Telehealth Services In Redding, Telehealth In Woodland https://namhs.com/category/telehealth/ Mental Healthcare Thu, 18 Jul 2024 19:54:58 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://namhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cropped-NAMHS-favicon-32x32.png Telehealth Services In Redding, Telehealth In Woodland https://namhs.com/category/telehealth/ 32 32 Therapy Can Help Couples Express Vulnerability And Grow https://namhs.com/therapy-helps-couples-express-vulnerability/ Thu, 18 May 2023 23:56:33 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14865 The post Therapy Can Help Couples Express Vulnerability And Grow appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>

Therapy can help two people grow closer. Unlike what movies often depict, couples therapy is more than a last attempt to save a “failing” relationship. For many people in emerging or long-term relationships, therapy helps them develop a strong foundation of love and trust.

How Therapy Can Help Couples
Having trust in a partner requires vulnerability.

50% of married couples will try couples therapy to address communication patterns, interpersonal issues, and conflict. Why? Because communicating openly with a partner requires vulnerability, and vulnerability requires trust.

With the right therapist and type of therapy, couples can experience better communication and trust while guided by professional support.

How Can Therapy Help Couples?

When sharing your life with someone, challenges are bound to appear. Many people do not have experience defining healthy boundaries, communicating with compassion, or listening to their partner. The way children witness their parents or guardians handle strong emotions and conflict will influence how they, as adults, handle conflict too.

Therapy changes lives and provides support for people who want to break unhealthy patterns, develop self-awareness, and communicate better with the people they love. As world-famous psychotherapist Esther Perel states in her MasterClass, “Do you need to understand yourself to understand others? My answer is yes.” Therapy is the key to helping people understand themselves at a deeper level.

Relationships Require a Mix of Safety and Freedom

How Therapy Can Help Couples
Relationships require a balance of safety and freedom.

Based on cultural expectations, familial values, and individual life experiences, people may require a unique balance of safety and freedom. Some people value interdependence and want to make every “couples decision” together; other people put their opinion first, not because they are “selfish,” but because self-reliance has helped them survive.

Therapy helps people understand each other at a deeper level by first unpacking self-awareness. The more people understand the root of their behavior and habits, the more easily they can understand the complex needs of their romantic partner.

We encourage residents in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, Monterey, Salinas, Red Bluff and Hollister to request an appointment to work with a NAMHS therapist in person or inquire about our online therapy care.

Schedule An Appointment

Are you in the Northern California area and in need of a therapist? To request an appointment contact our office.

The post Therapy Can Help Couples Express Vulnerability And Grow appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
How To Use A Life Balance Wheel: Tips From A Therapist https://namhs.com/life-balance-wheel/ Wed, 03 May 2023 19:48:38 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14779 The post How To Use A Life Balance Wheel: Tips From A Therapist appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>

A therapist may provide self-assessment tools like a “life balance wheel” to help people reflect and change their habits. It is always a good time to reflect on how grounded you feel in various areas of your life. A completed life balance wheel is a helpful visual that may make it easier to identify what areas of your life need more attention and care.

We hope this article on balance–complete with a life balance wheel visual–is useful to you on your mental health journey.

What is Life Balance?

Life Balance Wheel For Mental Health
Ask your therapist for a self-assessment tool like a life balance wheel.

Asking what balance is is a bit like asking what the meaning of life is: you may get different answers depending on who you ask and depending on their personal, spiritual, and social beliefs.

The dictionary from Oxford Languages defines balance as “a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.” Therapists help people figure out what elements of their life are not in a proportion that feels good, and develop a strategy to realign time and commitments. People can fall “out of balance” when they work too hard and have less time for friends and family; conversely, a toxic relationship might demand more time and attention, and make someone might feel out of balance and unable to devote enough time to their career or hobbies.

Therapists and counselors use cognitive therapy to discuss and address conflicts that people may face in their work-family balance.

