How to Choose a Therapist and Other Insight from a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

How do I know which therapist is the right one for me?

Counselors usually specialize in particular areas. The goal is to closely match their specialties and personalities with the clients they serve, fostering a good working relationship. Counseling provides an opportunity to understand and resolve underlying issues that cause problematic behaviors. It allows you to discuss problems with a non-judgmental listener, offering an objective perspective and guidance in developing solutions. In our practice, our counselors focus on various issues to compassionately serve the diverse needs of each individual or family. They have experience in many areas including depression and anxiety, marriage, family, trauma, and more.

What is IASIS micro-current feedback?

IASIS neurofeedback is an allopathic, science-based process providing a visual or auditory signal corresponding to the status of one or more of a patient’s physiological factors, like brain alpha wave activity, muscle activity, and skin temperature. The patient can voluntarily control these parameters with a prescription battery-powered wire device indicated for relaxation training and muscle re-education. Simply put, IASIS bathes the brain in energy, allowing your body to heal itself from the inside out. Positive benefits include brain fog lift and sleep promotion.

How is the gut related to mental health?

The brain and the gastrointestinal system are intimately connected. The gut has its own ecosystem of microbes that play a big part in how a person feels and can directly affect your brain chemistry and mood. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that are sent and received by a type of brain cell (neurons). They help regulate the body from movement to motivation to emotions. Most of the body’s feel-good hormone serotonin comes from the gut. A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person’s stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause of anxiety, stress, or depression. Many people think of depression and anxiety as a chemical imbalance in the brain. But these chemicals are created in the gut, not the brain.

What foods should I be eating to promote good mental health?

Nutrient-packed whole foods are best for the body and brain to function at optimum levels. Research indicates the theory of reducing processed, man-made foods also reduces diet-related chronic illnesses. Often higher in fiber and phytonutrients, plant-based diets offer all the necessary protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals necessary for optimal health. Eat an array of colorful vegetables with lunch and dinner. Other choices include minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices.

What is EMDR?

EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. EMDR therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes, showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences.