow your pride and call a mental health facility, but they are there to help you and those like you. A mental health facility can help get you set up with therapy and can make other recommendations to help you get better. Therapy for depression is out there and available, but its’ up to you to get started. Use the list above to find depression and therapy resources, and start getting the help you not only need but deserve, today.

3 Things to Know About National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week

There’s a reason that mental illnesses have the nickname “silent killers.” There is still a stigma associated with mental illness, so many people suffer alone, and never seek the help they need. Some of the most common forms of unspoken mental illness in the country are anxiety and depression. No one is immune to these mental health issues, yet many suffer silently. To cut through misunderstanding and to give the voiceless a voice, we observe National Anxiety and Awareness Week, which is observed May 7th through 13th in 2017. Let’s learn more about the National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week and what it’s all about. What to Know About National Anxiety & Depression Awareness Week Anxiety and Depression Affect More People than You Think Studies and surveys show that anxiety is the most diagnosed mental illness in the country at around 40 million Americans or 18 percent of the general population. Out of that number, half of those are dual-diagnosed with depression. Even though those numbers are high, most people stay quiet about their anxiety and depression. National Anxiety and Depression Week is a Great Time to Find Help National Anxiety and Depression Week is not only about awareness, but finding sufferers the help they need. If you or someone you know is suffering from anxiety or depression, take advantage of the week. Many mental health websites that offer free literature and more during National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week. The Major Goal of National Anxiety and Depression Week is to Destroy Stigma As stated earlier, many people suffer from anxiety and depression due to the social stigma, despite the fact these illnesses affect a sizable part of the population. One of the major goals of National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week is to create more awareness to help eliminate stigma. When the stigma surrounding these illnesses is gone, you’ll find much more people getting the help they need. Even though thousands of Americans suffer from anxiety and depression, many do not seek the help they need. National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week educates people to let them know they’re not alone, to help stamp out the social stigma surrounding anxiety and depression, and to finally get people the help they need.

3 Types of OCD Therapy to Be Aware Of

Mental illness can come in many different forms. Mental illness may have a small impact on someone’s life to all the way up to a life-altering and crippling mental condition. Of the various forms of mental illness across the country, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is often one of the least understood conditions that can impact peoples’ lives in a big way. OCD can grind the sufferer’s quality of life down as the obsessions and compulsions take over every facet of their day-to-day life, but luckily OCD sufferers can get some help. To cut through some of the misinformation about OCD, let’s look at some of the more common OCD therapies. 3 Types of OCD Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy The most common form of counseling for OCD therapy comes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT.) CBT therapy analyzes behaviors and actions and gives you tools to change the way you think and behave. This is helpful to OCD sufferers who need help in learning how to address their obsessions and compulsions in a positive manner. CBT has been used for several years and has proven successful. CBT can be performed by a certified counselor, through an outpatient program, and through “day camp” intensive programs. CBT coupled with medication is the most popular form of OCD therapy in the United States. In-Patient Therapy/Residential For more serious cases of OCD, in-patient treatment may be recommended. In in-patient therapy, patients will work with counselors and professionals in a variety of therapies including CBT, one-on-one counseling, group therapy, medication, and more, all under the watchful eyes and safe confines of a mental health facility. This has been proven effective for OCD sufferers who can’t seem to get better with common therapy or outpatient programs. Drastic Options In very rare cases, more drastic options may be taken for OCD that is resistant to typical forms of therapy. In the absolute worst cases of OCD, doctors may recommend deep brain stimulation, a gamma knife procedure, and even brain surgery. Again, these forms of treatments are only for severe cases of OCD that aren’t responding to less invasive methods of treatment. While there are many ways to treat OCD, the most common are CBT therapy, in-patient programs, and invasive treatments when the OCD can’t be licked. If you feel that your condition or the condition of a loved one is impacting your life, make the call to a therapist’s office to start getting the help needed today.

