Conditions
- Anxiety Dissorder
- Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Counseling
- Couples Counseling
- Dialectical Behavior Therpay (DBT)
- Depression
- Educational Classes
- Group Therapy
- Mentoring
- Obssessive-Compulsive Disroder (OCD)
- Panic Disorder/Panic Attack
- Pyschotherapy
- Postpartum Depression
- Post-Tramatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Substance Use Education
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
Anxiety Disorders
What is Anxiety Disorder?
We all feel worried from time to time. But if worry is consuming your life, you may have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can affect your work, relationships, self-esteem, and other aspects of your life. One in five adults in the U.S. lives with an anxiety disorder. There are several main types of anxiety disorders; all are characterized by excessive fear and anxiety, both of which impact behavior:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder – Characterized by chronic worry and feelings of fear or dread that are present more often than not; individuals may feel irritable, their muscles may be tense, they may experience sleep difficulties, and more.
- Panic Disorder – Experiencing sudden episodes of paralyzing fear with physical symptoms like shortness of breath, fainting, sweating, trembling, and more.
- Social Phobia – Extreme fear and avoidance of meeting new people, experiencing new situations or speaking, eating, or going out in public
- Post-Traummatic Stress Dissorder – This condition may develop after exposure to extreme mental and/or physical trauma
Anxiety disorders affect men and women equally, and can impact people from all walks of life. Anxiety disorders are also the most common psychological disorders in children.
Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Each anxiety disorder has unique symptoms. Not everyone who has an anxiety disorder will display the same symptoms. Some symptoms are common indicators that you might have an anxiety disorder. You should talk to your doctor about treatment for your anxiety. Some symptoms that could indicate that you have an anxiety disorder are:
- Feeling restless or on edge all the time
- Being unable to make either simple or complex decisions
- Extreme shyness, especially when meeting new people or entering a new social situation
- Trouble concentrating or controlling racing thoughts
- Paranoia, or feeling that you are in danger when you are not
- Experiencing fear or worry about a situation that is consuming and greater than what others feel
- Sleep problems, including problems falling asleep or staying asleep
- A reliance on ritualized behavior in order to “prevent bad things from happening”
- Altering your behaviors or way of life to accommodate your worries
- Having panic attacks, including shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, weakness or dizziness, and other physical symptoms
- Your worries affect your performance at work, school, or in relationships
- Extreme fear of being alone or separated from a person or object
- Paralyzing fear that others are talking about you or making fun of you
- Fear that you are not good enough or exhibiting unattainable perfectionism
Anxiety Disorder Causes and Risk Factors
Anxiety disorders can be caused by a number of factors including biological, psychological, and environmental stress. Some risk factors for anxiety disorders include:
- Extreme trauma in childhood or adulthood, including exposure to war or violence
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Childhood abuse
- Genetics: if someone else in your family has an anxiety disorder, your risk increases
- Your brain structure or function
- Withdrawal during treatment for substance use disorders
- The death of a loved one, divorce, or another form of trauma that leads to separation
- Physical trauma including brain injuries, sexual assault, choking, being in an accident, surviving a disaster, or suffering an injury
ACT provides long-term, individualized care to a person with severe mental illness in an effort to reduce the symptoms of mental illness and improve the quality of a person’s life. ACT is a multidisciplinary approach to treatment in which various healthcare providers work together to provide individuals with better, more efficient care. By working collaboratively, providers can address all of a person’s healthcare and personal needs from a holistic perspective. Services offered through ACT can include:
- Psychiatric Assessment
- Medication Management
- Counseling
- Housing Support
- Case Management
- Vocational Services
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
Assertive community treatment (ACT) is a team-based treatment approach for individuals with mental illness. It is designed for individuals who need 24-hour support and monitoring, but not in a hospital setting. ACT is often appropriate for those that have recently been discharged from an inpatient hospital or day treatment program and still require intensive support, but would benefit from being away from the group aspects of a hospital setting or are more comfortable living independently. ACT is also appropriate for individuals who have not been hospitalized, but are at risk for hospitalization.
