The answer is, anyone who would like a trained professional to help work through a difficult time or challenging circumstance. Nearly two thirds of us will at sometime in our life consult or use someone in the mental health field. Yet, many others will not go for fear of being perceived as weak or crazy. Also, some feel that what happens at home stays at home! Still others fear costs, obviously discounting the cost of carrying around a heavy emotional burden
So if you chose to see a therapist, what should you expect?
1. Expect to see a diploma, license, or certificate that qualifies the therapist to be a mental health provider.
2. Expect to fill out some paper work and to answer questions about yourself and your personal relationships.
3. You should expect to be treated with dignity, respect and confidentiality.
4. You, in return, are expected to give your therapist advance notice when you are unable to keep an appointment.
5. And expect to do some hard work, the therapeutic process can be hard work.
A therapist does not tell you what to do. However, a skilled therapist can:
• Assist you in pinpointing what is contributing to your life problems
and brainstorm how to improve or help solve those problems.
• Explore realistic goals that enable you to improve your mental and
emotional well being.
• Help you identify ways that you have successfully dealt with similar feelings or situations in your past.
• Identify negative or distorted thinking patterns.
• Explore other learned thoughts and behaviors that create problems in your life.
• Help you regain control and pleasure in life.
• With your permission, invite other family members to join the process.
• Explore with you the possibility of a referral for medication.
If you feel that you could use some therapeutic intervention to help you with your problems and feelings, please call The Wellspring at (318) 323-1505 or 1-800-716-7233. Help is available.