In a study published last year, researchers reported that about “20 percent of suicide decedents have had contact with a mental health professional within one month prior to their death.” That alarming percentage has put suicide risk assessment at the forefront of mental health professionals’ agenda in recent years, as the Centers for Disease Control […]
Over the decades, the population of young adults who enter college has been growing steadily. At the same time, the number of college-age students who report mental health issues and the use of therapy have also been on the rise. In a 2017 study published in the journal “Psychological Services,” researchers have labeled the recent […]
Mental health professionals (MHP)—psychologists, social workers (LSW/LCSW), LPCs (Licensed Professional Counselors), and others—are trained and prepared to help treat and manage a myriad of mental health difficulties. Working closely with clients, MHPs also must manage the counselor-client relationship. Sometimes, however, something can go horribly wrong in this relationship—for instance, cases of serial stalking by clients. […]
One of the questions that psychologists have been asking for a long time is: “Why do some people succeed, and others don’t?” And some of the answers that have emerged have been related to genetics, I.Q., socioeconomic factors, Emotional intelligence, and on and on… But in recent years, new ideas have emerged that have called […]
People seek out therapy for a variety of reasons. Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and marital or professional issues are just some of the reasons people may seek out therapy. But one set of issues that remain pronounced are substance abuse issues, or substance use disorders (SUD). And in a 2017 study […]
Eastern Concepts in Western Mental Health Practice Although traditionally viewed as one of the world’s big three religions, Buddhism, in recent years, has emerged as a tool for mental health professionals (MHP). Specifically, Buddhist counseling is “a process of reducing suffering in individuals using wisdom and interventions from Buddhism, which aims to train the human […]
No matter how old we are or where we live, people everywhere—and throughout history—have an innate sense of time. Sure, it may have taken thousands of years for humans to manufacture commercial clocks, make those clocks reliable, and to establish time zones around the globe, but humans have been measuring time in one way or […]
Although there may be no simple answer to the question— “When is the right time to start therapy?”—exploring the question may yield some interesting answers. The short answer is: There is no “right time” to start therapy for everybody. That said, however, it’s worth noting that you don’t necessarily need until a crisis hits to […]
As a younger man, I would describe myself as an overly idealistic person. Now, years later, I describe myself as more of a “philosophical realist.” What is “realism,” and what does it look like in practice? The aim of realism is to attempt to see things as they are. This is, of course, extremely difficult […]
Life. It can sometimes challenge us in unexpected ways, and therapy is designed to help us overcome those challenges. In recent years, mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse have been on the rise, and through empirical testing, psychotherapy has proven to be as effective treatment method as medication (in some studies, […]