ACT provides long-term, individualized care to a person with severe mental illness in an effort to reduce the symptoms of mental illness and improve the quality of a person’s life. ACT is a multidisciplinary approach to treatment in which various healthcare providers work together to provide individuals with better, more efficient care. By working collaboratively, providers can address all of a person’s healthcare and personal needs from a holistic perspective. Services offered through ACT can include:
- Psychiatric Assessment
- Medication Management
- Counseling
- Housing Support
- Case Management
- Vocational Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a solutions-focused form of talk therapy that is designed to address specific, usually negative, thought patterns and behaviors (symptoms). When participating in CBT, people work on identifying any distorted, problematic thoughts and behaviors they have, and challenging those thoughts and behaviors with healthier and more beneficial options.
Though we cannot control what thoughts we have, we are able to recognize when we are thinking about a situation in a way that is leading to false conclusions. These patterns of thinking are called cognitive distortions. A few examples include all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, and disqualifying the positive.By identifying cognitive distortions, we can challenge negative automatic thoughts with more reasonable, objective ways of looking at the same situation. Participants are also taught to question their negative thoughts and feelings, rather than automatically responding to them as accurate.
Who is cognitive behavioral therapy for?
CBT is appropriate for people of any age and occurs in one-on-one therapy sessions with just you and a licensed mental health provider.
- Anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Phobias
- Depression
- Mood Disorders
- Trauma, including post-tramatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Substance use disorders
- Self-esteem issues
How long does it take for cognitive behavioral therapy to work?
CBT is intended to be short-term therapy. A course of CBT typically takes at least 10-20 sessions, at which point you and your therapist would review the treatment plan and determine if more sessions are needed to meet specific goals.
What should I expect from a course of cognitive behavioral therapy?
In CBT, you will work together with your mental health provider to determine what your treatment goals are, and to identify the problems what you would like to address – this is known as your treatment plan.
When engaging in CBT, you learn different skills to help you reframe your negative thoughts and feelings more objectively, leading to healthier ways of thinking and behaving. You will learn these skills while in session with your mental health provider. Your therapist will likely give you ‘homework’ so you can practice the skills you are learning in session in real situations.
Regularly revisiting your treatment plan and goals can help assure that the treatment in which you are engaging is the right one for you. You may find CBT alone is enough to help you, or you may combine it with other forms of treatment.
Cognitive behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder
Cognitive interventions in cognitive behavioral therapy for OCD are somewhat different from cognitive therapy for other disorders, such as depression. Challenging distorted thinking in OCD focuses less on challenging the content of the thoughts themselves and more on identifying the cognitive distortions that are driving compulsive behaviors. Identifying that one is looking at a situation through a distorted lens can empower them to deny their impulse to react to them. In this way, CBT for OCD can function as a powerful complement to Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP).
ACT provides long-term, individualized care to a person with severe mental illness in an effort to reduce the symptoms of mental illness and improve the quality of a person’s life. ACT is a multidisciplinary approach to treatment in which various healthcare providers work together to provide individuals with better, more efficient care. By working collaboratively, providers can address all of a person’s healthcare and personal needs from a holistic perspective. Services offered through ACT can include:
- Psychiatric Assessment
- Medication Management
- Counseling
- Housing Support
- Case Management
- Vocational Services
Counseling
Counseling is a type of mental health treatment that involves receiving professional assistance in resolving, managing, and coping with personal conflicts and emotional problems. Counseling can occur in individual or in group settings. Counseling is often used interchangeably with the word therapy; however, counseling is usually short-term, uses a problem-solving approach, and often addresses a single problem or concern. For example, an individual may choose to go to counseling for anger management or relationship difficulties (marriage counseling).
Couples Counseling
Couples counseling often helps couples improve their relationships by improving communication and assisting couples in understanding one another’s points of view. Couples counseling often helps couples resolve issues such as infidelity, communication, anger, child rearing issues, sexual difficulties, and other marital or relationship problems.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a form of psychotherapy that is effective for people who have trouble managing strong emotions and problem behaviors.
“Dialectic” means that two opposite ideas can be true at the same time, and when those ideas are viewed together, they can create a new way of seeing a situation. The dialectic at the heart of DBT is acceptance and change.
In DBT, individuals are taught skills that enable them to experience their emotions without necessarily acting on them. They are also taught to replace problematic behaviors, such as self-injury or bingeing and purging, with skillful ones. DBT provides therapeutic skills in four key areas:
- Mindfulness: the practice of being fully aware and present in this one moment
- Distress Tolerance: how to tolerate pain in difficult situations without the situation getting worse
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: how to ask for what you want and say no while maintaining self-respect and relationships with others
- Emotion Regulation: how to manage and express your emotions appropriately
These skills help people focus on decreasing suffering, improving relationships, and creating a life worth living. Each individual is in charge of their own specific goals during treatment; they work with their treatment team to determine how to utilize the skills they learn in DBT to accomplish these goals.
