Happy Holidays From Counseling Space

As we near the close of the year, it is a great time to access the previous year and look ahead to the next. For Counseling Space it has been a year of progress and growth. We have been working diligently to make online counseling an option for some of our clients, discussed the stigma of seeking
mental health in a nationally syndicated article, and expanded our clinical staff with the hiring of our newest therapist. All of these successes and a little research is leading us into a year that we hope will be one that allows us to further serve our clients.

We previously discussed the various benefits of online counseling. Flexible scheduling, lack of geographic boundaries, and the added consistency of therapy make it a desirable for both therapist and client. We are working diligently to acquire the licensing and technology necessary to make it an option for our qualifying clients and look forward to announcing the launch of this service.

Earlier this year we co-wrote a Huffington Post article entitled “Pride and Mental Health, Don’t Let the Stigma Kill You.”  It was our hope that the article would shed some light on the cultural stigmas associated with pursuing mental health, especially for people of color;  We hoped that the article would empower those in need of therapy to move beyond any embarrassment or fear to get the help that they need.

We heard our clients and potential clients express the value of our culturally competent therapy options and as a result, hired Minaa B. Minna’s experience and background are a perfect fit when it comes to empowering our clients with strategies for self-care have already proven invaluable.

As we look forward to next year it is the goal of Counseling Space to expand on and implement new programs and strategies to provide relevant and effective care to our clients. To that end, we recently conducted a survey of entrepreneurial women of color to gain better insight on how to address
their unique mental and emotional needs. We hope to make the insights from this survey public and to use that information to provide new services in the coming year.

We at Counseling Space wish you a happy holiday as well as a happy new year. We understand that for some, the holidays can be a difficult time. If you find the need to talk to someone please call 800-542-HELP (3638), 800-LIFENET (543-3638), or if you would like to discuss counseling reach out to Counseling Space directly at  347-494-5870 info@counselingpc.com.

Meet our new team member, Minaa B.

We at Counseling Space work hard to listen to and attend to our client's needs. Especially when it comes to the quality and effectiveness of your mental wellness programs. With that in mind, we are aware that many of our clients struggled in their search for a therapist who is bicultural or bilingual and understands how to be culturally competent when treating clients. The most common feedback we hear is the importance of talking to someone who understands their language and culture. As a result, we have added therapist and author Minaa B. to the Counseling Space staff.

Minaa is a Queens native with a degree in business administration and a master’s in social work. Minaa is the author of the book Rivers Are Coming as well as a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post and Conscious Magazine. Minaa also works as a mental health consultant for Head Start programs, where she develops interventions to support the socio-emotional development of infants and toddlers, and provides counseling to individuals, families, and caregivers.

Minaa’s passion lies in teaching her clients strategies for self-care and self-advocacy as she works to teach those around her how to think and act in ways that empower.  Minaa's goal is to offer hope to those whose stories have been erased and their voices made silent.

To schedule a consultation with Minaa, or to discuss your counseling needs call or email us today at 929-273-0167 or info@counselingpc.com.

Is Online Counseling For You?

For a variety of reasons including the number of available mental health professionals, along with geographic and economic constraints, the demand for quality therapy is at an all time high. Thankfully, with great leaps in technology, including high-speed internet and mobile devices the concept of telehealth stands to greatly expand the availability of mental health services for many. Telehealth, or online counseling, as it has come to be known, is very much what you likely imagine it to be. It is the use of distance beyond your provider’s office. It is a concept that, while not new, has proliferated with the technological of the last thirty years. There are a number of apps that are available that can supplement therapy as a way to use tools to enhance their treatment. More than apps however, counseling via online video portals has gained in popularity.

While most picture it as your average Skype session, there is the important additional layer of privacy. Privacy laws require portals more secure than Skype. The added online security required helps make a session a safer and more productive space. Surprisingly video based counseling sessions are not new at all. Tele-medicine first originated in the field of psychiatry and has been greatly utilized in this field for years, with the initial use at the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute in 1959 using closed circuit televisions.