How to Use a Life Balance Wheel

First, ask your therapist for a self-assessment tool like a life balance wheel. We recommend pairing this reflection with cognitive therapy, so you can actualize what habits you want to change to move toward balance. If you do not have a therapist, you can still print the life balance wheel from this article. Alternatively, you can draw a circle on a large piece of paper and make your own life balance wheel.

Once you have your life balance wheel, allot at least 10 minutes to sit down and reflect. Rate how satisfied you are, on a scale of 1–10, with each of the 8 categories in your life. On the life balance wheel in this article, those categories include family, relationships/love, career/study, wealth/finance, health/fitness, service/community, social/friends, and spiritual/self-time. Mark the ratings accordingly, so that the higher rankings show more areas filled in toward the outer edge of the circle.

You can also do this activity with your partner or an “accountability buddy” and discuss the reflections afterward that you feel comfortable sharing.

For Best Results, Prioritize Mental Health

Making a life balance wheel can help you realize what is in alignment and what needs fixing. Sometimes, what “needs fixing” is complex. Or, better said, what needs fixing is something that needs healing. For example, maybe after the self-assessment, you feel that you are not satisfied with your social/friends and your health/fitness category. But how do you work toward greater satisfaction in those areas, and in a way that feels sustainable for long-term growth and change?

Remember that therapy changes lives. With the life balance wheel, maybe there are underlying mental health issues at play that influence your satisfaction with various areas of your life. For example, therapy can help you gain tips to ease anxiety and depression, which in turn can influence the relationships in your life.

Life Balance Wheel For Mental Health
A therapist can help keep you accountable to your goals and also provides a deeper reflection on what your goals are.

Many people feel that having a therapist keeps them accountable to their goals and also provides a deeper reflection on what their goals are, and why. You also do not need to “hit rock bottom” to consider therapy; many people pursue mental health support when they are doing okay, but have a few areas of their life that they wish felt more balanced. Other people invest in their mental health when they want to gain helpful tools for navigating life.

Find the Right Therapist For You

Speaking with a healthcare professional can also bring balance and clarity into your life. At North American Mental Health Services, we believe that feeling better starts with finding someone to listen to your experiences.

If you or a loved one need help to manage life’s challenges, and you are interested in working with a therapist in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, Monterey, Salinas, Red Bluff and Hollister , or Monterey, contact us. NAMHS also offers online therapy.

Schedule An Appointment

Are you in the Northern California area and in need of a therapist? To request an appointment contact our office.

The post How To Use A Life Balance Wheel: Tips From A Therapist appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
Single And Loving It: How Therapy Helps People Live Well https://namhs.com/therapy-and-happily-living-single/ Thu, 27 Apr 2023 19:50:04 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14768 The post Single And Loving It: How Therapy Helps People Live Well appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>

Single people can live rich, meaningful lives, especially when they receive insight from therapy. It is normal to seek intimacy and connection with others, and there are many benefits from deep connections. It is also vital to begin with oneself and find out how to feel fulfilled, no matter the presence or absence of romantic love.

Therapy For Single People
Insight from therapy can help single people with living rich, meaningful lives.

Whether already finding happiness and fulfillment as a single person, or wanting to move toward a more joy-filled life in singlehood, there are lots of steps one can take.

There are many types of therapy. Each of them can help you unlock your best life.

Therapy helps people manage stress and learn more about themselves

In the 1950s, the societal image of therapy–based on movies and other media–was stigmatized. People raised in this generation often express how they did not seek therapy due to fear of being seen as “crazy” or “messed up.” Now, many people, academic institutions, and workplaces acknowledge that therapy is one of the healthiest practices anyone can do, regardless of their current mental state.

In sports, the best athletes have coaches and those coaches make them stronger, faster, and better. Therapists are like coaches but for everyone, and they offer professional support and often, decades of experience.

Newly single people might be processing recent changes and need someone to help them ascertain the next steps. Other people may feel great about their singlehood except for when big social events, like the holidays, occur and they wish they had helpful tips to manage stress.

Everyone in life, no matter their mental state, can benefit from a mental health coach.

Does Therapy Work For Everyone?