Who does DBT work for?
DBT works for adolescents and adults who experience strong emotions and have symptoms such as:
- Suicidality
- Self-injurious behavior
- Dissociation
- Quickly-changing moods
- Extreme stubbornness
- Substance use
- Bingeing and purging
DBT is most effective for people who are committed to creating a life worth living and who are willing to engage in:
- Weekly individual therapy
- Weekly DBT group sessions
- Out-of-session skills coaching on an as-needed basis
Depression
What is Depression?
Major depressive disorder, commonly referred to as ‘depression,’ is a common, but often serious, mood disorder that impacts millions of people every year. It affects your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and can have an impact on you both physically and emotionally. People with depression often have lost interest in activities that used to get them excited, and feel sad or like life is not worth living much of the time. It is important to know that depression is not something people can just ‘snap out of’ – but, with the right treatment plan, feeling better is possible.
Depression Symptoms
In order to be diagnosed with depression, individuals must be experiencing their symptoms daily for at least two weeks. Some common depression symptoms include:
- Losing interest in activities that were once fun or exciting
- Feeling sad, hopeless, or ‘empty’
- Difficulty with sleep – either sleeping too much (hypersomnia) or not enough (insomnia)
- Changes in eating patterns that impact weight – either eating more or eating less
- Being easily frustrated or irritable
- Thoughts of suicide or that life is not worth living – call 911 immediately
- Lack of energy and feeling tired
- Physical aches and pains that do not have a distinct cause
- Increased anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
Often, depression symptoms look different in different populations.
Depression symptoms in men include:
- Feeling reckless or ‘on edge’
- Anger and aggression
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Excessive substance use
Depression symptoms in children can include:
- Increased crying or yelling
- Decreased functioning at school and at home
- Refusing to attend school (school refusal)
- Incapacitating self-doubt and ‘what ifs’
- Lower tolerance for frustration
Depression symptoms are usually present most of the day, every day. Often, symptoms are severe enough to impact performance at work/school, and may impact life at home as well.
Types of Depression
There are many different types of depression; each has its own set of DSM-V diagnostic criteria:
- Major depressive disorder: symptoms must be present for at least two weeks for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.
- Treatment-resistant depression: at least three courses of treatment for depression have not been effective in relieving symptoms.
- Postpartum depression: Develops during pregnancy or after the birth of a child. Postpartum depression is more than just the ‘baby blues,’ which usually go away on their own approximately two weeks after delivery.
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Symptom onset occurs during the fall and winter months when there is less natural light; symptoms usually get better when the weather gets warmer and days get longer.
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia): symptoms of depression have been occurring consistently for more than two years. There may be time periods when symptoms are not as severe.
Depression Causes and Risk Factors
Researchers do not know exactly what causes depression. Here are some of the known risk factors of depression:
- Having a relative with depression or another mood disorder.
- Experiencing a major life event, such as the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a traumatic event
- Biological and brain differences: individuals who experience depression often have altered levels of neurotransmitters, and may have a slightly different brain structure
- A history of substance use issues
- Having a serious or chronic physical condition such as cancer or heart disease
- Having another mental health condition
Some medications may also put people at risk of developing depression; always talk to your doctor about the side effects of any medication prescribed. It is also important to not suddenly start or stop a medication without consulting your doctor.
Treatment for Depression
Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any depression symptoms. You and your doctor can come up with the right treatment plan that meets your needs. Depression is often treated with a combination of medication, therapy, and support.
Medication: Antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and mood stabilizers can help you start feeling better. Talk to your doctor about the right option for you.
Therapy: A therapist can help you find coping strategies and learn ways to manage your mood disorder.
Education: Learning more about depression and other mood disorders can help you recognize them and their triggers.
Educational Classes
Education is the process and facilitation of learning and acquiring knowledge, skills, and other information.
Educational classes are courses, usually offered at the same time of day or week for a certain length of time, designed for groups of people to learn a specific subject in order to gain knowledge or skills.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which you and other people, usually ones who share your diagnosis, meet with a mental health provider at the same time to discuss issues and coping strategies for managing your condition.
