When Should You Consult a Mental Health Professional?
A Complimentary Newsletter from Heathrow Counseling Center
www.heathrowcounselingcenter.org
407-956-5773
When Should You Consult a Mental Health Professional?
Most of us experience times when we need help to deal with problems and issues that cause us emotional distress. When you are having a problem or dilemma that is making you feel overwhelmed, you may benefit from the assistance of an experienced, licensed professional. Professional counselors and therapists offer the caring, expert assistance that people need during stressful times.There are many types of mental health providers to choose from. The most important thing is to select a licensed professional who has the appropriate training and qualifications to help a person with your specific issues. You should also choose someone with whom you can feel comfortable enough to speak freely and openly.
Types of Problems
People seek the assistance of a mental health professional (MHP) for many different reasons. These are some of the most common:
1. You feel unhappy most of the time.
2. You feel extremely sad and helpless.
4. You feel nervous, anxious, and worried most of the time.
5. Your emotional state is affecting your daily life: your sleep, eating habits, job, and relationships.
6. You are having problems with your family members or in other important relationships.
7. You are having trouble getting over the death of someone you loved.
8. Your family has a lot of conflict and tension.
9. You are experiencing a divorce or marital separation.
10. Your child is having problems with behavior or school performance.
Types of Mental Health Professionals
The most common MHPs in the United States are Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers, and Professional Counselors. Each state has its own licensing laws and standards that govern each type of professional. While all licensed MHPs can help most people with problems of living, each group has its own special training in specific areas that makes them more qualified for certain types of issues. In addition, each individual therapist has a unique set of experiences that makes him or her uniquely qualified to work with certain kinds of issues.
Confidentiality
Each group of MHPs has strict ethical guidelines governing privacy and confidentiality. Fore example, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Clients of mine can expect that discussions will be kept confidential, except as otherwise required or permitted by law. Examples of times when confidentiality must be broken are when child abuse has occurred, where the client threatens violence against another person or themselves.When you are looking for a therapist to help you address your issues, it is very important to ask about a therapist’s qualifications to treat your specific concerns. Please pass this newsletter along to a friend or call 407-956-5773 for more information. Please feel free to contact our therapist via email at jwilliams@heathrowcounselingcenter.org
Visit these web sites to learn more:www.aamft.org (National Association of Marriage and Family Therapy) www.apa.org (American Psychological Association) www.naswdc.org (National Association of Social Work) www.counseling.org (American Counseling Association)
