Maybe you can find all the support you need from memes about anxiety, depression and alcoholism that are posted in a group chat or on social media — maybe you tell your dog everything. But if you’re looking for something more than an “omg, same” from your buddies or your pet seems to be avoiding you, it might be time to stop unloading on unsuspecting friends and find a therapist.
What Do You Think About Therapy? Let’s Unpack These Four Things:
1. The Misconception That Therapy is One Size Fits All.
You might have tried therapy and decided it’s not for you — but you might have just not found the right kind of therapy for your unique needs.
“We are all incredibly unique; how each person perceives, feels and behaves in this world is unique to them,” says Susan Couch, LCSW, of Serenity Mental and Medical Health Care. “Understanding this helps our providers remain curious about who a person is versus wanting to put them in a box based on their diagnosis. This approach fosters understanding and compassion, not judgment.”
2. The Belief that Alternative Therapies Aren’t Effective.
Serenity Mental and Medical Clinic uses many methods to improve mental health, from psychiatric, psychotherapy, breathwork sessions and even the Safe and Sound Protocol (a listening protocol that has been shown to help regulate your nervous system).
“There are many paths to help the nervous system heal and regulate. We now know if we can regulate our nervous system, we can think clearly, stop overreacting to life events and create a more fulfilling life. We don’t believe in a cookie-cutter or band-aid approach,” Susan says. “We’re a clinic that cares about helping people get better. People can heal with the right tools, and it is our job to find the tool that best fits the person walking in the door.”
3. The Idea that It Will Be a Quick Fix.
Yes, therapy takes work, but so does getting up every day. Take it from Susan: If you put in the time to know yourself better you will walk away with life-long skills.
But, You Won’t Have to Do It Alone.
Therapist Brandon Couch focuses on helping clients learn how to manage anxiety, how to live with ADHD and many issues he says his peers are currently struggling with (gender issues, school shootings, how to manage their social media). He and Ben Scammon (a psychology intern) are creating a new podcast called “Man Is It Hard” to open up a dialogue with males (or those who identify as male) to explore how to find their way in a world that can be fickle about accepting the various roles males are seeking.
Jennifer Harvey, the newest member of the team, is passionate about helping those from all walks of life who sometimes just need to be heard and acknowledged. As a dual-certified family nurse practitioner that went on to specialize in psychiatry, Jennifer likes making a collaborative plan that meets her patients where they are in life and tackling whatever their current needs/goals are … even if it is just finding the lost joy in their life. She offers medication management and psychotherapy to patients who connect with her and want to continue that journey.
4. The Notion that You Don’t Have the Time.
How many hours of screen time are you getting a day? Take a second and look at your weekly report. Yeah, that’s what we thought. Therapists at Serenity Mental and Medical Clinic offer flexible hours, so you don’t have to worry about taking time off from work — or returning from your lunch break with a big case of new information to, uh, unpack.
For more information or to contact a provider, visit Serenity Mental and Medical Care online.
This post was produced in partnership with Serenity Mental and Medical Care.
