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Counselling and Support
Sometimes, when
we are feeling depressed, anxious, confused or unable to cope, talking
to supportive friends, family members, or joining a support group
may be very helpful.
But if that
isn't enough, you should consider seeking professional counselling.
While counselling cannot fix all the problems in your life, it can
help you sort things out so that you feel more able to cope. A therapist
can help you learn more about yourself, so that you can use your
own strengths to regain a feeling of control over your life. Remember,
it is how we think of, or react to, life's events that make us feel
over-stressed -- not just the events themselves.
Counselling
can also be called therapy or psychotherapy.
Finding the
right help for stress can be a stressful experience. This section
outlines the kinds of help you can seek in your area.
NOTE: Call
your provincial health insurance organization ( i.e. OHIP in Ontario,
Alberta Health, etc.) to check which services are covered by your
plan.
The Family Doctor
Your family
doctor can help you identify your health problem. A thorough look
at your health profile and a complete medical examination can
establish the reason for your ill health (mental or physical).
Your symptoms may be the result of an illness that may or may
not be due to stress.
Your doctor
may prescribe a treatment, or suggest that support and a few ideas
about how to manage your situation may be all you need. If your
family doctor suggests the use of tranquilizers, make sure you
are well-informed about their purpose and their side effects before
you decide whether to use them.
Therapists
You or your family doctor may decide that talking to a therapist
will help you deal with your feelings. You might be referred to
a counsellor at a community agency or in private practice, or
to a psychiatrist or psychologist who works in a hospital or has
a private practice.
Clinically
trained psychiatrists and psychologists are professionals with
approximately the same amount of formal training. The basic difference
is the type of training received.
The Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists
complete a degree in general medicine. They have an additional
four years training in diagnosis and treatment of emotional and
behavioural problems. Because they are medical doctors (M.D.s),
psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medications. Their fees
are covered by your provincial health care plan. To see a psychiatrist,
ask your family doctor for a referral. If you don't have a family
doctor, you can call a local hospital or community health centre
to ask about their mental health services. In many communities,
there is a branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Call
them to ask how you can find a psychiatrist.
The Psychologist
A clinically
trained psychologist holds a doctorate (PhD.) in the study of
human behaviour, as well as in the treatment of behavioural and
emotional problems. Most provinces do not license psychologists
to prescribe medication and they may not be able to bill their
fees to your provincial health insurance plan. However, many private
health care insurance plans cover the services of registered psychologists.
Check with your insurance company.
The Social
Worker
A social
worker has a university degree in social work. Most are employed
by hospitals or community agencies. However, some have taken additional
training in psychotherapy and are in private practice. Your doctor
may refer you to a therapist who is a social worker.
The Stress
Specialist
There are
many organizations and individuals that provide stress management
education and treatment. Some are psychologists, others are physiotherapists,
occupational therapists or people with other kinds of training.
To find out what's available, look in the yellow pages of your
phone book under "stress management". Phone and ask about services
and fees. Some accept only those referred by family physicians.
Some directly bill your provincial health care plan while others
charge the patient/client.
What is Psychotherapy?
Psychologists,
psychiatrists and some social workers practise psychotherapy.
Getting treatment by psychotherapy means talking with a trained
person who helps you solve problems by developing more positive
thoughts and feelings. There are many different theories and schools
of thought regarding effective psychotherapy techniques.
Common techniques
include:
a)Group Therapy
- Several
people talk about their problems and receive help from each
other's remarks. A trained therapist leads the group.
b)Individual
Psychotherapy - The
individual talks about problems without going deeply into the
subconscious mind. (Note: the "subconscious" is that part of
the mind which is not fully conscious, yet is able to influence
our actions.)
c) Psychoanalysis
- Therapists seek to uncover causes of mental health problems
by searching into a person's early experiences. Dream analysis
and free association (talk about anything that comes to mind)
are used to get to the subconscious mind. Other Counselling
Services
The Public Health
Nurse
Most neighbourhoods
are served by a public health nurse. Public health nurses are
involved with individual, family and small group counselling,
and education regarding personal health. They often work with
hospitals, local doctors and neighbourhood centres.
Public health
nurses can give you information about how lifestyle relates to
your stress level and about health-related resources in your community.
They can refer you to other sources of information or help.
Contact a
public health nurse through your local department of health.
Addiction
Counselling
If you are
concerned about your use of alcohol, tranquilizers or other drugs,
there are people who can help. Talk to your doctor or look in
the phone book for Alcoholics Anonymous (a self help group) or
an addiction foundation or centre in your area.
Individual
and Family Counselling
In many communities
there is a family services organization or community health centre
where individual or family counselling is available. Check with
your local community information centre or your local branch of
the Canadian Mental Health Association for information about services
in your area.
Financial Counselling
There are
a number of credit counselling services available to provide counselling
for persons involved in credit difficulties. These counsellors
may act as a go-between for you when dealing with agencies or
people to whom you owe money. Look in the yellow pages for "credit"
or "financial" counselling and planning.
Self-Help Groups
Sometimes
people really feel the need to belong to a caring community. Many
self-help groups (also called mutual aid groups or support groups)
have developed across the country in the past few years.
Many people
find they need the opportunity to take charge of their own situation.
Sometimes,
understanding can only come from someone else who has experienced
the same type of problem.
In self-help
groups, people experiencing similar problems get together to share
information and help each other cope. Members use their individual
strengths to support the others. Often, they use their collective
strengths to advocate for social change.
For some,
membership in a self-help group is an alternative to professional
therapy. However, for many people a support group is useful in
addition to formal helping services.
To find out
about self-help groups in your community, contact your community
information service.
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