How it works

The sessions themselves function like any other counseling session would. With the exception that the client gets to have their session in a comfortable and secure space of their choosing. It is a requirement that both parties be in a private room with no disruptions.  Many states require some type of training on telehealth and that the provider is licensed in the state that the client resides in.  There are many virtual options that easily accessible in which you can sign in and start your session)

Benefits of online counseling

Online Counseling presents a wide array of benefits for both clients and mental health professionals. According to the HRSA the benefits of telehealth are wide reaching. For professionals, the ability to be more available to their clients is a huge upside.

For clients the benefits are numerous:

No more geographic constraints       

Universally speaking, one of the greatest things about modern technology is how it has brought us greater access to the world around us. There are many who would benefit greatly from counseling but are cut off from qualified professionals because they live in remote and rural areas. It has also proven to be a helpful tool for deployed military personnel as well as professionals who travel frequently allowing them to have more flexible hours, and not limited to an office.

Flexible scheduling means less time constraint

For those with more rigid schedules like 9-5ers and parents, one of the biggest frustrations with finding help are traditional office hours. For a mother who works until five and has to pick up her son at six it is almost impossible to get an appointment that fits into an already dense schedule. If you are in a high demanding career an entrepreneur, or travel frequently.

It's a lifeline for clients who can't travel

Whether it's due to a physical ailment or a mental condition, online counseling means not having to take extraordinary means to travel to a therapy session. This also goes a long way towards improving the quality of sessions by avoiding the mental and physical stress some associate with traveling even short distances.

It provides a means to keep your current therapist

Whether you are relocating for a new job or heading back to college maintaining continuity with your therapy sessions could be the difference between a stressful change or a smooth transition. 

It can help those dealing with the stigma of therapy

As we discussed before here need not be any stigma when it comes to seeking mental health services. Despite this, for many, the potential for others to find out about your therapy can be a major roadblock to getting the help you need. Whether it's simply a matter of getting your feet wet or a permanent solution, online therapy is a great way to find help while maintaining an added level of privacy and in turn avoid some of the fear and stigma sometimes associated with counseling. 

What about insurance?

Many insurance companies already see the value in online counseling and pay for all or most of the sessions. In addition, more and more insurance companies are following suit which makes accessing online therapy easier for everyone.

While online counseling is an effective tool for many clients it may not be for everyone. Clients with severe mental illness, uncomfortable with technology or in areas with particularly poor internet service may not be great candidates for online counseling. Additionally, clients in crisis aren't should seek face to face counseling. It is a good idea for anyone seeking therapy to get a mental health assessment in order to determine the best course of action for an individual's overall mental health.  

…

Pride And Mental Health, Don't Let The Stigma Kill You

Mental health care has made incredible leaps over the course of the last century. From diagnosis to treatment, the science of mental health has become both more humane and effective than it has ever been. With these advances, the stigma of mental illness that stemmed from the days of institutionalization has largely become a thing of the past.

It's no secret that when it comes to health care in general, people of color notoriously receive a different level of care. There have been a variety of studies that show that the level and quality of care received by African Americans is often reduced because of stereotypes that present them as less human than whites. Even when African Americans and Latinos do find appropriate care, studies find that they take advantage for shorter time spans than their white counterparts. African Americans are also more likely to receive care in a psychiatric ER than in an inpatient facility. 

In similar fashion stigmas about mental health have kept many African Americans from seeking the help that they need, often with deadly results as mental illness is viewed as a "white problem." It is the downside of a legacy that has made us so self-reliant that the notion of needing medical treatment is a sign of weakness. Especially for an ailment that isn't physical. For women of color, these views of strength and frailty are compounded by their womanhood.  

