Q: What is Counseling?
A: Counseling is a process designed to assist you in gaining insight into your behavior, emotions, and relationships. Through counseling, you will learn to identify healthy and unhealthy patterns in thoughts, behaviors and interactions. You will gain skills aimed at recognizing, understanding and appropriately expressing your emotions and needs.
You will learn mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness skills that enable you to cope with any symptoms of acute or chronic depression, anxiety, and/or other mental health concerns. These skills also assist in dealing with stress or other symptoms related to change, loss or trauma. Each client is unique and we will focus on your strengths and values when designing your treatment plan and determining which skills will benefit you most. Counseling is also a tool for identifying and implementing more positive behaviors and developing a more supportive social network. Through this type of work, clients are able to find more purpose and meaning as well as develop a more fulfilling life.
Q: Will my information be kept confidential?
A: The most important aspect of a therapeutic relationship is confidentiality. Clients can trust that their thoughts, emotions, and content provided in session will be kept in confidence. However, there are limitations to this rule.
If a client appears to be or expresses that he/she is a danger to him or herself or someone else (expressed intention to commit suicide or homicide) and the counselor believes this to be a real and imminent threat, then the counselor will break confidentiality and seek outside help for the client. Texas law and professional counseling ethics also require counselors to report abusive situations including child, elder or dependent adult abuse.
We value our clients and the trust they have in us and the therapeutic process. We believe it is imperative to protect our client’s confidentiality and safety if any meaningful change is going to take place. Mindful Journey Counseling & Wellness is an integrative mental health and wellness center offering both traditional and holistic mind-body approaches to counseling. Thus, clients will often receive services from multiple practitioners within our office and offsite. For instance, you may benefit from a combination of counseling, yoga and massage therapy if you are suffering from depression or anxiety. With written permission of a client, our counselors and wellness professionals are encouraged to collaborate in order to provide the best care. Our team and other professionals that you are working with (psychiatrists, general physicians, etc.) will only discuss information pertinent to your treatment in order to ensure the most effective outcome. Questions or concerns regarding this policy may be discussed with any of your wellness providers at any time.
Some insurance companies require the release of confidential information regarding diagnosis, treatment and coverage in order to reimburse or pay for services.
Q: How long will I participate in counseling?
A: The length of the counseling process is dependent on your presenting concerns, your needs and the therapist. Some clients seek counseling to address a particular stressor or situation in their life and are able to achieve their goals in as few as 8 sessions. Other clients present with more chronic symptoms and work for 6 months or more to address presenting concerns as well as underlying issues. They also work to learn skills to improve resilience to future stressors. Some clients will choose to attend counseling for several years in order to continue personal growth and develop a more fulfilling and healthy life. The therapeutic process is unique to each individual and the goals you establish with your counselor.
Q: How does counseling work?
A: Counseling is a unique process between each client and therapist. You will work together to develop a collaborative and trusting relationship in which you feel comfortable exploring difficulties and patterns in your life that contribute to pain, unhappiness and poor relationships. Your counselor will assist you in gaining insight into underlying thoughts or emotions that may be impacting your ability to achieve a satisfying and fulfilling life. The counselor will consider your strengths and values when determining what skills to add to your toolbox to help you cope more effectively and develop a more healthy and satisfying life. Clients who participate openly and honestly within session and who complete assigned homework outside of session tend to gain the most benefits from the therapeutic process. Counseling will not provide a quick fix but will provide you the tools for achieving long-term fulfillment and resilience.
Q: I’m not “that unhappy”. Is counseling for me?
A: Counseling benefits anyone wishing to grow personally and reach their goals. Some clients feel they “should” be happier or they “should” accomplish more. An objective perspective from a licensed professional can assist you in identifying your true desires, values and goals. Counselors can help observe and reflect missing or unhealthy elements that prevent you from achieving the joy and fulfillment you are seeking in life.
Q: Does counseling mean I’m crazy or lack strength?
A: Counseling does not mean you are crazy or weak. Counseling is for individuals who have the courage and strength to take time to care for themselves and seek out new information about coping with life’s challenges. Participating in counseling with a licensed professional is another tool to use as you navigate life’s difficulties.
Q: What does integrative mental health and wellness entail?
A: Our counselors work with other wellness professionals both onsite and offsite. These professionals include physicians, chiropractors, massage therapists, dietitians/nutritionists, psychotherapeutic yoga teachers, and any professionals of your choosing. We want to have the ability to address any presenting issues or concerns from a multidimensional approach that respects the connection between mental health and physical health.
Q: Why does Mindful Journey focus on the connection between mind and body?
A: Numerous studies have shown that the mind can positively or negatively affect a person’s body or health. People with depression can often have body aches, digestive issues and fatigue among other physical issues. People suffering from anxiety can experience physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, tightness in the chest, digestive issues, sleep issues and difficulty breathing. Similar symptoms have been associated with other issues and stressors. By addressing mental and physical symptoms in a collaborative approach, we can work more effectively towards faster healing. Through the use of mindfulness skills, breath control, meditation and yoga we are able to discover the power of the mind and its influence on our health. Several studies suggest that yoga (which incorporates movement, stretching, breath control and meditation) may help strengthen social attachments, reduce stress and relieve anxiety, depression and insomnia. Research indicates that yoga targets unmanaged stress, a main component of chronic disorders such as anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes and insomnia. Yoga can achieve this by reducing the stress response, which includes the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Yoga enhances resilience and improves mind-body awareness, which can help people adjust their behaviors based on the feelings or sensations they are experiencing in their bodies. This is particularly important for people who have experienced trauma.
Q: How does diet and exercise effect the way I think and feel?
A: Scientific studies have shown that a healthy diet is associated with lower risks of depression, anxiety, and other mental issues. An individual’s nutritional intake effects mood, behavior, and cognitive functioning. Vitamins and nutrients impact levels of neurotransmitters which in turn influence mood, thinking, and sleep patterns. By assessing and modifying one’s diet in conjunction with counseling, we can effectively work to improve mood, brain functioning, and energy levels.