Therapy can benefit everyone depending on the quality of the therapy, the skill level of the therapist, and the effort people bring to their sessions. At NAMHS, our practitioners are LMFTs (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists), LCSWs (Licensed Clinical Social Workers), and LPCCs (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors). As general guidance, make sure that you find a therapist who is licensed.

If people resist therapy, it could be worth exploring that resistance with a therapist. Behind that behavior, is there a struggle with accepting help, trusting authority figures, or believing one deserves to feel better? If the latter reason resonates, that could mean that it is time to focus on self-love.

Therapy can be helpful when people experience transitions, such as a romantic breakup, death of a family member or friend, changes at work, or even seasonal changes. If therapy can change lives, why not give it a try?

Loving Yourself Matters, Whether Single or Not

Many people express the need to be loved by someone. There is nothing wrong with this desire, but it’s also important to love oneself. It can lead to unhealthy relationships when people lean on one person to remind them they are loveable and desirable. It is also a lot of pressure for one human to make someone feel that way all the time; in this case, prioritizing self-love might mean prioritizing platonic friendships that bring meaningful connection into one’s life.

Therapy For Single People
It’s also important to love oneself, single or in a relationship.

When people do not love themselves, whether out of shame, unprocessed trauma, etcetera, they also risk hurting other people. Ever heard the saying “hurt people hurt people?” It means that when people self-loathe, they often take that anger out on other people. The good news is that anyone can work toward loving themselves, even if the idea sounds intimidating or far-fetched.

One way to embrace self-love is to be more compassionate when plans or situations do not work out for you. For someone experiencing social anxiety while at a conference for work, they could “choose compassion” by reminding themselves of how awkward it can be to mingle–rather than berate themselves for getting overwhelmed. Or, if you are having a low self-image day, rather than beginning a crash diet, you could acknowledge the truth: you’re having a low self-image day. After acknowledging this, then you could seek a self-soothing activity that grounds you in the present moment, before making your next decision.

If you’ve ever heard someone say, “Oh I’m so stupid, sorry about that,” then you have heard someone who may struggle with self-love. You can respond to these kinds of statements by assuring that person, “You’re not stupid. You’re human.” This works in reverse too. For example, if your first thought after a simple mistake is, “I’m so stupid, I can’t believe I left my charging cord at work,” try to follow that statement with, “Actually, I’m not stupid. I’m human. And when I’m tired, I forget things more easily.”

By being more gentle with ourselves, we are more ready to extend compassion to others too.

Being Single and Loving Yourself is Possible

Each year, many people make resolutions like, “this is the year I will fall in love with someone.” As mentioned above, there is nothing inherently wrong with a resolution like this; however, as far as a goal you have more influence in making happen, it ranks fairly low. It can be hard to meet the right person, depending on various factors such as timing, openness, emotional availability, attraction, and compatibility.

If struck by loneliness, consider leaning into that “sharp point” as Pema Chodron writes in her book, When Things Fall Apart. With a licensed therapist, you can explore why being single scares you and begin the radical act of loving yourself as you are.

We encourage residents in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, Monterey, Salinas, Red Bluff and Hollister to request an appointment to work with a NAMHS therapist in person or inquire about our online therapy care.

Schedule An Appointment

Are you in the Northern California area and in need of a therapist? To request an appointment contact our office.

The post Single And Loving It: How Therapy Helps People Live Well appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
Why Adapting to Change is Difficult, According to Therapists https://namhs.com/adapting-to-change-therapists/ Wed, 15 Feb 2023 20:13:14 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14468 The post Why Adapting to Change is Difficult, According to Therapists appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>

Why Adapting to Change is Difficult, According to Therapists

According to therapists, it is natural for people to struggle with change. Two people may experience the same change differently based on their cumulative life experiences and beliefs. Adjustment disorders are also a possible reason why some people may struggle to navigate change. This disorder can occur at any age.
The exact cause of adjustment disorders is unknown. In general, they are considered an excessive response to a change. If you feel that any change in your life brings excessive stress, you may want to talk to a professional to gain tools to help you prepare for change in a way that feels empowering.

Therapy In Redding California
Working with a therapist may help navigate through life’s changes.

Tips from a Therapist: Expect Change

What happens if people start to expect change? It sounds easy at first, but if things are going well for you, the idea of things changing for worse can be frightening. It is natural to hesitate at the thought of everything shifting.

As said by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “Change is the only constant in life.” Life is unpredictable. So many people felt more stressed in the immediate unraveling of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, because they were faced with constant unknowns and changes. This made many people realize they needed therapy to feel supported and ready for the next inevitable change.

Find the Right Therapist For You

If there is one thing to expect from life, it is that life is full of changes. We live in a world with constant change, uncertainty, and challenges. At North American Mental Health Services, we know that adapting to these changes is hard. That is why we believe in finding someone who can listen to your experiences and give you helpful insight.

NAMHS has in-person therapists in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, Monterey, Salinas, Red Bluff and Hollister and online therapy care available via HomePsych.

Schedule An Appointment

Are you in the Northern California area and in need of a therapist? To request an appointment contact our office.

The post Why Adapting to Change is Difficult, According to Therapists appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
How Therapy Changes Lives https://namhs.com/how-therapy-changes-lives/ Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:06:56 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14461 The post How Therapy Changes Lives appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>

Therapy gives people the tools to manage crises, adjust to change, and thrive. Over the last few decades, the public stigma around therapy prevented thousands of people from receiving care that could change their lives.

Therapy Services In Northern California
Everyone could benefit from receiving quality therapy to help negotiate the daily struggles and joys of being human.

Now, with more people embracing therapy and celebrities sharing how it changed their lives, there is an increased awareness of how therapy can enhance the quality of everyday life.

What is the public stigma around therapy?

When people refer to the stigma of mental illness and therapy, they are referring to a widespread, negative perception of therapy and people who need therapy. When people internalize these associations with therapy, they are less likely to receive care.

Across the United States, people with negative beliefs towards therapy might think, “therapy is a sign of weakness” or “I am not ‘crazy,’ so why do I need therapy?” The reality is that everyone could benefit from receiving quality therapy that helps them negotiate the daily struggles and joys of being human.

Besides being frustrating for people in need of mental health support, the public stigma around therapy also prevents friends and family from understanding the complexity of mental health.

Celebrities Breaking Stigmas: Selena Gomez, A Case Study

Each year, celebrities share their mental health journey and discuss how therapy changed their lives. This year, Selena Gomez told Vogue about how therapy changed her life. Said how she wished “more people would talk about therapy.”

In particular, Gomez spoke of how dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, helps her find balance, support, and insight. DBT is one of three types of therapy that can help people with depression and anxiety.

Most therapy treatments can be done through in-office or online therapy appointments.

Find the Right Therapist For You

Therapists at North American Mental Health Services offer tangible ways to embrace anxiety and work with it so you can continue living a balanced life.

NAMHS has in-person therapists in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, Monterey, Salinas, Red Bluff and Hollister and online therapy care available via HomePsych.

If you or a loved one need help to manage life’s challenges, contact NAMHS.

Schedule An Appointment

Are you in the Northern California area and in need of a therapist? To request an appointment contact our office.

The post How Therapy Changes Lives appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
Tips from A Therapist On Processing Change https://namhs.com/tips-licensed-therapist-processing-change/ Wed, 01 Feb 2023 01:21:09 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14452 The post Tips from A Therapist On Processing Change appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>

Adaptation as Survival: Tips from a Licensed Therapist on Processing Change

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “Change is the only constant in life.” This quote summarizes one of the paradoxes of being human: life is full of changes. This is hard to accept. It may require relinquishing control, or adjusting one’s perception of control.

It is natural to fear change or to crave stability amidst a world that never stays the same. With the right support and tools, however, change can feel less scary. We hope this article, with quotes from Simeon Jones, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at NAMHS, provides insight to anyone who has survived trauma or navigated change.

