|
Managing Mental Illness - Therapy
Some mental illnesses, like Bipolar Disorder, are chronic in nature
because they have an organic origin. Approximately 1% of the
population has a chronic mental illness. Stephanie Nickel, M.A.
utilizes a multifaceted approach to helping her chronically mentally
ill clients live as fully as they can.
Symptoms of chronic/serious mental illness: During an exacerbation
of a chronic mental illness, a person may experience distorted
perceptions; a loss of contact with reality; disordered and confused
thinking; unstable and inappropriate emotions; and bizarre behavior
with impaired judgment. Deficit symptoms may be present most of the
time include: vulnerability to stress, difficulty with interpersonal
relationships, deficient coping skills, fear of new situations,
restricted emotional responses; apathy; phobic avoidance of
situations and sensitivity to too much or too little stimulation.
People who have a chronic mental illness who realize they have a
serious, chronic (incurable) illness, may progress through the
following stages: General stress response ("fight, flight, fright");
grief; denial and impatience (lack of acceptance); anger and
striking out; guilt and self-blame; depression; hopeless, helpless
feelings; demoralization; regression to earlier levels of
functioning; preoccupation with "self" (apparent disinterest in
others); interruption of normal development (immaturity).
Mental Illness - Coping and adaptation:
This is the hoped for and very possible outcome of treatment,
rehabilitation, family support and self-help.
Acceptance and hope; curiosity about the illness and its treatment,
and/or efforts to be "like everyone else."
"Responsible patienthood" and active collaboration with treatment
and rehabilitation.
Compensatory changes; lifestyle modifications (including more
realistic goals and expectations).
Full participation in life ("love" and "work").
Clients need:
INDIVIDUALIZED treatment.
CONTINUITY of care (includes continuity of relationships with staff
as well as smooth transition between, and coordination among,
programs and treatment components).
Patient EDUCATION about the illness and its treatment (leading to
informed consent; responsible patient role).
Safe and comfortable SURROUNDINGS with adequate privacy and desired
amount of contact with others.
Contingency PLANS for crises (to avoid "walking on eggshells").
INVOLVEMENT, support and education of family and/or significant
others (with elimination of guilt!).
An approach which identifies and builds on STRENGTHS.
OUTREACH - help and support provided in "natural" settings.
A gradual, realistic, "step-wise", LONG TERM approach, recognizing
various phases and stages of illness and recovery.
To deal constructively and positively with STIGMA (starting with
self-stigmatization, then family stigma, and finally stigma from
broader social network). This often involves working through grief
and mourning process.
THE BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL APPROACH - Mental Illness:
BIOLOGICAL needs:
Psychiatric care with appropriate MEDICATION by a physician (and
treatment team) who understands the illness and its treatment.
Careful MONITORING of intended effects and side effects.
Identification of NEW physical and mental/emotional problems as they
emerge.
Attention to BOTH active (positive) and deficit (negative) symptoms.
ELIMINATION OF TOXIC CHEMICALS and unnecessary drugs (alcohol,
caffeine, marijuana, "cold" medicine, etc.).
EARLY DETECTION of "danger signals"--symptom monitoring by patient
and others.
Adequate REST and regular, planned, aerobic EXERCISE.
A balanced, nutritional DIET.
PSYCHOLOGICAL needs:
A therapeutic ALLIANCE with a person (or "team") which involves
"titrated" support (varying degree of support depending on need),
respect, reality orientation.
Dealing with "NORMAL" REACTIONS to serious illness (listed above).
Being actively, comfortably and USEFULLY BUSY.
A BALANCE between over- and under-stimulation (everyone has a
"window" of optimal stimulation; this tends to be constricted in
serious mental illness).
A RELAXED (non-"rat race") atmosphere.
A regular daily ROUTINE (including evenings, weekends and holidays).
Substitution of RESPONSIBLE ADULT BEHAVIOR for inappropriate
behavior (behavioral approach using natural consequences, with some
similarity to "tough love" concept. This should be done in an
empathic and supportive way).
Minimization of handicap; emphasis on strengths; INDEPENDENCE AS
TOLERATED.
If alcohol/drug use a problem, appropriate attention to dependencies
should be integrated with other treatment.
SOCIAL needs:
Learning "SURVIVAL SKILLS"; psychosocial and occupational
rehabilitation.
COMMUNICATION and PROBLEM SOLVING skills for patient and significant
others.
Construction of supportive SOCIAL NETWORK; prevent or reverse social
breakdown syndrome.
Instrumental help with daily living (money management,
transportation, housing, etc.)
Integrative Counseling, LLC provides outpatient support for clients
and their families in which a chronic mental health issue exists.
Counseling for Mental Illness.
Source: Charles R. Goldman, M.D. (revised 7/30/98) |
|
The first session is
always free of charge! Referrals to other counselors are provided if
the prospective client does not feel like he or she can work well
with Stephanie. Contact info:
Phone: 303-500-3266
Located in Faith Lutheran Church
17701 W. 16th Avenue
Golden, CO 80401
email:
Steph@IntegrativeCounselingLLC.com
Website:
www.IntegrativeCounselingLLC.com |
Home