If Your Loved One is Sexually Assaulted: Be The Listener-Not The Fixer

Most loved ones ask me about the single most important thing they can do to help a survivor. My answer is always the same: you need to be a listener. It sounds very simple, but it’s a difficult task to simply listen and not try to “fix” anything. When someone we love is in pain, it’s natural to try to bring them out of that pain or help them identify the cause. Just like the survivor is learning to practice acceptance and to simply be with their emotions, your job is to listen and validate how they feel. When you focus on being a “fixer,” the survivor is often left feeling unheard and frustrated. When listening to your loved one, be sure to communicate that you are hearing them and validate their feelings. You can say things like: That must be very hard to deal with. I would feel the same way in your situation. I can see where you are coming from. That must be difficult, and I want you to know that I hear you and I’m here for you. If you find yourself being pulled into “fixer mode,” and you do want to make a suggestion, make sure that you ask first. You can always help your loved one to problem-solve while avoiding invalidating them. You can say, “I hear you and I wonder if you want some help with this? I could give you some suggestions but I want to make sure that would feel okay for you.”

3 Things to Know About Counseling Awareness Month

April is National Counseling Awareness Month. Per the American Counseling Association, the purpose of the Counseling Awareness Month is “a time to celebrate the counseling profession, showcase the important work counselors do in communities nationwide, and educate the public about the many ways in which all types of counselors empower others to live more fulfilling lives.” It’s not too difficult to get on board with that message, but many aren’t aware of Counseling Awareness Month and what it means to thousands of people nationwide. Let’s get more in depth for counseling by exploring what you should know about Counseling Awareness Month. 3 Things to Know About Counseling Awareness Month Counseling is More Than “Serious Issues” The goal of any awareness campaign is to cut through the misinformation and inform on a topic, and there is plenty of misinformation when it comes to counseling. Counseling Awareness Month exists to let people know counseling is more than serious issues. Counseling does contend with serious mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and others but it is used for relationships, life advice, and so much more. This Year’s Theme is “Train Your Brain with Counseling” Counseling Awareness Month holds themes for their awareness and this year’s campaign is “Train Your Brain with Counseling.” The theme will focus on how counseling can help sharpen your brain, and open new possibilities. You can visit the American Counseling Association’s website to learn more about the goals of this year’s campaign. Counseling Awareness Gives a Voice to the Counseling Community The number one goal of Counseling Awareness Month is to help give a voice to the thousands of counselors across the country, and their clients. Despite being 2017, there is still a stigma associated with counseling, often due to misinformation or misunderstanding. The awareness month wants to inform people of the true practices and purposes of counseling and to give a voice to a large but shy community. If one person learns something new about counseling, then the Counseling Awareness Month has done its job. Visit the ACA’s website to learn more about this year’s campaign, as well as how counseling helps thousands of people across the country.

Are Eating Disorders a Mental Health Issue?

It’s unfortunate that there is such a stigma associated with eating disorders in this country. Most of the time where there is a stigma with an issue, it’s due to ignorance, and that’s the same case when it comes to eating disorders. Many people don’t know how to deal with eating disorders and some don’t even if their issues are due to mental illness or not. Let’s cut through some of this misinformation by looking at the link between eating disorders and mental illness. So, Are Eating Disorders a Mental Health Issue? If you feel like symptoms associated with your health, weight, and food are having a negative impact on your life, then yes, you may be dealing with a mental health issue presenting itself in the form of an eating disorder. Symptoms such as severely limiting your intake of food and nutrients, binging, binging, and purging, obsession with weight loss, inducing vomiting, and extreme amounts of exercise are not normal for a healthy individual. These types of symptoms cannot be attributed to other parts of the body. When you suffer from cirrhosis of the liver, you treat the liver. When you have a broken toe, you put the toe in a split. In the case of eating disorders and symptoms of eating disorders, the issue is coming from your brain. Since this is where the issues are coming from, this is the area you must treat. When you have a mental illness, you must treat the body and the mind. While there are several different causes of eating disorders, it is a certainty that all eating disorders become better under professional treatment. Because there are many different causes behind eating disorders, there are several forms of treatment. Treatment of eating disorders may come in the form of one-on-one counseling or therapy, group therapy, and in some cases outpatient and inpatient treatments depending on the severity of the eating disorder. If you feel you or someone you know is dealing with an eating disorder, it’s best to act before something too damaging happens. A good place to start are mental health support lines and calling local therapy and offices around your area. The sooner you start taking care of an eating disorder, the better the outcome is likely to be.