Many people find group therapy to be very effective, as they learn not just from their own behaviors, influences, and choices, but the behaviors, influences, and choices of others as well. Individuals with the following diagnoses may benefit from group therapy; this list is not exhaustive, and others may benefit as well:
- Substance Use Disorders
- Grief
- Depression
- Post-Tramatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Anger management
- Shyness and low self esteem
- Trauma
Depending on your situation and needs, you may find group therapy to be more comfortable for you, or more beneficial than individual therapy.
Group therapy can also be helpful for people who live with or care for someone with a mental health condition to find much-needed support and develop new coping skills. Caregiving for a child or adult with a mental health condition, learning disability, addiction, or other impairment can be stressful – finding the right group for therapy and support can help alleviate that stress.
Group therapy could be just one aspect of your treatment plan, or it could provide the ongoing support that you need to manage your condition.
Mentoring
The act of mentoring is when an experienced, knowledgeable individual (mentor) helps counsel someone less experienced/knowledgeable (mentee) in a positive way. The mentor does not necessarily have to be older than the mentee, but should have valuable experience that can benefit the mentee. Youth mentoring is an intervention and prevention strategy in which children, adolescents, or teens are matched with mentors, usually adults, who develop a positive emotional bond with the youth. The mentor serves as a role model for the youth, and offers support and guidance. The relationship provides a sense of connection for the youth that they may not otherwise have. Mentorship can help a youth develop socially and emotionally.
Obssessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is different than Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCPD is a personality disorder; individuals with this disorder are generally inflexible; have a strong bent toward perfectionism and orderliness; and are deeply concerned with rules, systems, and details. OCD is an anxiety disorder. It is possible to have both disorders.
If you have Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), you may have difficulty completing projects because you tend to get caught up in completing every detail perfectly. People with OCPD may achieve at a high level and be very good at detailed and complex work. However, they are often unable to deal with any deviance from their self-imposed rules, timelines, or schedules. These rules or requirements may not make sense to anyone but them, and can cause difficulty in interactions with others.
Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
OCPD has a few specific characteristics that set it apart from other personality disorders. You should speak to your doctor if you notice any of the following characteristics in yourself or a loved one, including:
- An obsession with work or tasks to be completed
- Extreme irritation or anger when a schedule or routine is changed
- Perfectionism that stops you from completing a task or delegating a task to others
- An inability to throw things away even when the item has no worth
- A lack of generosity in general or miserliness about money or resources
- Being very obsessive, judgmental, and inflexible in matters of morals or judgment
- An inability to see any other way to perform a task or behave except for your way
- A preoccupation with rules, lists, details, and systems
Causes and Risk Factors for Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Personality disorders such as OCPD do not have any one specific cause. Some risk factors that may make you more susceptible to developing OCPD include:
- A family history of personality disorders, anxiety, or depression
- Childhood trauma, including child abuse that leaves you feeling like being ‘perfect’ is the only way to survive
- Having a preexisting mental health condition, especially an anxiety disorder
Treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Many forms of treatments can help make your personality disorder easier to live with. Talk to your doctor about coming up with a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Medication: Some medications, including anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants, can help control your symptoms. Talk to your doctor to learn more.
Therapy: Therapy is the first line of treatment for most personality disorders. Talk therapy, group therapy, and occupational therapy can all be beneficial to individuals with OCPD.
Education: Learning more about personality disorders and mental health can help you and your loved ones better understand and cope with your condition.
Support: Finding the right support group can help you feel better and learn new coping skills.
Panic Disorder/Panic Attack
What is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by experiencing recurring panic attacks. During a panic attack, a sudden increase in intense fear or discomfort, you may feel closed in, have a hard time breathing, feel faint, have chest pain, or feel detached from reality. You may think that you are having a heart attack. You may experience sudden, intense feelings of terror without actually being in danger. Panic attacks typically only last for a few minutes, but those few minutes are extremely stressful.
One of the most life-disrupting aspects of having panic disorder is that these attacks can come at any time, and seemingly with no provocation or cause. This disorder typically starts in young adulthood and can get worse in times of stress. Treatment and medication can help you cope with panic disorder.
