School Year Pressures

There is something magical and a little melancholy about the summer-to-fall transition. The summer season of loose structure, easy expectations, and wandering adventures wanes, paving the way for scheduled shifts and schoolbooks. For most families with children, Labor Day marks the swap of summer fun for the structure, excitement, and expectation of school.

The start of the school year evokes excitement for opportunities and new beginnings, as well as definite stresses for students. New friendships, fresh curriculum, and the promise of progress combine with the ultimate realization that these high rewards come with the discomfort of new learning, obligation, and performance pressures. First-day enthusiasm quickly fades into the day-to-day responsibilities, assessments, and effort that education and development demand. Children, adolescents, and parents alike feel the pressure.

In order to get the full benefits of therapy, you have to put your mental health in the right person’s hands. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy and the professional that works well for someone else might not work as well for you. There are important considerations to keep in mind through every step of the therapy process.

Before the Consultation

If you’re new to the world of psychotherapy, you’ll probably start by asking friends for referrals, discuss a referral with your physician, or search online. When researching possible candidates, you want to make sure they have the tools to solve your issues. At the very minimum, a therapist’s website should include information about their education, certifications, and specializations. There are different kinds of mental health accreditations, and a counselor’s certifications will be different than, say, a psychiatrist who prescribes medication. The specific credentials you should look for include: a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who has a master’s degree in counseling, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), or a licensed clinical psychologist who has a PhD or PsyD in psychology. Therapists typically specialize in specific areas, like substance abuse, trauma, family therapy, couples counseling, or even career issues. These areas should be listed on the therapist’s website.

We continue to serve our valued clients during the Coronavirus pandemic. We offer options such as telephone, video, or anything else that is of convenience in providing support to our customers during this difficult time. We're also taking new clients who need support for a variety of reasons. We sincerely want to help you navigate these unprecedented times and will provide a free telephone consultation to discuss your situation and questions.

The Stress of COVID-19

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been stressful for many people. Fear and anxiety about the disease, quarantine, and the financial ramifications can be overwhelming and cause strong fears in adults and children. Some of you have contracted the disease. Some of you fear contracting the disease because of health preconditions. Some of you have jobs or own businesses in industries worst hit financially. Some of you fear for grandparents and other vulnerable loved ones. Others feel cooped up with small children and have few outlets with lockdowns on your movement. Some of you are going to work every day on the front lines as doctors, nurses, police officers, grocery store workers, and many other crucial roles. Regardless of your situation, this is impacting you and causing stress.