Processing Trauma and Change: First Comes Acceptance

Part of being alive is being surrounded by changing environments. It may be tempting to ignore stressful events and how they impact oneself or one’s community.

As Simeon Jones writes in his article Healing from Trauma, “People might not realize they have been affected by trauma.” For example, Jones shares that while he was working in a hospital, he witnessed medical professionals move quickly past traumatic events, without time to process the trauma; eventually, a few people started exhibiting unwanted symptoms from a lack of acknowledging the trauma they faced each day. In this example, the change was negative and traumatic, as it referred to people dying or being violent.

Therapy In Redding California
Self inquiry is the first step in recognizing how you react to change.

The first step to taking care of yourself in the face of constant change is to recognize that external change. You can ask yourself questions like, “In what areas of my life do I feel like I have no control? What changes in my life have been most difficult to accept? Why?” This self-inquiry is a first step to acknowledging how you react to change and what types of changes may be more challenging for you, should they arise in the future.

Adaptation and Trauma: Is Healing Possible?

Healing from trauma is possible. It is a journey that may feel ongoing at times and without a clear finish line. People in therapy who have experienced trauma and depression often report relief from receiving consistent talk therapy to help them process significant life events.

As Jones writes, “Trauma can change the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and the world.” Everyone has a narrative, if not several, that helps them understand their role in the world. Trauma can flip and warp personal narratives and convince people they are not loved or deserving of love.

For example, children who experience consistent support and care from parents, guardians, teachers, siblings, etc., may develop a personal narrative such as, “I am a good kid. The world is a safe place and people can be trusted.” If that same child with that positive, life-affirming narrative experiences abuse from someone they trusted, their narrative may start to shift. Subconsciously, the narrative can morph into, “Sometimes I am a bad kid. Sometimes bad things happen to me that I deserve.”

While the latter narrative is not true, it may feel true, especially without professional attention and care.

Survival after Trauma: Why Adaptation is Vital

Continuing with the example in the previous section, the stories we tell ourselves can have a huge impact on how we experience life. The internalized belief in this imagined example may not be true, but unprocessed trauma has a way of convincing people otherwise. Luckily, therapy can help people reassert more compassionate narratives of themselves and help them  unpack how trauma influenced them.

Recognizing the symptoms of trauma is a key first step toward honoring one’s inner strength as a survivor. With the rise of online therapy, people can access in-office or online therapy appointments, depending on their preference.

Therapists have a challenging and vital role to help people of all ages, no matter how old or how fresh their trauma is, to understand how that trauma impacts how they view themselves and the world.

NAMHS has in-person therapists in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, Monterey, Salinas, Red Bluff and Hollister and online therapy care available via HomePsych.  Request an appointment with us today!

Schedule An Appointment

Are you in the Northern California area and in need of a therapist? To request an appointment contact our office.

The post Tips from A Therapist On Processing Change appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
Life Lessons From A Therapist https://namhs.com/life-lessons-from-a-therapist/ Thu, 03 Nov 2022 17:11:38 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14348 The post Life Lessons From A Therapist appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>

As COVID-19 changed the world in 2020, more people sought out insight and coping tools that a working with therapist could provide. The uncertainty and constant changes threw everyone for a loop.

Simeon Jones is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with NAMHS in Redding. He specializes in working with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. Here are three of his top “life lessons.”

Therapist In Redding California
Therapy sessions provide an opportunity to revisit the stories we tell about ourselves.

Life Lesson #1 – Listen to Your Feelings

Your feelings, also known as your emotions, are communication tools. Feelings carry complexity. They are also influenced by external and internal factors, such as interpersonal relationships or world crises. Learning how to “tune in” to your feelings is a vital life skill and a skill that therapists can help you practice.
Simeon Jones offers more detail about emotions in his blog, Anxiety Tips from a Therapist.

Life Lesson #2 – Struggling with Mental Illness is Not a Weakness

Whether you or someone you love struggles with mental illness, there can sometimes be associated feelings of shame. It’s important to remember that having a mental illness is not a weakness—and neither is asking for help.