3 Ways to Tell If You Suffer from Anxiety

If you’ve never been close to mental illness, or have never experienced symptoms of mental illnesses yourself, it may be difficult to recognize the signs. Anxiety is one of the more common mental illnesses found around the country and can affect people in a variety of ways. There is a difference between general nervousness or hesitancy, and life-altering anxiety. It may be difficult to tell the difference between just having a nervous mindset and diagnosable anxiety, so how can you tell? Let’s review three common signs of anxiety to give you more information about this common and notorious condition. How to Tell If You Suffer from Anxiety Are You Having Daily Troubles Dealing with Fears? It’s normal to worry, it’s even normal to fret over something, but a constant fear that something is wrong, that you didn’t do something right, or that something bad is about to happen is not normal. If fears and worrying thoughts are constantly bombarding you to the point of disrupting your daily life, you may have anxiety that is considered a real issue. Have You Noticed Changes Physiologically? It’s hard to pinpoint when diagnosable anxiety begins, but physiological signs are often a signal. Some physiological signs of anxiety include insomnia or trouble falling to sleep, upset stomach, weakness, lethargy, increased blood pressure, gastrointestinal issues, increased heart rate, and many others. Anxiety may be linked with other mental illness like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), depression, and others. Have You Suffered from a Panic Attack? A panic attack is a scary presentation of anxiety and can be debilitating for most. Symptoms of a panic attack including feeling hot or cold, numbness in the fingers and other parts of the body, trouble breathing, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, sweating, dizziness, blurred vision, shaking, and a sometimes an overwhelming fear that you are losing control, or “going crazy.” Panic attacks can be ugly and are a prime symptom of anxiety. There are many different presentations of anxiety and many different symptoms. The preceding three signs are some of the more obvious symptoms of anxiety but it can be different for everybody. If you feel like anxiety is disrupting your daily life, it’s time to make the call to a local therapist or your doctor. You can only relieve the symptoms of anxiety once you start treating it.

How to Deal with Relatives During the Holidays

For some, the holidays are a wonderful time of the year where they get to see distant relatives, hang out around the hearth, and trade stories with your family. For others, though, the holidays can be a time where you must listen to a racist uncle, deal with a mother that’s panicking to get the Christmas spread ready, and a grandfather who’s sitting in the corner getting drunk. This type of holiday pressure can be rough on anyone, but it can be worse if you have mental health issues of your own such as anxiety or depression. You likely have your own personal ways of coping with relatives over the holidays, but they not be the healthiest ways to cope. Let’s view this from a mental health standpoint and look at healthy ways to deal with your family over the holiday season. Dealing with Relatives over the Holidays Set Boundaries/Have a Plan Set boundaries for yourself before you go into a family event. Make rules to yourself including who you shouldn’t talk, controversial topics that you should stay away from, where you should sit, and even how to get out if things get rough. It also helps to give yourself time parameters to make you feel more comfortable, e.g. limit yourself to only 3-4 hours at a certain event. Don’t Make Things Personal When you have rough relatives it’s easy to take things personally. Most of the time any criticisms or arguments lobbed after you aren’t even meant to be personal. Remember the holidays are not all about you and don’t take things too personally. Try to go in with a happy, open spirit and remember that the holidays are for the entire family. Have Realistic Expectations It’s easy to think, “This year will be different,” and it may be, but try to go to any family functions with realistic expectations. Your grandmother is still likely to ask if you’ve met anyone, and your aunt is likely going to disparage an entire race of people, so keep your head up! The holidays can be tough on people, especially if there are mental health issues in the mix. Before going to any holiday event set boundaries, plan, don’t take things personally and have realistic expectations. With these tips and more, you may be able to enjoy yourself this holiday season.

