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Welcome back to my blog series in honor of May being designated Mental Health Awareness Month. If you haven't already, you can click below to read parts one and two. Please read and share with your network to help spread awareness about mental illness and mental health care! Mental Health Awareness Month: Myths and Facts, Part 1 Mental Health Awareness Month: Myths and Facts, Part 2 Myth #4: Mental health treatment does not work. Fact: Mental health treatment does work and it can help you! Research is being done around the world on various types of therapy. This research is important, especially because it has given us what are called “evidenced base models” of therapy. What this means is that valid, scientific research proves that certain kinds of therapy do work! Several models used by therapists around the United States are evidenced based and widely used. These include but are not limited to: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Do not hesitate to ask a potential therapist about what models of therapy they use in their practice and whether or not it is evidenced based. You can click on any of the models listed above to learn more. Click here to view a guide about evidenced based models. Of course, it is possible for you to see a great therapist who does evidenced based work and not see much benefit. The key to therapy being helpful is not only having a skilled and trusted therapist but YOU! I once heard this in a training presented by my colleague Brenda Bomgardner: There are 168 hours in a week. If you spend 1 of those hours in therapy and the other 167 hours ignoring or forgetting what you learned, therapy may not be very effective. Therapy can be hard. Therapy asks a lot of the client, but it is worth it! Myth #5: If I go to therapy, I will have to take medication. Fact: Many mental health problems can be successfully treated with only therapy. Some mental illnesses are best treated with a combination of medication AND therapy. It is important to note that most therapists cannot prescribe medication, as most of us do not have medical training. Therapists who are trained as social workers, counselors, or psychologists are not allowed to give medical advice as it is out of our area of expertise. If you begin therapy, a counselor or therapist might recommend you see a doctor to consider medication. If this happens and you choose to follow the recommendation, you will need to schedule an appointment with a medical doctor. Some general practitioners may be willing to prescribe medications for certain mental health reasons. You may also prefer or need to see a psychiatrist, depending on your individual situation. These professionals are medical doctors who are specifically trained to provide medication and, sometimes, therapy to care for mental illnesses. Your therapist and your doctor will work together with you to determine which path is best for you and your needs. Here is my next challenge to you: Do a quick online search of therapists in your area. See who is out there and take a look at the models of therapy they provide. Choose one to learn more about and take time to read at least one article. It is good to be informed! Check back tomorrow for a bonus post on self-care! Bethany Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
 Welcome to Part 2 of my blog series focused on common myths about mental illness! Click here to read Part 1. In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, I am sharing my thoughts on some common myths about mental illness and mental health treatment. This is the second of a 4 part series for the month of May. My goal is to help you better understand mental illness and to share ideas on how to get help if necessary. Please share with anyone who might benefit from this information! Here we go! Myth #2: Mental health treatment is not available in my area. Fact: Mental health treatment is available. To be fair, I work in a metropolitan area that is saturated with mental health professionals. Here, as in other urban areas, one can easily find a large network of social workers, counselors and therapists. If you live in a smaller, more rural area, don’t assume you cannot get help! While you may have fewer options to choose from, help is available. Talk with your primary care physician, pediatrician, local hospital, nearby university/college or someone at your child’s school for guidance or referrals. You can also search online through therapist profile listings such as Psychology Today* or Good Therapy*. Additionally, some agencies and therapists in larger cities offer their services by phone or online video conferencing to serve people in more remote areas. Myth #3: Mental health treatment is too expensive. Fact: Mental health treatment can be affordable. Yes, seeing a therapist can be pricey, but consider what you could gain by spending some time with a trained professional whose priority is to help you through difficult, stressful times. Mental health treatment is an investment in your well-being and your future! However, if the full rates in your area are still more than you can afford, you have options. Often, private therapists accept insurance plans or offer a sliding scale. Many states and counties offer community mental health services that are reduced fee or covered by insurance. (Check out the Colorado Behavioral Health Council to learn more about community mental health services in Colorado.) Another option is to see if your employer offers a benefit known as Employee Assistance Services (EAP). Many people assume EAP services are used only if you are in trouble at work and required to seek counseling. This is only the beginning of what an EAP provides! Employees with EAP benefits can typically access between 2 and 10 free (yes, FREE!!) counseling sessions depending on the specific benefit package. These sessions may be used for any issue you or your family may be experiencing. EAP therapists can often continue seeing you for their typical fee (or maybe even a reduced rate) after your benefits are used. They can also help you find another provider if necessary. Here is another challenge for you: Do a search on your insurance company's website and see how many therapists are available in your area. Also, find out if your employer provides EAP benefits and what those benefits include. Why do this challenge? Consider it an opportunity to educate yourself on your own resources! Check back tomorrow for Part 3 of this series! * I am not sponsored by Psychology Today or Good Therapy and do not benefit in anyway by including these company names in my blog. Their inclusion is simply meant to be informative. Other therapist finder websites exist and can easily be found through a basic web search. Photo from Flickr. Creative Commons. Some rights reserved by FaxPilot. Bethany Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
On Monday, March 4, 2013, Bethany Jones, LCSW, LLC, will begin serving children, teens and families from a new office in the south metro area! The office location is 7475 E. Peakview Ave, Building 10 in Centennial, Colorado. Bethany will have office hours at this location on Mondays initially and will add more days in the near future! Please spread the word to anyone you know who may benefit from receiving Bethany's services!
The lease has been signed! I will begin providing therapy services at the VAST Wellness Center on July 1, 2012. The Center is located at 2323 South Troy Street, Building 3, Suite 107, Aurora, CO 80014. I am very excited about this location and the safe, clean and comfortable environment the Center provides! You will find a map of the location below!
Please do not hesitate to call or email me with questions about my services or directions to the office location! Bethany Stay tuned for information on my new office location! I'll post details as soon as the lease is signed!
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