Panic Disorder Symptoms
If you have panic disorder, you may have panic attacks a few times per year, or more often in times of stress. Talk to your doctor if you experience a panic attack or notice the panic disorder symptoms developing. Everyone experiences panic disorder differently, but there are a few common factors that indicate that you’re having a panic attack, such as:
- Heart palpitations or your heart seeming to beat too fast
- Trouble breathing or a feeling that you can’t get enough air
- Feeling physically trapped or paralyzed and unable to move
- Extreme fear in situations that are not dangerous
- Shaking or trembling uncontrollably
- Fainting or feeling lightheaded
- Sweating even if it isn’t hot, or chills even if it isn’t cold
- Feeling muscle weakness or a sudden inability to control your body
- Feeling detached from reality, like you’re watching events around you on television
- Chest pain or a feeling that you are choking
- An inability to collect your thoughts or speak
Panic Disorder Causes and Risk Factors
Panic disorder can be attributed to a variety of different factors. Some people experience panic disorder all of their lives, and some people have it for only a short period of time. You may have occasional panic attacks without having panic disorder. If you experience a panic attack, you should speak to your doctor about it. Some of the risk factors for developing panic disorder include:
- A family history of anxiety disorders, panic disorder, or depression
- Exposure to trauma, violence, or tragedy
- Abuse in childhood or adulthood including domestic violence or sexual assault
- Some physical health issues including problems metabolizing caffeine or thyroid dysfunction
- Side effects from other medication
- Brain damage
- Changes in your body chemistry or your brain’s “fight or flight” response
- Substance misuse or trauma, or damage caused by previous substance misuse
Panic Disorder Treatment
Panic disorder can be disruptive to your life and your family, but there are many effective treatments available to help you cope with it. Medication, education, and therapy can help you feel more in control.
Medication: Anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and mood-stabilizing drugs are just a few of the medications available to help control the symptoms of your panic disorder. Speak with a medical professional to learn more.
Education: Learning more about your triggers, coping skills, and new advances in the treatment of panic disorder can help you and your family handle your disorder.
Support: You are not alone when learning to live with panic disorder or anxiety. A support group can help you feel less isolated.
Parenting Services/Training
Parenting services and training are various offerings, services, training seminars, workshops, classes, and other programs available for parents to assist them in a variety of ways, and can include:
- Education
- Daily living
- Community services
- Social Skills
- Parenting support
- Job skills, readiness, and finding opportunities
- Legal support
- Housing Assistance
- Any other supports as needed in an effort to help parents be the best caregiver they can be for their children
Pyschotherpay
Psychotherapy, often called talk therapy, is an umbrella term for talk-based mental health treatment that focuses on finding ways to help you:
- Alleviate current problems in your life
- Develop coping skills
- Explore your feelings
- Control your emotions
- Process grief or trauma
- Find new ways to approach life with stronger mental health
Psychotherapy is appropriate for people of any age and can be applied one-on-one with just you and a mental health provider, in couples therapy, in family therapy or in a group, like a support group. Some of the reasons that people seek psychotherapy include:
- Substance use disorders
- Experiencing trauma or loss
- Grief counseling
- Marital counseling
- Family problems
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anger management
- Post-Tramatic Stress Disorder
- Problems at work or in school
- Quitting smoking
- Stress
In psychotherapy, you will first speak with a mental health provider to determine what you need help with and what your treatment goals may be. You and your mental health provider can then decide what kind of treatment or combination of treatments are best suited to your needs. You might decide that individual counseling and a support group can best address your issue, or that just individual therapy will work best for you.
You will be encouraged to speak freely to your mental health provider and share everything that may be causing or contributing to your difficulties – your counseling and what you say to your mental health provider is private. You and your mental health provider will discuss things like boundaries and confidentiality early in your treatment.
Regularly revisiting your treatment plan and goals can help ensure that the treatment you’re receiving is right for you. You may find talk therapy alone is appropriate for your needs, or you may combine it with other forms of treatment.
Postpartum Depression
What is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is a medical condition that is developed by as many as one in seven women either preceding or after childbirth. This condition is caused by chemicals, hormones and other factors that affect the brain of a woman who gives birth. It has nothing to do with being a good or loving mother.
70-80% of new mothers experience feeling sad, anxious, or overwhelmed after giving birth – the “baby blues.” While these feelings usually get better within two to four weeks after childbirth, you should speak to your doctor about how you feel right away so that you can be monitored for postpartum depression symptoms.
A postpartum depression diagnosis can occur whether it is your first child or a subsequent child, and whether or not you’ve ever experienced it before. It is important to be observant for postpartum depression symptoms and talk to your doctor about your symptoms immediately. In rare cases, postpartum psychosis can develop, a condition that requires emergency treatment.
