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welcome! to anxieties 101!
after looking things over here at anxieties 101,
try out "the layer down under," (part of the emotional feelings network of sites) & read a special "i
just gotta say it" column concerning porn addiction by clicking here! Be sure to scroll down towards the bottom of the right hand column to find it!
 
Making the site work best for you!
You'll
notice that there are many underlined link words in each article below. The reason for this is that you've reached
not only, "anxieties 101," but the emotional feelings network
of sites. There are many sites included within the network that will be visited by clicking on these underlined link
words. They're all linked together thru the underlined link words to offer the opportunity for a more thorough understanding
of whatever problem you're investigating!
The reason for this opportunity
is very simple & yet you may be unnerved by all those underlined words! I've been in recovery from post traumatic stress disorder, depression & many other dysfunctional ventures & thru it all I've discovered that emotion & feeling
work may be the missing link that many people miss when trying to find solutions to their problems.
Developing a sense of curiosity about why you feel the way you do, is essential in finding the solution you so desperately are searching for. If you
can't find what you came here looking for, visit the homepage for the emotional feelings network of sites by clicking here & read the options on
the homepage for the networks index of sites. Try to be specific when looking for an emotion or feeling & click on the
site you need!
It's very simple & very
interesting to follow your way thru the layers of your buried or stuffed emotions & feelings that have accumulated throughout
the years!
Best of luck & if you're
still stuck, send me an e-mail anytime, by clicking here & I'll be glad to send you an immediate personal response!
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Where Can I Go For Help?
Where you go for help will
depend on who has the problem (an adult or child) & the nature of the problem &/or
symptoms.
Often, the best place to start
is your local Mental Health Association. Check your Yellow Pages for a listing or call the National Mental Health Association
at 800/969-NMHA.
Other suggested resources:
- Your local health departments
Mental Health Division. These services are state funded & are obligated to first serve individuals who meet "priority population criteria" as defined by the state Mental Health Dept. There may be waiting lists & not
all individuals may be eligible for services. In some jurisdictions local funding is provided for additional services.
- Other mental health organizations
- Family physician
- Clergyperson
- Family services agencies,
such as Catholic Charities, Family Services, or Jewish Social Services
- Educational consultants or
school counselors
- Marriage & family counselors
- Child guidance counselors
- Psychiatric hospitals accredited
by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
- Hotlines, crisis centers
& emergency rooms (call 411 for Directory Assistance)
Which Mental Health Professional
Is Right For Me?
There
are many types of mental health professionals. Finding the right one for you may require
some research. Often it's a good idea to first describe the symptoms &/or problems to your family physician or clergy.
He or she can suggest the type of mental health professional you should call.
Types of Mental Health Professionals
- Psychiatrist - medical
doctor with special training in the diagnosis & treatment of mental & emotional illnesses. Like other doctors, psychiatrists
are qualified to prescribe medication. Qualifications: should have a state license &
be board eligible or certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.
- Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist
- medical doctor with special training in the diagnosis & treatment of emotional & behavioral problems in children.
Child/Adolescent psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medication. Qualifications: should
have a state license & be board eligible or certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.
- Psychologist - Counselor
with an advanced degree from an accredited graduate program in psychology & 2 or more years of supervised work experience.
Trained to make diagnoses & provide individual & group therapy. Qualifications: a
state license.
- Clinical Social Worker
- Counselor with a masters degree in social work from an accredited graduate program. Trained to make diagnoses & provide
individual & group counseling. Qualifications: state license; may be member
of the Academy of Certified Social Workers.
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Counselor with a masters degree in psychology, counseling or a related field. Trained to diagnose & provide individual
& group counseling. Qualifications: state license
- Mental Health Counselor
- Counselor with a masters degree & several years of supervised clinical work experience. Trained to diagnose & provide
individual & group counseling. Qualifications: certification by the National Academy
of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors.
- Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor - Counselor with specific clinical training in alcohol & drug abuse. Trained to diagnose & provide individual & group counseling. Qualifications: state
license
- Nurse Psychotherapist
- A registered nurse who is trained in the practice of psychiatric & mental health nursing. Trained to diagnose &
provide individual & group counseling.
Qualifications: certification, state license.
- Marital & Family Therapist
- A counselor with a masters degree, with special education & training in marital & family therapy. Trained to
diagnose & provide individual & group counseling. Qualifications: state license
- Pastoral Counselor
- Clergy with training in clinical pastoral education Trained to diagnose & provide individual & group counseling.
Qualifications: Certification from American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
Counselors
Significant Points
- School
counselors must be certified & other counselors must be licensed to practice in all but 2 states. A master’s
degree generally is needed to become a licensed counselor.
- Job
opportunities for counselors should be very good because job openings are expected to exceed the number of graduates
from counseling programs.
- State
& local governments employ about 4 in 10 counselors & the health services industry employs most of the others.
Nature of the Work
Counselors assist people
with personal, family, educational, mental health & career decisions & problems. Their duties depend on the individuals
they serve & on the settings in which they work.
Educational,
vocational & school counselors provide individuals & groups with career & educational counseling. In school
settings - elementary thru postsecondary - they usually are called school counselors &
they work with students, including those with academic & social development problems & those with special needs.
They advocate
for students & work with other individuals & organizations to promote the academic, career, personal &
social development of children & youths.
School
counselors help students evaluate their abilities, interests, talents & personality characteristics in order to
develop realistic academic & career goals.
Counselors
use interviews, counseling sessions, interest & aptitude assessment tests & other methods to evaluate & advise
students. They also operate career information centers & career education programs.
High school counselors
advise students regarding college majors, admission requirements, entrance exams, financial aid, trade or technical schools
& apprenticeship programs. They help students develop job search skills, such as resume writing & interviewing techniques.
College
career planning & placement counselors assist alumni or students with career development & job-hunting techniques.
Elementary school counselors
observe younger children during classroom & play activities & confer with their teachers & parents to evaluate
the children’s strengths, problems, or special needs.
In conjunction
with teachers & administrators, they make sure that the curriculum addresses both the academic & the emotional development needs of students. Elementary school counselors do less vocational & academic counseling than do secondary school counselors.
School counselors at all levels
help students to understand & deal with social, behavioral & personal problems. These counselors emphasize preventive & developmental counseling
to provide students with the life skills needed to deal with problems before they occur & to enhance students’ personal, social & academic growth.
Counselors provide
special services, including alcohol & drug prevention programs & conflict resolution classes. They also try to identify cases of domestic abuse & other family problems that can affect a student’s development.
Counselors interact with students
individually, in small groups, or with entire classes. They consult & collaborate with parents, teachers, school administrators,
school psychologists, medical professionals & social workers in order to develop & implement strategies to help students
be successful in the education system.
Vocational counselors who
provide mainly career counseling outside the school setting are also referred to as employment counselors or career counselors. Their chief focus is helping individuals with career
decisions.
Vocational counselors
explore & evaluate the client’s education, training, work history, interests, skills & personality traits &
arrange for aptitude & achievement tests to assist the client in making career decisions. They also work with individuals
to develop their job-search skills & they assist clients in locating & applying for jobs.
In addition, career
counselors provide support to persons experiencing job loss, job stress, or other career transition issues.
Rehabilitation
counselors help people deal with the personal, social & vocational effects of disabilities. They counsel people
with disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents, or the stress of daily life.
They evaluate
the strengths & limitations of individuals, provide personal & vocational counseling & arrange for medical care, vocational training & job
placement. Rehabilitation counselors interview both individuals with disabilities &
their families, evaluate school & medical reports & confer & plan with physicians, psychologists, occupational
therapists & employers to determine the capabilities & skills of the individual.
Conferring
with the client, they develop a rehabilitation program that often includes training to help the person develop job
skills. Rehabilitation counselors also work toward increasing the client’s capacity to live independently.
Mental health counselors
work with individuals, families & groups to address & treat mental & emotional disorders & to promote optimum
mental health.
They're
trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques used to address a wide range of issues, including:
Mental health counselors
often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as:
- psychiatrists
- psychologists
- clinical social workers
- psychiatric nurses
- school counselors
(Information on
physicians & surgeons, psychologists, registered nurses & social workers appears elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Substance abuse & behavioral disorder counselors help people who have problems with alcohol, drugs, gambling & eating disorders. They counsel individuals who are addicted to drugs, helping them to identify behaviors & problems related to their addiction.
They also
conduct programs aimed at preventing addictions from occurring in the first place. These counselors hold sessions designed for individuals, families, or groups.
Marriage & family
therapists apply principles, methods & therapeutic techniques to individuals, families, couples, or organizations
in order to resolve emotional conflicts.
In doing
so, they modify people’s perceptions & behaviors, enhance communication & understanding among family members & help to prevent family & individual crises.
Marriage &
family therapists also may engage in psychotherapy of a nonmedical nature, make appropriate referrals to psychiatric
resources, perform research & teach courses about human development & interpersonal relationships.
Other counseling specialties
include:
- gerontological: A
gerontological counselor provides services to elderly persons & their families when they face changing lifestyles as they grow older.
- multicultural: A multicultural counselor helps employers adjust to an increasingly diverse workforce.
- genetic counseling: Genetic counselors provide information & support to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders
& to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions.
These
counselors identify families at risk, investigate the problem that is present in the family, interpret information
about the disorder, analyze inheritance patterns & risks of recurrence & review available options with the family.
Training, Other Qualifications & Advancement
All States require
school counselors to hold a State school counseling certification & to have completed
at least some graduate course work; most require the completion of a master’s degree.
Some States require
public school counselors to have both counseling & teaching certificates & to have
had some teaching experience before receiving certification.
For
counselors based outside of schools, 48 States & the District of Columbia have some form of counselor licensure
that governs their practice of counseling.
Requirements typically
include:
-
completion of a master’s degree in counseling
-
the accumulation of 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised
clinical experience beyond the master’s degree level
-
the passage of a State-recognized exam
-
adherence to ethical codes & standards
-
completion of annual continuing education requirements
Counselors must be aware of educational & training requirements that are often very detailed & that vary by area & by counseling
specialty.
Prospective counselors should
check with:
- State & local governments
- employers
- national voluntary certification organizations
in order to determine which requirements apply.
As mentioned,
a master’s degree is typically required to be licensed as a counselor. A bachelor’s degree often qualifies a person
to work as a counseling aide, rehabilitation aide, or social service worker.
Some States require
counselors in public employment to have a master’s degree; others accept a bachelor’s degree with appropriate
counseling courses.
Counselor
education programs in colleges & universities usually are found in departments of education or psychology. Fields
of study include:
-
college student affairs
-
elementary or secondary school counseling
-
education
-
gerontological counseling
-
marriage & family counseling
-
substance abuse counseling
-
rehabilitation counseling
-
agency or community counseling
-
clinical mental health counseling
-
counseling psychology
-
career counseling
-
related fields
Courses
are grouped into 8 core areas:
In
an accredited master’s degree program, 48 to 60 semester hours of graduate study, including a period of supervised
clinical experience in counseling, are required.
Graduate programs in career,
community, gerontological, mental health, school, student affairs & marriage & family counseling are accredited by
the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
While completion
of a CACREP - accredited program isn't necessary to become a counselor, it makes it easier to fulfill the requirements
for State licensing.
Another organization, the
Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE), accredits graduate programs in rehabilitation
counseling. Accredited master’s degree programs include a minimum of 2 years of full-time study, including 600 hours
of supervised clinical internship experience.
Some counselors
elect to be nationally certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC),
which grants the general practice credential “National Certified Counselor.”
To be certified, a counselor
must hold a master’s degree with a concentration in counseling from a regionally accredited college or university; must
have at least 2 years of supervised field experience in a counseling setting (graduates from counselor
education programs accredited by CACREP are exempted); must provide two professional endorsements, one of which must
be from a recent supervisor; & must have a passing score on the NBCC’s National Counselor Examination for Licensure
& Certification (NCE).
This national
certification is voluntary & is distinct from State licensing. However, in some States, those who pass the national
exam are exempted from taking a State certification exam. NBCC also offers specialty certifications in school, clinical mental
health & addiction counseling, which supplement the national certified counselor designation.
These
specialty certifications require passage of a supplemental exam. To maintain their certification, counselors retake
& pass the NCE or complete 100 credit hours of acceptable continuing education every 5 years.
Another organization, the
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, offers voluntary national certification for rehabilitation counselors.
Some employers may require rehabilitation counselors to be nationally certified.
To become certified,
rehabilitation counselors usually must graduate from an accredited educational program,
complete an internship & pass a written examination. (Certification requirements vary according
to an applicant’s educational history.
Employment experience,
i.e., is required for those with a counseling degree in a specialty other than rehabilitation.)
After meeting these requirements, candidates are designated “Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.”
To maintain their
certification, counselors must successfully retake the certification exam or complete 100 credit hours of acceptable
continuing education every 5 years.
Other
counseling organizations also offer certification in particular counseling specialties. Usually, becoming certified
is voluntary, but having certification may enhance one’s job prospects.
Some employers provide training
for newly hired counselors. Others may offer time off or provide help with tuition if it is needed to complete a graduate
degree. Counselors must participate in graduate studies, workshops & personal studies to maintain their certificates &
licenses.
Persons interested in counseling
should have a strong desire to help others & should possess the ability to inspire respect, trust & confidence. They should be able to work independently or as part of a team. Counselors must follow the code of ethics associated with their respective
certifications & licenses.
Prospects
for advancement vary by counseling field. School counselors can move to a larger
school; become directors or supervisors of counseling, guidance, or pupil personnel services; or, usually with further graduate
education, become counselor educators, counseling psychologists,
or school administrators. (Psychologists & education administrators are covered elsewhere in the
Handbook.)
Some counselors
choose to work for a State’s department of education. For marriage & family therapists,
doctoral education in family therapy emphasizes the training of supervisors, teachers, researchers & clinicians in the
discipline.
Counselors can become supervisors
or administrators in their agencies. Some counselors move into research, consulting, or college teaching or go into private
or group practice.
Making the call for an appointment
Spend a few minutes
talking with the secretary or receptionist to ask the following questions:
- ask about their approach to working with patients, their philosophy,
whether or not they have a specialty or concentration (some psychologists for instance specialize
in family counseling, or child counseling, while others specialize in divorce or coping w/ the loss of a loved one.)
If you feel comfortable talking to the counselor or doctor, the next step is to make an appointment.
On your 1st visit, the counselor
or the doctor, will want to get to know you & why you called him or her. The counselor will want to know:
- what you think the problem is
- about your life
- what you do
- where you live
- with whom you live
It's also common
to be asked about your family & friends. This information helps the professional to assess your situation & develop
a plan for treatment.
If you don't
feel comfortable with the professional after the first, or even several visits, talk about your feelings at your next meeting; Don't be afraid to contact another counselor. Feeling comfortable with the professional you choose is very important to the success of your treatment.
How It's Done
counselling & psychotherapy: is there a difference?
Are counselling and psychotherapy the same or are they different? And how much does it matter? This question
lies at the heart of a debate, heated up by the prospect of professional regulation. By Clare Pointon
Resources for the uninsured:
- Community-based resources:
Many communities have community mental health centers (CMHCs). These centers offer a range of mental health treatment &
counseling services, usually at a reduced rate for low-income people. CMHCs generally require
you to have a private insurance plan or to be a recipient of public assistance.
- Pastoral Counseling: Your
church or synagogue can put you in touch with a pastoral counseling program. Certified pastoral counselors, who are ministers
in a recognized religious body, have advanced degrees in pastoral counseling, as well as professional counseling experience.
Pastoral counseling is often provided on a sliding-scale fee basis.
- Self-help groups: Another
option is to join a self-help or support group. Such groups give people a chance to learn about, talk about, & work on their common problems, such as alcoholism, substance abuse, depression, family issues & relationships. Self-help groups are generally free & can be found in virtually every community in America. Many people
find them to be effective.
- Public assistance: People
with severe mental illness may be eligible for several forms
of public assistance, both to meet the basic costs of living & to pay for health care. Examples of such programs are Social
Security, Medicare & Medicaid.
- Social Security has 2 types
of programs to help individuals with disabilities. Social Security Disability Insurance provides benefits for those individuals
who have worked for a required length of time & have paid Social Security taxes. Supplemental Security Income provides
benefits to individuals based on their economic needs (Social Security Administration, 2002).
- Medicare is America's primary
Federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older & for some with disabilities who are under 65. It provides
basic protection for the cost of health care. Two programs exist to help people with low incomes receive benefits: the Qualified
Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) & the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) programs.
- Medicaid pays for some health
care costs for America's poorest & most vulnerable people. More information about Medicaid & eligibility requirements is available at local welfare & medical assistance offices.
Although there are certain Federal requirements, each State also has its own rules & regulations for Medicaid.
For more information about how to pay for mental health care, contact:
National Mental Health Information
Center
P.O. Box 42557
Washington, DC 20015
Telephone: 800-789-2647
(TDD): 866-889-2647
E-mail: info@mentalhealth.org
www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov
some reasons for considering counseling
Some examples of distorted or negative thinking:
perfectionism: If you're not perfect, you must be awful. If you get a B on a test, you think that you're an idiot for not getting an A. This type of thinking is overwhelmingly characteristic of how perfectionists think about every aspect of their life & their own selves.
discounting the positive: You finish a difficult project. Your boss
congratulates you for doing a great job & you think, "Any idiot could have done just as well." This type of thinking can often originate from very low self esteem.
arbitrary inference: You think that something is wrong without any evidence. Someone doesn't say hello to you so you assume that the person is mad at you.
externalization of self-worth: You're
a worthwhile human being only if other people say so.
what
you can do
"Our lives are shaped by our thoughts, we become what we think," said the Buddha. Modern psychotherapists agree.
How we think about our lives influences our feelings & our actions.
Dwelling on negative thoughts accentuates feelings of depression & may worsen some of the chemical imbalance in the brain. Adapting a more positive attitude can actually help you to feel better.
- Change "What If's" to "So What".
- What am I telling myself that is scaring me?
- The more I do, the more I can do.
- I've done it before, I CAN do it again!
- I am the same person, here or in my safe place.
- I can handle it, nothing terrible will happen.
- In reality, there is nothing that can hurt me here.
- The anxiety can only go so high & then it comes down.
Even Minimal Counseling Can Change Kids' Eating Habits
Study showed children ate less fat, salt, after just five sessions
MONDAY,
Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) - Children from families at high risk for heart disease ate healthier after receiving just 5 dietary counseling sessions spread out over 3 years,
Finnish researchers found.
Family-based
counseling can achieve great goals in weight reduction among children, but most successful programs have involved 6 months to a year of intense counseling, the researchers point
out.
However,
these new findings show that "even when you have very limited resources & you can only do 5 interventions with these families, you're starting to see movement
at least in the diet arena," said expert Sylvia Moore, director of a medical education program at the University of Wyoming.
Reporting
in the current issue of the American Journal of Health Behavior, researchers at Finland's University of Turku tracked
the dietary change of 432 school-aged children. The children's families were chosen using
hospital records to determine a history of heart disease, stroke or high cholesterol.
The
investigators found that, after the 5 counseling sessions, children reported eating
less fat & salt than other youngsters.
More
information
The
National Institutes of Health has more about heart disease and diet (www.nlm.nih.gov ).
it's in the news...
Cognitive Therapy Helps Ease Back Pain :T
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