Treatment and Therapy

A counselor’s therapeutic approach is the way they work with their clients. Because all counselors are unique individuals, they have different therapeutic approaches. Because all clients are unique individuals, they will find there are some therapeutic approaches that work better for them than others. If you are considering beginning therapy, it may be helpful to understand some different therapeutic approaches so that you can choose a therapist who will be a good fit for you. Below you will find more information on different therapeutic approaches that are commonly used by therapists. Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis involves working with a therapist to make [...]

Certain anxiety-based disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, can significantly and negatively impact a person's thoughts and quality of life due to the amount of stress they are known to cause. A number of treatment options and therapies exist to help clients learn to cope with and eventually overcome their mental health condition, including the well-known, if not slightly misunderstood concept of exposure therapy. What is exposure therapy? Exposure therapy is defined as a type of therapy that slowly but surely helps you face those triggers known to cause you great stress or anxiety. [...]

Reviewed by Jodi Jaspan, MS, LPC Partial Hospitalization is a structured mental health treatment program that runs for several hours each day, three to five days per week. Clients participate in the scheduled treatment sessions during the day and return home at night. This program is a step down from 24 hour care in a psychiatric hospital setting (inpatient treatment). It can also be used to prevent the need for an inpatient hospital stay. How to Know if Partial Hospitalization Is Needed When you decide to seek treatment for a mental health condition, it can be difficult to navigate the [...]

A person who has been diagnosed with both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder has a dual diagnosis. These two disorders are considered “co-occurring,” meaning they both are present at the same time and influence each other. For example, someone who has an underlying anxiety disorder may use a substance such as alcohol to try to manage the symptoms. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with co-occurring disorders, here’s what you need to know about the effects of these disorders and treatment options. What Do Co-Occurring Disorders Look Like? Co-occurring disorders can manifest in [...]

When it comes to seeking treatment for a mental health illness, the research can feel wildly overwhelming. With numerous titles like therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists, you may wonder who you actually need to see. What's the difference between what a psychiatrist does and what therapists do? Is there a difference? When it comes to deciding psychiatrist vs psychologist vs therapist, there is a difference; and while they all promise to offer professional mental health treatment services, the specific services they offer differ from one another in a way that will impact the type of care you receive.  What is a mental health [...]

Reviewed by Jodi Jaspan, MS, LPC If you or a loved one struggles with a mental health condition, you may be wondering whether you need a referral to get treatment from a clinician, typically a psychologist or psychiatrist. The answer depends on which specialist you’re trying to see. A psychologist has a doctorate degree in the field of psychology (either a PhD or PsyD), and is trained in therapy and psychological testing. A psychiatrist earns a medical degree and can prescribe medication, as well as provide therapy. This is the main difference between the two; a psychologist cannot prescribe medication. [...]

The coming out process can be a difficult experience for someone in the LGBTQ community.  Many people fear rejection from family and friends once they share who they are. Counseling can be a helpful tool in navigating the coming out process. According to the Cass Identity Model, there are six stages to the coming out process. Identity Confusion During this time, a person is confused about what they are feeling and what their feelings mean. People in this stage often feel “different” but can’t pinpoint why. An example of someone in this stage would be a teen who realizes [...]

We've all experienced frustration on the road — other drivers irritate us by cutting us off, failing to use a turn signal or merging inappropriately. And while we might get angry at the moment, most of us would not choose to escalate it into aggressive, dangerous road rage. However, when it does escalate, it can be life-threatening and traumatizing. It's important to always be aware on the road, but especially when it comes to road rage, it's crucial to be both in check of yourself and your emotions while behind the wheel of a car. What is road rage? Road [...]

Reviewed by Jodi Jaspan, MS, LPC When trying to find a counselor who is a good fit, clients have a lot to consider. A therapist’s age is one of the many factors a client may take into account when choosing the counselor they would like to work with on their therapy journey. As a younger counselor, I have encountered a few clients who have not wanted to work with me because of my age. However, there are both pros and cons to taking age into consideration when deciding whether or not you want to work with a particular therapist. The [...]

What is a treatment plan and where can I get one? Here are the answers to your burning questions. Treatment plans in therapy If you've been in therapy or are looking to start therapy, you'll likely want to know about treatment plans. Every individual who receives intervention will have a treatment plan that is the result of a collaborative effort by the client and the provider. Here's the inside scoop on treatment plans for therapy. What is a treatment plan? A treatment plan is a document that is created to help a professional provide individualized treatment in a timely, strengths-based [...]

Over time, a relationship with your therapist can feel incredibly close, as many of the details you share are personal, intimate aspects of your life. If you are not intentional about keeping boundaries in a therapist-client relationship, it is easy to blur the lines and feel like your meetings are similar to just hanging out with friends. However, it's important to keep this from happening for your and your therapist's well-being. Therapist-client relationship boundaries For therapists, it's crucial to set both ethical boundaries and professional boundaries with their clients because of the nature of their work. As they are regularly [...]

Do you ever feel like everyone is watching you, waiting with criticizing remarks? Or do you avoid events that could potentially involve having conversations with new people? Feeling like you'll be watched, judged or embarrassed in social settings is a common experience. It's called social anxiety. Do I have social anxiety? Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia as it's called in clinical circles, is a mental health condition that is characterized by extreme fear and nervousness in social situations. While many people experience feeling anxious around others from time to time, when a person is diagnosed with a social phobia, [...]