So many people need professional help to help them navigate and process trauma. As Mr. Jones wrote in his article, Healing from Trauma, “Trauma can change the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and about the world.”

It’s important to revisit those stories we tell about ourselves, as they affect everyday life and our relationships with people we love.

Life Lesson #3 – Trust the Process

If you are considering therapy or you are new to the practice, trust the process. It can be vulnerable to share your past with a therapist but remember: it is their job to support you. In other words, you are not “burdening” them with your stories! It is their job to help you heal. Trusting the long-term therapy process is essential, as healing is a gradual and ongoing process.

Mr. Jones shares more about trusting the process in his blog connecting therapy foundations with gravity insight from the Science Channel.

We’re Here to Help You

Therapists at North American Health Services offer tangible ways to embrace anxiety and work with it so you can continue living a balanced life. If you or a loved one need help managing life’s challenges, and you are interested in working with a therapist in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, Monterey, Salinas, Red Bluff and Hollister or via online therapy, contact us.

Schedule An Appointment

Are you in the Northern California area and in need of a therapist? To request an appointment contact our office.

The post Life Lessons From A Therapist appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
New NAMHS Center in Monterey!  https://namhs.com/namh-monterey/ Thu, 29 Sep 2022 22:04:09 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14261 A New NAMHS Mental Health Center is Coming to Monterey! North American Health Services is excited to announce that we are opening a new mental health center in Monterey, California. The new behavioral health center will provide the same high-quality mental health care as our current locations in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, and Woodland. Our Monterey…

The post New NAMHS Center in Monterey!  appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
A New NAMHS Mental Health Center is Coming to Monterey!

North American Health Services is excited to announce that we are opening a new mental health center in Monterey, California.

The new behavioral health center will provide the same high-quality mental health care as our current locations in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, and Woodland. Our Monterey mental health facility will have psychiatrists, therapists, Physician Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners as well as office staff.

Patients will also be able to access medication management and therapy online.

NAMHS is currently hiring therapists and psych-certified NPs and PAs in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, Woodland, and Monterey—and online through telepsych and teletherapy. Learn about the mental health job openings on our website.

North American Mental Health Services In Monterey
NAMHS is currently hiring in Monterey.

We look forward to sharing photos of our mental health professionals as well as the new facility. Stay tuned for more updates and the unveiling of our new location.

Feeling better starts with having the right person to listen

If you’re looking to work with a psychiatrist or therapist and are living in the Monterey area, we welcome you at NAMHS. Contact our office to start your journey towards well-being.

About North American Mental Health Services

North American Mental Health Services was founded in 2015. Today we have over 100 employees who serve patients in our expanding behavioral health clinics throughout California. 

 

The post New NAMHS Center in Monterey!  appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
3 Types of Therapy That Can Help Depression https://namhs.com/therapy-for-depression/ Tue, 13 Sep 2022 21:57:28 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14238 The post 3 Types of Therapy That Can Help Depression appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>

Therapy That Can Help You Navigate Depression

Each year, therapists help thousands of people with depression find hope, stability, and strength. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide; treatments vary based on how mild, moderate, or severe your depression is.

If you or someone you care about struggles with depression, there are various types of therapy that can provide relief.

Here are three common therapy-based treatments.

Types of Therapy That Can Help Depression
Cognitive therapy often entails detailed sharing of your internal processes to address depression.

1. Cognitive Therapy Addresses Thoughts First

Cognitive therapy is one of the most popular forms of psychotherapy, commonly referred to as “talk therapy.” You may be familiar with the stereotypical portrayal of therapists asking their clients, “And how does that make you feel?” While that’s not the main question a cognitive therapist can ask, it is part of a framework where therapists help people recognize how their thoughts influence their emotions and actions.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, like most therapies, is best when done on a regular basis so you can develop trust with your therapist. It often entails detailed sharing of your internal processes. For example, if you are experiencing depression and stuck in a “catastrophizing loop,” your therapist may ask you to talk through that “catastrophizing loop” with them. Afterwards, they may encourage you to label that thought pattern and seek a self-soothing response, such as distracting yourself with an activity you enjoy–rather than continuing on that downward thought spiral.

