Personal Relationships vs. Therapeutic Relationships

In my last post, I discussed how mental health maintenance was important for everyone. Counseling and therapy were identified as effective ways to develop or strengthen coping skills during stressful times. A few people who read that post mentioned to me that they understood that they should take time for themselves or self-evaluate to monitor whether they were overwhelmed or stressed. However, they didn’t understand the benefits of talking with a mental health professional if they have friends and family with whom they can discuss problems. 

While friends and family are a source of support, the manner in which support is offered in a professional therapeutic relationship is different. It is important to clarify that therapy and counseling are not intended to replace friendships or family, but rather to enhance these relationships. So, how is talking with a counselor, therapist, or psychologist different that talking with friends, family, or significant others?

• A counseling or therapeutic relationship is not reciprocal. The mental health professional’s job is to focus on a client’s concerns and offer support and encouragement. An appointment with a professional is a client’s time to focus on his or her issues without feeling obligated to focus on the issues or successes of the person with whom he or she is speaking. 

• The counselor is a trained professional who has spent many years learning about different ways to help clients cope with issues.

• The therapeutic relationship is confidential. While one certainly hopes that friends and family  will respect the privacy of loved ones, a therapist is ethically and legally bound by confidentiality. Unless a client is an immediate danger to themselves or others, conversations between a therapist and client will be private.

• The therapist exists outside of the normal flow of the client’s life, and therefore has the perspective of an outsider. Because of the nature of the therapeutic relationship, the therapist will not be angry, offended, or judge a client for statements made during a session.

While a therapist will never and should never replace a client’s supportive relationships with friends and family, it can be helpful to have an objective outsider who will be available for a set time and at a reliable location regularly to help with issues. Consider these benefits when weighing whether therapy or counseling might be an option for you or someone in your life.

Until my next post, spend time with your friends and family. Thanks for visiting!

Mental Health Maintenance: It’s for Everyone

In my last post, I discussed how exercise and nature can help reduce symptoms of stress and depression. That information is very much related to this post as participating in exercise and nature-related activities would be considered types of coping skills which is a large component of mental health maintenance. But, in general, what exactly is mental health maintenance? Well, that depends. For an individual who has a diagnosed mental illness, most people would probably say that mental health maintenance would consist of taking prescribed medications as needed, keeping regular appointments with mental health professionals, self-monitoring for any signs that one might need to seek help, and utilizing coping skills that were learned in counseling or therapy to keep stressors at bay. In a sense, mental health maintenance looking through the lens of a diagnosed mental illness, is not much different than maintenance for an individual who has any chronic illness such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, or Epilepsy. 

That means that everyone else, those people who have no diagnosed mental health illness, are off the hook for mental health maintenance, right? Well, again, that depends on how one approaches other aspects of his or her life. How do you maintain your car? Do you regularly inspect and change fluids, balance and rotate tires, or inspect and replace filters, belts, and other miscellaneous car parts? Do you perform similar preventative maintenance with your house, your yard, your clothes, your hair, your body, or your teeth? Many people are not able to perform what many consider to be routine maintenance for themselves or for their possessions because they lack the means and opportunity. Many people, who have the means and opportunity, think nothing of performing, what they consider routine maintenance because they believe that they are protecting investments or their long-term health. However, if people leave their emotional and mental health unchecked, stress can escalate into more severe issues that could negatively impact daily functioning or ruin physical health.

What does mental health maintenance look like for someone who does not have a diagnosed mental illness? Well, in many ways there is a lot of overlap because optimal physical health and stress reduction are recommendations for both populations. Exercise, healthy eating habits, and sleep hygiene are tips that everyone should heed. But how someone combats stress can be pretty unique and particular for each individual person and is dependent on his or her coping skills or methods. One person might relax by receiving a therapeutic massage while another person might enjoy getting manicures and pedicures to unwind. Some people use books, art, music, and athletics as an outlet. Others enjoy socializing with friends and family while some enjoy assorted hobbies to blow off steam. For some, the act of maintaining various aspects of their life, be it home, yard, garden, etc., is in and of itself, a form of relaxation. Many people find peace through prayer or meditation. All of the aforementioned things can be categorized as coping methods that people use to deal with stress. A problem arises when a person has unhealthy coping methods, insufficient coping methods, or no coping methods at all. Sometimes demands or events in life are greater than an individual's ability to cope. During these times, people can often feel overloaded, under tremendous pressure, and very tense or emotional. Counseling or therapy can be useful for these situations to help people develop new, or rediscover once used but forgotten, coping skills. 

So—mental health maintenance is for everyone.  

Until my next post, practice those coping skills. Thanks for visiting!

Hello Everyone: What This is All About

My first blog entry coincides with the opening of my new counseling and therapy practice called East Hill Counseling Services, LLC. Think of it as an introduction, of sorts. So, who am I? I am Kristi Ging, the owner of the aforementioned counseling and therapy practice. I will be writing all of the posts that will be appearing on this blog from here on out. What are my hopes and goals for this blog? I hope for everyone to be able to use the information in this space, whether or not he or she utilizes the services offered by East Hill Counseling Services.  My goal for this space is to collect interesting articles, useful tools, and helpful hints for mental health and wellness from around the internet and within the Pensacola community. I might stray, narrowly, from those topics every once in awhile, but for the most part, mental health and wellness will be the focus for this space. I am aiming to post at least twice a month so if you think this is something that you might like, that’s the schedule I have planned. Thanks for visiting!