Postpartum Depression Symptoms
Life changes, lack of sleep, childcare burdens, physical discomfort, hormonal changes – all of these factors can contribute to postpartum depression. If your postpartum depression symptoms do not improve after two to four weeks, or your condition grows more severe, you and your doctor may need to find a more intensive way to treat it. You may be experiencing postpartum depression if you have:
- A feeling of detachment from people or a desire for isolation from family and friends
- An inability to bond with your baby
- Feeling like your baby deserves better than you or that you are not a good mother
- Thoughts of running away or wanting to escape
- Feelings of sadness and emptiness or episodes of excessive crying
- Trouble controlling your temper or lashing out in anger
- Extreme anxiety, irritability, or moodiness
- An ongoing feeling that you are overwhelmed
- Difficulty sleeping (either oversleeping or not sleeping at all), fatigue, and exhaustion
- Trouble enjoying the things you once found fun
- Noticeable changes in appetite leading to unusual weight gain or weight loss
- Difficulty concentrating and focusing, forgetfulness
- Other common symptoms of depression
Postpartum psychosis is a rare and extremely dangerous condition that can develop. Call your doctor or counselor immediately if you experience:
- Unstoppable thoughts, plans, urges, or visions of harming yourself, your baby, or others
- Delusions or “hearing voices” that tell you to harm yourself, your baby, or others
- Paranoia or feelings of excessive suspicion
- Sudden strange beliefs about your child, yourself, or others
- Uncontrollable racing thoughts or mania
- Episodes of severe confusion or panic
Postpartum Depression Causes and Risk Factors
The physical, hormonal, and emotional changes caused by childbirth and new motherhood can contribute to the development of postpartum depression. Certain risk factors can also make you more likely to develop this condition, including:
- A previous history or family history of depression, anxiety, or mental illness
- Trauma or significant life events occurring before, during, or after your pregnancy
- Medical complications during your pregnancy or childbirth or with your child’s health
- Lack of support from your family and friends
If you are taking medication for a mental health disorder like depression, anxiety, or psychosis, do not stop taking your medication when you become pregnant without talking to your doctor. The risk of many medications affecting your baby is low, but the risk of you becoming ill from stopping your medication suddenly is high.
Effective Postpartum Depression Treatments
A combination of psychotherapy, self-care, and medication can be effective in postpartum depression treatment. You should talk to your doctor or therapist to find the right treatment plan for you.
Medication: Many medications are available to help treat postpartum depression. Antidepressants are the most common types of medications used to treat this condition, but they can take time to be effective. Talk to your doctor about your medication options and how to find what works best for you.
Therapy: Many types of therapy are effective when treating postpartum depression including individual talk therapy, group therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Discuss what type of therapy is best for you with your doctor.
Self-care: is an important part of your plan to treat postpartum depression. Self-care includes things like massage, exercise, a regular sleep schedule, eating healthy food, learning to manage stress, and just taking some time for yourself every day. Your doctor or therapist can help you design a treatment program that includes self-care.
Education and support: Tell your family and friends that you need help – support from your family and friends is important when working towards your recovery. A support group, either in person on online, may be helpful to you during treatment and recovery.
Post-Tramatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that you can develop after exposure to extremely dangerous or stressful situations.
Individuals can develop PTSD after exposure to a traumatic event, including living through a war or terrorist attack (including serving in the military), enduring domestic or childhood abuse, surviving a physical or sexual assault, being a victim of crime, experiencing an accident or natural disaster, acting as an emergency responder, working in a high-pressure environment like an emergency room, or other traumatic and stressful experiences.
PTSD affects more than 14 million U.S. adults. PTSD can also occur alongside other health conditions like depression, anxciety, or a substance use disorder. A person might not notice the symptoms or be affected by PTSD right away – it can occur long after one has experienced the traumatic event.