There may be mindfulness exercises, worksheets, and skills training as well. For example, your therapist may ask you to recognize two thought distortions that popped into your mind throughout the week, and what you did to mitigate their impact on your mood.

Types of Therapy That Can Help Depression
Behavioral therapy may ask someone with depression to get out of the house or get together with a friend for an activity.

2. Behavioral Therapy for Depression May Include “Opposite Action”

As its name suggests, behavioral therapy seeks to interrupt the emotions that certain elicit, and instead, opt for smaller, actionable tasks. The theory behind behavioral therapy is that our actions, like our thoughts, also rewire our brain, as seen by how a 15-minute jog can release powerful, “feel-good” endorphins.

Someone navigating the struggle of major depression may be encouraged by a therapist to take “opposite action” and do the antithetical activity they would normally do when depressed. For example, behavioral therapy may ask someone with depression to “say yes” to that invite from a friend or get out of the house and eat dinner as a picnic in a local park–even though it may be the last thing someone feels like doing. This is because certain activities can help produce calming effects on the brain, and give yourself a break.

As another example, a behavioral therapist may ask someone with depression to write a list of “easiest to most challenging daily tasks” and to pick three that they can accomplish. Perhaps after they accomplish three tasks each day, they also get to reward themselves with an activity or treat they enjoy–this helps people redirect “avoidance behavior” and find a way to celebrate each win.

Types of Therapy That Can Help Depression
Therapists with a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy background may validate their clients who experience depression.

3. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Encourages Acceptance

Dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, is similar to cognitive therapy. It differs, however, in its emphasis on radical self-acceptance and increasing the awareness of how suffering exists everywhere in the world.

Therapists with this background may validate their clients who experience depression, and encourage them to accept feeling sad, dejected, etc., rather than pushing the feelings away. By facing the emotions directly, many people experience relief after receiving weekly sessions of dialectical behavioral therapy.

DBT also has the nickname “therapy with homework” as there may be worksheets that help you inquire more deeply into your values, your triggers, and your relationship to depression itself.

Most types of therapy treatments can be done through in-office or online therapy services.

Find the Right Therapist For You

At North American Mental Health Services, we believe that feeling better starts with finding the right person to listen to your experiences.

We encourage residents in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, Monterey, Salinas, Red Bluff and Hollister to request an appointment with us today for in-person and online therapy care.

Schedule An Appointment

Are you in the Northern California area and in need of a therapist or a psychiatrist? To request an appointment contact our office.

The post 3 Types of Therapy That Can Help Depression appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>
Finding A Therapist, Made Easy https://namhs.com/finding-a-therapist-made-easy/ Thu, 07 Jul 2022 22:14:56 +0000 https://namhs.com/?p=14178 The post Finding A Therapist, Made Easy appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>

How Does Finding a Therapist Work? Therapy Search, Made Easy

Finding A Therapist
We believe it’s important to find the therapist who is specifically right for you.

It is not easy to find the right therapist, but it is possible to make the search process more user-friendly. If you have ever typed “therapy near me” into the search box, you know there are many options—perhaps too many options. It can feel confusing and overwhelming. As a mental health company offering therapy and medication management in northern California, we believe that it’s important for people to know their options. We wrote this blog to help demystify the process.

In the United States, one in five people struggle with mental illness yet many of these people do not receive support. Support does exist. Therapists are licensed professionals who provide mental health support, diagnoses, treatment plans, and resources.

In this article, we will offer steps on how to find a therapist. We’ll also cover what to see a therapist for and provide three reminders for finding the right person.

Finding A Therapist
There are steps you can take to finding the right therapist.

How Does Finding a Therapist Work?

Therapy can help people feel understood, seen, and supported with a general “game plan” for the curveballs life tends to throw. It can be hard to find a therapist, but there are many people available for new patients.

Here are three steps that can make the process easier.