Many of my clients have never sought mental health services in the past.  Many knew that they needed services at least a year prior to meeting me.  The main barrier is the stigma in the culture, it's never discussed openly. The challenges while seeking care, was the difficulty finding bilingual and/or culturally competent providers. :eslie Garcia
 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly two-thirds of Americans with a diagnosable mental illness don't seek treatment.  For many, their aversion to therapy lies in the stigma that comes with being labeled as "crazy." The stigma potentially leading to suicide and severe mental health conditions that may be disability.  

"Obstacles... adversity has made me strong. Having things happen in my life that make me want to give up or doubt my abilities, and then getting through it is encouraging,"

These are the words of Karyn Washington, founder of For Brown Girls, a project created to celebrate darker skin complexions and combat colorism. Karyn was known for her inspirational quotes and comments exhorting young women of color to be proud of themselves. In 2014, at the age of 22, Karyn died by suicide. It is believed that Karyn suffered from depression and found the recent loss of her mother too much. Which begs the question, when does strength in facing obstacles simply become a matter of ignoring pain and denying assistance?

One of the greatest myths about mental illness is that they are a byproduct of character flaws and weakness. Many believe that mental illness is something that can be self diagnosed and and and self managed. "Why can't you just snap out of it?" The truth is while the cause of mental illness isn't fully known indications point to a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors, not character flaws.

There are a number of reasons why minorities have trouble seeking and finding mental health support including the cultural stigma of admitting that you need mental support, a lack of culturally competent care, and bias against minorities seeking care. There is also the problem self-misdiagnosis which can often result in the assumption of a mental health issue instead of what may be an easily treatable physical ailment. 

Ultimately the responsibility to change how we as a culture view and address mental health lies in us all. Those who are actively addressing their mental health issues can be a great encouragement to those who may be afraid to open up to friends and family about their issues. Putting a personal face on mental health can greatly shift some of the preconceived notions of what mental health issues look like.  

"Every pair of eyes facing you has probably experienced something you could not endure." ― Lucille Clifton

If you -- or someone you know -- need help, please call 1-800-273-8255 for theNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you are outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of international resources.

This article was originally published in The Huffington Post and was cowritten with Shane Paul Neil

Lessons About Stress

Last month, I was asked to be part of a panel that took place on June 4th, at the Prioritize U event hosted by self-care specialist Aisha Moore (www.selfcarebyaisha.com), and held at the IIDEA Group LLC in Manhattan. The panel was targeted toward women of color—particularly women of color who are juggling multiple obligations in their lives—and it had an admirable and important objective: to teach women how to handle stress “like a pro." Aisha Moore provided a comprehensive presentation regarding self-care, and explained its many components. The second panelist was yoga instructor Deanna Green (www.missdeeyoga.com), who informed the audience about the positive effects of yoga, and how it can be incorporated into a busy day. My own goal as a panelist was to educate the audience about mental health, and about how many people who suffer from depression and anxiety wait close to ten years before seeking or accepting treatment. In addition, I wanted to convince the audience how important it is to eliminate the stigma connected to getting mental health treatment, particularly in the Black and Latino community.

This event provided an integrative approach to mental health, and the knowledge shared was useful for sustaining physical health as well. The participants were engaged, asked great questions, and shared moving experiences, many of which confirmed my observation that we have a long way to go to break the stigma associated with seeking help. The event’s combination of self-care specialist, yoga instructor, and mental health provider was the perfect way to grab the audience’s attention, because these different sectors complement each other well, especially for our ultimate goal: to improve the quality of life for our population through emotional wellness education.

It was rewarding to see women of color acknowledge both the importance of self-care, and the fact that mental health is one of its critical components. There is always more work to be done on eliminating the stigma attached to mental health care, but the positive response from the audience encouraged me to continue doing the work that I do. I was also pleased at the positive feedback that we got from the group, particularly about all that they learned from us at the panel. 

I encourage you to create a self-care plan today.

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

— Oscar Wilde