Symptoms of PTSD
If you or a loved one has suffered through trauma and experience any of these symptoms, you should speak to a doctor. Some symptoms to look out for include:
- Flashbacks – reliving the trauma over and over again, distressing memories of the event
- Nightmares or night terrors; waking up because of dreams about the traumatic event
- Extreme anxiety or feeling as though you can never be safe, even in a place that you know is safe
- Avoiding feelings, thoughts, places, items, or people that remind you of your trauma
- Being easily startled, constantly tense, or unnaturally on edge all of the time
- Having frequent angry outbursts, trouble controlling your temper, or reacting unnecessarily violently when surprised or upset
- Feeling like you “could have done more” or feeling guilty that you survived when others didn’t
- Having problems in relationships with family, friends and loved ones because you feel that you cannot connect with them
- Insomnia and problems falling asleep or staying asleep
- Having difficulty recalling certain aspects of the traumatic event
- Feeling consistent negative emotions; an inability to feel positive emotions
Causes and Risk Factors for PTSD
Many traumatic life events can lead to the development of PTSD, and this condition can affect both adults and children. Some factors may make individuals more prone to developing PTSD, including:
- Being exposed to a life-threatening, disturbing, and damaging event
- Suffering an injury during a trauma
- Losing loved ones during a trauma
- Continuously working in stressful or dangerous environments
- Previously suffering from depression, anxiety, or substance misuse disorder
- Traumatic brain injuries, especially during military service
- Changes in brain chemistry
Treatment for PTSD
PTSD can be a serious condition, but it can be treated and managed. You and your doctor can come up with a comprehensive treatment plan to address your PTSD.
Medication: A combination of medications, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, mood stabilizers, and other drugs can help control your PTSD symptoms.
Therapy: Many types of therapy can help you start addressing PTSD.
Education: Learning more about PTSD and other mental health conditions can help you and your loved ones learn more about managing your condition.
Support: Support groups have been very effective in helping people with PTSD and their loved ones cope with the challenges presented by PTSD.
Substance Use Education
Substance use education is the provision of information and resources about substance use and addiction; it is provided in order to prevent substance use and addiction.
Substance use education can include:
- Information about different types of substances (both illegal and legal substances) that are abused
- How these substances affect individuals
- The warning signs of addiction
- The effects of addiction on an individual and their loved ones
- How to get help for yourself and a loved one
- How to support someone who is struggling with a substance use disorder
- How to support someone who is trying to get help for their substance use disorder
Substance use education can also include counseling and support groups.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
If you experience depression, anxiety, and other negative emotions during a certain season or near a certain holiday or anniversary, you might have seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Seasonal affective disorder is a recurrent mood disorder that can be experienced by someone who doesn’t have depression or an anxiety disorder otherwise.
Most commonly, people with SAD experience symptoms of depression in the fall that continue throughout the winter until spring. However, you can have SAD in any season or near a holiday or anniversary. Left untreated, SAD can cause problems at work or school, at home, and in relationships. SAD can also complicate your treatment for other conditions including bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
The symptoms of SAD are similar to those that appear during a depressive episode. However, the symptoms are isolated to occurring only at a specific time of year. Your doctor will have tests that can be performed to determine if you’re affected by SAD. Some common symptoms include:
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide – call 911 immediately
- Extreme sadness, crying fits, or depressing talk
- An inability to find joy or pleasure in activities that you would normally enjoy
- Persistent thoughts of sadness or extreme anxiety
- A lack of energy to complete tasks or care for yourself, lethargy
- Increased appetite and weight gain, or decreased appetite and weight loss
- Social withdrawal or withdrawal from family and friends
- Trouble making decisions or listening to directions
- Unwillingness to go outside or leave the house, even for work, school, or family obligations
- Overuse or misuse of drugs and/or alcohol
Causes and Risk Factors for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
SAD does not have a single specific cause, but several risk factors can make you more likely to develop it. You should talk to your doctor about SAD if you or a loved one seems “off,” especially if it seems to happen at the same time every year. Some of the risk factors for SAD include:
- Living far from the equator or in a cold, dark environment
- A family history of depression, or anxiety
- Insomnia or sleeping problems
- A past history of depression, anxiety or substance use disorders
- A body chemistry imbalance
- A lack of serotonin in the brain
- A deficiency in processing or absorbing vitamin D
- An overabundance of melatonin in your system
Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
SAD can be treated. You and your doctor can create a plan for medication, therapy, and other treatments that can help you cope with your symptoms and start feeling better.
Medication: Antidepressant medications, antianxiety drugs, supplements, and other medications can help control the symptoms of your SAD. Talk to a medical professional to learn more.
Therapy: One of the most common treatments used for SAD is light therapy, in which you are exposed to light that mimics the sun through a light box for several hours a day. Talk therapy and other types of therapy can also treat and improve your symptoms.