Is There a Connection Between Depression and the Holidays?

Some people can’t wait for the holidays to arrive, while others dread when they look at the calendar and see Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s all coming up. If you experience mental health issues such as depression, it may almost seem like when the holidays roll around, your depression and levels of anxiety seem to grow. So, is it normal to feel this way? Let’s review what impact the holiday season can have on your mental health issues such as depression and what you can do to turn the holiday season around into an enjoyable experience. Is There Really a Connection Between Depression and the Holidays? Like many other things with mental illness, there is plenty of misinformation regarding depression and the holiday season. There has long been a social rumor that suicide rates peak during the Christmas and holiday season, but this isn’t true. In fact, according to the trade publication Psychology, Today suicide rates are actually at their lowest during December. Since suicide rates have a direct correlation with depression, but they’re actually low during the holidays, where does this information come from? There actually is a typical increase in depression during the holiday season, but it’s possible a seasonal influx of depression can be contributed to the season itself and not to the dread of meeting family members. The human body loves and needs sunlight, so when the levels of sunlight drop during the short days of winter (not so coincidentally the same time as the holiday season) our bodies can be affected. This is known as seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD.) SAD can cause our circadian rhythm to go haywire, can cause a drop in your serotonin levels and a drop in your body’s natural production of melatonin. All these factors can make even people with average mental health feel depressed and can make depression already being suffered by others worse. The fact that SAD coincides with the holiday season may be a reason for the influx of heightened depression over the holidays, compounded with other personal issues you may experience over the holidays. There is a connection between the holidays and depression, but it could be contributed to the low levels of sunlight. If your depression seems to spike over the holidays, have a chat with your counselor, therapist, or psychiatrist to see what you can do to make the holidays full of cheer, and not depression.

3 Things That Might Surprise You About Eating Disorders

Illnesses can be scary because we don’t know what’s going on in our bodies or head. There’s nothing wrong with fearing an issue, and many times the more you know about the issue or illness, the easier it can be for you to meet the challenge of conquering it. This includes both bodily and mental illnesses. Mental illnesses like eating disorders can be so frightening because you don’t know why you’re feeling the way you do. There’s plenty of misinformation out there about eating disorders so to shed light on the problem, let’s examine 3 things you didn’t know about eating disorders. 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Eating Disorders Eating Disorders Can Happen to Everyone It’s easy to think of eating disorders as confined to runway models but eating disorders affect a wide variety of people. Eating disorders don’t care if you were raised poor, or rich, what color your skin, what your weight is, they can strike anyone, anywhere. If you’ve been arguing with yourself, “An eating disorder can’t happen to me!” Think again. There are Many Types of Eating Disorders There are several types of eating disorders out there and they all can present different symptoms. Binging and purging are the most widely-known of eating disorders but eating disorders can also show symptoms in midnight snacking, body image issues, self-esteem issues, the consumption of non-edible items and more. Eating Disorders Can Be Helped The good news is that even the worst of eating disorders can be helped if those suffering seek help. There are many different therapies and strategies to help eating disorders including self-help, counseling sessions, group therapy, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative services and more. If you or someone you know may be suffering from an eating disorder, just know help is readily available. It can be tough to cut through the clutter, especially when it comes to mental illness, but it’s important to have the facts. When it comes to eating disorders, know that they can happen to anyone, can present in a wide range of symptoms, but they can be helped. If you or someone you know is worried about a potential eating disorder, time lost is dangerous so have them contact a therapist, counselor, of other eating disorder resource today to get the help they need.