Step One: Ask Yourself Key Therapy Questions

It’s possible that right now is a hard time for you—for a million reasons. Take five–ten minutes to write down a few of the core struggles you are experiencing, as well as what kind of therapist you want. It’s okay if you don’t know if you struggle with a specific diagnosis or not. Just reflect.

Questions to consider are:

  1. Are you seeking therapy for yourself or on behalf of a couple?
  2. What are your general symptoms or concerns?
  3. Are you considering or curious about medication?
  4. Do you want in-person therapy or teletherapy?
  5. Some places like National American Mental Health Services offer both.
  6. Do you have a preference for the gender, sexuality, race, or age of your therapist?
  7. Ex. Many women prefer female therapists. People of color who want to explore how racism also impacts their mental health may opt for choosing a therapist of color.

Take time to explore these basic questions. It will help you narrow your search, as you consider which places to contact.

 

Step Two: Understand Your Insurance Coverage

Do you have insurance? If so, keep your insurance card handy during the search process. Narrow your search so you are only seeing therapy providers who your insurance covers will save you a lot of time and hassle. One easy way to do this is by using an advanced search that can filter by insurance providers.

If you aren’t using an advanced search that filters based on insurance providers, you can always call or email your top choices and ask if they accept your insurance.

If you do not have insurance, it can be more expensive to find adequate care. Similar to the advice in the previous paragraph, you can always call or email the place offering mental health services and ask for a cost estimate.

There are also community-supported mental health providers, as well as directories that let you search for sliding scale options. If you want to understand what free services may exist for you, contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness any time, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Step Three: Search for Therapists by Specialty

There are so many tools online to make it easy to narrow your search. For example, if you think that you may struggle with addiction, then you may want to find a therapist who is familiar with addiction. Also, it’s important to remember during the search process that psychologists and psychiatrists differ.

Use a search tool that lets you search for therapists by specialty. You might want to consider your location too–especially if you want in-person therapy. For example, if you are looking for a therapist in Redding, California, that is a much more specific search than a general search for “available therapists.”

These three steps make finding the right therapy provider easier.

Finding A Therapist
Remember: a therapist is there to service you.

What Can You See a Therapist For?

Some people believe that everyone would be better off with a therapist. From specific mental health concerns to general “life is crushing me” sentiments, people seek therapists when they want long-term change in their life.

Maybe you are worried that you have a serious mental health condition or that your marriage is falling apart. Maybe you want better coping skills or to start healing from trauma. There are so many reasons to see a therapist.

If you feel apprehensive about disclosing personal information with a therapist, just remember: they are here to service you. If you are at a loss of where to begin, simply start by scheduling an appointment with a NAMHS therapist.

Therapy Near Me: Three Reminders to Find the Mental Health Professional

#1 Reminder – You’re worth it.

Most people who spend time prioritizing their mental health are glad they did. Some people report feeling better within weeks. Other people express how essential it is to have a person whose job is to support them, especially in a world where we could all use a little support.

#2 Reminder – It can take time to find the right person.

If you are using the search directories provided in this article and still having a hard time finding the right person, keep trying. New appointments become available all the time as additional providers become available.

Finding A Therapist
It is a sign of strength–not weakness–to search for a therapist.

#3 Reminder – You are not alone.

So many people have found relief, hope, and healing through therapy. It is a sign of strength–not weakness–to search for a therapist because it means you are overcoming the stigma around mental health. It means that you want support and a plan so that you can live a life with greater ease, acceptance, and resilience. What could be braver than that?

Still on the Search for a Therapist?

We hope this article makes the search process more navigable for people wanting to find the right therapist. Feel free to share this article with a friend if you found the tips helpful.

We believe that feeling better starts with finding the right person to listen. We encourage residents in Redding, Eureka, Fairfield, and Woodland to request an appointment with us today for in-person and teletherapy care.

Schedule An Appointment

Are you in the Northern California area and in need of a psychologist or a psychiatrist? To request an appointment contact our office.

The post Finding A Therapist, Made Easy appeared first on North American Mental Health Services.

]]>