Education: Learning more about depression, SAD, anxciey disorders, and how to explain your condition to others can help you cope.
Support: Good support is an essential tool in your treatment plan. Talk to your family and friends about your SAD and your treatment.
Services
Each service is rooted in compassion and guided by professional expertise, while also honoring the spiritual dimension of healing. Our goal is to provide a safe space where faith and mental health care work hand in hand, helping people find hope, strength, and restoration in Christ.
- Info@CareCola.org
Phone
- 803-772-7792
upcoming workshops
We host free continuing education events the first Tuesday of each month—open to anyone interested in learning more about mental health or emotional and spiritual healing. These sessions are recorded and available online. Events are worth 1.5 CEU’s through SCLLR.
- The hour prior to each of these presentations, we provide free and confidential peer support and consultation groups for therapists, pastors, and other caregivers to process real cases, and receive theological clarity and clinical insight.
If you seeking CEU credits there will be a questionnaire and a small fee, you will be provided a certificate of completion.
Contact us for more information.
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Addiction
Addiction Therapy
Addiction is a powerful struggle that can affect the body, mind, and spirit. Whether it involves substances, behaviors, or unhealthy patterns, addiction often leaves individuals feeling trapped and distant from the life God desires for them. Yet there is hope—through professional care, spiritual renewal, and supportive community, healing is possible.
Our Approach to Addiction Therapy
We believe recovery is not only about breaking free from harmful habits but also about rediscovering identity in Christ. Our therapy services combine evidence-based treatment with Christian principles, offering both practical tools and spiritual encouragement.
Services Offered in Addiction Therapy
- Individual Counseling
One-on-one sessions to explore root causes of addiction, develop coping strategies, and build resilience in a safe, faith-centered environment. - Group Support
Peer groups that provide accountability, encouragement, and shared experiences, reminding participants they are not alone in their journey. - Family Therapy
Sessions that involve loved ones, fostering understanding, healing relationships, and strengthening support systems. - Faith Integration
Incorporating prayer, scripture, and Christian values into therapy, helping individuals lean on God’s strength as they pursue recovery. - Relapse Prevention & Skill Building
Practical guidance to recognize triggers, manage stress, and build healthier habits for long-term freedom.
Message of Hope: Addiction does not define you. You are a beloved child of God, and through His grace, combined with professional care and community support, lasting recovery is possible.
Adolescent
Adolescence is a season of rapid change; physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Teenagers often face unique challenges such as identity formation, peer pressure, academic stress, and shifting family dynamics. For some, these pressures can lead to anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns. Therapy provides a safe space for adolescents to explore their feelings, learn healthy coping skills, and grow in resilience.
Christian adolescent therapy integrates professional counseling with the hope found in God’s Word. It acknowledges the struggles teens face while reminding them of their inherent worth as children of God. Through prayer, scripture, and evidence-based techniques, therapy helps young people navigate difficulties while strengthening their faith foundation.
Parents and guardians are often included in the process, fostering open communication and building stronger family bonds. Therapy sessions may focus on issues such as self-esteem, relationships, academic stress, trauma, or behavioral concerns. By combining professional guidance with spiritual encouragement, adolescent therapy equips teens to face life’s challenges with confidence and hope.
Ultimately, the goal is not only symptom relief but holistic growth—helping adolescents discover their God-given identity, develop emotional strength, and embrace the truth that they are deeply loved and never alone.
We provide specialized care for teens that blends professional counseling with Christian faith, offering both practical tools and spiritual encouragement. Our services include:
- Individual Counseling
- One‑on‑one sessions where adolescents can safely explore emotions, challenges, and personal growth with a licensed therapist who integrates biblical principles.
- Family Sessions
- Therapy that involves parents or guardians, helping strengthen communication, resolve conflicts, and build healthier family dynamics rooted in love and understanding.
- Faith Integration
- Incorporating prayer, scripture, and Christian values into therapy to remind teens of their identity in Christ and the hope available through Him.
- Group Support
- Peer groups that provide encouragement, shared experiences, and practical coping strategies in a supportive, faith‑based environment.
- Skill Building
- Guidance in developing resilience, healthy coping mechanisms, and life skills to navigate stress, relationships, and academic pressures.
- Our goal: To help adolescents discover their God‑given identity, grow emotionally and spiritually, and find strength in both professional care and the promises of Scripture.
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