By Judy Ronan Woodburn, PhD
Most of us experience times when we need help dealing with problems and issues that cause us emotional distress. If you are having a problem that is making you feel overwhelmed and/or interfering with normal daily functioning, you may benefit from the assistance of an experienced, trained professional. While some people have been taught that seeking mental health (also called “behavioral health,” “psychotherapy,” and “counseling”) services is a sign of weakness, in actuality, it can be a sign of strength in that you are using your resources. It is not so different than seeking medical services when you are not feeling well physically, getting a personal trainer to help you improve your physical well-being, or using the library or internet services when you need information.
Some of the most common types of problems for which people might seek mental health services include:
- Feeling unhappy, sad, irritable, and/or helpless and hopeless most of the time.
- Feeling worried, nervous, overwhelmed, and/or anxious most of the time; having panic attacks.
- Having difficulty concentrating.
- Having emotional struggles that are negatively affecting your ability to engage in healthy lifestyle habits (eating, sleeping, exercising) and/or your ability to function at work, at school, at home, in relationships, etc.
- Having thoughts of harming yourself and/or others, including thoughts of self-injury, suicide, and/or homicide.
- Struggling with substance abuse or other addictions.
- Struggling with a loved one who has a substance abuse problem or addiction.
- Experiencing a significant life change or loss (such as the illness or death of a loved one; the loss of a relationship; divorce; changes in your health; job changes, etc.)
- You have an eating disorder and/or struggle with body image.
- You have low self-esteem.
- You experienced abuse at any time in your life and are struggling with how that affects you now.
- You are having difficulty communicating effectively with people in your life.
- You are having difficulty with your own sexual orientation or the sexual orientation of someone in your life.
Types of Mental Health Professionals (MHPs)
There are many types of qualified mental health providers (MHPs) from which to choose. The most important thing is to select a licensed professional who has the appropriate training and qualification. The following are the most common MHPs in the U.S.
- Psychiatrists — Physicians (MDs) who specialize in the treatment of mental health issues through the use of medications and, sometimes, talk therapy.
- Psychologists — These professionals have doctoral level training (PhD or PsyD) in psychology from an accredited graduate school, including a rigorous internship, and have passed a state licensing exam. They primarily use various types of talk therapy to treat mental health issues. For children, some may use play therapy.
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers — These professionals have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work (BSW or MSW), or psychology from an accredited graduate school, including a rigorous internship, and have passed a state licensing exam. Like psychologists, they use various types of talk therapy or play therapy to treat mental health issues.
- Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors — These individuals have a master’s degree in psychology or a related field from an accredited school. They have had supervised clinical training, and have passed a state licensing exam.
- Mental Health Nurse Practitioners — These individuals are nurses who specialize in the treatment of mental health issues. They can prescribe medications and utilize talk therapy. They are supervised by physicians.
Many individual mental health clinicians have specific areas of interest and experience that make them uniquely qualified to work with certain kinds of issues. It may be helpful to speak with a clinician or his/her representative to determine if he/she is a good fit for your needs. In addition, when it is in the best interest of the patient, MHPs will collaborate with and refer to other health professionals, such as physicians, nutritionists, clergy, etc.
Confidentiality
Each group of MHPs must adhere to strict ethical guidelines, as well as federal and state regulations, governing privacy, and confidentiality. Clients of MHPs can expect that information shared with the clinician will be kept confidential, except as otherwise required by law. Examples of such exceptions include when a client is dangerous to him/herself or others and when there is any suspicion of child or elder abuse. MHPs should review confidentiality with each client at their first appointment.
Judy Ronan Woodburn, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with Advocate Medical Group — Behavioral Health, 403 W. Virginia Ave., Normal. She specializes in helping those who struggle with anxiety or depression, the effects of abuse, PTSD, eating disorders, grief, and various family/relationship issues. Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-3-ADVOCATE (1-800-323-8622) or 309-268-2910.
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