How Do I Find a Therapist in my Network?

We’ve all been there. You’ve decided you’re interested in finding a counselor in your area. You may even know what type of therapist is right for you. But first, do they take your insurance? Insurance networks can be really confusing, especially with therapy and counseling. Here’s how to find a therapist in your insurance network: Call your chosen therapist and ask them. Ok this seems obvious, but I have definitely had first-time consultations with clients who take the time to come into my office and have never asked me whether I take their insurance or not. Most therapists list on their website which insurances they take, but if it doesn’t be sure to call and ask. Understand the Difference between In-Network and Out-Of-Network Benefits It’s crucial to understand in-network vs. out-of-network benefits when you are looking for a therapist. In-Network means that a therapist has a contract with your insurance company and has agreed to see the plan’s members for a fixed price. You, as the insured person, are only responsible for a co-pay to your therapist. You can go see any therapist that is in-network and only pay the co-pay each time you see them. Out-of-network means that a therapist has not agreed to join the insurance plan’s network and does not have a contract with them. So you, as the insurance holder, as responsible to pay the therapist. Some plans will reimburse you for your costs, and any therapist can give you the correct receipt (usually called a Superbill), which you then mail into your insurance company to be reimbursed. Some plans don’t have this benefit. So be sure you call your insurance company and ask. You can call as say “I want to see a therapist that’s out-of-network, can I be reimbursed for those expenses?” Use an Online Listing to Find a Therapist that’s In-Network for You There are a few online listings for therapists. Therapists pay a fee each mont to put their profile on the website, and you can search by zip code, specialty, and (importantly) by insurance company. The two biggest ones are Psychology Today and GoodTherapy. When All Else Fails, Call Your Insurance Company for a List You can call Member Services for your insurance company and ask for a list of all the in-network therapists in your area. Why is this a last-ditch effort? Well, lately insurance companies have come under fire for not having updated lists (meaning the list includes therapists that have moved, closed their practices, etc). This is the problem of Narrow Networks. But if you’re still trying to find a therapist that’s in-network for your insurance company, it’s worth calling the insurance company directly.

3 Reasons You Might Benefit from Counseling

It’s easy to think you can solve your problems on your own but even the strongest of individuals need help sometimes. Self-help books, talking with loved ones, or seeking online counsel have their places in helping you overcome mental or emotional barriers. Sometimes you need real help to get your life back where it should be. The best way to find this help is through a certified counselor or therapist. It can be difficult to get over preconceived notions or stigmas about counseling. It is one of the best ways to get your life moving forward again. Let’s look at three different situations of when its best to stop trying to solve your problems on your own and why you might need a counselor. 3 Reasons You Might Need Counseling in Life If You’re Stuck in a Rut People often try several healing techniques or self-help before finally turning themselves over to the help of a counselor. If you don’t seem to go anywhere with your own self-help and you feel “stuck” in a mental or emotional rut, it’s time to make an appointment with a counselor. If you are your wit’s end, you have nothing to lose when meeting with a counselor. If You’re Having Dangerous Thoughts Even the happiest people go through dark times. If you’re having dangerous thoughts such as suicidal or homicidal notions, you need to seek a counselor immediately. These types of thinking patterns are not normal, and need to be taken care of before anyone is at real risk, including yourself. If you are having suicidal or homicidal thoughts, call a counselor, or help hotline. If You Need More Resources A counselor will do what they can for you during sessions, but sometimes the best help a counselor can give to you is other resources. These resources could include literature, different patterns of thinking, and other support groups. With a counselor, you get the individual efforts to help yourself along with other resources and suggestions. It can be difficult to take the steps to meet with a counselor but a counselor is trained and ready to help you resolve your issues. If you’re stuck in a rut, are having dangerous thoughts, or just want more resources to help yourself don’t stay stuck, call a counselor right now.